CQ Magazine's Annual DX Marathon

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2022 Helpful Hints

 

Last Update - 5 June 2022

 

Bad Spots

Callsign Notes

Invalid Callsigns

Zone 2 Callsigns

Shetland Is (GM/S) Callsigns

CQ Zones for Antarctic Callsigns

Map of Antarctic Bases

Map of Turkish Callsigns

China WAZ Zone Map

USA/VE Zone Definitions

CQ Statement on Crimea

 

  • Each year there are pirates, operations that are not approved, callsigns that are copied incorrectly and unusual operations that are valid.   We attempt to document as many of these operations as possible - see the lists of valid callsigns, invalid callsigns,  and callsign notes.  We encourage you to share your findings on pirates, illegal operations or confusing callsigns with us.  Please send your callsign updates to the DX Marathon administrator at: k9el at dxmarathon.com

  • Many points are lost each year due to bad spots on the packetcluster network.  We have assembled an extensive list of bad spots - please check the list before entering any of these callsigns!

  • Please check USA/VE zones carefully - use www.qrz.com to check zones before submitting.   The number in the callsign does not necessarily match the location.  Did you know that West Virginia (W8) is in Zone 5?  and that Alabama (W4) is in Zone 4?  See US/VE zone detail below.

  • Check Zone 2 submissions carefully - see Zone 2 information below.

  • When a prefix can count for more than country (e.g. E51) double check your entry.

  • Although you can use the same QSO for a country and a Zone, if there is an error, two points will be lost!  We suggest using a different QSO for country and zone.

  • Review your submission carefully and make sure your logging program country database is up to date.

    •

    Valid Callsigns & Callsign Notes

    CALLSIGN NOTES
    1A0KM Pirate on 24 February
    2Q 2Q stations may be in any Great Britain country in June.  See this web page for more info:
    https://clublog.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/3000112434
    3A Many pirates - makes sure you can confirm your QSO
    3A3A Valid callsign
    4U0WFP Counts as Italy
    4U1A Valid callsign - Same as 4U1VIC
    4U1GSC Counts as Italy
    4U1ITU Activity starting April 10 is valid
    4U1WB Counts as USA
    4U1XMAS Valid callsign - Same as 4U1VIC
    4U13FEB Counts as Italy
    4U2U Valid callsign - Same as 4U1VIC
    4U2WRC Same as 4U1ITU
    4U29MAY Counts as Italy
    4U75A Valid callsign - Same as 4U1VIC
    4U75B Counts as Italy
    4U9A Counts as Italy
    4UNR Valid callsign - Same as 4U1VIC
    4Y1A Valid callsign - Same as 4U1VIC
    5X2G Valid callsign
    5X2H Valid callsign
    5X3Z Valid callsign
    8N1AQ/JD1 Minami Torishima
    9M22DX West Malaysia - 9M2
    9M4CGR West Malaysia - 9M2
    BY1CRA/WO22 Station is located in China, not USA - special Winter Olympic station
    C7A Valid callsign - Same as 4U1VIC
    E51CJC Valid callsign - South Cook
    FO/KD6XU Operating from a boat - contacts not valid
    GQ GQ stations may be in any Great Britain country in June.  See this web page for more info:
    https://clublog.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/3000112434
    HV0A Activity on 9Feb on 15m FT8 was a pirate
    HZ 30 meters not currently allowed in Saudi Arabia
    JW6VDA Pirate on May 1,2,3.  Any CW is from a pirate
    LU1ZD Same as CE9, AN-016, Barry Island - planned for April 15-18
    MQ MQ stations may be in any Great Britain country in June.  See this web page for more info:
    https://clublog.freshdesk.com/support/solutions/articles/3000112434
    NL8F Callsign was used by a pirate on 6m on June 2nd
    SP6TL/5W He is operating from Poland with 5 watts - not in 5W.
    SU9VB All FT8 is from a pirate; Also pirate on 26May 10,15,20 CW; 24May 15 CW; 21May 15 CW
    TC60TRAC Asia Turkey
    TO1A Same as FY
    TO1Q Same as FG -March-April
    TO2AZ Same as FG 27 May- 10 June
    TO3Z Same as FG  
    TO4A Same as FM  
    TO5A Same as FM - CQWW SSB contest
    TO6S Same as FG - 20Jan-1Feb
    TO60CNES Same as FY
    TO8N Same as FM
    TX5AQ Same as FO/A - Austral Islands
    TX5N Austral Islands - expedition planned for April 16-28
    TX60CNES Same as FK
    TY5TZ No info - checking for validity
    V85BS Pirate on 27Jan 20m FT4
    VB3Q70 Valid Canadian callsign
    VK1MDJ/P2 Appears to be portable VK2 and NOT in P2
    VK9DX 12m CW on 31 March was from a pirate.  10m CW activity was real.
    VU2TS Pirate on 15m on April 26th
    XU7AGA Pirate on 19Feb 80m
    ZG Valid prefix for ZB in June
    ZL75WARC Counts as New Zealand

