Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio

Contest Crew Europe: WPX Results and WRTC Prep

Contest Crew Europe returns with a post-WPX debrief and a look ahead to WRTC 2026. I'm joined by Kris Kass ES7A, Filipe Lopes CT1ILT, Braco Memic E77DX, Sven Lovric DJ4MX, and Dave Kucelin 9A1UN as they unpack CQ WPX CW from a European perspective. At the center of the discussion is ES5TV’s ambitious eight-month multi-multi project. Kris shares the numbers behind the effort: 46 operators from 15 countries, more than 53,000 QSOs, and—most importantly—a remarkable influx of young operators. Nearly a third of all contacts were made by youth participants, many of whom arrived as beginners and left as confident contesters. The conversation becomes a case study in mentorship, showing what can happen when experienced operators give newcomers real operating time, real responsibility, and access to a world-class station. The crew also dives deep into CQ WPX CW. Filipe explains how his high-rate operation was less about chasing records and more about preparing for WRTC, using the contest to stress-test equipment, refine strategy, and sharpen operating skills. Along the way, the group debates operating speed, synchronization, live scoreboards, propagation surprises, and the tactical decisions that separate good scores from great ones. Attention then turns to WRTC 2026. Braco and Sven describe their preparation trip to England, complete with travel chaos, antenna studies, and low-power practice. Kris, Filipe, and the others discuss station testing, equipment logistics, customs challenges, and the realities of transporting radios and backup gear across borders. The result is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at how some of the world's top contest operators prepare for amateur radio's biggest stage. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. A special thanks to DX Engineering for supporting contesters, DXers, and operators worldwide as they push their stations and skills to new levels. Their continued commitment to amateur radio helps make projects, competitions, and on-air adventures like these possible. Welcome to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

REZ Recon 40 II Founders Edition | Mike W5REZ Explains the Story

Mike Giannaccio W5REZ is the owner of REZ Antenna Systems and the driving force behind a unique project marking America’s 250th birthday. In this conversation, Mike shares the story behind a limited-edition run of commemorative Recon 40 II antennas—just five in total—created to honor the nation’s founding and support the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). What began as a REZ Antenna conversation about ways to celebrate the semiquincentennial quickly evolved into something larger. After learning more about the DAR’s efforts to preserve American history, support veterans, and participate in programs like Wreaths Across America, Mike and his team decided to create a collector-grade antenna unlike anything they had produced before. Each antenna is tied to a Founding Father and includes a custom display case, certificate of authenticity, and commemorative token. Mike also reflects on the enthusiastic response the project received at Dayton Hamvention, where operators immediately recognized the significance of both the antenna and the cause behind it. The antennas will be sold through individual eBay auctions, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the DAR. While future commemorative projects remain a possibility, Mike makes it clear that this exact series will never be repeated. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

CQ WPX CW Starts Friday: Contest Crew Strategy

The Contest Crew is back. Randy Thompson K5ZD, Dan Craig N6MJ, Bill Fehring W9KKN, and Chris Hurlbut KL9A join Kevin Thomas W1DED for another deep dive into the biggest stories in competitive ham radio—from Dayton Hamvention and CQ WPX CW to the mounting pressure surrounding WRTC 2026. Fresh off a packed Hamvention weekend, the crew recaps CTU, the crowds in Xenia, memorable presentations, and why Dayton remains the epicenter of contesting culture. Randy describes it as one of the premier gathering places in the world for contesters and DXers, while Bill shares stories from hosting powerhouse operator Val EW6W/CQ9A through the nonstop pace of the convention weekend. The weekend also underscored how much the series has connected with contesters, with plenty of operators stopping by to talk about past episodes. The episode then shifts into full contest mode as the group breaks down CQ WPX CW strategy. Dan discusses operating remotely from N2QV while quietly escalating from a “casual effort” to chasing the existing record set by Milen ND3T. Randy and Chris unpack the unusual summertime propagation patterns that make WPX one of the most strategic contests of the year—where 40 meters becomes king, high bands stay alive late into the night, and smart off-time decisions can determine the final score. But the heart of the conversation is WRTC. The Contest Crew gives an unusually candid look at what preparation for the Olympics of contesting actually feels like: the stress, second-guessing, endless log analysis, and even the politics surrounding spotting networks and fairness. Randy explains the reasoning behind the new automated spotting systems, while Chris describes the psychological challenge of hearing dozens of elite competitors operating only miles away during the event itself. It’s equal parts technical strategy session and inside baseball from some of the best operators in the world. The episode closes with reflections on the newest CQ Contest Hall of Fame inductees and a reminder about youth opportunities at J62K in St. Lucia—another example of how mentorship continues to shape the future of contesting. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to DX Engineering for continuing to support contesters, DXers, and operators around the globe with the equipment, technical expertise, and community investment that help keep amateur radio thriving at every level.

