CQ Contest - SCORES!

In SSB contesting, exchanges refer to the information that participants exchange with each other during a contact. The exchange typically includes the participant's call sign, the signal report (a measure of signal strength and quality), and a serial number or other identifier.

For example, in the CQ Worldwide DX Contest, participants exchange their call signs, their signal report, and a sequential serial number starting at 001. The exchange might sound something like this: "CQ Contest, this is K1ABC, K1ABC, over." "K1ABC, this is W2XYZ, your signal report is 59, and your serial number is 023, over." "W2XYZ, this is K1ABC, your signal report is 59, and your serial number is 024, over."

The score in SSB contesting is based on the number of contacts made, multiplied by a factor based on the distance between the two stations. The score may also include bonus points for certain types of contacts, such as contacts with stations in different countries or on different continents.

For example, in the ARRL International DX Contest, the score is calculated by multiplying the total number of contacts made by the sum of the distance points and the bonus points. Distance points are calculated based on the distance between the two stations, while bonus points are awarded for contacts with stations in different countries or on different continents.

To illustrate, suppose a participant makes 100 contacts during the contest, with 60 contacts in the US and 40 contacts in Canada. The total distance points would be calculated by adding up the distances between the participant's location and each of the contact's locations, and multiplying by a factor based on the band used. The total bonus points would be calculated by adding up the bonus points for each contact made with a station in a different country or on a different continent. The final score would be the product of the total number of contacts, the distance points, and the bonus points.