DX Resources

A collection of DX resources (Adapted from a similar page that I did about a decade ago for the Iowa City ARC web site. -KØCF)

(Note: All item headers are clickable links.)

DX Bulletins

425 DX News

A superb DX news site from Italy, with a weekly bulletin available via free email subscription. Usually arrives on Friday. Subscription includes a DX Calendar.

The Ohio/Penn DX Bulletin (OPDX), edited by Tedd Mirgliotta, KB8NW.

Another good DX information resource. Delivered every Sunday morning by free e-mail subscription.

DX News Letter (DXNL), edited by Michael, DJ5AV.

A good DX information source from Germany. Also available via a free e-mail subscription.

The Daily DX

This is a paid DX newsletter, which arrives each weekday, with extra editions for rapidly breaking news. Bernie McClenny, W3UR, is the editor (and is also DX editor for QST magazine). A two-week free trial is available on the web site. Rates are currently $28 for 6 months, or $49 per year. (It is well worth the cost! -KØCF)

ARRL DX Bulletin Archive
ARRL DX Bulletin Subscriptions

Another source for DX information. As with the above newsletters, this is available via e-mail subscription on the ARRL "Newsletters" page. It comes every Thursday afternoon.

Other DX Information Sources

ARRL DXCC Program

Most everyone who chases DX is after the DXCC award, or endorsements to it. Here is the site with all the rules, "entity" (i.e., country) list, entry forms, FAQ, etc.

DX Summit

Finnish web resource for DX information, including live DX spots from all around the world.

NG3K Amateur Radio Contest/DX Page

A great source for scheduled DX operations, both for general DX and contests. (Even if you are not a contester, DX contests are a great time to pick up new countries.) Also a tremendous collection of links for all things related to DX.

DXWorld.net

Features one-page graphical depictions of on-going DXpeditions. Nicely done site with beautiful photography. (Suggested by WØGXA.)

The Complete DX'er -- by Bob Locher, W9KNI

Far and away the most popular DX book ever written, "The Complete DX'er" is both the highly entertaining diary of a serious DX chaser, and at the same time full of lessons for DX'ing success. Written in a warm, personal style, this is a work you will read again and again. It very much respects and honors the traditions of DX'ing, yet brings a sense of excitement to the chase. $19.95 plus S/H.

QSL Information

Logbook of the World (LoTW)

This is the ARRL's online logbook. Once signed up, you can upload your logs to LoTW. When the DX you have worked uploads his logs, a "QSL" is generated. You can download your QSL records to import into your computer log to show them as confirmed. You can then submit these "QSLs" for DXCC, either a new award or endorsements to an existing one. The only charge for using LoTW is when you file to use the LoTW QSLs to apply to your DXCC. The cost is much less than getting a paper QSL and submitting it.

Inaugurated in September 2003, LoTW has more than 829 million QSO records on file, with more than 145 million QSL records resulting. The system boasts just over 94,000 registered users.

Users of the ARRL's Logbook of the World may also apply their LoTW credits to applications for the League's Worked All States (WAS) award. (US Amateur Radio licensees must be ARRL members to apply for the WAS award.)

Some CQ Magazine awards are available through LoTW as well.

IK3QAR QSL Manager Lookup

From Italy, perhaps the most complete source for QSL managers. If you are not aware of QSL managers, they are volunteers who take care of QSLing chores for busy DX stations. Often, they are in the USA, so a QSL only costs two 49¢ stamps, (one on your outer envelope, one on your SASE) instead of a $1.15 airmail stamp and two US dollar bills!

Zero District QSL Bureau

The QSL bureaus provide an inexpensive way of getting your DX QSL cards. You send $6.00 to the bureau to buy 5 envelopes with one 49¢ stamp on each, plus 8 extra stamps (at 21¢ each). When an envelope gets full of DX QSL cards, they mail it to you. A good explanation of both the incoming and outgoing QSL bureaus is available at the ARRL's Incoming QSL Bureaus page and the Outgoing QSL Service page.

How to QSL

Direct QSL Hints -- from K3KY

QSLing -- Tips & Advice -- from The DX Reflector

Direct QSLing to Russia and CIS -- from Dennis, RZ1AK

How to Improve your QSL Returns -- from ZS6EZ

QSL card printers -- some sources for your own QSL cards

Thanks to Rich Haendel, W3ACO, for researching the data in this table. Rich uses (and HIGHLY recommends) UX5UO for his QSLs. Prices are current as of April 1, 2017 and are subject to change. Click on the QSL Printer's name to visit their web site.

Printer	Card Style	Price per 1,000	E-Ham Rating	Comments
LZ1JZ	2 color 1 side	See webpage	4.9/228	No charge for photos
	Others by quote
CheapQSLs.com	Black 1 side	$9.99/100+S/H $99.90/1000+S/H	5.0/722	Fixed format
	Full color 2 side	$28.95/100+S/H $289.50/1000+S/H
UX5UO	4 color 1 side	$59.00 ppd	5.0/334	No charge for photos
	Full color + 1 color back	$69.00 ppd
	Full color glossy + 1 color back	$76.00 ppd
QSL Shop	Full color + black back	$120.00+S/H	4.9/95	No charge for photos
Franklin Printing (WZ8P)	Full color front + black back	$143.00 ppd	5.0/1

  E-ham rating is the rating / number of reviewers. 5.0 is the highest rating.

Propagation

N6RT's Propagation Page

Excellent near real time propagation information collected from numerous sources.

ARRL Propagation Bulletin Archive

ARRL's excellent weekly propagation bulletins by K7RA. Available by free email subscription on the ARRL web site, as well as in the archive page linked here.

ARRL QST Propagation Charts

These charts used to appear monthly in QST. Very useful graph of maximun and minimum usable frequency from the USA to various areas worldwide. (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view.)

NOAA GOES 1 min & 5 min X-ray Flux

NOAA's plot of solar X-Ray flux, a measure of the intensity of ionization in the earth's ionosphere. Updated each minute, shows 6-hour and 3-day spans.

NOAA Planetary K Index

NOAA's plot of the geomagnetic K-index, a measure of disturbances in the earth's magnetic field, which is detrimental to HF propagation. Auroras often appear when the K-index is very high. Updated every five minutes, shows a 3-day span.

Near-Real-Time MUF Map

A very nice world map showing the Maximum Usable Frequency (MUF) over the entire globe.

NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center

A nice collection of NOAA propagation data. Links provided to other NOAA pages. They have a nice collection of charts.

SpaceWeather.com

Very nicely done site, with lots of information about space weather other than propagation-related info.

SolarHam.net

Provided by VE3EN. A lot of propagation-related info in one place. Very attractively done! (Suggested by KØVM.)

VOACAP

A very useful and elegantly designed propagation forecast site. You select both ends of a path, antenna type and transmitter power. The results appear on a world map and a 24-hour wheel that shows path reliability by band. A must-see resource!

WM7D's Solar Resource Page

A nice collection of propagation data by WM7D.