This contest was developed by the Fisher's Ghost Amateur Radio Club in memory of Ted Powell, who became a silent key on 16 March 2014. Ted's passion was working rare DX and collecting QSL cards. At the time of his passing, Ted had worked 301 entities and confirmed 300 by QSL cards.
There are 2 categories in this contest.
The objective of the "Most Wanted" category is to work the most wanted DXCC entity during an award period. The winner will be the station who works the most wanted DXCC entity based on its ranking in Clublog's Most Wanted list current at the beginning of the award period. There will also be awards for 2nd and 3rd place.
The objective of the "Top 5" category is to work the top 5 most wanted DXCC entities during an award period. A score is calculated for each entry in the Top 5 category and the winner will be the station with the lowest score. There will also be awards for 2nd and 3rd place. You must work at least 5 unique entities during an award period to be eligible to enter this category. The score is calculated using a mathematical formula known as "Harmonic Mean" which favours entries with more higher ranking entities than entries with fewer higher ranking entities. The formula looks like this, where e1, e2, e3, e4, & e5 are the rankings of the top 5 most wanted entities worked.
The Most Wanted lists for the current and previous periods can be found below. These lists are based on Most Wanted from VK/ZL.
The contest is only open to Australian residents who hold a current VK1 - VK8 licence and who are transmitting from within Australia.
There are 4 award periods per year. Times are UTC.
Any authorised amateur frequency may be used. You may only make QSO's on frequencies permitted to you under your licence class.
Any authorised amateur mode may be used. You may only make QSO's using modes permitted to you under your licence class.
You may use any power on any mode up to the maximum power permitted for that mode, or the maximum power permitted to you under your licence class.
Only contacts with amateur stations count. Contacts through repeaters or satellites do not count, nor do contacts with maritime mobile or aeronautical mobile stations. Echolink and IRLP contacts and WSPR spots do not count. Contacts with stations deemed by Clublog to be invalid for DXCC do not count.
Remote operation is permitted provided the transmitter, receiver, and antenna are all located within Australia.
Entries open at the end of the award period and close 14 days later. Entries may be submitted using one of the following 3 methods.
This is the preferred entry method. You MUST use this entry method to enter the "Top 5" category. (You may also use this entry method if you're not entering the "Top 5" category, but if you use this entry method and you have worked 5 or more unique entities during the award period you will automatically be entered in the "Top 5" category). The "Log Uploader" script will process all your QSO's, generate your "Most Wanted" and "Top 5" entry, calculate your top 5 score and send your entry to the contest manager. You will receive a reply email, (usually within 24 hours) confirming your entry has been received.
Click the following link to go to the "Log Uploader" page where you will find out more about this entry method.
Entries must consist of one (1) QSO only, that being the entity worked with the highest ranking in the Most Wanted list for the award period. Entries in the "Top 5" category will not be accepted using this entry method. All fields are mandatory. You will receive a reply email, (usually within 24 hours) confirming your entry has been received.
Alternatively, single QSO entries may be sent by email to the contest manager using your callsign as the email subject. Entries must consist of one (1) QSO only, that being the entity worked with the highest ranking in the Most Wanted list for the award period. Entries in the "Top 5" category will not be accepted using this entry method.
If you use the email method to submit your entry, for ease of administration it is suggested you copy and paste the details below into an email and type in the QSO details. You will receive a reply email, (usually within 24 hours) confirming your entry has been received.
Entries MUST include all of the following information.
Email address for entry submission:
Results will be finalised within 14 days after the closing date for entries of the award period. The winner will be the station who works the most wanted and top 5 most wanted DXCC entities based on their ranking in Clublog's "Most Wanted" list published below at the beginning of the award period. There will also be awards for 2nd and 3rd place. Results will be published below soon after and winners will be notified by email.
In the rare event of a tie in the "Most Wanted" category, the result will be determined a dead heat.
