The 2010 edition of the CQ DX Marathon begins at 0000UTC on January 1, 2010 and runs through 2359 UTCon December 31, 2010. The goal, as always, is to work

as many countries and CQ zones as possible at least onceduring the calendar year.

There are only minor changes to the rules for 2010, main-ly clarifications on Formula Class antennas plus a require-ment to declare Formula Class options and describe FormulaClass antennas. Once again we will use a downloadableMicrosoft Excel® template that may be filled in and e-mailedto a special address as your log entry. Conversion programsare available to automatically populate the template fromyour logging program. See the DX Marathon website(http://www.dxmarathon.com) for details. Here are the 2010rules for the CQ DX Marathon:

Rules, 2010 CQ DX Marathon(1) Activity period: The CQ DX Marathon is a year-long

activity, beginning at 000 UTC January 1 and ending at 2359UTC December 31. Each year’s event is separate.

(2) Frequencies: Any authorized amateur frequency maybe used. Contacts through repeaters or satellites are notallowed for credit, nor are contacts with maritime or aero-nautical mobile stations. All contacts must be made entirelyover amateur radio frequencies—i.e., Echolink-type contactsdo not count.

(3) Modes: Any authorized amateur mode may be used.Three modes will be recognized in the DX Marathon—CW,SSB, and Digital. All modes other than CW and SSB will countas Digital. Submissions with all contacts utilizing a singlemode will be recognized.

(4) Categories: All awards are for single operator only.Entries with two or more callsigns will only count as a singleentry if all contacts were made by the same (single) opera-tor at the same station using the same antennas. There aretwo entry classes, “Formula” and “Unlimited.”

(a) Formula: An entrant may choose one of two options inthis class: (1) All contacts must be made with a maximumoutput power of 10 watts, regardless of band or mode; or (2)

the operator may run a maximum of 100 watts output to asimple antenna, such as a vertical or dipole (see the appen-dix below for further rules on antennas used in either optionfor Formula Class). An operator in Formula Class must selectQRP (10 watts or less) or 100 watts and limited antennas atthe beginning of the year’s DX Marathon and may not switchbetween entry modes during the year. All contacts must bemade without assistance of any sort, including, but not limit-ed to, lists, passes, or use of higher power or prohibited anten-nas to initially secure the contact. Use of spotting nets suchas a DX Cluster® is allowed.

(b) Unlimited: Any antenna may be used, along with anypower level for which the operator is licensed. Use of spot-ting nets such as DX Cluster® is allowed.

(5) Scoring: Each country worked is worth one point. EachCQ zone worked is worth one point. The total score is thesum of zones and countries worked, on any mode and anyauthorized band. There are no multipliers of any kind. Eachcountry and zone count only once. A single QSO may countfor both a country and a zone. If in the course of the year youwork 238 countries and 37 zones, your score is 275. If youwork all 40 zones and 150 countries, your score is 190. TheCQ DX Countries List and the CQ Zone List constitute theofficial lists. The lists are available on the DX Marathon web-site. In the case of ties, the operator whose last scoring con-tact was earlier chronologically will be judged the winner.Decisions of the Marathon Manager are final.

(6) Submissions: Submissions must be made electroni-cally, via e-mail to <scores@dxmarathon.com>. A MicrosoftExcel® template into which contacts may be entered is avail-able for download from the CQ DX Marathon website at<http://www.dxmarathon.com>. All scores must be receivedby January 31 following the close of each DX Marathon.

(7) Verification: QSLs are not required. The operator isexpected to claim contacts only from stations the operatorhas every reason to believe are legitimate, and only to claimcontacts in which an accurate two-way exchange was clear-ly accomplished (see Appendix for further explanation).Scores will be adjusted by the DX Marathon committee forclaimed contacts with pirates or any station not consideredlegitimate. Submissions may be penalized or voided in casesof fraud or poor sportsmanship. Submissions that do not pro-vide clear descriptions of Formula Class antennas to showthat the antennas meet the Formula Class antenna rules maybe re-classified to Unlimited Class. Decisions of the MarathonManager are final.

(8) Clubs: Clubs are strongly encouraged to use the frame-work of this contest for intramural and regional competitions.

(9) Claimed Scores: Competitors are encouraged to sub-mit claimed scores to the DX Marathon website throughoutthe year. The claims will be updated regularly and posted onthe website.

(10) Results: The final listing of official scores will be post-

Announcing:

The 2010 CQ DX Marathon

2009 Logs Due by January 31, 2010This year’s DX Marathon ends December 31, so it’s time to go

back through your log, see what you have worked, enter it ontothe DX Marathon spreadsheet, and then update it with any addi-tional contacts through the end of the year. Last year’s winningQSO was made on December 21st, so take advantage of the hol-iday season to boost your score. At the very least, you will giveyourself a goal to beat in 2010! See rule 5 in the main text or theDX Marathon website for details on how and where to submit yourlog. Remember, log submission deadline for the 2009 CQ DXMarathon is January 31, 2010.

28 • CQ • December 2009 Visit Our Web Site

ed on the DX Marathon website afterthe annual summary of the winningscores and details are published in CQmagazine.

(11) Awards: Certificates: Certificates will be issued

to the winners from each CQ zone andeach CQ country. Where there is suffi-cient activity, additional certificates maybe issued for other high scorers or forscores using a single mode.

The CQ DX Marathon Committee willaward plaques to the top scorer in eachclass. Additional sponsors are welcome.

(12) In all cases, the rulings of the CQDX Marathon Committee and the CQDX Marathon Manager are final.

Appendix(a) Formula Class, option 1: Oper-

ators selecting the 10-watt option arelimited to antennas on a single towerand whose height does not exceed 65feet or 20 meters above ground ele-vation within 330 feet or 100 meters ofthe tower base. Wire antennas mayalso be used but must meet the crite-ria of the 100-watt option, and may betower-supported at only one point.

(b) Formula Class, option 2:Antennas for operators choosing the100-watt option must be either simpleverticals or wire antennas lacking signif-icant gain. No arrays are allowed,whether vertical or horizontal, nor arelong wires exceeding 130 feet, or 40meters, except on 80 and 160 meters.Dipoles, long wires, or other horizontalantennas must not exceed 60 feet, or 18meters, above ground and may not besupported by more than one tower. Thebase of vertical antennas used must notbe more than 33 feet, or 10 meters, high-er than the station floor and may notexceed 65 feet or 20 meters in totalheight. Yagis, quads, or tower-mountedantennas (except wire antennas asnoted) may not be used in this category.

(c) Contacts: Each contact for aclaimed country or zone must be a solidcontact. The station claiming a contactwith another station is expected to havehad his or her callsign fully and accu-rately received and transmitted by theother station, and to have copied his/herown call being correctly sent by theother station. For example, K2MGAmay not claim credit for a QSO with aDX station who had his call as K3MGA,even though in many cases the DX sta-tion would QSL the contact with the cor-rection made (after receiving a cardfrom K2MGA, realizing the error andcorrecting his/her log). For a contact tocount, both stations must correctly copyall of both callsigns.

www.cq-amateur-radio.com December 2009 • CQ • 29