|
| | |
| | | | Upcoming Contests — Things to Do |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| It may seem like we all get a weekend off between CQ World Wide and the CW Sweepstakes, but that is not true at all. On Halloween weekend, consider the North American SSB Sprint. It’s a 4-hour contest starting at 0000z Sunday, which is in the evening for everyone in the US. It’s a sprint, so the contest only runs for 4 hours! What makes sprint contests special is the QSY rule; basically, you can only make two contacts on a frequency (one time calling someone and one time calling CQ), and then you have to QSY somewhere else. Makes for a hectic, yet fun, contest.
The following week brings us the CW running of the ARRL Sweepstakes. This is a domestic contest with rules like no other major contest. You can only work a station one time during the entire contest, meaning the pool of available QSOs to make rapidly shrinks. I love the ARRL Sweepstakes because it is the only contest you can win from anywhere in the US or Canada, or at least get to the top 5. Because it’s a domestic contest, you don’t need a superstation to do well. In fact, low dipoles are the ticket to winning SS. |
|
| |
| | | | | |
October 29, 2026 - November 11, 2026
See the "Contests" section below for complete contest information.
Note: Contest dates and times are in UTC. This means that a contest that is listed to start on a Saturday at 0000z, for example, really starts on a Friday night in US time zones. |
|
| | October 29 October 30 October 31 November 1 November 2 November 3 November 4 November 5 November 6 November 7 November 8 November 9 November 10 November 11 |
|
| | | News, Press Releases, and Special Interest |
|
|
The most recent edition of the ARRL Letter reported on the newest recipients of the Colvin grants from ARRL: |
|
| |
Latest Colvin Grants Assist Youth-Focused DXpeditions |
|
| Two upcoming DXpeditions with a focus on young operators are the latest recipients of Colvin grants from ARRL. The grants, funded by an  endowment established by noted DXpeditioner Lloyd Colvin, W6KG (SK), are intended to support amateur radio projects that promote international goodwill in the field of DX.
The latest recipients are the upcoming VK9XY DXpedition to Christmas Island, south of Indonesia — scheduled for this November 16 through December 4 — and the VPØSG expedition to South Georgia Island, in the South Atlantic, planned for March 2027.
Ten of the 12 VK9XY operators are under age 26, and the team leader is ARRL Education and Learning Support Specialist Max Freedman, N4ML, already a veteran DXpeditioner at age 22. But the truly unique aspect of this expedition are plans for up to 40 young hams to operate the station remotely from various parts of the world, using an internet-linked “rig in a box,” or RIB.
 "The VK9XY team would like to sincerely thank ARRL for granting us the Colvin Award,” said Freedman. “It is only with this collective support from groups like NCDXF, DX Engineering, ARRL, and the community at large that we are able to bring the next generation of radio amateurs right to the bleeding edge of DXpeditioning."
The VPØSG team will also include three (on-site) young operators and will be the first amateur radio activation of South Georgia since 2016. (One young operator, Violetta Latham, KN2P, is part of both the VK9XY and VPØSG teams!) In addition to the challenges associated with getting to and operating from a sub-Antarctic island, the team also has to negotiate very strict environmental regulations. According to the team’s website, the group is committed to “operating with the highest possible standards of environmental responsibility” while maximizing the number of unique contacts to give smaller stations a better opportunity to work South Georgia.
|
|
| |
| | | Join your local Contest Club
This may sound obvious, but seriously consider joining your local contest club or group if you haven’t yet. No one else in the world truly knows what it’s like to contest in your area like a local club does. |
|
| | |
|
James, NV1U, operating the CQ World Wide contest from Roatán, Honduras, as HQ9X. [James Walker III, NV1U, photo] |
|
| | | Confirm, Confirm, Confirm
A busted contact is a situation that arises when you incorrectly log a station, either their call sign or exchange. This wouldn’t be a problem if everyone was S9+, but we all know that’s not true. When you work a weak station, and you aren’t certain of their call or exchange, take the time to confirm the information. Most contests not only remove credit for the contact, but also will penalize you for the error. |
|
| | Technical Topics and Discussion |
|
| John Myers, WG8X, gave a really neat look at the brand-new Parks on the Air® (POTA®) website in an On All Bands article. The POTA team has done an amazing job this year improving their architecture, management, and front-end presence, and it’s evident in the new website. Congratulations to the POTA team for the completion of this project. |
|
| | | The Big CQ WW
I hope everyone had fun this past weekend during CQWW. I can say with confidence that K3LR had an amazing 48 hours on the bands. K3LR was my second Multi Multi operation ever! It is not trivial to put 11 stations on the air with no interstation interference, good antennas, and operators that can take advantage of the antennas and conditions available. Tim has it figured out though. From arriving at the airport Friday to departing Monday, everything I thought of was already solved. Big thanks to Tim and the K3LR team for having me on 20 meters for the weekend, alongside John, K1AR, and George, N3SD. The highlights on the operating side for me were just all the different stations that called in during the weekend. In my own DXing, there are places I never seem to hear, but they not only were on for the contest, but answered my CQ!
