Category Archives: Contests

DX Central: 2026 Summer of DX Challenge

DX Central Announces the 2026 Summer of DX Challenge: The Biggest, Most Advanced Logging Event Yet

MANDEVILLE, LA — DX Central is thrilled to announce the return of the hobby’s most exciting seasonal event: The 2026 Summer of DX Challenge! Running from May 2 through August 31, 2026 at summerofdx.com, this year’s challenge pushes the boundaries of radio monitoring with brand-new bands, entirely new challenges, and a revolutionary, custom-built data terminal that makes logging easier than ever before.

For the first time in the event’s history, NOAA Weather Radio (NWR) joins Medium Wave (AM) and FM Broadcast Band II (FM) as an official challenge category, opening up an entirely new layer of tropospheric and meteor scatter chasing for scanner enthusiasts.

To handle the massive influx of summer logging, DX Central has completely eliminated registration requirements and launched a brand-new, custom-coded interactive dashboard.

New Features for 2026 Include:

Frictionless Logging & Bulk Import: Say goodbye to typing out callsigns and cities! The new terminal features a click-to-log Database Search utilizing WTFDA and Mesa Mike databases. Prefer to upload your logs rather than enter manually? The new Bulk Import tool allows you to upload CSVs directly from FMList, MWList, and WLogger, automatically mapping your data and updating your score in real-time.
The Multiplier Scoring Engine: Borrowing from traditional Ham Radio contests, DXers now earn massive score multipliers for every unique US State, Canadian Province, and International Country they log per band.
The John Cereghin Century Club: The legendary Grid Square challenge expands! DXers who log 100 unique US Maidenhead Grids on MW, FM, (20 on NWR) will earn our prestigious Century Club certificate, with endorsements for every 50 additional grids (10 for NWR).
County Hunters & Rovers: Chase US Counties across all three bands, and take your gear on the road! The new “Rover” category allows mobile DXers to activate rare grids and counties for special recognition.
Bi-Weekly Bounty Hunts: Tune in to our DX-themed Internet radio station, DX Radio (thisisprobablydxradio.com), for encrypted ‘targeted intercepts’ hidden through secret broadcast codewords revealed at the top of each hour. Enter the codeword into the DX Central terminal to unlock clandestine, time-sensitive DXing missions!

The 2026 Summer of DX active logging window opens on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 0100 UTC and closes on Monday, August 31, 2026 at 2359 UTC. All receptions must be solely from this time period to qualify. To ensure everyone has plenty of time to review their SDR recordings, the DX Central terminal will remain open to accept logs and bulk uploads until September 30, 2026.

Whether you are a seasoned FM Sporadic E chaser, a dedicated MW night-owl, or firing up a weather radio for the first time, the 2026 Summer of DX has a challenge for you.

Get your receivers ready, prepare your antennas, and prepare to log! For more information, to view the live leaderboards, and to access the logging terminal, visit summerofdx.com

Loyd Van Horn
W4LVH – Mandeville, LA
Member: IRCA/NRC Courtesy Program Committee (CPC)
Founder: DX Central – Because we’re all about radio
Web: dxcentralonline.com
Twitter: @DXCentral
YouTube: youtube.com/c/DXCentral

Radio Awards Program: 750th Anniversary Patronage of Saint George

Top 10 DX of the Year Contest: Starting December 1, 2025!

1 Reply

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor, Istvan Biliczky, who shares the following announcement:

The countdown has begun!

The largest SWL contest of the year is coming soon. Get your radios and antennas ready, make a contest plan, and find the lowest power and most distant stations!

You can find the contest rules and detailed description here:

https://www.topdx-radioclub.com/top10dx.html

SWL Contest 2025 Wrap-Up & New SSB SWL Contest

1 Reply

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributor Frank, who shares the results of the SWL Contest 2025, which challenged shortwave and medium-wave listeners from around the world to log as many stations and transmitters as possible. A total of 34 participants from 17 countries participated, demonstrating the incredible reach and diversity of the SWL community.

Frank is now organizing an new challenge—the SSB SWL Contest 2025, running from March 1st to October 31st, 2025. This contest focuses on listening to amateur radio stations in SSB mode across the 10m to 40m bands, with the goal of logging the most DXCC entities over eight months. Both SWLs and licensed amateur radio operators are welcome to participate!

Check out the full results of the SWL Contest 2025 here.

For the new SSB SWL Contest 2025 Rules, visit: https://chinaradiosswl.blogspot.com/2025/02/ssb-swl-contest-2025-rules.html

Radio Waves: New SSB SWL Contest, DRM Functionality Recommendations, and Word DAB Summit 2024

8 Replies

Radio Waves: Stories Making Waves in the World of Radio

Welcome to the SWLing Post’s Radio Waves, a collection of links to interesting stories making waves in the world of radio. Enjoy!

Many thanks to SWLing Post contributors David Iurescia, Alan, and Frank (SWL F14368) for the following tips:

SSB DXCC SWL Contest

Many thanks to Frank (SWL F14368), who shares the following announcement:

Hi Thomas

I have organized another SWL contest for 2025! The goal will be to listen a maximum number of DXCC entities in eight months but only in SSB mode (USB or LSB).

Check out the details here.

Best 73 de Frank SWL F14368

Digital Radio Mondiale Releases the DRM Consumer Radio Receiver Functionality Recommendation (DRM Consortium)

The DRM Consortium (www.drm.org) releases today its DRM Consumer Radio Receiver Functionality Recommendation (rxspec.drm.org). The document describes and defines the core functional parameters of consumer radio receivers capable of receiving DRM radio broadcasts. As DRM is being increasingly rolled out, adopted and demonstrated globally such a document is necessary to offer a guide to receiver manufacturers, but also broadcasters and regulators, so that consumers get a common and consistent DRM digital radio experience.

[…]The DRM Receiver Functionality Recommendation applies to all types of consumer-targeting DRM radio receivers, with detailed application-specific requirements for automotive receivers, personal mobile devices (such as mobile, feature, and smart phones or tablets incorporating built-in radio receiver functionality for terrestrial broadcast radio), and general-purpose receivers (all types of stand-alone receivers, including home and desktop radios).

The Consumer Receiver Recommendation builds upon the more technical DRM MRR – Minimum Receiver Requirements Specification (mrr.drm.org), which must be implemented and followed by any DRM receiver.

The new Consumer Receiver Recommendation covers DRM digital radio in all broadcasting bands: in the LW, MW, SW and VHF bands (Band I, II and III) and analogue AM and analogue FM radio. [Continue reading…]

WorldDAB Summit: Ensuring Radio Stays Prominent in the Car (Radio World)

Summary: At the WorldDAB Summit 2024 in Zagreb, industry leaders emphasized the importance of keeping radio front and center in the evolving connected car landscape. Gregor Pötzsch of Volkswagen Group’s CARIAD stressed the need for easy findability and engaging multimedia content, while Tomas Granryd of the EBU Connected Car Playbook highlighted the challenges posed by hidden FM/DAB buttons, voice activation inconsistencies, and increasing competition from global digital platforms. With 70% of in-car audio still coming from radio, broadcasters have the leverage to shape dashboard integration, ensuring seamless hybrid reception and intuitive voice control. Read the full article at Radio World.