Jamie Williams M0SDV is a rising star in the contesting world, and in Grenada this year, he proved exactly why. Traveling solo to the Caribbean island with modest gear and big ambitions, Jamie operated as J38W in the CQ World Wide CW contest—logging over 6,200 QSOs and more than 9 million points. What began as a goal to hit 4,000 contacts turned into a record-breaking effort, earning him a new North American Youth Overlay record and placing him firmly on the radar of top operators worldwide. Licensed since 2013 and first nudged into the hobby by his father, 2E0CAP, Jamie’s path took shape through contesting in the UK, where mentors like Lee G0MTN and Callum M0MCX helped sharpen his skills. After being invited to his first Dxpedition in Togo, Jamie went on to operate from Mauritius, Guyana, and the Marshall Islands. Each trip built the confidence and technical chops that eventually led him to take on Grenada entirely solo. He scouted a quiet QTH on the island’s north side, hauled his Icom IC-7300, SPE 1.3K-FA amp, a lightweight hex beam, and verticals—all within airline baggage limits—and set up in the tropical heat alone. When an 18-meter pole toppled into the bushes, a local gardener came running with a machete to help. Jamie operated for 40 hours during the contest and hit a peak rate of 240 QSOs per hour—pushing past exhaustion to see just how far he could go. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. A big thank you to DX Engineering for sponsoring Q5 and for supporting contesters, DXers, and dedicated operators who go the distance to put rare signals on the air.

Chris Hurlbut KL9A is just back from Madeira, where he operated as CQ9A and delivered the contest performance of a lifetime at CQ WW CW 2025. Though he finished second to his longtime friend Dan N6MJ, Chris broke the existing world record in the Single Operator All Band High Power category, and logged a staggering 11,000+ QSOs. Still groggy from travel and 48 sleepless hours of operating, Chris sat down with Q5 for a partial debrief from Bozeman, Montana. As with any 48-hour Single Operator top-10 result, the achievement was hard-won. Mid-contest, Chris battled a baffling logging software glitch—but he powered through. What should have been a flawless 2BSIQ run was punctuated by expletives directed at frozen keyboards and on-the-fly troubleshooting. Yet even under stress, Chris executed a strategic and multipliers-rich contest, leaning into a third radio and Valery’s top-shelf antennas to claw out every possible point. This was more than a radio contest. It was a swan song. Chris confirmed it: no more CQ WW CW solos. "I did it, so I don’t have to do it ever again." And what a final run it was—part technical tour de force, part mental endurance trial, part love letter to ham radio contesting. Valery’s station support, Dan’s epic win, and the electric online buzz from 40,000+ fans watching Chris work CW made this not just a contest, but a moment in ham radio history. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to Icom for helping bring the CQ WW CW Showdown series to life. And to DX Engineering for championing the operators who light up the bands—whether activating parks, chasing DX, or contesting at the highest level.

Chris Hurlbut KL9A is ready at CQ9A in Madeira just hours before the start of the CQ Worldwide CW Contest. Known for precision and consistency at the top levels of single-op competition, Chris arrived a bit later than other operators—but has wasted no time. Alongside Valery, he’s been adding antennas, including a second 80m and a 160m receive four-square, reinforcing the timeless contesting rule: antennas put up the day of always work better. He offers a grounded take on this year’s “CW Showdown” between himself, Dan N6MJ, and Braco E77DX. With many eyes on Braco and Dan, Chris has stayed mostly off the radar—not by design, just travel timing. Propagation looks as expected, with high-band strength favoring Dan, and CQ9A’s low-band performance giving Chris a quiet edge. His third-radio setup is less flexible than Dan’s, which may shift his multiplier strategy. Chris also highlights other serious contenders—V47T, KP4AA, CR6K, and KP2B among them—and gives a nod to the multi-op races from stations like EW5A. Still, he’s locked in on his own game: manage rate, move mults when it matters, and keep it fun. And if you’re rooting for Chris, let him know in the comments. He’s feeling just a little left out. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to DX Engineering and Icom for supporting the full spectrum of amateur radio—from park activators to world-class contesters pushing performance on every band.