Contest Crew Debriefs CQ WPX CW

The Contest Crew is back following the recent CQ WPX CW weekend, with a look inside their individual efforts, a glimpse at the inevitable Murphy moments, and their usual humorous take on the world of serious contesting. Dan Craig N6MJ, Randy Thompson K5ZD, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, and Bill Fehring W9KKN break down a contest that began with record-level expectations but quickly turned into a battle against inconsistent conditions and tough copy. Dan WU2X (N6MJ) chased a top U.S. score in Single Operator All Band High Power from Tariq's well-respected N2QV station in New York, operating remotely from California while overcoming last-minute station issues and capitalizing on a crucial Sunday morning opening to Japan that ultimately helped separate him from the competition. From Montana, Chris shares stories of generator problems, a Spiderbeam that didn't survive the weekend, and a contest spent tracking rivals across the online scoreboard while watching world-record pace unfold from CR3DX on Madeira. Spoiler alert: Chris's world record from CQ9A in 2025 survived the challenge. Randy reflects on the realities of operating from Ohio, the challenge of copying serial numbers through heavy QSB, and how months of station automation work finally paid off. Bill offers a different perspective, using the weekend to evaluate remote operating and station performance from ZF1A after an exhausting contest season. The conversation also explores station maturity, low-band strategy, beverage receiving antennas, and the operating habits that separate good operators from great ones. It's a reminder that most contest wins are built long before the starting bell—through planning, experimentation, and countless hours spent improving the station. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. DX Engineering helps make weekends like CQ WPX possible by supporting contesters, DXers, Parks on the Air operators, and station builders across the amateur radio community. Their commitment to providing equipment, expertise, and support continues to strengthen amateur radio operators around the world.

Inside the CQ WPX Log Checking Process with the Q5 Contest Crew

I’m joined by Randy Thompson K5ZD, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, and Bill Fehring W9KKN for a Contest Crew conversation that starts with one of the most humbling experiences in amateur radio: opening your CQ WPX log checking report. Note: this episode was recorded before Dayton Hamvention 2026, and another brand-new Contest Crew episode—recorded after Dayton—drops tomorrow. Randy breaks down what contesters should actually look for in a log checking report, why a tiny error rate can still trigger big score reductions, and how busted calls, bad serial numbers, and “not in log” penalties pile up faster than most operators realize. Kevin shares his own WPX results, while Bill explains major upgrades to the Super Check Partial database—including smarter validation, faster updates, and new metadata that could reshape how logging software assists operators in real time. The discussion quickly turns philosophical: at what point does contesting stop measuring operators and start measuring technology? From there, the conversation sprawls in the best possible way. Chris and Randy compare WRTC station prep, airline-packing strategies, networking headaches, referee audio setups, and the challenge of building world-class two-radio stations out of gear that has to fit into a suitcase. Bill compares contesting to Formula One racing. Dayton plans get debated. WRTC stories start flowing. There’s trash talk, skepticism about modern contest tools, and plenty of laughs about giant contesting egos trapped together in conference rooms before radio’s equivalent of the Olympics begins. The episode also offers one of the clearest explanations yet of what WRTC actually feels like from the inside: the pressure, the exhaustion, the randomness, and the reality that four years of preparation can be destroyed by one bad band change or one unlucky station draw. But beneath all the technical detail and banter is the reason Contest Crew conversations work so well: these are operators who genuinely love the craft, still obsess over getting better, and still find ways to laugh at themselves while chasing perfection. This episode is sponsored by DX Engineering, supporting amateur radio operators worldwide with the equipment, technical expertise, and station solutions that keep contesters, DXers, and everyday hams on the air. Whether you're building a serious contest station, activating a park, or chasing rare DX, DX Engineering continues to be one of the hobby’s biggest champions. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.