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The CW logs can be accessed at http://www.cqww.com/cq-ww-cw-2008.htm - the SSB logs are available at http://www.cqww.com/cq-ww-ssb-2008.htm
The CW logs were somewhat newsworthy, as they confirmed the rumor of late 2008 about the leader of the CQ WW CW test, as Valery Komarov RD3AF had the top claimed score of 13.1 million points from EF8M in the Canary Islands.
Not far behind in second place was Hrane Milosevic YT1AD, who piloted 3V8BB in Tunisia to 12.7 million points. In third was Jose Nunes CT1BOH, who hit 11.5 million at CT3NT.
Earlier this year, radio-sport.net was told that the entries of both RD3AF and YT1AD would be receiving close scrutiny from CQ WW log checkers. Those decisions are now getting a final review.
The release of the logs is a public reminder that CQ WW DX is still the only major contest that releases logs of those who submit entries.
The on-line SSB logs also include the log of Dimitri Kryukov RA3CO, whose entry from Colombia as HK3RA was rejected by the CQ WW Contest Committee because of his failure to be properly licensed for operation from that South American nation.
While it was announced at the Dayton Hamvention, the news took several weeks to finally trickle down to many contesters, where it was given a mixed review online.
The new category allows the use of internet technology that some have embraced, while others feel it goes "too" far in allowing remote stations and remote listening.
"The merger of Internet connectivity and ham radio is already here," said CQ WW Contest Committee member Doug Grant K1DG.
"People are experimenting with connecting multiple remote sites outside contests, but they are not allowed to send in their logs in the existing contest categories," he added.
"The Xtreme category allows them to send in logs, and to compete with other experimenters to compare how well they work in a real competition," said Grant, who was involved in creating the new category.
You can read the rules for yourself at http://cqww.com/CQ_WW_Xtreme_Rules.pdf
Not sure about the new rules was Jim George N3BB.
"Personally I think that the CQ CAC has let a multi-headed hydra out of the bag," said George. "Time will tell if it helps or hurts contesting. I have my doubts."
"If I were a multi-op guy, I would be very, very worried about the "arms race" that is underway in radio sporting," George added.
This year's edition starts at 0000z July 1 and runs for 24 hours, giving you a full day's worth of propagation to and from North America to get ready for the IARU contest on July 11-12.
The Canadians take this contest seriously, and so should you!
Last year's SOAB HP winner was John Sluymer VE3EJ, who set a new Canada Day category record with over 1.2 million points.
Tops from outside of Canada was the familiar call and twang of Paul Newberry N4PN.
The low power winner was Yuri Onipko VE3DZ, who won with 483k.
The overall QRP winner was actually from the US, as George Osier N2JNZ won the wood for five watt entries.
The RAC has expanded the number of categories in recent years, instituting Single Op SSB and CW sections to give operators a greater choice in how they participate.
While contest organizers have been hoping for a more active sunspot situation this year, that has not happened. But the sun has been slightly more active in recent weeks than earlier this year.
The latest statistics show that 77% of the days this year have featured no spots on the sun.
That's down from almost 85% at one point in April.
Hopefully the bands will feature a bit more propagation in 2009, so turn that radio on during the 24 hours of July 1 UTC.
