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How to use CQDX

CQDX shows you what DX is on the air right now, ranked by rarity. Here’s how to get the most out of it.

Getting started

You don’t need an account to use CQDX. The Spots page shows a live feed of DX spots from PSKReporter, the Reverse Beacon Network, and traditional DX clusters — all combined into one view, sorted by rarity.

The Map page plots active stations on a world map, color-coded by rarity.

Rarity rankings

Every DXCC entity is ranked using the ClubLog Most Wanted list. Spots are labeled by tier:

Legendary Rank 1–10 — the rarest entities on Earth
Very Rare Rank 11–25
Rare Rank 26–50
Uncommon Rank 51–100
Common Rank 101+

Filtering spots

Use the filter bar above the spot table to narrow what you see:

  • Band — show only 20m, 40m, etc.
  • Mode — FT8, CW, SSB, and more
  • Continent — filter by DX or spotter continent
  • Entity search — find a specific DXCC entity
  • ATNO / Workable — show only entities you still need (requires log sync)

Filter settings are saved in the URL — bookmark or share any filtered view. Quick presets like “Rare DX” and “My Continent” are available from the presets menu.

You can switch between table and card views, and group spots by callsign or by entity, using the controls in the stats bar.

Tracking what you need

Create a free account to track your DXCC progress. Once logged in:

  1. Go to your Account page (click your callsign in the top nav)
  2. Upload your ADIF log file, or sync with LoTW or Club Log
  3. Entities you’ve already confirmed are tracked — spots for entities you still need are highlighted in the feed

The ADIF upload accepts standard .adi and .adif files from any logging program. DXCC entity is resolved automatically from callsigns if your log doesn’t include the DXCC field.

Solar conditions

The solar widget in the top nav shows the current Solar Flux Index (SFI) and K-index. Higher SFI generally means better HF propagation on higher bands. Lower K-index means quieter geomagnetic conditions.

Entity detail pages

Click any entity name in the spot table to see its detail page — rarity rank, recent activity, and which bands and modes it’s been spotted on.

API access

All CQDX data is available through a public REST API. See the API documentation for endpoints, parameters, and rate limits. Unauthenticated requests are limited to 60/minute.

To get a higher rate limit (600/minute), create an API token on your Account page under API Tokens. Include it as X-API-Key: your-token in your requests.

Setting your QTH

On your Account page, set your grid square. This is used for distance and bearing calculations on spots, and for propagation predictions.

Accessibility

CQDX is designed to be fully keyboard-navigable and screen-reader friendly. Use Tab to move through controls and Enter to activate them. Rarity tiers are always labeled with text, not just color.