Felipe Hernandez NP4Z is a powerhouse of contesting and a central player in this year’s CQ World Wide CW showdown. He joins Kevin W1DED just hours before the contest kicks off from St. Croix, where he’s not only competing himself but orchestrating one of the biggest storylines in radio sport: the “Clash of the Titans” between Dan N6MJ, Braco E77DX, and Chris KL9A. Felipe’s role? Matchmaker, facilitator, and competitive force in his own right. Licensed in 1980 and fluent in CW since age 11, Felipe has shaped his life around ham radio—relationships, career, and worldview all filtered through the key and mic. He talks with infectious pride about helping build up stations from scratch, like Jaime’s now-formidable setup in St. Croix or the revitalization efforts underway in Colombia. He’s deeply hands-on, bridging generations and borders, and energizing a new wave of competitors who might otherwise think they’re too old or too isolated to contend. This episode drops just before Felipe takes the field under KP2B, but more than that, it reveals the connective tissue holding the contesting world together. He's the reason Braco ended up at HK1T. He helped Dan land in the Canaries. And now, with three titans poised to go head-to-head across oceans, Felipe is right in the mix—quietly shaping the battle, then stepping into it himself. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Special thanks to DX Engineering and Icom for sponsoring the CQ WW CW Showdown series and for supporting contesters, DXers, and Parks on the Air activators around the globe.

Dan Craig N6MJ is on the Canary Islands, gearing up to operate EF8R in this weekend’s CQ World Wide CW contest, and we caught up just as final preparations were underway. Joined by Levi K6JO, Dan’s been troubleshooting verticals, fine-tuning antennas, and running high-stakes shakedowns ahead of a record attempt. Inside the shack: two Icom 7610s and—after some debate—a third radio, an Elecraft K3, to chase elusive multipliers during slow hours. A smooth CWT test calmed some nerves as Dan got his head back into real-time 2BSIQ. Though Braco E77DX recently rebuilt the station for SSB, Dan and Levi found plenty to fix, from storm-damaged antennas to last-minute adjustments. Propagation has shifted too—most notably, 10 meters is closing fast after EU sunset. Stress? Absolutely. Sleep is sparse, pressure is high, but Dan's determined to give the world a clean, all-out effort. Felipe NP4Z helped secure the EF8R station when Dan was nearly sidelined, and that camaraderie echoes through the contesting community. From Chris KL9A and Braco E77DX in 3-point land to Andy N2NT (V47T), Tom W2SC (8P5A), Felipe NP4Z (KP2B), Filipe CT1ILT (CR6K) and Jon KL2A (KP4AA), the competition is fierce—but grounded in mutual respect and constant collaboration. And though Dan’s not one for the spotlight, he’s showing up because keeping contesting vibrant matters. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to Icom and DX Engineering for backing operators worldwide—whether they’re pushing 2BSIQ at EF8R or chasing rare multipliers from remote corners of the globe.

Emir “Braco” Memic E77DX is in Colombia, transforming HK1T into a serious contest machine—just in time to debut his new 5J1DX callsign for CQ WW CW. With the clock ticking, Braco is taking a hands-on approach to engineering a high-performance station out of HK1T’s formidable base. It’s a full-court press: antennas fine-tuned, switching gear reworked, and amps sorted out with a blend of skill and last-minute improvisation. The topography isn’t easy, the hardware’s not all cooperating, but Braco’s turning it into something that can compete with the best. Is Braco the MacGyver of ham radio? You be the judge. Securing 5J1DX marks a major moment—not just for Braco, but for the Colombian ham community that helped make it happen. He singles out Sandra HK3YL for her behind-the-scenes effort to get the license finalized. With 2,000 QSOs already logged and promising runs on 10 and 15 meters, Braco’s laying the groundwork for a serious showing. Whether or not everything’s perfect by showtime, he’s made clear: he’s not backing down. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. This episode is part of the CQ WW CW Showdown series, made possible with support from Icom and DX Engineering—backing contesters, DXers, and operators who push the limits on every band, from every corner of the world.

Jon Kimball KL2A is the consummate contester. From learning Morse code at age seven to chasing DX from Alaska with a Yagi at 60 feet, Jon’s ham radio journey spans more than four decades. A chance encounter with Chris KL9A during those early pileups—first as rivals, then as teammates—set the tone for a lifetime of contest camaraderie. Now based in Sun Valley, Idaho, Jon brings deep contesting experience and a sharp analytical mind to this year’s CQ Worldwide CW showdown, operating from Kenny Ramirez’s polished KP4AA station in Puerto Rico. Kimball’s breakdown of the KL9A–N6MJ–E77DX face-off is must-hear commentary. Having operated from CT3, EA8, and HK himself, he offers rare perspective on propagation dynamics, multiplier strategies, and the psychological demands of pacing through fatigue and solar flares. His bet? A strong start from the Zone 33 heavyweights, but a real shot for Braco if the Asian openings from HK pay off—and if the ionosphere throws a wildcard. One detail that sticks: Jon once picked Chris KL9A up from high school and drove him to a contest station. They've been talking radios ever since. And one point Jon made clear: there are dozens of top-tier operators on the air this year. Check out NG3K.com for the full lineup—and work them. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to Icom and DX Engineering for supporting the CQ WW CW Showdown series—and for backing DXers, Parks on the Air ops, and contesters chasing the edge of propagation.