     

    Invalid Callsigns

    INVALID CALLSIGNS
    1A0/PE5CE Pirate
    1A0UN Pirate
    3A2AM Pirate
    6V6CYU Pirate
    8Q7/RX3APM Pirate
    9Q7AX Pirate
    BG5IQX Uses USA based remote
    C9LOC Pirate
    FT5WQ Pirate
    TY5TZ Pirate
    VQ9LT Pirate
    VU2GSM Uses remotes in other countries
    YK7R Pirate
    ZD8RTC Pirate

     

    Zone 2 Information and Callsigns

    Zone 2 Official Definition: Northeastern Zone of North America: VO2 (Labrador), the portion of VE2 Quebec north of the 50th parallel, and Nunavut Territories east of 102 degrees (Includes the islands of King Christian, King William. Prince of Wales, Somerset, Bathurst, Devon, Ellesmere, Baffin and the Melville and Boothia Peninsulas, excluding Akimiski Island, Bear Islands and East Pen Island in Hudson Bay).

    Nunavut Territory is Canada is the most difficult to determine as it lies within 3 WAZ Zones.  Click here for a detailed Nunavut map.

     

    The following callsigns are good for Zone 2.  As 2022 expeditions are announced, more callsigns will be added.

     

    VA2RC Zone 2 on June 24, 2021
    VA2VT Zone 2 November 25-29 2021
    VE2CSI Resident
    VE2IDX Contests only
    VE2IM CQWW SSB 2021
    VE2IM November 22-29, 2021
    VO2 (any) All VO2 stations are in Zone 2
    VY0ERC Resident
    VY0MEL Part time resident

     

    Known Shetland Islands Callsigns

    The following stations are known to have operated from the Shetland Islands (GM/S) at some time over the last few years.  Not all are currently active.

    2M0SPX GM/S
    2M0VIK/MM0VIK GM/S
    GB0DAW GM/S
    GB1COR GM/S
    GB2AES GM/S
    GB2ELH GM/S
    GB2QM GM/S
    GB2SAA GM/S
    GB2SLH GM/S
    GB2SUM GM/S
    GB2WAM GM/S
    GM0EKM GM/S
    GM0GFL GM/S
    GM0JDB GM/S
    GM3ZET GM/S
    GM4JPI GM/S
    GM4LER GM/S
    GM4S  GM/S
    GM4SLV GM/S
    GM4SSA - Silent Key GM/S
    GM4WSB/P GM/S
    GS0AAA GM/S
    GS3BSQ GM/S
    GS3ZET GM/S
    GS7V GM/S
    GZ1DVP GM/S
    GZ5Y GM/S
    MA0XAU GM/S
    MM0SHF/P GM/S
    MM0VIK GM/S
    MM0XAU GM/S
    MM0ZRC GM/S
    MM1FEO GM/S
    MM5PSL GM/S
    MM6IIP GM/S
    MM6PTE GM/S
    MM7CGR GM/S
       
    MS0OXE GM/S
    MZ5A GM/S
    MZ5B GM/S

     

