2025 Summer of DX Challenge is underway!

It’s back, and it is bigger than ever! The 2025 edition of DX Central’s Summer of DX challenge adds a highly requested element for DXers to enjoy: FM!

For our AM DXers, 2024’s Summer of DX Challenge proved that just because the static is up doesn’t mean the DX is down! Thousands of loggings were submitted over the course of last year’s challenge and we encourage DXers to push their skills to the limit again this year!

For FM DXers, it’s all about the propagation! Being ready when the band is open, knowing your band and being able to take advantage of every opportunity! And in addition to the regular logging challenge aspect of the Summer of DX Challenge for FM, we are adding a special twist that is brand new!

RULES & DETAILS

• The Summer of DX opens at 0000 UTC on Saturday, May 3, 2025 and ends at 2359 UTC on Sunday, August 31, 2025.

• The AM challenge is open to any DXer, anywhere in the world to participate! At this time, the FM Challenge is only open to North American DXers (we are looking to expand this for future iterations to all DXers)

• The entire MW band from 530 – 1710 kHz and the entire FM Band II from 88.1 to 107.9 MHz is open for this challenge.

• Only licensed stations received within those frequency ranges, within the challenge dates count towards the challenge (they must be broadcasting on that frequency, no images/spurs/harmonics, etc.)

• DXers may enter loggings for only AM, only FM, or in both….it s up to each user how they want to participate.

• While portable operation is encouraged, receptions should be within 25 miles of your registered location.

• Equipment used must be your own (or equipment you maintain). No use of remote online receivers (other than your own).

• DXers are allowed to use online streams and online receivers (such as those from FMDX.org) to assist them with identifying stations.

• Stations can only be logged once during the duration of this event. Duplicate entries from a user will be deleted/removed at DX Central’s discretion.

• For FM DX reception, logging a station’s HD broadcast does not count as an additional logging. As a matter of fact, no extra identifiers should be added to the station callsign when entering an FM log, such as: “-LP”, “-FM”, “-HD”. If any of these are entered, they will be stripped from the callsign field.

• If the station does not have a callsign, such as European stations, you can simply enter the station slogan such as “Energy FM” or “Radio Rebelde-1180” (it is recommended for Cuban stations to use a syntax of “Station Slogan-Frequency” so as to differentiate station logs on different frequencies..

• There will be a scoring system implemented for this challenge and the final points leaderboard will be presented after the challenge has concluded, during the season premiere of season 6 of DX Central Live!, in September of 2025.

• Entries must be submitted by using the official form at dxchallenges.com/2025summerofdx

• AM DXers are encouraged to use MWlist.org for the most accurate data for mileage from their receive location. FM DXers are encouraged to use FMList.org for mileage.

SCORING SYSTEM

Loggings submitted will accumulate a DXer’s score, based on the following criteria:

Category: AM

• 1 point for each 100 miles of each reception (i.e.: a log of 45 or 127 miles would be 1 point, a log of 283 miles would be 2 points, 610 miles would net 6 points, a 1398 mile log would net 13 points.)

• 100 points for each month with a minimum of 5 loggings submitted. A DXer that submits a minimum of 5 loggings for each month of the challenge earns an extra 100 bonus points for a total possible ‘Month bonus” of 500 points!

• 5 points for each logging made using a portable or desktop radio (non-SDR)

Category: FM

• 1 point for each 100 miles of each reception (i.e.: a log of 45 or 127 miles would be 1 point, a log of 283 miles would be 2 points, 610 miles would net 6 points, a 1398 mile log would net 13 points.)

• 100 points for each propagation type that a DXer submits a minimum of 5 loggings for. The propagation types are: Tropo, Sporadic Es and Meteor Scatter. A DXer that submits a minimum of 5 loggings from each of the 3 propagation types earns an extra 100 bonus points for a total possible Propagation bonus” of 400 points!

• 5 points for each logging made using a portable or desktop radio (non-SDR)

• In addition, we are introducing for the first time the “Summer of DX Challenge: FM Century Club” (FMCC). The goal for the FMCC is to log 100 Maidenhead grid squares, using whatever propagation is available (this includes “local”/deadband conditions, tropo, Sporadic Es and Meteor Scatter).

  • At this time, only U.S. FM station receptions are eligible to be considered for the FMCC.

  • Grid squares will be calculated based on the City and State of the received station’s location as listed in the Worldwide TV-FM DX Association Station Database (https://db.wtfda.org/)

  • Each DXer that is certified by DX Central to have completed the requirements for achieving FMCC will receive an e-Certificate (sample shown below) from DX Central to signify completion. Endorsements are available in increments of 50 grid squares.

  • NOTE: It is requested that DXers submitting logs for consideration for FMCC do not include any extra characters in the “Callsign” field other than the exact callsign of the received station. Extra identifiers such as “-HD”, “-LP”, “-FM” or any leading or trailing spaces will cause the formulas used to match station callsigns to grids to not be able to find a match and you will not receive credit for the entry.

Entries are subject to be deleted or edited at DX Central’s discretion. Point structure is subject to change at any time.