CDXC: The UK DX Foundation

CDXC is the UK’s premier DX Foundation, dedicated to encouraging excellence in DXing and contest operating.

CDXC began in the 1980s, and was formed by a small group of keen UK DXers based in the UK’s Chilterns area. Since then CDXC has grown to over 700 members from around the globe. Our members share a common interest in HF DX and contesting, drawn together by their shared values of high standards of operating and DXing skills. CDXC has become one of the largest and most respected DX groups in the world.

Members include the majority of the UK’s top DXers and contesters with an increasingly large international membership. Characterised by a supportive and encouraging approach to all members, CDXC is an influential organisation which develops and enriches the world of HF amateur radio for its members and DXers worldwide.

Focused on HF DX and Contesting

If your main interest in radio is HF, and you are interested in working DX – rare or distant countries – and competitive radio sport, then you will find yourself amongst like-minded radio amateurs in CDXC. CDXC members have many interests, but all share an interest in DXing, one of the largest world-wide movements in amateur radio. CDXC members are often extremely active in contests and can be heard working or running pile-ups on the bands. Indeed, many members have been on a significant number of DXpeditions to far-flung DX entities. Members include those who have “worked” 300 or more DXCC entities and those who are just starting the DX journey and whether you have a large estate with multiple towers or a small garden or wire antennas and whether you like CW, SSB or MGM modes, CDXC offers something for everyone.

Members are from a wide range of backgrounds and ages, so experience levels vary. CDXC fosters a supportive and helpful environment to encourage anyone, at any level, to enjoy the thrill of DXing and the achievement of contesting. CDXC gives you the perfect way to become more involved in DXing.

Our magazine

The CDXC Digest is an outstanding full-colour quarterly publication. It is available to members as a traditional paper-based publication, or for those who prefer it, the CDXC Digest also offers an electronic version which is held within an on-line archive going back 40 years. The archive includes a powerful search facility.

You can read a sample copy of the CDXC Digest here.

Social Events

CDXC holds an annual DX Convention at a central location in the UK. The format is the Annual General Meeting, followed by lunch and an afternoon of talks. Talks range from DXpeditions, to technical, to operating and always has time for Q & A. In the evening we have a sit down dinner where those member’s partners who went on a partner’s afternoon event will join us. There is always plenty of time for socialising and meeting some of your DX heroes. The Convention is always held at a hotel and the majority of attendees stay overnight to allow discussions after dinner and at breakfast the following day. You can see some photos of recent events by navigating to the photo gallery.

CDXC also has stands at major Hamfests including Friedrichshafern, Newark, the RSGB Convention and our members are often to be seen at the annual Dayton and Visalia events.

Online Community

As well as meeting face-to-face, CDXC members participate in a friendly and vibrant online community, where the latest DX news and operating are discussed amongst leading DXers. As a CDXC member, you will find that an unparalleled breadth of experience is close at hand.

Interested in where to find that elusive DX contact on the bands? Looking for help with a new LF antenna or first hand experience with a radio or linear? Ask the CDXC Reflector and answers are sure to follow. In addition to the Reflector all members receive a password to access members-only content on the CDXC web site, and are able to post notices, wanted ads and web links, as well as use the CDXC members’ DX cluster.

We also have a real-time Slack channel where members exchange information on band activity and help each other to find and work DX in real time.

DXpedition Support

Every year many DXpeditions add significant enjoyment to the HF hobby. CDXC members support DXpeditions financially through their membership. We offer help to DXpeditions to distant or rare DXCC entities by making donations. Support is given particularly to those making the considerable effort needed to mount large-scale activations – for example, making over 10,000 QSOs and spending time working amateurs with modest equipment. On average CDXC supports between 15 and 20 DXpeditions per year.

By being a member of CDXC, you can directly encourage DXing in this way. So, when you receive a QSL card bearing the CDXC logo, as most of the high-profile DXpeditions do, remember that your QSO was partly thanks to being a member of one of the biggest HF DX groups in the world!

Awards and Recognition

CDXC recognises superb HF DX operators by organising challenges for its members. CDXC also celebrates HF DX achievements with prestigious trophies and awards.

DXing and contesting thrive on friendly competition and rivalry, and many members achieve world-class scores in major international contests, such as CQWW or the IOTA contest. CDXC makes awards to members for exceptional contest scores, and also recognises the input of resident amateurs in rare DXCC locations with a “local hero” award. From time to time, CDXC also bestows a prestigious Award of Merit, one of the highest accolades in HF radio, to organisations or individuals who have made outstanding and unselfish contributions to HF amateur radio and DXing.

In this way, CDXC membership encourages recognition and celebrates achievement at the highest standards. CDXC also supports amateur radio through the actions on the air of all its members, many of whom are leaders in their specialist fields – and all of whom share the highest standards of operating.

Our Committee

The Club is run by a Committee which is elected annually at the AGM. All Committee members are volunteers. You can find out more about our Committee members here

You can read our Club’s Constitution here and our GDPR statement here.

Interested in joining?

If you feel CDXC is a Club for you why not join us?