Just days before what looks like a record-breaking CQ World Wide CW, six world-class operators compare notes across Europe and South America. Braco E77DX is deep in the Colombian jungle at HK1T’s mountaintop station, where rain, mud, and snakes complicate the final push. His contest callsign is expected any day. Early tests show him hammering into Europe at 30-over-9, reinforcing what’s always been a three-way battle between HK1T, EF8R, and CQ9A in the much-watched CQ WW CW Showdown. In Estonia, Kris ES7A is refining ES9C with upgraded Flex radios, multi-Flex capabilities, and cleaner inband audio. Sven DJ4MX heads to Bosnia and Herzegovina, anchoring a strong multinational team at E7DX for a multi-single run. In Croatia, Dave 9A1UN has a crane en route to hoist antennas just in time—business as usual for a crew that thrives on the edge of readiness. Filipe CT1ILT is back in Portugal aiming to break 10,000 QSOs once more, hoping propagation tilts his way. And up in snowy Sweden, Mike SJ2W preps for another multisingle campaign, looking to top last year’s 7,000 QSO haul. All six react to CT1BOH’s pre-contest breakdown—opinions vary, but one thing’s certain: this contest is wide open. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to Icom for sponsoring Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio—because legendary QSOs deserve legendary radios.

Levi Jefferies K6JO is in the thick of the CQ WW CW showdown, he's in the Canary Islands to support Dan N6MJ’s shot at a new record. But he's arriving with serious momentum—fresh off an electrifying, unofficial first-place finish in the ARRL Sweepstakes SSB. That win, logged from Chris KL9A’s off-grid Montana station KM7W, wasn’t just about rate or firepower. It was about brains, bold decisions, and a disciplined contest strategy. You’re going to be hearing a lot more about K6JO. Still in his twenties, Levi is quickly proving himself a generational contester. In this conversation, he walks through his wire-to-wire battle with George K5TR—seven-time champion, ideally located, and almost never outpaced. Levi’s edge? A high-risk move: diving into 10 meters early to work low-numbered Technician-class QSOs others save for Sunday. That gamble, combined with smart off-time management and aggressive two-radio operation, let him surge ahead in the final hours. The setup at KM7W was formidable but far from plug-and-play. The station runs entirely on generator power, and Levi and Chris hustled to get antennas online—including a freshly reinforced 80m four-square and a spiderbeam pointed at W6. They also pushed the envelope with the KD6X Rig Select Pro, giving Levi what may be the first full 2BSIQ phone run using the device. With the gear locked in and the bands favoring Montana—just barely—Levi outmaneuvered the field and made a statement. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to DX Engineering for backing this episode. Their support helps power high-performance stations like KM7W and fuels operators worldwide as they push the boundaries of what’s possible.

The Contest Crew—Randy K5ZD, Chris KL9A, Bill W9KKN, and Dan N6MJ—return to Q5 with a complete debrief of ARRL Sweepstakes SSB and a forward look at CQ World Wide CW, where three of the sport’s top competitors (N6MJ, KL9A, and E77DX) are set for a record-chasing clash from the Canary Islands, Madeira, and Colombia. Sweepstakes had no shortage of tension. Levi, working solo from Chris’s KM7W station, went head-to-head with George K5TR—and won. Running modest gear in a remote setup, he stuck to his game plan, stayed cool, and pulled off the upset. Dan and Randy weigh in on what makes Sweepstakes a unique proving ground: coaching newcomers, navigating unpredictable conditions, and hearing first-time HF operators—some as young as 13—break through. Now, the focus shifts to CQ WW CW. Chris is operating from CQ9A, Dan from EF8R, and Braco E77DX from HK1T in Colombia. With 12,000 QSOs within reach and accuracy under the microscope, the smallest choices—band timing, low-band multipliers, operator endurance—could decide everything. Both Chris and Dan are running 2BSIQ, avoiding the scoreboard, and aiming for an all-out 48-hour sprint. Also on deck: Randy’s first serious run from his new W8 station, Bill’s ZF1A team chasing a Multi-Two North America record, and a sharp insight from Chris—what ham radio needs most isn’t more youth programs, it’s more and better supporting hams. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Grateful to DX Engineering for making this episode possible—and for equipping contesters, DXers, and Parks on the Air ops with the gear they rely on when performance counts.

