Long duration flights frequently must use high frequency custom built transmitters and slow data protocols such as RTTY, Hellschreiber, Morse code and PSK31, to transmit data over great distances using little battery power.
CQ Amateur Radio organizes, adjudicates, and publishes the results of several annual radio competitions, including the CQ World Wide 160-meter Contest, the CQ World Wide WPX Contest, the CQ World Wide RTTY Contest, the CQ World Wide RTTY WPX Contest, the CQ World Wide DX Contest, and the CQ World Wide VHF Contest.
When used in conjunction with appropriate software, it allows the operator to transmit and receive using many digital modes, including packet, PSK31, and RTTY.
Specialty awards are available for establishing two-way contact with stations in all 50 states using amateur radio satellites, Radioteletype (RTTY), or Slow-scan television (SSTV).
Specialty awards are available for establishing two-way contact with stations in all 40 zones using certain transmission modes including: CW, AM, SSB, amateur radio satellites, Radioteletype (RTTY), a digital mode other than RTTY, or Slow-scan television (SSTV).