In the event of a tie in the "Top 5" category, the winner will be the first station to work the highest ranking DXCC entity chronologically. In the event of 2 winning entries with the same highest ranking DXCC entity specifying the same QSO time and date, the winner will be the first station to work the second highest ranking DXCC entity chronologically, and so on up to the fifth highest ranking entity. In the rare event of 2 winning entries with the same top 5 entities specifying the same QSO time and date for all 5 entities, the result will be determined a dead heat.
Awards will be issued as follows.
Place | Callsign | Entity Worked | Ranking | QSO Date | QSO Time | Certificate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | VK5GR | ![]() | 22 | 20201102 | 103600 | DOWNLOAD |
2nd | VK3HJ | ![]() | 22 | 20201102 | 103715 | DOWNLOAD |
3rd | VK3EW | ![]() | 22 | 20201117 | 110919 | DOWNLOAD |
4th | VK6WX | ![]() | 31 | 20201127 | 173715 | |
5th | VK3BDX | ![]() | 39 | 20201015 | 053600 | |
6th | VK3IK | ![]() | 39 | 20201015 | 054800 | |
7th | VK2HFF | ![]() | 151 | 20201110 | 061715 | |
8th | VK2KDP | ![]() | 151 | 20201115 | 073000 | |
9th | VK3FCBR | ![]() | 158 | 20201125 | 092000 | |
10th | VK3OHM | ![]() | 159 | 20201228 | 130300 | |
11th | VK3OM | ![]() | 161 | 20201003 | 090715 | |
12th | VK2ND | ![]() | 294 | 20201120 | 073509 | |
13th | VK2JAY | ![]() | 324 | 20201008 | 090830 |
Place | Callsign | Score | Entities Worked | Ranking | Certificate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1st | VK5GR | 40.10 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 22 39 45 60 68 | DOWNLOAD |
2nd | VK3EW | 40.10 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 22 39 45 60 68 | DOWNLOAD |
3rd | VK6WX | 45.33 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 31 39 45 60 74 | DOWNLOAD |
4th | VK3HJ | 51.19 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 22 39 84 112 174 | |
5th | VK3BDX | 57.32 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 39 51 60 78 80 | |
6th | VK3IK | 69.11 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 39 80 81 90 93 | |
7th | VK2KDP | 160.40 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 151 153 161 167 172 | |
8th | VK3FCBR | 168.90 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 158 159 167 177 187 | |
9th | VK2HFF | 171.79 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 151 158 177 186 195 | |
10th | VK3OHM | 172.28 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 159 163 172 183 188 | |
11th | VK3OM | 174.97 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 161 172 177 181 186 | |
12th | VK2ND | 320.79 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 294 316 325 336 337 | |
13th | VK2JAY | 329.14 | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | 324 326 328 331 337 |
The "Upcoming DX" list is provided by Announced DX Operations. Rank is the ranking of the entity in the current Ted Powell Memorial DX Challenge award period.
Dates | Rank | Entity | Call | Information |
---|---|---|---|---|