Online, I saw a bunch of people go to some really neat places and put up some great scores. This was W1ZL’s first CQWW, operating single-band 20 meters, and he put up an amazing score. The guys at W3LPL did well, as usual, and I heard from so many people that this weekend was their first time operating from the DX, or putting in a serious effort, or even just getting on. That’s what this is all about right? Contesting isn’t about winning or beating anyone. If you got on and learned something new, or worked some new DX, or worked friends, you won CQWW.
|
|
| That's all for this time. Remember to send contesting-related stories, book reviews, tips, techniques, press releases, errata, schematics, club information, pictures, stories, blog links, and predictions to contest-update@arrl.org.
73, Max, N4ML |
|
| | |
October 29, 2026 - November 11, 2026
An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral is available as a PDF. Check the sponsors' website for information on operating time restrictions and other instructions. |
|
| | HF ContestsCWops Test (CWT), Oct 29, 0300z to Oct 29, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 31.
CWops Test (CWT), Oct 29, 0700z to Oct 29, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 31.
NCCC FT4 Sprint, Oct 30, 0100z to Oct 30, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Nov 1.
Weekly RTTY Test, Oct 30, 0145z to Oct 30, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 1.
NCCC Sprint, Oct 30, 0230z to Oct 30, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Nov 1.
Zombie Shuffle, Oct 30, 1500 local to Oct 30, 2359 local; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + (state/province/country) + (Zombie number/area code) + name; Logs due: Nov 20.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Oct 30, 2000z to Oct 30, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 1.
UK/EI DX Contest, SSB, Oct 31, 1200z to Nov 1, 1200z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; UK/EI: RS + Serial No. + District Code, DX: RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 2.
Russian WW MultiMode Contest, Oct 31, 1200z to Nov 1, 1159z; CW, SSB, RTTY, BPSK; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; UA: RST(Q) + 2-character oblast, non-UA: RST(Q) + QSO No.; Logs due: Nov 6.
North American SSB Sprint Contest, Nov 1, 0000z to Nov 1, 0400z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name] + [your state/province/country]; Logs due: Nov 8.
EANET Sprint, Nov 1, 0800z to Nov 1, 1200z; Any; Bands: Any; RS(T); Logs due: Nov 11.
Classic Exchange, CW, Nov 1, 1400z to Nov 4, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; Name + RST + (state/province/country) + rcvr/xmtr manuf/model; Logs due: Dec 15.
High Speed Club CW Contest, Nov 1, 1400z to Nov 1, 1700z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Members: RST + HSC No., non-Members: RST + "NM"; Logs due: Nov 15.
Real Time Contest, Nov 1, 1600z to Nov 1, 2000z; CW, SSB; Bands: 40, 20, 15, 10; Serial No. + 4-character grid; Logs due: Nov 1.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Nov 2, 0000z to Nov 2, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 4.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Nov 2, 1300z to Nov 2, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Nov 5.
OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Nov 2, 1630z to Nov 2, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 6.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Nov 2, 1900z to Nov 2, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Nov 5.
RSGB 80m Autumn Series, Data, Nov 2, 2000z to Nov 2, 2130z; RTTY, PSK; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 5.
ARS Spartan Sprint, Nov 3, 0100z to Nov 3, 0300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: Nov 5.
Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Nov 3, 0100z to Nov 3, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Nov 4.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Nov 3, 0300z to Nov 3, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Nov 5.
Tuesday's Telegraphy Contest, Nov 3, 1930z to Nov 3, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 4.
QRP Fox Hunt, Nov 4, 0200z to Nov 4, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Nov 5.
Phone Weekly Test, Nov 4, 0230z to Nov 4, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Nov 6.
A1Club AWT, Nov 4, 1145z to Nov 4, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Nov 9.
CWops Test (CWT), Nov 4, 1300z to Nov 4, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 7.
Mini-Test 40, Nov 4, 1700z to Nov 4, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 6.
Mini-Test 80, Nov 4, 1800z to Nov 4, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 6.
CWops Test (CWT), Nov 4, 1900z to Nov 4, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 7.
UKEICC 80m Contest, Nov 4, 2000z to Nov 4, 2100z; SSB; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Nov 4.
Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Nov 5, 0000z to Nov 6, 0300z; CW; Bands: 40; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Nov 12.
CWops Test (CWT), Nov 5, 0300z to Nov 5, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 7.
CWops Test (CWT), Nov 5, 0700z to Nov 5, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 7.
SKCC Sprint Europe, Nov 5, 2000z to Nov 5, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Nov 12.
