Changes coming to the DXCC Honor Roll? By KE9V

 

Rumor has it that the DX Advisory Committee is reviewing the program and its current rules, a move that could lead to a change in the threshold required to make the "Honor Roll." Currently, there are 340 active entities, 331 of which must be confirmed to qualify for the Honor Roll. This situation has become a point of contention because, for the time being, this goal is unattainable, and any solution risks sparking heated debate. The reasons cited are as follows:

North Korea (P5) is closed off. Turkmenistan (EZ) is not issuing (or no longer issues) amateur radio licenses. Scarborough Reef (BS7H) and Pratas Island (BV9P) are located in disputed waters of the South China Sea, with no civilian access. Johnston Island (KH3), Midway (KH4), and Kure Island (KH7K) are inaccessible due to USFWS (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) regulations regarding "marine monuments." The last activation of Navassa (KP1) was in 2015, and the USFWS has indicated that no further activations will be permitted. Syria (YK), Sudan (ST), Afghanistan (YA), and Myanmar (XZ) cannot host legitimate operations under current conditions.

That amounts to 12 entities—or even more—that are out of reach. The maximum number attainable for a DXer starting out today is around 328.

Given that the current threshold of 331 is unattainable for new DX hunters,

the Honor Roll appears to reward longevity rather than performance. Indeed, the operator

who has confirmed the highest number of entities (395) is 89 years old. So, if you

began DX hunting in 1950, you may have contacted many entities that

no longer exist or are no longer eligible to be counted in 2026. No one who

started DX hunting in this millennium will ever reach the impressive

figures held by this group of octogenarians who sit alone at the top of the rankings.

DXCC involves confirming one hundred countries (entities). This was an achievable goal when

the program was reset in 1946. The basic award poses no problem.

Difficulties arose as the program and its rules evolved to capture the attention

and interest of those who had already obtained the basic award. Some radio amateurs

have dedicated their entire lives to this quest, motivated by new rewards periodically dangled

before them like a carrot. The "Honor Roll" ranking became the most

prestigious and coveted goal for those gripped by this consuming passion.

An increasing number of operators under the age of 80 will be excluded from this highly prized

elite circle. The Advisory Committee finds itself at an impasse. Finding a way to ensure the

long-term viability of the Honor Roll—without disrespecting older radio amateurs,

many of whom oppose any change—promises to be a delicate task. Will lowering the

threshold for the "Honor Roll" satisfy more people than it displeases? That appears to be the crucial question—a question

that could find an answer, or else be ignored, by the end of the year.

Translation of the article by Jeff KE9V https://ke9v.net/2026/08/09/honor-roll.html

Source F5PSI Gaby