Actually, John's statement that ARRL DX has always been W/VE vs the
world is not accurate. In the 1970s, I think when I was on the CAC as
the fourth district representative, the rules were changed and DX was
allowed to work DX in the ARRL DX Contests. The near-unanimous
conclusion from US stations was that it was a disaster. It became like
a European Sweepstakes, particularly on the low bands, with Europeans
working each other and the US guys couldn't break through their pileups.
It was an entirely different contest and the US/VE operators were very
upset that the DX wasn't looking for us any more. I can't remember if
it was one or two years and it was quickly changed back to US/VE vs DX.
I think the same thing would happen today, perhaps even more so since
European activity has picked up so much.
This is probably the same reason that the DARC WAE contests do not allow
Eu to Eu QSOs. The All Asian DX Contest does now permit Asia to Asia
QSOs, but that is often all they can hear and work in their part of the
world.
73, John, K4BAI.
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