[CQ-Contest] Is it time to redraw the CQ zone map?

[Ron Notarius W3WN]

With all due respect... no.

It ain’t perfect.  Never has been, never will be.  But... also, it ain’t broke.  Don’t “fix” it.

73, Ron W3WN

> On Dec 4, 2025, at 9:18 AM, Barry W2UP <w2up.co at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Since gerrymandering has been a thing in the US lately, perhaps it should
> apply to the CQ zone map as well.
> 
> Consider the primary US zones, 3, 4, and 5.  Zone 5 is roughly 500 miles
> wide.  Zone 4 is roughly 1600 miles wide, and zone 3 is about 1000 miles
> wide.  Is it fair that OH and CO are in the same zone?  Ohio's EU opening,
> while not quite as favorable, is much more like that of the eastern
> seaboard than OH vs CO (I've operated CQWW from both states.)  Drastically
> different DX condx from one side to the other.  Perhaps the zones should be
> realigned as follows:
> zone 5 - eastern time zone.
> zone 4 - central time zone.
> zone 3 - pacific and mountain time zones.
> 
> While I haven't looked at the rest of the world, consider one example -
> zone 15.  Is it fair that the OH's and 9A's are in the same zone,
> considering the vastly different propagation (auroral zone and
> dramatically shorter daylight hours for OH's during WW)?  Perhaps zone 40
> should be extended east, way up north.
> 
> Let the floodgates open.
> 
> Barry W2UP
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