Rules

For a full copy of the current rules you can download a copy here:

For all of the details about the plaques and trophies you can download a copy here:


Rules for the 78th Oceania DX (OCDX) Contest 2023

The following notes are a simplified summary

1. SPECIAL NOTES FOR THE 2023 CONTEST

a. The deadline for submitting logs is 31 October 2023.
b. Karsono Suyanto YB0NDT is sponsoring a new plaque for the top entrant from an Indonesia club station (prefix 7A – 7I) in the Phone Multiple-Operator Single-Transmitter category.
c. Rule 6b has been updated to clarify that the maximum output power for each of the high power, low power and QRP categories refers to peak envelope power (PEP).
d. Paper logs can no longer be submitted using the postal service. Rule 15c now requires any paper logs to be electronically copied (e.g. a photocopy or photos from a camera) and emailed to the OCDX Contest Committee at info@oceaniadxcontest.com
e. Electronic logs are to be submitted using the form at https://ocdx.contesting.com/submitlog.php. Please contact the Contest Committee at info@oceaniadxcontest.com if you are encountering difficulty in submitting your log.
f. Electronic logs are to be in Cabrillo format which is generated by all popular contest logging software programs. Alternatively, entrants can use the forms at http://www.b4h.net/cabforms.
g. Only one entry may be submitted by each operator or team of operators (Rule 6a).
h. If the station worked does not provide a serial number for the OCDX Contest, then log the received number as 001 (Rule 8).
i. A reminder that logs from Single Band entrants should include all contacts made during the contest period, even if some contacts were made on other bands. Only contacts made on the band specified in the Cabrillo header or summary sheet will be used for scoring purposes.
j. Indonesia entrants are reminded that the Indonesia amateur radio regulations do not permit the YH club prefix to be used in the OCDX and other national or international amateur radio contests. Only the 7A, 7I, 8A or 8I club prefixes may be used for this purpose.

2. WHEN

  • Phone Section: 06:00 UTC Saturday 7 October to 06:00 UTC Sunday 8 October 2023
  • CW Section: 06:00 UTC Saturday 14 October to 06:00 UTC Sunday 15 October 2023

These are separate contests on successive weekends: feel free to enter either … or both!

3. AIM

  • OCDX promotes HF contacts to and from stations in the Oceania region  as well as contacts between stations inside Oceania
    • Oceania transmitting entrants contact as many stations as possible, anywhere in the world.
    • DX transmitting entrants contact as many Oceania stations as possible.
    • Oceania SWLs copy and log as many contest stations as possible, anywhere in the world.
    • DX SWLs copy and log as many contest stations in Oceania as possible.

4. BANDS and SCORING

Band 160M 80M 40M 20M 15M 10M
Points per QSO 20 10 5 1 2 3
  • The Phone and CW contests are scored separately.
  • Prefixes are multipliers (e.g. N8, W8, WD8, HG1, HG19, KC2, OE2, OE25, LY1000, VK2 …) on each band on which you work them.
    • For multiplier purposes, prefixes and callsigns without numbers are notionally assigned a zero e.g. PA/N8BJQ counts as PA0, and XE/KT5W counts as XE0. All callsigns should however be logged as sent.
    • Maritime mobile, mobile, /A, /E, /J, /P, or interim license class identifiers do not count as prefixes.
    • Special event, commemorative and other unique prefix stations are welcome.
  • The total score is the (sum of the Contact Points) multiplied by the (sum of the Multipliers).

5. CATEGORIES

  • Transmitting Single Operator:
    • QRP (SO QRP) 5 watts
    • low power (SO LP) 100 watts
    • high power (SO HP) the lesser of license limit or 1500 watts
  • Transmitting Multiple Operators
    • Single Transmitter (M1)
    • Two Transmitters (M2)
    • Multiple Transmitters (MM)
  • Short Wave Listener (SWL)
  • DXcluster assistance is permitted in all categories, with the usual restrictions (see the full rules for details)
  • Entries on individual bands are supported.
  • World Stations operate in a separate category to Oceania stations

6. CQs and EXCHANGES

  • Participants typically call “CQ Oceania” on phone, and “CQ OC” on CW.
  • Contest exchanges are signal reports plus a serial number, starting at 001.
  • Be careful to log callsigns and reports accurately, especially multipliers, since typos can be costly.
  • If someone does not send you a serial number, log them as serial number 001.
  • To help the adjudicators cross-check other entrants’ logs, please log every completed QSO:
    • Log zero-point QSOs (e.g. if DX stations work other DX stations)’
    • Log any duplicate QSOs’
    • Single band entrants: log your QSOs made on all bands (the Cabrillo header tells us which band you are entering)’
    • If you participate but choose not to enter, a checklog would be welcome for the same reason.

 

7. SUBMIT YOUR ENTRY

  • The OCDX contests are adjudicated electronically, hence we need your electronic logs.
  • If possible, use contest logging software to generate a Cabrillo file, then upload it using the on-line submission form.
  • Otherwise please use the online form or some other means to generate a valid plain text column-aligned Cabrillo file, then upload that.
    • NOTE: Paper logs are no longer accepted in 2023. You will need to email the log in if it cant be converted to Cabrillo first. Email them to info@oceaniadxcontest.com 
  • Get your log in before November!
  • Every submitted entry will be checked and given a final score as part of the adjudication process … but naturally you are welcome to calculate your claimed score and hope that’s close!
  • A veritable profusion of certificates, trophies and plaques will be awarded.
  • Please email the Committee at info@oceaniadxcontest.com if you have any problems entering.
  • Good luck!

Official Rules