Friday-Saturday
September 20-21, 2013

Holiday Inn-Elk Grove Village
Elk Grove Village IL 60007

W9DXCC is pleased to announce that W9DXCC 2013 will feature presentations on the recent NH8S Swain's Island and 3D2C Conway Reef DXpeditions as part of our program. Please be sure to visit the website and our Programs link for updates.

The W9DXCC convention has a rich tradition, dating back to 1953 when 35 DXCC certificate holders met at the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago for a short program and dinner. The conference has grown to over a full day of DX activities, and registrations now exceed 200. 2013 will mark the 61st annual W9DXCC Convention. We are pleased to announce that Kermit Carlson W9XA will chair this year's event.

Plus - "DX'ing From the Black Hole 2" - a series of presentations for beginning and experienced DX'ers alike on Friday. Click here for details.

After Friday's "DX'ing From the Black Hole" classes, there will be a welcome reception in the atrium of the hotel, sponsored by the Society of Midwest Contesters (SMC), followed later Friday evening by a hospitality suite hosted by the Northern Illinois DX Association. On Saturday morning, the convention registration desk opens at 8 AM, and the program begins promptly at 9 AM, led by our own inimitable Jim O’Connell W9WU. Jim has now been introducing our speakers and providing an entertaining day for over 30 years.

There will be a break around noon Saturday for lunch. There is an attractive restaurant in the hotel, and other food opportunities are available nearby. The W9D Special Event Station will also be available during the break.

Following a full day of programs, we will have the Raffle Prize Drawing. Tickets are $5 each and may be purchased with your registration or at the convention. All proceeds are used by the Northern California DX Foundation and the Northern Illinois DX Association to fund significant DXpeditions. At 5 PM we will again hold a CW pileup contest. Many of us find this to be a humbling experience, as the callsigns come flying at you off the tape. See how you compare to some of the best CW operators in our hobby!

To see items with this graphic, click here

Next is socializing in the Atrium, followed by the Grand Banquet. We are honored to have as our 2013 banquet speaker Joe Taylor K1JT, well known to hams as the creator of the WSJT weak-signal software suite, in addition to being a Nobel Prize-winning astrophysicist.

Following the banquet, head to the Late Saturday Hospitality Suite, sponsored by the Greater Milwaukee DX Association.

Since 2004 the W9DXCC convention has been held at the Holiday Inn in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. This site is conveniently located just a few miles west of O’Hare International Airport, and easily reached by auto, only a mile south of I-90, on Illinois Route 83. Free parking is available as well as free shuttle service to and from O’Hare.

73 – The 2013 W9DXCC Committee

 

Feedback from W9DXCC 2012

"Thanks ...for a wonderful weekend! After the first-class treatment I received this year, along with the chance to have eye-ball QSOs with so many old friends, you can be sure that W9DXCC will have pride of place on my calendar in forthcoming years. I regret that I was missing from this wonderful gathering for so many years."-- Fred K3ZO

"As always, I REALLY enjoy W9DXCC and all of the friends I have there!!! It is rare that I miss it."-- Glenn W0GJ

"Thank you for such smooth administration and such a warm welcome. I have been promoting the event over here since my return yesterday and will do a write-up in the next CDXC Digest." -- Chris G3SVL

"I really enjoyed the opportunity to work with you and your team this weekend. It was a very productive time for me so I'm glad your membership enjoyed the talk. Please consider us for participation in W9DXCC next year." -- Greg K5GJ

"[We] had a great time again at W9DXCC. Thanks for all the effort in making it happen. We're looking forward to next year." -- Carl K9LA & Vicky AE9YL

"The training provided [at the DX Basics Class] was wonderful. I especially got good pointers about QSLing and logging."-- Harry K9DXA

"Eight FOC members enjoyed the convention. I knew many of the originators of W9DXCC. Although I now live in Cincinnati where I practised law for many decades, I am a W9 at heart. W9DXCC is a great event. CONGRATULATIONS." -- Jim W9VNE

"Congratulations to...the crew on putting on a great event! Truly a job well done, excellent work!" -- Ryan KB9OWD

"I had a wonderful time at the convention and I learned so much from all the fellow guests and speakers. This was my first time attending and hope to make it a regular yearly trip with my dad." -- Carrie W9FML

"Your team did a fabulous job at W9DXCC this year." -- Val NV9L