For immediate release. June 29, 2019.
The World Wide Radio Operators Foundation (“WWROF”), in collaboration with the Slovenia Contest Club (“SCC”), is pleased to announce the first annual World Wide Digi DX Contest (“WW Digi”). The new contest taps into the excitement being generated by the new digital modes pioneered by Joe Taylor K1JT and the WSJT-X development team. The contest will occur over 24 hours on August 31 and September 1, 2019 using the FT4 and FT8 modes on the 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10-meter bands. The full rules and other information are available on the WW Digi DX contest web site at https://ww-digi.com
WW Digi will utilize a distance-based scoring system to measure operators’ abilities in making DX contacts across the 6 HF amateur radio bands. Contacts will earn points based on the distance between grid square centers of the two stations. This will encourage operators to seek out long distance weak signal contacts that highlight the technical advantages of the new digital modes.
To encourage activity across all bands, a multiplier will be given for each new 2-character grid field contacted on each band. The final score will the product of the total contact points times the number of grid fields contacted. There should be plenty of strategy required to balance distant QSOs and the need to work all available grid fields. Single and multi-operators are welcome to operate as much or as little of the 24-hour contest period as they wish.
The contest has been designed to enable making contacts utilizing standard WSJT-X software behavior, making it easy for non-contesters to participate. At the same time, the contest supports some new techniques that will encourage operating innovation, such as permitting stations to work up to three “QSO streams” on a band at one time. Robotic operation is specifically prohibited in order to keep the human element as part of the game.
It is fitting that the World Wide DX contest series be expanded with a fourth mode, Digi, to support evolution into ham radio’s future.
Accordingly, with WWROF’s sponsorship of the World Wide Digi DX Contest, there will now be similar worldwide DX contests at the end of four successive months, August through November.
Serious contesters and casual participants alike can make ham radio history and have fun as the hobby pioneers the exciting world of digital communication. WWROF hopes the WW Digi DX Contest will attract new digital operators into contesting.
Plaques will be awarded for top scorers. Please contact the WW Digi Contest Director Ed Muns, W0YK at plaques@ww-digi.com to sponsor an award.
Electronic certificates will also be available for download for anyone that submits a log. The goal is to have results available on the web site within 90 days after the end of the contest.
About WWROF
The World Wide Radio Operators Foundation is dedicated to improving the skills and fun of amateur radio operators around the world by utilizing education, competition, advancement of technology and scientific research, promoting international friendship and goodwill.
WWROF is a non-profit, donor-supported, organization which sponsors this contest and provides the infrastructure for log submission, log checking, and other services in support of many popular radio contests. Please visit http://wwrof.org for more information.
About SCC
The Slovenia Contest Club has a long tradition of supporting digital contesting with its annual RTTY Championship contest held the last weekend of August. For more information about SCC please visit http://lea.hamradio.si/scc/
