CW abbreviation · Operating
DX in Morse code
DX = a long-distance station, especially across oceans or to a rare country.
Morse rendering
-.. -..-
Sent letter-by-letter with standard inter-letter gaps.
What it saves you on the air
This is the whole reason CW abbreviations exist. Sending DX instead of spelling out “Long distance” cuts 81% of the airtime — 90 dot-units of keying saved every time you send it.
| Speed | DX | “Long distance” | Saved |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 WPM | 1.9s | 10.2s | 8.3s |
| 20 WPM | 1.3s | 6.7s | 5.4s |
| 25 WPM | 1.0s | 5.3s | 4.3s |
Timed with standard spacing: dit 1 unit, dah 3, letter gap 3, word gap 7. Work out any other speed on the timing calculator.
Meaning
DX — Long distance
When this is used
Used as both noun and adjective. A 'DX contact' is a long-distance contact; 'DXing' is the hobby of chasing rare entities. Threshold varies — on 160m a 1000-km contact is DX; on 20m it means transcontinental.
Examples
| On the air | Plain English |
|---|---|
| CQ DX | Calling DX stations only. |
| TNX FB DX QSO | Thanks for the fine DX contact. |
| DX HR | DX station here. |
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