From the desk of our amateur radio columnist:

The amateur radio world is currently defined by two powerful, contrasting dynamics: the electrifying chaos of the annual CQ World Wide DX Contest, and the measured, structural development of the hobby's public service and legislative foundations across North America.

With the CQWW DX CW segment arriving this weekend, operators are moving from the high-stakes, domestic focus of the ARRL Sweepstakes to the global pursuit of DXCC entities. This report details the key stations currently active from rare corners of the globe, provides a deeper structural analysis of the massive shift underway in Canada’s emergency communications hierarchy, and reviews the latest progress on the critical U.S. antenna rights fight, complete with a look back at the contest season just closed.

The sun continues to exert its volatile influence, opening up brief windows of spectacular propagation while reminding us of its power, keeping operators focused on making contacts when and where they can. This is a high-skill, high-reward environment that demands precision—or, as we call it, operating at The Zero-Beat.

🗺️ The DX Chaser's Digest: Final Push to CQWW CW and Lessons from the Field

I. Introduction: The Peak of Contesting Season 🏆

This week culminates in the amateur radio world’s premier global event: the CQ World Wide DX Contest (CW). North American operators are either fine-tuning their stations or already active on the air, battling massive pileups to secure contacts with rare multipliers from across the globe.

While the current solar environment remains intensely volatile—defined by recent X-class flares that triggered strong R3 radio blackouts over large parts of the globe—the prevailing high Solar Flux Index (SFI) promises spectacular band openings on the higher HF bands (10m, 15m, 20m) for stations positioned to take advantage.

II. On the Air Now: DX Focus on the CQWW CW Contest

The major action on the bands this week centers on high-profile DXpeditions that are either operating for the contest or providing contacts in the run-up to it.

• PJ5C (Sint Eustatius): Peter, PA4O, and Ad, PA8AD/PE6Q, are actively operating from Sint Eustatius and will be a highly sought-after multiplier during the CQWW CW Contest. Located in the Caribbean, these stations provide excellent propagation paths into the eastern and central US and Canada.
• TY5FR (Benin): Red, DL1BUG, is actively operating from Cotonou, Benin, and plans full participation in the CQWW DX CW Contest. Africa is a high-demand continent for DXCC chasers, making this 100-watt operation a vital target.
• 5X1DF / 5X1XA (Uganda): Don, G3XTT (operating as 5X1DF on 40m), and Alan, G3XAQ (operating as 5X1XA on 15m), are in Uganda specifically to run high-power, single-band entries in the CQWW CW contest. Dedicated contest DXpeditions like this are essential sources for operators looking to complete band-slots for Africa.
• HK4/PY8WW (Playa Blanca Island): Renato, PY8WW, successfully reached Playa Blanca Island (IOTA SA-084) despite rough weather and high seas during his journey. His successful activation is a key target for IOTA chasers this period.

9U1RU Conclusion: A Logistical Victory 💪

The multi-operator 9U1RU DXpedition to Burundi successfully concluded its planned operation on November 20, logging over 102,000 QSOs despite facing immense challenges. The team battled daily commercial power failures, requiring them to constantly manage unreliable diesel generators and scale back the output of their power amplifiers. Their efforts highlight the sheer logistical difficulty involved in activating rare entities, where the success of the contact is as much about solving electrical and meteorological problems on the ground as it is about propagation.

III. The 2026 Horizon: Bouvet and Sable Island Commitments

The planning continues for two of the most-anticipated DXpeditions in recent memory, both scheduled for 2026.

• 3Y0K (Bouvet Island) 🥶: The 3Y0K team has affirmed its commitment to the $1.7 million operation, maintaining the February 1, 2026, departure date from Cape Town. The team's leadership recently mitigated a significant financial risk by contributing an additional $150,000 of personal funds after multiple members defaulted on contractual obligations. This extraordinary measure demonstrates the profound dedication required to activate the world’s #10 most-wanted DXCC entity.
• CY0S (Sable Island) 🏖️: The CY0S DXpedition to Sable Island (IOTA NA-063) remains scheduled for March 19–31, 2026. As one of the most difficult entities to access due to strict Canadian National Park Reserve regulations, this remains a once-in-a-decade opportunity, especially for North American hams seeking low-band contacts with this rare Canadian entity. The team intends to operate up to six simultaneous HF stations, along with VHF, Satellite, and EME modes, using equipment optimized for high-performance operation in compact, lightweight packages.

