The EAWA and the DX Marathon program have crossed paths numerous times. Several EAWA members have participated in the program over the last couple of years. Last spring the program administrator, Mark WC3W, gave a Zoom presentation to the club. Also, the EAWA sponsors a winner’s plaque for the highest score in the Formula Unlimited Class. (The sponsorship was a gift from Marion W1GRL and Stan W1BOY to the EAWA as a way to honor the club for being the special group that it is!)
The DX Marathon program is free, easy, and fun to participate in. “Free,” as in no fees or registration. It’s easy because all you need is an ADIF file that includes this year’s DX contacts — no filtering is needed on your part. You can give them your whole QRZ file or download from your logging program if you’d like. It’s fun to see what you have accomplished this year, and to see how you’re doing compared to others with similar power-levels and antennas. The program gives seasoned DX hunters a reason to contact the easy-to-find countries and CQ zones each year. Also, if you spend time in DX contests, you may be surprised at how high your DX Marathon score is!
In a recent email exchange with Marion W1GRL, Mark WC3W emphasized that ALL participants will receive a “beautiful” certificate listing all their accomplishments (including standing among EAWA submissions). Your score is the sum of the number of DX entities contacted and CQ zones worked in 2025. Operators may choose to enter a with a specific mode, such as digital only, or mixed modes. The DX Marathon is a program, not a contest, so all bands count toward your score )similar to the State QSO Party Challenge). There are overlays for youth and YLs. At the time of this writing there were 1,007 entries from hams around the world, including EAWA members Barbara KC1SSY, Phil N1EP, Stan W1BOY, and Marion W1GRL. Mark W1ABY was among those who entered in 2024.
When you submit your file (here), it’s a good idea to use the Entry Editor that explains options and gives tips for choosing the best QSO to represent each entity. Recently, Marion W1GRL entered a mini DX Marathon sprint, didn’t bother with the Entry Editor, and promptly received 11 deductions because of invalid call signs, incorrect entities (call signs didn’t match expected entity), and incorrect CQ zones. It’s easy to mix up CQ and ITU zones on QRZ, in logging programs, WSJT-X, or other software. It’s worth a few minutes to go over the entries in your submission — Marion could have chosen different QSOs and saved those points.
Once you’re satisfied with your submission, the website will present questions regarding your modes, power-levels and antennas in order to place your entry in the appropriate category. Don’t forget the EAWA! Use the dropdown box for clubs to find the EAWA. You can also choose whether to make your results public on the Leaderboard or keep them private.
The deadline for submissions is 7:00pm EST, Monday, January 5, 2026. So, in addition to planning New Year’s Resolutions and ham radio goals, perhaps you will also choose to post your DX contacts on the CQ DX Marathon website. It would be great to see the list of EAWA entries grow!
Written by Marion W1GRL
W1TU 