I'd like to add my comments about the three "big" 160-meter DX contests -
the areas of the world they favor, and their popularity.
The first weekend of December each year is the ARRL 160m contest. This
contest is USA and Canada stations working anyone, including DX. W/VEs
get 2 points per QSO for working other W/VEs and 5 points for each QSO
with DX, and multipliers for each ARRL/Canadian section plus DX countries
worked. This is a very popular contest, but DX-to-DX QSOs have no point
or multipler credit. DX stations must work only W/VE stations for point
credit (2 points per QSO) and multiplier credit (each W/VE section).
This clearly discourages DX activity in the ARRL 160m contest. Eastern
USA stations have a big advantage in this contest, not only for their
ability to amass many EU multipliers, but simply because of the very
large eastern USA population of hams. DX stations in the Caribbean
(non-KP2/KP3) and northern South America also have a big advantage due to
the large numbers of W/VE stations they can work just to the northwest.
The last weekend in January of each year is the CQ WW 160-meter DX
contest. As Bill, W4ZV pointed out, this is not really a DX contest
because most of the activity is in North America. Point credit for
anyone entering the contest is 2 points for QSOs within the same country,
5 point for QSOs outside of your country but withing the same continent,
and 10 points for QSOs with another continent. This is currently the
most popular 160-meter contest, probably because DX station get point and
multipler credit for working anyone - not just W/VE stations. The
closest a western USA station came to beating out an eastern USA station
in this contest was in 1979 when K6SE won 2nd place behind K1PBW in the
single-op category. Both stations were using 2-el phased verticals which
were considered "super antennas" back then. Now 4-squares and larger
(N7JW) are becoming commonplace on the band. Top scores in this contest
nowadays are always from eastern USA/VE stations and northern South
America (PJ2, P4).
The last Saturday in December of each year is the Stew Perry TopBand
Distance Challenge. This contest has gained popularity each year in its
7 years of existence. There is no multiplier credit in this contest.
Basically, you get one point for each 500 km distance for each QSO. Low
power (5 to 100 watts) and QRP (under 5 watts) is encouraged because low
power stations are given a multiplier of 2 and QRP stations are allowed a
multiplier of 4. This contest appears to have the most level playing
field for all participants. Two years ago VK6VZ had the single-op world
high score. Last year K6SE had the Multi-op world high score (no east
coast competition, hi). Also last year K7CA, using N7JW's super antenna
array, was almost world high in the single-op category with K1ZM and his
4-square barely nosing out K7CA. These two stations ran QRP in the
contest which shows how important that 4X multiplier is. This contest
runs for only one night and therefore is appealing because it doesn't
seem to be quite the marathon to old guys (like me) compared to the other
160m contests.
73, de Earl, K6SE
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