Since the early days of our hobby, amateur radio operators have been keen to compare their achievements with collegues.

As soon as radio amateurs succeeded in making long-distance contacts, lists were made to compare each other’s performance. As early as 1932, the American  association ARRL compiled a list of countries that gave DXers a foothold. The actual DXCC was based on an article in QST magazine in which Clinton B. DeSoto, W1CBD, described the criteria a country must meet to be recognized as an “amateur radio country.” The DX Century Club, DXCC, was born.

Of course, rules and conditions have changed over the years but its concept remains the same: any amateur radio operator who had worked and could prove contacts with at least one station from one hundred different countries listed on the DXCC list could become holder of the famous DX Century Club DXCC.

Currently, the DXCC list includes 340 different entities including “real” countries such as Germany or Myanmar, but there are also islands located at a minimum distance from the motherland that also adorn the DXCC list.
With 100 confirmed entities, you can join the DXCC. For the die hard DXer, that is only the beginning. You can become an honor roll member if no more than nine countries are on your wish list.

Please visit the ARRL’s DXCC webpage for full details about the program.