Feb 15-28, 2021 | 148 | ![]() | KH9 | NL7RR as NL7RR/KH9; HF; SSB; exact start date unclear; operation to continue for 90 days |
Feb 18-28, 2021 | 114 | ![]() | C91BVA | CS7AMN; 80 40 20 15 10m; SSB; QSL via CS7AMN Buro; operation to continue for several months |
Feb 20-Mar 5, 2021 | 188 | ![]() | ZF2BJ | K0BJ fm Grand Cayman I (IOTA NA-016); focus on WARC bands; mainly CW; QSL via K0BJ |
Feb 26-Apr 2, 2021 | 148 | ![]() | KH9 | NL7RR as KH9/NL7RR; 40 20m; SSB; dates tentative |
Feb 27-Mar 27, 2021 | 119 | ![]() | PJ7AA | AA9A fm IOTA NA-105; 80-10m; CW SSB FT8; QSL also OK via AA9A direct and Club Log OQRS |
Mar 10-31, 2021 | 94 | ![]() | JD1 | JG8NQJ as JG8NQJ/JD1 fm Marcus I (IOTA OC-073, QL64xg); 40 30m; CW; 50W; spare time operation; operation to continue for about 3 months |
Mar 4-23, 2021 | 194 | ![]() | PJ2 | DK5ON as PJ2/DK5ON; 80-6m, perhaps 160m; SSB CW FT4 FT8 RTTY; QSL via Club Lob OQRS or DK5ON (B/d) |
Mar 16-23, 2021 | 150 | ![]() | VK9CE | 10 ops; 80-6m; SSB CW FT8; QSL OK via eQSL; logs to be uploaded to Club Log |
Apr 26-May 9, 2021 | 175 | ![]() | JW6VDA | LA6VDA fm IOTA EU-026 (JQ78tf); HF; SSB; QSL via Club Log OQRS, eQSL |
Apr 28-May 24, 2021 | 81 | ![]() | A25VR | VE7VR; 80-10m; SSB CW; 10w (perhaps 100w); inverted Vs; holiday style operation during self-driving 4X4 camping safari |
May 1-7, 2021 | 232 | ![]() | JD1BQA | JH3QFL fm Komagari, Chichijima I (IOTA AS-031); 160 80 40, 6m; FT8 FT4 + satellite (RS-44, CW); 200w; QSL: Takio Hata, 921-25 Rokujio Yasu, Shiga 520-2412, Japan |
Jun 12-Jul 10, 2021 | 143 | ![]() | V47JA | W5JON fm Calypso Bay; 160-6m, incl 60m; SSB FT8; yagi, verticals; QSL also OK via W5JON direct |
Jun 22-28, 2021 | ![]() | PJ5 | W5JON as PJ5/W5JON; 40-6m SSB FT8; QRV for CQWW DX SSB; QSL also OK via W5JON direct | |
Jun 29-Jul 13, 2021 | 50 | ![]() | FP | KV1J as FP/KV1J fm Miquelon I (IOTA NA-032, DIFO FP-002, WLOTA 1417); 160-6m; mainly SSB CW RTTY FT8 FT4; see Web for QSL details |
Jul 7-14, 2021 | 206 | ![]() | P4 | ND7J as P4/ND7J and N4IQ as P4/N4IQ; QRV for IARU Contest |
Jul 23-Aug 3, 2021 | 96 | ![]() | J88PI | GW4DVB fm Palm I (IOTA NA-025, FK92ho); 40-6m; SSB FT8 |
Aug 1-30, 2021 | 238 | ![]() | HI9 | HB9TUZ as HI9/HB9TUZ fm Las Terransa; 40-10m; SSB |
Aug 8-16, 2021 | 50 | ![]() | TO5T | VO1IDX WB2REM VO1CH W0VTT WW1WW W4SJT fm Ile aux Marins (IOTA NA-032); 160-6m; SSB CW FT8; QSL via WB2REM or Club Log OQRS |
Sep 29-Oct 13, 2021 | 168 | ![]() | 8Q7CQ | G0VJG fm Reethi Faru, Filaidhoo I (IOTA AS-013); 80-10m, incl 60m; SSB + digital,some CW; 300w; vertical, dipole; QSL OK via Club Log OQRS; license pending |
Oct 1-30, 2021 | 22 | ![]() | CY0C | WA4DAN + team; 160-6m; exact dates uncertain |
Oct 1-30, 2021 | 176 | ![]() | VK9HR | 7 op VK team; 160-10m; CW SSB FT8; exact dates TBD |
Oct 16-Nov 12, 2021 | 143 | ![]() | V47JA | W5JON fm Calypso Bay; 160-6m, incl 60m; SSB FT8; yagi, verticals; QSL also OK via W5JON direct |
Oct 25-Nov 1, 2021 | ![]() | PJ5 | W5JON as PJ5/W5JON; 40-6m SSB FT8; QRV for CQWW DX SSB; QSL also OK via W5JON direct | |
Nov 3-13, 2021 | 149 | ![]() | VK9W | VK2IR VK3YP VK2RF VK2OK VK2PN + others; 160-10m; CW SSB FT8 |