As the award in the photo shows, EAWA member Matt W1MRH has contacted and confirmed at least 100 countries or entities on the five primary HF contest bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters. In addition, he has secured the required 100 confirmed contacts on 160, 30, 17, and 12 meters. At the time of this writing he had 77 confirmed entities on 6 meters. Across all bands, he has confirmed 295 countries on the DX list.
Matt and a few others in the EAWA who have achieved this award are in rare company. According to an ARRL article published October 4, 2021, there are approximately 780,000 hams in the U.S. and 1.75 million world-wide. Matt is #10,556 to reach 5 Band DXCC, putting him in a group of 1% of the hams in the U.S. and a group of 0.6% in the world.
To reach his DXCC goals Matt has employed all the major modes, with most of his contacts made on phone or CW. His primary radios include an Elecraft K3, Icom IC-7300, and an Icom IC-7610. He has a tower with multiple antennas, four wire antennas, and a satellite antenna. In order to chase any DX signal quickly, he has various radios and antennas tuned to particular bands. Following a remark on the great set-up, he quickly added that most of the DXCC contacts were made with a dipole and 100 watts — sophisticated equipment is not required.
Matt began a dedicated effort to complete the 5 Band DXCC Award in 2014. When asked about the countries hardest to get, he rummaged through a sizable tub of QSL cards and settled on contacting Japan and New Zealand on 6 meters, and gaining confirmations from Afghanistan, Yemen, and Somalia. Today he continues his DXCC quest, working on 6 meters and adding new countries on particular bands. Currently he works mostly CW and FT8/4, and enjoys the January and June Field Days.
When asked what advice he would give to someone who wants to achieve DXCC on multiple bands, Matt said to commit to it, be patient, find a DX cluster (spotting site), and use LOTW. Based on listening to his story, it also takes daily hunting and persistence in the follow-through from contact to secured confirmation, whether through international mail, LOTW, or some other means.
Congratulations Matt! Thanks for sharing some of your DXCC journey and inspiring others to join in the hunt for QSOs around the world.
Written by Marion W1GRL
W1TU 