 January 31, 2024 Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE | |
Upcoming Contests - Things to Do NCJ North American CW Sprint The NCJ North American CW Sprint is Sunday, February 4, starting at 0000 UTC and concluding at 0359 UTC. The object for North American stations is to contact as many radio amateurs as possible. Stations located outside of North America contact as many North American stations as possible. The exchange is the other station's call sign, your call sign, a sequential serial number, your name, and your location (state, province, or country). Full rules are available at https://ncjweb.com/Sprint-Rules.pdf. If you've never participated in a Sprint before, check out the Thursday night, 30-minute practice session sponsored by the Northern California Contest Club, starting at 0230 UTC. See https://www.ncccsprint.com/ for more information. - Thanks to Ward Silver, N0AX. Upcoming State QSO Parties The State QSO Party season kicks off this weekend, with three opportunities to participate. The Vermont QSO Party begins at 0000 UTC on Saturday, February 3, and runs for 48 hours, concluding at 2359 UTC on Sunday, February 4. Also on Saturday, the Minnesota QSO Party kicks off at 1400 UTC and concludes at 2359 UTC. Finally, the British Columbia QSO Party begins at 1600 UTC on February 3 and concludes at 2359 UTC on February 4. CQ World Wide WPX RTTY Contest The CQ World Wide WPX RTTY Contest begins at 0000 UTC on Saturday, February 10, and concludes at 2359 UTC on Sunday, February 11. The objective is for amateurs world-wide to contact as many stations and prefixes as possible. Single Operator stations may operate for 30 hours of the 48-hour contest period. Multi-operator stations may operate the full 48 hours. Complete rules are available at https://www.cqwpxrtty.com/rules.htm. ARRL School Club Roundup The ARRL February School Club Roundup runs from 1300 UTC on Monday, February 12, through 2359 UTC on Friday, February 16. School Club Roundup is co-sponsored by ARRL and the Long Island Mobile Amateur Radio Club (LIMARC). For full details on the event, visit www.arrl.org/school-club-roundup. Bulletins Call for Papers and Presentations for the 2024 Eastern VHF/UHF/Microwave Conference The conference is sponsored by the North East Weak Signal Group. For more details visit http://www.newsvhf.com/. Contest Summary See the "Contests" section below for complete contest information. February 1 February 2 February 3
February 4 February 5 February 6 February 7
February 8 February 9 February 10
February 11 February 12
February 13 February 14
News, Press Releases and Special Interest N3FJP Software Updates The N3FJP team has been busy releasing several updates and one addition to their popular contest logging software programs. VHF Contest Log 6.6.8 has been updated to support the Solar Eclipse QSO Party (SEQP). While the SEQP includes HF, the existing grid square exchange in the VHF software was the best fit for SEQP's inclusion. Select Solar Eclipse QSO Party in the settings menu. RAC Contest Log 3.6.6 has been updated to support VE3RHQ point assignment. Additionally, South Carolina QSO Party Contest Log 2.7.6 has been updated to support the 2024 rules changes, and Delaware QSO Party Contest Log 1.0.1 has been released to support the Delaware QSO Party. For more information about N3FJP Amateur Radio Software, visit https://www.n3fjp.com/. Sights and Sounds AA2SD January VHF Contest Rove Video Scott Dantis, AA2SD, shared his experiences operating in the Limited Rover category during the 2024 ARRL January VHF Contest on his YouTube channel. You can view the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBGMl_gJCSo. Results and Records 2023 Ohio QSO Party Results The results of the 2023 Ohio QSO Party (OHQP) are now posted on their website at http://www.ohqp.org. Click on 2023 Results in the left- hand column to access the full results. The organizers would like to thank all who participated, and hope to see you on Saturday, August 24, for the 2024 OHQP. - Thanks to Jim Stahl, K8MR.
