Radio Dxing is a hobby for people who like to tune in and identify distant radio stations.  The D in DX is said to mean distance and the X is said to refer to the unknown.  The primary targets for DXers are broadcast radio stations broadcasting in AM.  Generally DXers targets stations at long distances away from the listener and the further away the better.  There is also a strata of DXers who target listening to utility signals.  These are signals that originate from companies or the military using either cell phone and the radio spectrum to conduct business or military operations.

While this hobby has diminished in popularity over the years, it is a still fun distraction for those that like to listen to the radio.  In this hobby, radio listeners would attempt to tune in and identify distant radio stations along collecting enough data of the broadcast to clearly verify the station they are tuning into.  One of the verifying activities of these Dxers would use is to send the radio station they tuned in a letter with a return post card verifying what the station had been playing at the time the Dxer had tuned in.  Often avid Dxers will compete against each other to gather the most stations or the most distant stations.  There are several different websites dedicated to DXing where listeners can share the stations they have collected and provide information on their DXing adventures.

Radio Dxing has a rich history dating back into the days of crystal radio sets, but it became popular in the 1950’s after AM radio proliferated across the country.  Many clear channel AM stations came on the air in the 1970’s and were easy targets for DXers as these stations broadcast with a great deal of wattage.  Stations such as KDKA, WLW, WLS and many others were popular stations for Dxers to tune into and verify.  AM Dxing is also referred to as MW Dxing.

MW DXing has become more somewhat more difficult as the AM airwaves became more crowded over the years.  Most AM Dxers prefer Dxing at night because AM signals tend to carry longer distances after the sun is down.  Many low powered stations were coveted targeted for Dxers.

Truly avid DXers covet foreign radio stations and use expensive and sophisticated radios.  The radio equipment used by these serious DXers can cost thousands of dollars.  Some DXers augment their technically advanced equipment with equally expensive and sophisticated antennas which allow them to expand their reach. 

DXing can be a fun hobby for just about anyone.  Amateur DXers can use inexpensive portable AM radios to start the hobby.  It’s a hobby even young children can enjoy.  If someone gets seriously hooked into the hobby, there is a variety of sophisticated receiving equipment that can be purchased along with supporting accessories like antennas.