4O3A Signature Announces Agreement with DX Engineering for Exclusive Distribution of 4O3A Products in the U.S. and Canada

DX Engineering, a leading worldwide retailer of amateur radio equipment, has been named the exclusive distributor in the U.S. and Canada of the Sky Sat Group’s lineup of 4O3A band pass filters, headsets and communication accessories, and station automation device controllers.

In addition, DX Engineering and FlexRadio will share U.S./Canada distribution rights for 4O3A’s line of Genius devices: the Power Genius XL Amplifier, Tuner Genius XL Antenna Tuners, and Antenna Genius 8x2 Plus Antenna Switch.

Customers can now receive warranty support on 4O3A Genius products from DX Engineering’s qualified service partners in addition to FlexRadio’s current warranty service and technical support.

Based in Montenegro, the Sky Sat Group was founded in 1991 by noted amateur radio contester Ranko Boca, 4O3A. Named after his call sign, 4O3A is a division of the Sky Sat Group that focuses on creating products which eliminate station complexity, reduce costs, improve operator efficiency, and boost contest scores.

“DX Engineering is excited for the opportunity to continue to bring 4O3A’s high-quality, station-enhancing products to amateur radio operators in North America,” said Tim Duffy, K3LR, DX Engineering CEO. “We’ve fostered a valued relationship with their team since adding them to our list of manufacturers two years ago. This next step further builds upon this relationship while advancing our commitment to providing hams with the best equipment from around the world.”

4O3A-manufactured products sold exclusively in the U.S. and Canada through DX Engineering include:

• NC-1 Noise-Canceling Bluetooth Headphones/Boom Mic Headset, along with adapter cables, dongles, and wooden headphone stand
• XL Series High-Power 4,500W PEP Band Pass Filters, 160-6M, with Type-N female or SO-239 connectors
• Station automation device controllers including the Antenna A/B Switch Relay, 8-Antenna A/B Switches, Antenna Genius 8x1 Switch, 1A2R One Amp/Two Radio Switch, RS-3000 Coaxial Crossover Switch 2x2, and other products coming soon to DX Engineering

4O3A items will be added to DXEngineering.com as they become available. Please visit the website and DXE social media for updated information in the coming months.

About 4O3A Genius Products Available in the U.S. and Canada from DX Engineering and FlexRadio

• Power Genius XL Amplifier (PGXL): Offering clean legal-limit power at 100% ICAS duty cycles in all modes, the PGXL (1.8–54 MHz) is the only fully SO2R-capable amplifier on the market with 70 dB isolation between transceiver inputs. It can interface with any modern transceiver and seamlessly integrates with any FLEX-6000 Series transceiver. 
• Tuner Genius XL Antenna Tuners (TGXL): Designed to complement the FLEX-6000 series transceivers and PGXL, these tuners cover 1.8–54 MHz up to 2,000 watts SSB/CW with a tuning range up to 10:1 SWR at reduced power. The automatic/manual tuner is available in a 1x3 configuration or SO2R (Single Operator/Two Radio) version.
• Antenna Genius 8x2 Plus Antenna Switch (AG): This switch accommodates up to eight antennas and two transceivers, making it an excellent choice for dual RX transceivers, SO2R, and multi-operator contesting stations.

The CQWW Contest is undoubtedly the largest and most prestigious event in our hobby. Over the decades, the contest has grown and evolved, but precisely because of its size and significance, it is important that we continue to reflect on how to improve it.

Through this open letter, I would like to present several key proposals, based on practical observations, logic, and official contest data, which I believe would contribute to a healthier, fairer, and more inclusive CQWW contest.

1. Contest Duration – Health and Competitive Aspects

The contest currently lasts 48 hours, with no time restriction for participants. This rule is outdated, harmful, and counterproductive for several reasons:

• Health risks: Operating for 48 hours without sleep, under high intensity and constant pressure, with maximum concentration, poses a serious medical risk. The combination of mental, intellectual, and physical effort can have serious consequences – especially for older operators, who make up the majority of the contest community.
• Unequal playing field: Only a small number of individuals can endure such a pace. The contest becomes a test of physical endurance rather than skill and technical preparation, which should be the true essence of radio sport.
• Abuse and unfair practices: Due to excessive fatigue, some participants are using unauthorized assistance – including operator rotation, remote support, and similar means – which further undermines the integrity of the contest.

Proposal: Introduce a time limitation – for example, a maximum of 36 hours of active operating within the 48-hour contest period, with a flexible operating window.

Outcome? More serious participants, a fairer competition, fewer violations, and greater motivation within the community.

2. Scoring System – Unfair Geographical Imbalance

The current scoring system is structured as follows:

• 3 points for DX contacts (between continents)
• 2 points for contacts between the Caribbean and North America
• 1 point for contacts within the same continent

This system gives a massive advantage to stations located in areas with easy access to other continents (e.g., Africa). Operators from Europe, Asia, North America, or the southern part of South America — even with more QSOs and better performance — often have no realistic chance to compete at the top.