Chelsea Parraga KF0FVJ and John Burwell KI5QKX are calling on the amateur radio community to step up. Representing Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC), they’re actively recruiting new volunteers to help drive the next wave of innovation, education, and technical stewardship in ham radio. Whether you're a seasoned operator, an open-source developer, an educator, or simply someone eager to give back—this is your chance to shape the future. ARDC is a private foundation funding $3–4 million in grants each year—supporting everything from school station buildouts to open-source software development. But money is just part of the picture. The engine behind ARDC’s success is its dedicated volunteers. Chelsea and John describe a wide range of roles now open: from grant reviewers to results evaluators to science communicators. There's also critical work to be done within the 44Net IP address space—protecting resources, advising on technical development, and building community. If you’ve ever wanted to make a difference in ham radio, now’s the time. Apply at www.ardc.net. The commitment varies—from an hour a week to five—so there’s room for all kinds of contributors. The term? One year, with options to stay longer if you’re making an impact. The need is real. The door is open. Get involved. Application Deadline is October 31st so act quickly! Go to this link: https://www.ardc.net/join-ardcs-2026-volunteer-team/ oin the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. This episode comes your way with support from Icom—pioneering amateur radio innovation for more than 50 years.

Chris Tate N6WM is a late-blooming force in amateur radio who discovered the hobby in his forties—and never looked back. A lifelong technologist and adventurer, Chris quickly made his mark in both contesting and DXpeditioning. He's the founder of the K6LRG hilltop contest station and station coordinator for the powerhouse N6RO Superstation, where he helps drive multi-multi operations in the West. With marquee wins in Sweepstakes, RTTY Roundup, and NAQP, Chris has built a strong reputation as a skilled and dedicated West Coast operator. What sets Chris apart is not just his skill behind the mic, but his commitment to building teams and nurturing talent. From co-founding K6LRG with a rotating cast of contributors to leading high-octane ops at N6RO, Chris has turned his love of camaraderie into a competitive edge. He’s also joined the TX5S Clipperton and VP6D Ducie Island expeditions with the Perseverance DX Group—bringing his contesting skills to demanding field environments and helping log thousands of contacts under pressure. One standout detail: his K6LRG shack is fully remote—four miles and one steep hill away—powered by FlexRadio and fine-tuned for elite performance. Chris is also a longtime leader with the Northern California Contest Club, where he’s served as President and Contest Chair, helping steer the club through changing times while keeping the scoreboard competitive. A passionate evangelist for remote ops and online scoreboards, Chris sees technology not as a threat to contesting—but as its future. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to DX Engineering for supporting operators like Chris and powering everything from Parks on the Air to top-tier contesting efforts worldwide. Your dedication keeps stations competitive and dreams on the air.

John Dorr K1AR and George Gross N3GJ are fresh off a record-setting run at K3LR during the CQ Worldwide SSB contest, logging 406 QSOs in a single hour on 10 meters. This wasn’t luck or brute force—it was a masterclass in synchronized contesting, 21 years in the making. From a clean frequency above 28.500 MHz, the duo operated in seamless coordination: John on the run station, George working multipliers, backed by K3LR’s unassuming but game-changing four-square receive antenna. Their shorthand—“let’s do our thing”—captures a kind of operating telepathy. At 11:58 Zulu, with Europe showing up and conditions ripe, they flipped the switch. What followed was a two-hour pileup that never let up. In the first hour, John ran 272 stations; George pulled in 134 more. It’s not just the numbers—it’s that from a U.S. station, with two ops operating this tightly, this is rare air. There was a quick high-five at the top of the hour, then back to work. And as K1AR quipped, they “actually kind of like each other,” which might just be their secret weapon. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to DX Engineering for supporting the operators who make moments like this possible—whether they’re DXing from the edge of the noise floor or pushing the limits from contest superstations. Your commitment keeps the spirit of radio alive and loud.