NCCC FT4 Sprint, Nov 6, 0100z to Nov 6, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Nov 8.
Weekly RTTY Test, Nov 6, 0145z to Nov 6, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 8.
QRP Fox Hunt, Nov 6, 0200z to Nov 6, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Nov 7.
NCCC Sprint, Nov 6, 0230z to Nov 6, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Nov 8.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Nov 6, 2000z to Nov 6, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 8.
YBDXPI FT8 Contest, Nov 7, 0000z to Nov 8, 2359z; FT8; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; 4-Character Grid Square; Logs due: Nov 15.
IPARC Contest, CW, Nov 7, 0600z to Nov 7, 1800z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; USA IPA Members: RST + Serial No. + "IPA" + State, non-USA IPA Members: RST + Serial No. + "IPA", non-IPA Members: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 30.
ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, CW, Nov 7, 2100z to Nov 9, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Serial No. + Precedence (Q/A/B/U/M/S) + [your call sign] + Check + ARRL/RAC Section; Logs due: Nov 16.
IPARC Contest, SSB, Nov 8, 0600z to Nov 8, 1800z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; USA IPA Members: RS + Serial No. + "IPA" + State, non-USA IPA Members: RS + Serial No. + "IPA", non-IPA Members: RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 30.
FIRAC HF Contest, Nov 8, 0700z to Nov 8, 1700z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RS(T) + Serial No. + "F", Non-member: RS(T); Logs due: Nov 22.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Nov 9, 0000z to Nov 9, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 11.
4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, Nov 9, 0100z to Nov 9, 0300z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RS(T) + (State/Province/Country) + Member No., Non-member: RS(T) + (State/Province/Country) + Power; Logs due: Nov 11.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Nov 9, 1300z to Nov 9, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Nov 12.
OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Nov 9, 1630z to Nov 9, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 13.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Nov 9, 1900z to Nov 9, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Nov 12.
Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Nov 10, 0100z to Nov 10, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Nov 11.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Nov 10, 0300z to Nov 10, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Nov 12.
DARC FT4 Contest, Nov 10, 1900z to Nov 10, 2029z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40; Signal report + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Nov 17.
Tuesday's Telegraphy Contest, Nov 10, 1930z to Nov 10, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 11.
QRP Fox Hunt, Nov 11, 0200z to Nov 11, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Nov 12.
Phone Weekly Test, Nov 11, 0230z to Nov 11, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Nov 13.
A1Club AWT, Nov 11, 1145z to Nov 11, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Nov 16.
CWops Test (CWT), Nov 11, 1300z to Nov 11, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 14.
Mini-Test 40, Nov 11, 1700z to Nov 11, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 13.
Mini-Test 80, Nov 11, 1800z to Nov 11, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 13.
CWops Test (CWT), Nov 11, 1900z to Nov 11, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 14.
RSGB 80m Autumn Series, SSB, Nov 11, 2000z to Nov 11, 2130z; SSB; Bands: 80; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 14.
VHF-UHF ContestsARRL EME Contest, Oct 31, 0000z to Nov 1, 2359z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 50 MHz and up; 4-character grid square (standard signal report acceptable for analog modes if grid square not possible); Logs due: Dec 29.
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Nov 4, 1700z to Nov 4, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 144 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Nov 7.
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA, Nov 5, 0000z to Nov 5, 0500z; FT8/4; Bands: 144; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Nov 10.
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Nov 11, 1700z to Nov 11, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 432 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Nov 14.
Also, see Classic Exchange, CW, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest and SKCC Sprint Europe, above. |
|
| | | October 29 October 30 October 31 November 1 November 2 November 4 November 5 November 6 November 7 November 8 November 9 November 10 November 11 |
|
| | | Click here to advertise in this newsletter, space subject to availability. Your One-Stop Resource for amateur radio News and Information. Join or Renew Today! No other organization works harder to promote and protect amateur radio. Membership supports benefits, services, programs, and advocacy to help you get (and stay) active and on the air. Membership includes access to digital editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ. Subscribe to NCJ - the National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, it features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint, and QSO Parties.
Subscribe to QEX - A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published bimonthly, it features technical articles, construction projects, columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.
Free of charge to ARRL members: Subscribe to The ARRL Letter (weekly digest of news and information), the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news), Division and Section news, and much more!
ARRL offers a wide array of products to enhance your enjoyment of Amateur Radio. Visit the site often for new publications, specials, and sales.
Donate to the fund of your choice - support programs not funded by member dues!
Reprint permission can be obtained by emailing permission@arrl.org with a description of the material and the reprint publication. |
|
| | | | | |
|
|
|
| |
The ARRL Contest Update is published every other Wednesday (26 times each year). ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member Data Page at www.arrl.org/opt-in-out.
Copyright © 2026 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other purposes require written permission. |
|
| | | |
|
|
|
|
|