Before presenting a proposal, let’s review some top results and compare them to get a clearer picture of the actual value and difficulty behind certain scores, which are currently favored by the existing scoring rules.

Let’s take the world record in CQWW CW, SOAB HPU from last year and compare it with the other top scores achieved from the Caribbean and Europe, which are currently disadvantaged by the point structure.

CQWW CW – SOABHPU Category

Official results:

Stations from Africa (D4DX, D4C) receive 3 points for virtually all their contacts. Caribbean stations (ZF1A, TI7W) earn 2 points for contacts with North America. European stations like CR6K receive only 1 point for most of their contacts.

Rescored (all contacts = 3 points):

Conclusion: The best actual performances were by ZF1A, TI7W, and CR6K — but the system fails to recognize them because they are in the “wrong” location. These numbers clearly show that results depend less on operator skill and more on geography. Equal scoring for all contacts would create a level playing field and motivate more stations to develop their setups.

These were comparisons in the SOAB category.

Let’s now look at a Single Operator, Single Band (40m) comparison, where the discrepancy is even more striking.

I compared the world record and the next two best all-time scores with the results of S52AW and 4O3A, which — under current scoring — rank only 45th and 77th, respectively.

Comparison – Single OP, Single Band (40m)

Official results:

Rescored with 3 points per contact:

Again, the data is clear: The real value of European scores is drastically underestimated. With equal scoring, S52AW and 4O3A would be top contenders.

3. Proposal for a New Category: SO2B – Single Operator, Two Bands

Another critical factor affecting participation and competitiveness is the contest category structure.
While we already have a wide range of categories — which is positive — there is room for meaningful improvement.

For the past two years, I’ve been actively discussing with the contesting community the idea of introducing a new category: Single Operator – Two Bands (SO2B).

Why SO2B?

Let’s start from the beginning.

SOAB is the most demanding and prestigious category, and many of us aspire to compete in it. However:

• A competitive SOAB station requires serious infrastructure: a large property on a suitable location, with a house and all infrastructure.
• Tall towers, serious antennas for all 6 bands, and full hardware for 160–10m.
• Automation and a complex technical system.

These setups are expensive, difficult to build, rare — and often big guns end up competing only among themselves. Meanwhile, the majority of operators are discouraged, as it’s almost impossible to be competitive without a "superstation."

And we all know the answer to this question: If many great operators had the technical and financial resources to build such stations, would those who currently dominate still be the best?

Introducing SO2B – Single Op, Two Bands (of your choice)

With the SO2B category, many barriers would be removed:

• Significant reduction in investment, size and complexity of station
• A way more accessible for a wider group of operators
• Each participant chooses any two bands they prefer

South America, Africa, and Oceania would be highly competitive on the higher bands. Europe and North America could combine high and low bands depending on propagation.

This would open up many new opportunities and significantly increase the number of serious participants in this category. Just roughly, in ex YU I am sure that at least 30 serious participants will fight for title, with equal chance. We could have few hundreds of very competitive and serious participants in SO2B, with equal playing field and chance to win. Sounds like impossible? But it is not.

SO2B would retain all the exciting technical aspects of SOAB operation — such as SO2R and 2BSIQ techniques.

Importantly, SO2B would be a single, unified category, regardless of which two bands are chosen — making it even more attractive, and perhaps more exciting than SOAB itself.

Key Features:

• Operator selects any two bands (e.g., 20m + 40m or 10m + 15m)
• All contacts must be on those two bands
• Techniques such as SO2R and 2BSIQ are allowed
• No subcategories by band combinations — everyone competes together

Benefits of SO2B:

• Lower technical and infrastructure barriers — more accessible and affordable
• Competitive opportunities without big stations
• Strategic flexibility — operators choose bands based on location and propagation
• Increased participation — many more serious entries with modest investment

SO2B keeps the challenge of SOAB but makes the competition more inclusive and dynamic for a wider operator base.

Conclusion

My “dream CQWW” would include the following changes:

• 36 hours of operating time within the 48-hour contest window
• Equal scoring for all contacts — 3 points per QSO
• A new category: SO2B – Single Operator, Two Bands
• Live score tracking during the contest

These changes would:

• Make the contest healthier
• Make it fairer
• Attract more serious participants
• Eliminate unfair geographical advantages
• Reignite enthusiasm, especially among younger generations

I invite the CQWW Committee to seriously consider these proposals and open the door to rule modernization. Our hobby has massive potential — let’s make it more accessible, healthier, and exciting for everyone.

