ICARC DX Resources

Solar X-Ray Flux:
Geomagnetic Field:

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 evening 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, but the English translations are delivered in a monthly batch. This "digest" format means the information is not always current.

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 (125 issues), or $49 per year (250 issues).

ARRL DX Bulletin

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

DX Information sites

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.

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. (This website is also the source for the best CW keyer on the market, the CMOS Super Keyer 3, which was designed by KCØQ and NØII, both from Cedar Rapids.)

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.

Since its inauguration in September 2003, LoTW has more than 95 million QSO records on file, with nearly 5.15 million QSL records resulting. The system boasts just over 12,000 registered users, representing more than 18,100 call signs.

Users of the ARRL's Logbook of the World now may 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. Once registered and logged in, users may set up a WAS account on the Logbook "Awards" page, configuring the account to automatically select QSLs to use or selecting them manually via the "Your QSOs" page.

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 41¢ stamps, (one on your outer envelope, one on your SASE) instead of a 90¢ airmail stamp and two US dollar bills!

K4UTE QSL Manager Database

As of October 2006, this database is no longer being updated.

Zero District QSL Bureau

The QSL bureaus provide an inexpensive way of getting your DX QSL cards. You send a few bucks to the bureau to buy envelopes (at 52¢ each, which includes one 41¢ stamp) and extra stamps (at 20¢ each), and 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

Successful QSLing -- By Jan O'Brien, K6HHD

Direct QSL Hints -- From K3KY

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

Direct QSLing to Russia and CIS From Dennis, RZ1AK

IRCs Tips & Advice

IRC & GreenStamp Chart -- IRC's Required to return a QSL to the United States -- From N6DHZ

How to Improve your QSL Returns -- from ZS6EZ

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

The QSL Man, W4MPY

Wayne, W4MPY, produces excellent QSLs at a reasonable price. He is always willing to work with you on your own custom QSL design. Wayne also has available nesting Air Mail envelopes, a great product for direct QSLing overseas.

WZ8P -- Quality Color QSL Printing

WZ8P produces high quality, full-color cards. Used by many top DX'ers.

Octavia QSLs

Octavia has developed a reputation for very high-quality cards at a reasonable price. Located in Russia, you can deal with them through their website.

Rusprint

Rusprint has been printing QSLs since 1956! Some nice cards at reasonable prices.

Propagation

N6RT's Propagation Page

Excellent near real time propagation information collected from numerous sources.

ARRL Propagation Bulletins

ARRL's excellent weekly propagation bulletins by K7RA. Available by free email subscription on the ARRL "Members Only" page, 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 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 a 6-hour span.

NOAA GOES 5 min Xray Flux

NOAA's plot of solar X-Ray flux, a measure of the intensity of ionization in the earth's ionosphere. Updated every five minutes, shows a 3-day span.

NOAA Kp-index Monitor

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.

DXers Path Maps

A plot of propatation paths as posted on the world-wide DX spotting network. By default, it shows the past hour's paths, but you can choose 2 or 4 hours as well. Select the band you are interested in from a drop-down list. (A very nice site!)

NOAA Space Environment Center

A nice collection of NOAA propagation data. Links provided to other NOAA pages -- of special note: Today's Space Wx, a nice collection of charts.

SpaceWeather.com

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

William Hepburn's VHF/UHF Tropospheric Ducting Forecast

For you VHF/UHF enthusiasts, this is a series of nice maps predicting tropospheric ducting band openings.

WM7D's Solar Resource Page

A nice collection of propagation data by WM7D.

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Last updated May 23, 2007 by KØCF