Braco E77DX, Filipe CT1ILT, Sven DJ4MX, Chris ES7A, Mike SJ2W, and Dave 9A1UN - Contest Crew Europe - return from the CQ Worldwide SSB contest with stories that stretch from the Canary Islands to the Arctic edge of Europe. This isn’t just a recap—it’s contesting at its most competitive, collaborative, and chaotic. Braco E77DX may have rewritten the record books at EF8R, logging 11,000 QSOs and 27 million points over 48 relentless hours. At ES9C, Chris ES7A battled blown amplifiers, runaway rotators, and led a multi-multi team split between grizzled veterans and first-timers. Mike SJ2W surged into Europe’s top tier thanks to rare polar path openings that let him run the high bands long after others faded—landing him third worldwide and likely first in Europe. Filipe CT1ILT, the engineering mind behind CR6K, built a switching system from scratch—custom boards, full in-band transmit, touchscreen control—only to face a router failure minutes before go time. The system held. The vision proved out. Sven DJ4MX quietly pushed low-power limits from home. Dave 9A1UN slugged it out in the Single Band trenches. And tying it all together: the online scoreboard, now the heartbeat of high-level contesting. #onlinescoreboard is more than a hashtag—it’s the new mantra. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. This episode of Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio is powered by Icom—innovative radios trusted by amateur operators worldwide.

Jose CT1BOH is back on Q5 Worldwide—and just in time for a historic showdown. The ten-time CQ World Wide CW winner, one of the most respected voices in high-stakes contesting, returns for a masterclass in operator performance, propagation edge, and psychological warfare. This isn’t just another contest preview—it’s a forensic breakdown of who might claim the crown in the most prestigious CW event of the year. With Dan N6MJ and Chris KL9A setting up in Zone 33 (the Canaries and Madeira), and Braco E77DX operating from Colombia, Jose walks us through what really matters: the 2BSIQ technique that now defines elite-level wins, the path geometry that privileges east-west propagation, and the subtle but decisive advantages of geography, sunrise timing, and antenna takeoff angles. He’s measured, candid—and brutally honest. Jose calls it the “Clash of Titans” and picks a favorite, though barely. One operator holds the edge in history, QSO rates, and location; another is the more consistent performer, sharper under pressure, and sitting at a better-engineered station. Both are entering unfamiliar territory, not just geographically, but mentally. A third would need a surprise shift in propagation—but as Jose reminds us, anything can happen. He’s been in their shoes: he’s failed, broken records, and learned to stay calm when the log falls apart. That experience, translated here, becomes a roadmap for anyone who wants to understand what separates world-class from world-best. Thanks to Icom and DX Engineering for their ongoing support of Q5 and the CQ WW Showdown. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.

CQ World Wide SSB strategy & station plans with the Contest Crew—Dan N6MJ, Chris KL9A, Bill W9KKN, and Randy K5ZD—who break down final preparations for the SSB Super Bowl of radiosport. Operating from the elite CQ9A station in Madeira, Chris, Dan, and Bill are diving into a high-intensity, six-radio, 24/7 multi-single effort hosted by EW6W Valery Zhytkovich, joining forces with top-tier European ops. The fusion of American and European contesting styles could unlock new records—or at least hard-won lessons for the U.S. contingent. From antenna-based distributed listening techniques to the rare luxury of arriving at a fully built site (thanks to Valery and his tireless team), this episode is rich with strategy and logistics. Chris and Dan break down in-band run timing, audio sharing, and the fight for every last QSO when margins against stations like P33W can come down to 1%. Bill, for once, just gets to show up and plug in—an unfamiliar but welcome shift from his usual role as technical architect. Randy adds perspective from his spartan setup as V47T in St. Kitts, where batteries, spare parts, and repair supplies get packed alongside hope for clear skies and clear bands. He’s joined by N2NT and K4ZW for what he calls a “poor man’s multi-single,” operating with two radios and three ops from a station that may—or may not—still be intact when they arrive. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to DX Engineering for equipping operators around the globe—from island expeditions to full-stack contest superstations—with the gear they need to chase DX, win contests, and keep Parks on the Air alive and thriving.

A few days ago, we heard from Contest Crew North America. Now it’s Europe’s turn. Braco E77DX, Dave 9A1UN, Mike SJ2W, Kris ES7A, and Sven DJ4MX—collectively Contest Crew Europe, and five of the continent’s most respected operators—join Q5 with their war stories and final prep before CQ Worldwide SSB. Dave recaps the standout Istra Conference, a magnet for serious ops and next-gen tech, with attendees flying in from across Europe and the U.S. Braco walks through the high-stakes logistics of EF8R in the Canaries: six 32-kilo bags, customs delays, and a tribander stuck somewhere between Madrid and mystery. Kris reports from Estonia, where a 20-person crew is rebuilding ES5TV’s site—moose damage, marshland, and all—in pursuit of his 2013 multi-multi record. Mike, up at SJ2W in Sweden, is fighting similar terrain and hoping for a clean polar path. And Sven? He’s caught between thesis deadlines and competing offers from Estonia to SM2. There’s no ego here—just precision, resilience, and a drive to pass the torch. Each station runs its own rhythm, each team its own doctrine, but the goal is the same: extract every QSO the bands will give. Brought to you by Icom—the choice of operators who know that peak performance is never optional.