🇨🇦 The Canadian Ham's Frequency: RAC's Structural Evolution and Training Focus

I. RAC's Shift to the Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS) 🚨

The Canadian government’s $545,000 investment in the Radio Amateurs of Canada (RAC) for emergency preparedness has catalyzed a significant structural overhaul of the organization's public service wing. RAC is deliberately moving away from the previous Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) model and fully transitioning to the new Auxiliary Communications Service (ACS).

This move reflects an alignment with modern disaster management methodology and key stakeholders. The focus of the new ACS is clearly defined:

• Professional Certification: ACS provides certified communications operators to supplement communications for local emergency management groups and non-governmental organizations.
• Integrated Volunteers: ACS teams are viewed as integrated, unpaid members of the sponsoring agencies, providing backup radio services.
• National Standard: The goal is to establish a minimal operational standard across the country, ensuring that trained Auxiliary Communicators can adapt to local obligations or assist in other areas throughout Canada if called upon.

This new structure is led by the Community Services Officer (CSO) and supported by a Field Services National Advisory Committee (FSNAC). This framework provides a standardized, professional, and accountable mechanism for RAC to utilize the recent large-scale investment for recruitment, skill upgrades, and team deployment within Ontario and potentially serve as a model for other provinces.

II. On the Air: Reorganization and Education

The restructuring is not just administrative; it has physical consequences for Canadian radio operations, particularly contesting.

• Section Manager Restructuring: The RAC Board approved changes to the sectional system, now fully implemented. The changes included abolishing the Maritime Section and creating two new ones: Nova Scotia (NS) and New Brunswick (NB). Additionally, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut were combined into a new Territories Section (TER). This means hams participating in major ARRL contests now have a net gain of one multiplier and must use the new section abbreviations (NS, NB, TER) in their exchanges.
• Advanced Training Focus: Following the mandated update of the Basic Amateur Radio Exam question bank, local training organizations are pivoting their resources to advanced study. The Vancouver Emergency Community Telecommunications Organization (VECTOR), one of Canada’s most active training organizations, is holding its ISED Advanced Certificate course in October/November 2025 to meet the demand from operators who have completed the updated Basic program. New licensees and those seeking advanced skills can find reliable equipment to match their capabilities, including starter handhelds on the Retevis page.

🇺🇸 The View from the States: Contest Wrap-Up and Community Wins

I. Contest Close-Out: ARRL Sweepstakes CW/SSB 🏁

The final major domestic contest of the late autumn season, the ARRL Sweepstakes (SS), has concluded, with the CW segment running on the weekend of November 15-16, and the SSB segment running the following weekend (November 22-23). The ARRL Sweepstakes is renowned for its intense, non-stop format requiring complex exchanges across all U.S. and Canadian sections.

While formal results are pending, high solar activity likely led to exciting conditions on 15m and 10m bands, providing excellent opportunities for stations across the continental US to log all available sections before the peak of the global DX contest season begins with CQWW DX CW.

II. HOA Legislative Update: The Power of Grassroots Action 🌱

The ARRL's nationwide grassroots campaign for the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act (S.459 / H.R.1094) continues to mobilize U.S. operators, framing the right to install an outdoor antenna as a matter of public safety rather than merely a hobbyist’s interest.

While the national bill awaits movement in Congress, community-level successes are providing positive momentum. One example involved a 71-year-old disabled amateur operator in Telford, Pennsylvania, who applied for permission to install a 9m antenna tower. Crucially, the immediate next-door neighbor provided their full support for the application, stating that the operator’s hobby was his "main interest in life".

This small victory underscores the core argument of the ARRL: when hams approach their communities with a "thoughtful approach" and engage their neighbors positively, public perception—and, consequently, support for their communication infrastructure—improves dramatically. The ARRL is urging hams to continue contacting their congressional representatives to push the bill toward passage.

III. In Review: 25 Years in Space Concluded 🧑🚀

The massive ARISS SSTV Spacetacular event, held to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS), successfully concluded on November 20.

The ISS transmitted a series of 12 commemorative Slow Scan Television (SSTV) images over a week-long period. This event, which invited scouts, educators, and amateurs worldwide to receive and decode the images using simple VHF gear, demonstrated the accessibility and excitement of space communication. The event's success follows strong participation in an early October SSTV campaign, which saw nearly 9,000 images submitted by over 3,600 participants from every continent. The SSTV Spacetacular provided a fitting tribute to the program that has connected over 200,000 students globally with astronauts since Commander Bill Shepherd made the inaugural ham radio contact from the ISS on November 13, 2000.