I'm KE4ABC, licensed a few months ago. I keep hearing about DXCC and needing 100 countries, but I'm confused about something basic. Do you literally need to work 100 different countries to get DXCC, or is it more complicated than that? I've worked maybe 15 countries so far on 20m with my Yaesu FT-891 and a G5RV.

Also wondering about LoTW vs. paper QSLs - I hear LoTW is cheaper but does ARRL accept it for DXCC? Thanks for any guidance!

Welcome to DX-ing! Yes, DXCC requires 100 confirmed contacts with different DXCC entities (countries/territories) - currently there are 340 total entities. And absolutely, ARRL accepts LoTW for DXCC applications - it's much cheaper than mailing QSL cards worldwide. Keep working that 20m with your G5RV!

The "entities" thing confused me too at first. Some small islands count as separate entities even though they're tiny, while other big places might be grouped together. DXCC recognizes political boundaries, so you might work many Caribbean islands that are separate entities but clustered geographically. Good luck chasing those countries!

LoTW is definitely the fastest way to confirm QSOs and apply for DXCC. I submitted my first DXCC application entirely through LoTW last year - no paper cards needed. Just make sure to get your LoTW certificate set up properly first. The ARRL has good tutorials on their website.