The 2026 Guide to Automated Award Hunting and the CQ DX Marathon

Updated: March 2026 | For Competitive Amateur Radio Operators

For many amateur radio operators, the thrill of the hobby lies in the "chase"—securing that final contact for DXCC, finishing a Clean Sweep in WAS, or climbing the leaderboards in the annual CQ DX Marathon. However, managing the paperwork and tracking what you've worked across multiple bands can be a full-time job. Ham Radio Deluxe v6.9 is designed to automate this process entirely.

Automating the CQ DX Marathon

The CQ DX Marathon is a year-long competition that resets every January 1st. HRD Logbook makes participation effortless:

• Real-Time Submission: HRD tracks your progress against the Marathon list automatically.
• Verified Countries & Zones: Instantly identify which entities you have worked and which ones you still need to secure for the current year.
• One-Click Export: When the year ends, export your data in the exact format required by CQ Magazine for official entry.

Worked Status Indicators: Your Secret Weapon

Imagine knowing if you need a station before you ever tune your VFO. HRD's Worked Status Indicators (WSI) integrate with your DX Cluster and Digital Mode software (like WSJT-X) to color-code incoming spots:

• Red: All-time new country (ATNO).
• Green: New band or new mode for an existing country.
• Gray: Already worked and confirmed.

Why HRD Logbook Is the Best Tool for CQ DX Marathon

The CQ DX Marathon rewards consistency over flash — you accumulate points for new countries and CQ Zones worked throughout the entire calendar year, not just on a single contest weekend. That means your logging software needs to work quietly in the background every day, flagging new entities in real time so you never miss an opportunity to add a point to your annual total.

Ham Radio Deluxe Logbook's Worked Status Indicators were built for exactly this. When a station appears on the DX cluster bandmap, WSI instantly checks your current year's log and lights up a "New One" indicator before you even decide whether to call. You don't need to mentally cross-reference a paper list or a separate spreadsheet — HRD does it for you at the moment of the spot.

At the end of the year, the built-in CQ DX Countries award report tallies your score automatically. You can see exactly which of the 340 DXCC entities plus the six special CQ Marathon countries you've worked, drill down to view individual QSOs by zone or country, and generate a submission-ready report. All HRD license holders receive free updates, so your award databases stay current with DXCC list changes throughout the year — at no additional charge.

If you are serious about your 2026 CQ DX Marathon score, the combination of live DX cluster spots, real-time WSI alerts, and automated award tracking in Ham Radio Deluxe gives you a meaningful competitive edge over operators logging manually or with disconnected tools.

Designed by Award Hunters, for Award Hunters

Since sole ownership (WA9PIE) began in 2021, we have prioritized the accuracy of our award tracking databases. We understand that every QSL counts, and our software is built to ensure no contact goes unrecorded.

Did you know? Every Ham Radio Deluxe license includes free lifetime updates to the latest stable builds. We believe your software should evolve with your station at no extra cost.

Advanced Tracking Resources

Ready to climb the standings? Explore our deep-dive technical articles for award configuration:

• Configuring Award Tracking in HRD Logbook
• Guide: Integrating FT8 for Rapid Award Hunting
• Guide: Modern Rig Control for Fast Tuning

73,
The Ham Radio Deluxe Team