73,
Ranko – 4O3A

Radioamatersko takmičenje CQWW je bez dileme najveći i najprestižniji događaj u našem hobiju. Kroz decenije se takmičenje razvijalo i raslo, ali upravo zbog te veličine i značaja, važno je da ne prestanemo da razmišljamo o njegovom unapređenju.

Kroz ovo otvoreno pismo želim da iznesem nekoliko ključnih predloga, utemeljenih na praktičnim zapažanjima, logici i podacima iz zvaničnih rezultata, koji bi, po mom mišljenju, doprineli zdravijem, pravednijem i širem učešću u CQWW contestu.

1. Dužina trajanja takmičenja – zdravstveni i takmičarski aspekti

Takmičenje trenutno traje 48 sati bez ikakvog ograničenja za učesnike. Ovo pravilo je zastarelo, štetno i kontraproduktivno iz više razloga:

• Zdravstveni rizici: Rad tokom 48 sati bez spavanja, u visokom intenzitetu, pod stalnim pritiskom i maksimalnom koncentracijom, predstavlja ozbiljan medicinski rizik. Kombinacija mentalnog, intelektualnog i fizičkog napora može imati ozbiljne posledice – naročito po starije takmičare, kojih je najviše.
• Narušena ravnopravnost: Samo mali broj pojedinaca može izdržati ovakav tempo. Takmičenje se pretvara u test fizičke izdržljivosti, a ne vještine i tehničke pripreme, što bi trebalo da bude suština radioamaterskog sporta.
• Zloupotrebe: Zbog prevelikog napora, dio takmičara pribjegava nelegalnoj pomoći - uključujući rotaciju operatora, remote podršku i slično, što dodatno narušava integritet takmičenja.

Predlog: Uvesti vremensko ograničenje – npr. maksimalno 36 sati aktivnog rada unutar 48h trajanja takmičenja, uz slobodan izbor termina.

Rezultat? Više ozbiljnih učesnika, ravnopravnije takmičenje, manji broj prekršaja i veća motivacija u zajednici.

2. Sistem bodovanja – nepravedna geografska neravnoteža

Trenutni način bodovanja podrazumijeva:

• 3 poena za DX vezu (između kontinenata)
• 2 poena za veze izmedju Kariba u Sjeverne Amerike
• 1 poen za veze na istom kontinentu

Ova pravila dovode do ogromne prednosti za stanice koje se nalaze na lokacijama sa lakim pristupom drugim kontinentima (npr. Afrika). Operatori iz Evrope, Azije, Sjeverne Amerike, ili južnog dijela Južne Amerike – i pored više veza i boljih rezultata– praktično nemaju šansu za realnu konkurenciju.

Prije predloga, hajde da vidimo neke od najboljih rezultata i da napravimo poredjenje, radi dobijanja realne slike o stvarnoj vrijednosti i težini nekih rezultata, koje sistem bodovanja favorizuje. Znamo da je DX veza (veza sa drugim kontinentom) 3 poena, a svoj kontinent se boduje jedan poen. Uzmimo svjetski rekord u CQWW CW, SOAB HPU, koji je postavljen prošle godine, i uporedimo ga sa drugim najboljim rezultatima, napravljenih iz Kariba i Evrope, a koji imaju drugačije, trenutno vrlo nepravično bodovanje. Ovo je oficijalna tabela i oficijalni rezultati:

CQWW CW – SOABHPU kategorija

Oficijelni rezultati:

Stanice iz Afrike (D4DX, D4C) gotovo sve veze boduju 3 poena. Karipske stanice (ZF1A, TI7W) dobijaju 2 poena za veze sa Sjevernom Amerikom. Evropske stanice, kao što je CR6K, dobijaju samo 1 poen za većinu svojih veza.

Ako ovih 5 rezultata preračunamo na način da ih jednako bodujemo, sa tri poena po svakoj vezi, rezultat i redoslijed je sledeći:

Preračunato sa jednakim bodovanjem (sve veze = 3 poena):

Zaključak: Najbolje stvarne performanse imaju ZF1A, TI7W i CR6K – ali ih sistem ne prepoznaje jer su „na pogrešnom mjestu“. Brojevi jasno pokazuju da rezultat ne zavisi prvenstveno od vještine, već od lokacije. Jednako bodovanje za sve veze bi izjednačilo šanse i motivisalo velik broj takmičara da grade svoje stanice.

Ovo su bila poredjenja u SOAB kategoriji.

Evo poredjenje u Single OP Single band kategoriji, na 40M, gdje je slika još upečatljivija.
Uporedio sam World rekord i sledeća dva najbolja rezultata svih vremena, sa rezultatima S52AW, i 4O3A, a koji su na listi tek 45 i 77 rezultat, po trenutno važećem načinu bodovanja:

Poređenje – Single OP, Single Band (40m)

Oficijelni rezultati:

Preračunato sa 3 poena po vezi:

I ovdje je jasno: realna vrijednost rezultata iz Evrope je drastično potcijenjena. Uz ravnopravan sistem bodovanja, S52AW i 4O3A bi bili konkurentni u samom vrhu.