Rich Smith N6KT is a quiet titan in the world of radiosport. With ten CQ WW SSB wins to his name, an ARRL DX Phone record that has stood since 1993, and multiple WPX titles, Rich heads into this weekend’s contest from PJ4K with a legitimate shot at another world title. He’s not just a competitor—he’s a legacy builder. His rivals know it. Braco E77DX is mounting a massive effort from the Canaries (EF8R) with hopes of a win and a possible world record, but the Contest Crew's KL9A says Rich is his top competition. Rich’s path started in a suburban California shack, where he built his first transmitter into a Band-Aid box. He climbed the ladder from modest sweepstakes ops to twenty years of contesting from the Galapagos, where he and a tight-knit crew engineered a rugged contesting fortress that weathered tropical winds and political headwinds. Today, Rich is part of the PJ4K rebuild team, operating from a Bonaire site once decimated by ocean surge. His strategy is clinical—hour-by-hour band planning, post-contest self-audits, and relentless focus on efficiency. No overall score goals. No scoreboard distractions. Just aiming for a performance he can be proud of. This weekend, Rich squares off against Braco in the Canaries and Tom 8P5A—both elite 2BSIQ operators. The stakes are high. But Rich isn’t here for the stress or the showmanship. “If I’m proud of how I operated, that’s good for me,” he says. That calm perseverance—and his unshakable belief in radio’s magic—has made him a beacon to every contester wondering what’s possible with discipline, humility, and grit. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to Icom for sponsoring Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio—because legendary QSOs deserve legendary radios. Their commitment to the amateur community helps make these stories—and operations like PJ4K—possible.

Dan Craig N6MJ is one of three world-class operators aiming to shatter world records in the CQ Worldwide CW contest this November. From Magic Mountain in the Canary Islands, Dan will operate as EF8R—joining a global showdown where perfect propagation, cutting-edge engineering, and elite operator skill might converge to make history. He’s teaming up with Braco E77DX, who will run SSB from the same site, in a rare and strategic collaboration between two of the radiosport’s fiercest competitors. Dan is going all-in on a three-radio setup, running Icom 7610s and supported by trusted tech allies Bill W9KKN and Levi K6JO. Levi, now a professional antenna hand, will be on-site to handle potential tower repairs and power challenges on the wind-battered summit. Meanwhile, Braco is already retooling the shack to serve both SSB and CW, with an eye toward leaving behind a fully functional station for local ops like Juan EA8RM. This is another installment in Q5’s new CQ WW CW Showdown series—a behind-the-scenes look at how the top contenders prepare for the biggest weekend in contesting. Whether Dan, Braco, or Chris KL9A at CQ9A comes out on top, one thing is clear: conditions are ripe for a new world record—maybe even three. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. Thanks to Icom and DX Engineering for making this series possible. Their continued support drives innovation among DXers, Parks on the Air activators, and top-tier contesters operating from the world’s most rugged and remote sites.

Braco Memic E77DX hosts this special edition of Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio, stepping in after Kevin W1DED encountered technical issues. Contest Crew Europe gathers to unpack the 2025 Worked All Europe SSB contest, recent IARU VHF, and plans for the upcoming CQ Worldwide SSB contest. Kris Kass ES7A opens with a cautionary tale: a lightning strike took out his station, frying everything from rotators to computers. With WAE off the table and the station out of commission for CQ Worldwide SSB, he's pivoted to a multi-op plan at ES5TV with an international team—including youth. Sven Lovric DJ4MX describes wrestling with remote station glitches while operating as 9A5MX, but still posting over 400,000 points. Dave Kucelin 9A1UN joins late but brings the heat: his team operated from an ex-military mountaintop site at 1,600 meters, battling fog, humidity, and 80 km/h winds. The result? Over 1,100 QSOs and the second-best VHF score south of the Alps. The crew closes with insights on WAE propagation, the flood of QTCs from Brazilian stations, and yes—AI-generated voices now flawlessly handing out QTCs. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio. This episode of Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio is powered by Icom—innovative radios trusted by amateur operators across the globe.