    Known CQ Zones for Antarctic Callsigns

    CALLSIGN CQ ZONE COMMENTS
    4K1A 39  
    4K1B 29  
    4K1C 29  
    4K1D 36  
    4K1E 29  
    4K1F 13  
    4K1G 30  
    4K1H 32  
    4K1J 13  
    8J1RL 39 AN-015 until Jan22
    8J60JARE 39 Syowa Base 
    8T2BH 39  
    D8A 30  
    DH5CW 38 AN016; Neumayer station, Dec 2017-Feb2019
    DP0GVN 38 Neumayer Station III
    DP1POL 38  
    EM1E 13 Vernadsky Base, AN006
    EM1UA or EM1U 13 Vernadsky Base, AN006
    FT3YL 30 Dumont D'Urville, F6KPQ, Start Feb 2017 AN017
    FT4YM 30 Nov 2021 to March 2022, Dumont D'Urville base
    HF0POL 13  
    HL5BDS 13  
    IA0/DK6SQX or DK5SXQ 29 Concordia
    IA0/IZ1KHY 29 Concordia Jan2019
    IA0MZ 30  
    KC4/N2TA    
    KC4AAA 12,13,29,30,32,38,39  
    KC4AAC 13  
    KC4AAD 13  
    KC4AAE 29  
    KC4USB 32  
    KC4USN 12,13,29,30,32,38,39  
    KC4USV 30 Active in 2021
    LU1ZAB 13 Argentine Matienzo Base (LU4DXU)
    LU1ZG 13 Base Belgrano II
    LU1ZV 13 BASE ANTÁRTICA ESPERANZA 
    LU3HRS/Z   ITU Zone 73
    LU4ZA   Marambio Base; LU4DXU
    LU4ZS 13  
    OJ1ABOA    
    OP0LE 38  
    OR4TN 38  
    R1ANC 29 Vostek Station
    R1ANN 38  
    R1ANR 38  
    R1ANT 29  
    RI01ANT - RI0IANT? 29, 38 Progress and Vostek Station
    RI1ANA 39 Molodyozhnaya Base, till March 2017
    RI1ANC 29 Starts again 10 Feb 2020 with new op
    RI1AND 38  
    RI1ANL 38 Novolazarevskaya AN-016 Mar2018 to March2019
    RI1ANL 39 March 18, 2018 ONLY - Molodezhnaya Station
    RI1ANM 38 Mirny Base
    RI1ANN 38 Progress station till 2/22
    RI1ANP 39  
    RI1ANR 38  
    RI1ANT 29  
    RI1ANV 29 Vostek Station
    RI1ANW 38 Novolazarevskaya
    RI1ANX   NEED INFO
    RI1ANZ 39  
    RI60ANT 38  
    VK0GM 29  
    VK0HZ 39 Davis Base
    VK0PD   Casey Station 2021
    VK0JJJ 39  
    VP8/SQ1SGB 13 Halley VI Base (SQ1SGB)
    VP8CTR 13 AN006
    VP8DMH    
    VP8DPJ 13  
    VP8HAL 13 Halley VI Base (SQ1SGB)
    VP8ME 38  
    VP8ROT 13  
    VU3LBP/P   Bharati Station 
    ZL5A 30 Scott Base
    ZL5AA 30  
    ZS7ANF 38 2021
    ZS7ANT 38 WAP MNB-12 or MNB-11

     

     

     

    Map of Turkish Callsign Prefixes

     

    Note: Only TA1 Callsigns are in European Turkey

     

    USA/VE Zone Listing

    Zone 1. Northwestern Zone of North America: KL (Alaska), VY1/VE8 Yukon, the Northwest and Nunavut Territories west of 102 degrees (Includes the islands of Victoria, Banks, Melville, and Prince Patrick).

    Zone 2. Northeastern Zone of North America: VO2 Labrador, the portion of VE2 Quebec north of the 50th parallel, the VE8 Northwest and Nunavut Territories east of 102 degrees (Includes the islands of King Christian, King William, Prince of Wales, Somerset, Bathurst, Devon, Ellesmere, Baffin and the Melville and Boothia Peninsulas, excluding Akimiski Island).

    Zone 3. Western Zone of North America: VE7, W6, and the W7 states of Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

    Zone 4. Central Zone of North America: VE3, VE4, VE5, VE6, VE8 Akimiski Island, and W7 states of Montana and Wyoming. W0, W9, W8 (except West Virginia), W5, and the W4 states of Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

    Zone 5. Eastern Zone of North America: 4U1UN, CY9, CY0, FP, VE1, VE9, VY2, VO1 and the portion of VE2 Quebec south of the 50th parallel. VP9, W1, W2, W3 and the W4 states of Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and the W8 state of West Virginia.

    CQ Special Statement on Crimea