I’m joined by Randy Thompson K5ZD, Chris Hurlbut KL9A, and Bill Fehring W9KKN for a Contest Crew conversation that starts with one of the most humbling experiences in amateur radio: opening your CQ WPX log checking report. Note: this episode was recorded before Dayton Hamvention 2026, and another brand-new Contest Crew episode—recorded after Dayton—drops tomorrow. Randy breaks down what contesters should actually look for in a log checking report, why a tiny error rate can still trigger big score reductions, and how busted calls, bad serial numbers, and “not in log” penalties pile up faster than most operators realize. Kevin shares his own WPX results, while Bill explains major upgrades to the Super Check Partial database—including smarter validation, faster updates, and new metadata that could reshape how logging software assists operators in real time. The discussion quickly turns philosophical: at what point does contesting stop measuring operators and start measuring technology? From there, the conversation sprawls in the best possible way. Chris and Randy compare WRTC station prep, airline-packing strategies, networking headaches, referee audio setups, and the challenge of building world-class two-radio stations out of gear that has to fit into a suitcase. Bill compares contesting to Formula One racing. Dayton plans get debated. WRTC stories start flowing. There’s trash talk, skepticism about modern contest tools, and plenty of laughs about giant contesting egos trapped together in conference rooms before radio’s equivalent of the Olympics begins. The episode also offers one of the clearest explanations yet of what WRTC actually feels like from the inside: the pressure, the exhaustion, the randomness, and the reality that four years of preparation can be destroyed by one bad band change or one unlucky station draw. But beneath all the technical detail and banter is the reason Contest Crew conversations work so well: these are operators who genuinely love the craft, still obsess over getting better, and still find ways to laugh at themselves while chasing perfection. This episode is sponsored by DX Engineering, supporting amateur radio operators worldwide with the equipment, technical expertise, and station solutions that keep contesters, DXers, and everyday hams on the air. Whether you're building a serious contest station, activating a park, or chasing rare DX, DX Engineering continues to be one of the hobby’s biggest champions. Join the conversation and subscribe to Q5 Worldwide Ham Radio.