I've been thinking about this lately. DXCC gets all the attention, but WAZ (Worked All Zones) seems more logical for actually "working the world" since it requires you to work stations in all 40 geographic zones. With DXCC, you could work 100 countries that might not be spread worldwide - lots of European and Caribbean entities clustered in small areas.

WAZ sounds easier at 40 zones vs 100 countries, but apparently it's harder because you literally have to reach every corner of the globe. Anyone else working on WAZ? How does it compare?

I've been chasing both for years and you're absolutely right! WAZ is one of amateur radio's oldest and most prestigious awards, requiring confirmed contacts in all 40 CQ zones. Some zones like 23 (Mongolia, western China) are incredibly difficult depending on your location. Much more challenging than my first 100 DXCC entities.

Great point! WAZ is organized by geography rather than politics, with zones based on continents and propagation challenges. I found myself naturally working toward WAZ while DX-ing anyway. Now that LoTW supports CQ's WAZ program, it's much easier to track and apply for.

As someone still working toward my first DXCC, this is fascinating. I never really understood what WAZ was about. The base certificate costs $6 for CQ subscribers, $12 for non-subscribers if using LoTW. Might be worth pursuing both simultaneously!