3. Predlog za novu kategoriju: SO2B – Single Operator, Two Bands

Sledeći važan segment koji direktno utiče na masovnost i ozbiljnost učešća je struktura takmičarskih kategorija.

Trenutno imamo mnogo kategorija, što je dobro, ali postoji prostor za značajno poboljšanje. Posebno bih istakao potrebu za uvođenjem nove kategorije: Single OP – Two Bands (SO2B), o kojoj poslednje dvije godine intenzivno razgovaram sa contest zajednicom.

Zašto SO2B?

Da počnemo od početka.

SOAB kategorija je sigurno najzahtjevnija, i najveći broj nas bi volio da se takmičimo u njoj.

• Da bi stanica bila konkurentna u SOAB, mora imati ozbiljnu infrastrukturu: plac velike površine na pogodnoj lokaciji, sa kućom i infrastrukturom
• Velike stubove, ozbiljne antene za svih 6 opsega, sav hardver za 6 opsega (160–10m).

• Automatizaciju i kompleksan tehnički system

Takve stanice su izuzetno skupe, teško ostvarive, malobrojne i često se takmiče same sa sobom, dok je većina operatora demotivisana, jer se sa prosječno opremljenom stanicom, rezultatima ne može ni približiti najvećim.

Takodje svi znamo odgovor na pitanje, da, ako bi jedan veliki broj dobrih operatora imao tehničke i materijalne mogućnosti i mogao sebi priuštiti takvu stanicu, da bi oni koji danas dominiraju bili i najbolji?

Predlažem kategoriju: SO2B – Single Op, Two Bands, ili jedan operator, dva banda po izboru

Uvodjenjem kategorije SO2B, otklonile bi se prepreke u smislu značajnog smanjenja investicije i ozbiljna SO2B stanica bila bi mnogima dostupnija. Finansijski, i tehnički-prostorno.

Otvorila bi se mogućnost da ogromna većina može da priušti SO2B setup za dva opsega, i da se takmiči u punom kapacitetu.

Odluka o tome koja dva opsega će da radi, je odluka takmičara. Južna amerika, Afrika, i Okeanija bi dobile mogućnost da budu potpuno kompetetivne na dva viša banda. Evropa u Sjeverna amerika kombinaciju viših i nižih bandova, u zavisnosti od propagacija. To bi dodatno otvorilo mnogo novih mogućnosti i značajno doprinjelo broju ozbiljnih takmičara u ovoj kategoriji.

Takodje, SO2B bi zadržao sve one atraktivne elemente SOAB rada, kao što su SO2R i 2BSIQ tehnike. Važno je napomenuti da bi SO2B bila jedna kategorija, bez obzira na to koja dva banda je takmičar odabrao. Time bi se dobili i na atraktivnosti, čak i mnogo više nego što je to SOAB kategorija.

Ključne karakteristike:

• Takmičar bira dva opsega po izboru (npr. 20m + 40m, ili 10m + 15m)
• Sve veze moraju biti na ta dva opsega
• Tehnike poput SO2R i 2BSIQ su dozvoljene
• Nema podkategorija po kombinaciji opsega – svi se takmiče zajedno

Uvođenjem kategorije SO2B:

• Niža tehnička i infrastrukturna barijera za ulazak – mnogo jednostavnije i pristupačnije
• Mogućnost konkurencije bez ogromne stanice
• Fleksibilnost u strategiji – operator bira opsege prema svojoj lokaciji i propagacijama
• Povećanje broja takmičara – više ozbiljnih stanica, jer su investicija i potreban proctor i hardver značajno manji

SO2B bi zadržala sve atraktivne elemente SOAB kategorije – SO2R, 2BSIQ – ali bi takmičenje učinila dostupnijim, zanimljivijim i kompetitivnijim za veći broj operatora.

Zaključak

Moj “dream CQWW” bi uključivao sledeće promjene:

• 36 sati aktivnog rada unutar 48h trajanja takmičenja
• Jednako bodovanje svih veza – 3 poena za svaku
• Nova kategorija SO2B – Single Operator Two Bands
• Live score tokom takmičenja

Ove promjene bi:

• Učinile takmičenje zdravijim
• Učinile takmičenje poštenijim
• Povećale broj ozbiljnih takmičara
• Uklonile geografske privilegije
• Vratile entuzijazam, posebno kod mlađih generacija

Pozivam CQWW komitet da ozbiljno razmotri ove predloge i otvori prostor za modernizaciju pravila. Naš hobi ima ogroman potencijal – hajde da ga zajedno učinimo dostupnijim, zdravijim i uzbudljivijim za sve.

73, Ranko 4O3A

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