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. Contests February 1, 2024 - February 14, 2024 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 CONTESTS CWops Test (CWT), Feb 1, 0300z to Feb 1, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 3. CWops Test (CWT), Feb 1, 0700z to Feb 1, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 3. NRAU 10m Activity Contest, Feb 1, 1800z to Feb 1, 2200z; CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10; RS(T) + 6-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 15. SKCC Sprint Europe, Feb 1, 2000z to Feb 1, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Feb 8. NCCC FT4 Sprint, Feb 2, 0100z to Feb 2, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 4. Weekly RTTY Test, Feb 2, 0145z to Feb 2, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 4. QRP Fox Hunt, Feb 2, 0200z to Feb 2, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 3. NCCC Sprint Ladder, Feb 2, 0230z to Feb 2, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Feb 4. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Feb 2, 2000z to Feb 2, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 4. Vermont QSO Party, Feb 3, 0000z to Feb 4, 2359z; All (see rules for FT8 guidance); Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, VHF/UHF; VT: RS(T) + County, non-VT W/VE: RS(T) + (state/province), DX: RS(T); Logs due: Feb 18. 10-10 Int. Winter Contest, SSB, Feb 3, 0001z to Feb 4, 2359z; Phone; Bands: 10; 10-10 Member: Name + 10-10 number + (state/province/country), Non-Member: Name + 0 + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 12. Mexico RTTY International Contest, Feb 3, 1200z to Feb 4, 2359z; RTTY Only; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; XE: RST + State, non-XE: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 14. F9AA Cup, CW, Feb 3, 1200z to Feb 4, 1200z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 2; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 3. European Union DX Contest, Feb 3, 1200z to Feb 4, 1200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; EU Union: RS(T) + EU Union Region (4-characters), Non-EU Union: RS(T) + ITU Zone No.; Logs due: Feb 11. Minnesota QSO Party, Feb 3, 1400z to Feb 3, 2359z; CW (CW/RTTY/Digital no FTn), Phone (FM/SSB/AM); Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; MN: Name + County, W/VE: Name + (state/province), DX: Name; Logs due: Feb 17. FYBO Winter QRP Sprint, Feb 3, 1400z to Feb 3, 2359z; CW, SSB, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + (state/province/country)+ name + power out + temperature(F); Logs due: Mar 4. AGCW Straight Key Party, Feb 3, 1600z to Feb 3, 1900z; CW; Bands: 80; AGCW: RST + Serial No. + "/" + Class + "/" + Name + "/" + Age; Logs due: Feb 28. British Columbia QSO Party, Feb 3, 1600z to Feb 4, 2359z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; BC: RS(T) + District, non-BC: RS(T) + (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: Feb 19. North American Sprint, CW, Feb 4, 0000z to Feb 4, 0359z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name] + [your state/province/country]; Logs due: Feb 11. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Feb 5, 0000z to Feb 5, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 7. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Feb 5, 1300z to Feb 5, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 8. OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Feb 5, 1630z to Feb 5, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 9. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Feb 5, 1900z to Feb 5, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 8. RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB, Feb 5, 2000z to Feb 5, 2130z; SSB; Bands: 80; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 6. Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Feb 6, 0100z to Feb 6, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Feb 7. ARS Spartan Sprint, Feb 6, 0200z to Feb 6, 0400z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: Feb 8. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Feb 6, 0300z to Feb 6, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 8. QRP Fox Hunt, Feb 7, 0200z to Feb 7, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 8. Phone Weekly Test, Feb 7, 0230z to Feb 7, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Feb 9. A1Club AWT, Feb 7, 1200z to Feb 7, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Feb 12. CWops Test (CWT), Feb 7, 1300z to Feb 7, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 10. Mini-Test 40, Feb 7, 1700z to Feb 7, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 9. Mini-Test 80, Feb 7, 1800z to Feb 7, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 9. CWops Test (CWT), Feb 7, 1900z to Feb 7, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 10. UKEICC 80m Contest, Feb 7, 2000z to Feb 7, 2100z; SSB; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Feb 7. AWA Linc Cundall Memorial CW Contest, Feb 7, 2300z to Feb 11, 2300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20; RST + Eqpt Year + Input Power (see rules for format); Logs due: Mar 8. Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Feb 8, 0000z to Feb 9, 0300z; CW; Bands: 40; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Feb 15. CWops Test (CWT), Feb 8, 0300z to Feb 8, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 10. CWops Test (CWT), Feb 8, 0700z to Feb 8, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 10. NCCC FT4 Sprint, Feb 9, 0100z to Feb 9, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 11. Weekly RTTY Test, Feb 9, 0145z to Feb 9, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 11. QRP Fox Hunt, Feb 9, 0200z to Feb 9, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 10. NCCC Sprint Ladder, Feb 9, 0230z to Feb 9, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Feb 11. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Feb 9, 2000z to Feb 9, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 11. CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest, Feb 10, 0000z to Feb 11, 2359z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 16. FISTS Saturday Sprint, Feb 10, 0000z to Feb 10, 2359z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; FISTS: RST + first name + FISTS No. + (state/province/country), non-FISTS: RST + first name + "0" + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 17. Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint, CW, Feb 10, 1100z to Feb 10, 1300z; CW; Bands: 40, 20; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 17. SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Feb 10, 1200z to Feb 11, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Feb 18. KCJ Topband Contest, Feb 10, 1200z to Feb 11, 1200z; CW; Bands: 160; JA: RST + Prefecture/District Code, non-JA: RST + CQ Zone; Logs due: Feb 26. Dutch PACC Contest, Feb 10, 1200z to Feb 11, 1200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; PA: RS(T) + province, non-PA: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 16. OMISS QSO Party, Feb 10, 1500z to Feb 11, 1500z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS + (state/province/DX) + (OMISS No. if member); Logs due: Mar 1. RSGB 1.8 MHz Contest, Feb 10, 1900z to Feb 10, 2300z; CW; Bands: 160; UK: RST + Serial No. + District Code, non-UK: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 11. Balkan HF Contest, Feb 11, 1300z to Feb 11, 1700z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40; RS(T) + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 18. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Feb 12, 0000z to Feb 12, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 14. 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, Feb 12, 0100z to Feb 12, 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: Feb 14. ARRL School Club Roundup, Feb 12, 1300z to Feb 16, 2359z; CW, Phone, RTTY/Digital; Bands: All, except 60, 30, 17, 12m; RS(T) + Class (I/C/S) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 3. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Feb 12, 1300z to Feb 12, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 15. OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Feb 12, 1630z to Feb 12, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 16. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Feb 12, 1900z to Feb 12, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 15. Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Feb 13, 0100z to Feb 13, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Feb 14. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Feb 13, 0300z to Feb 13, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 15. PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint, Feb 14, 0000z to Feb 14, 2359z; PSK31; Bands: 160, 80, 40; Name + (OM/YL) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 21. NAQCC CW Sprint, Feb 14, 0130z to Feb 14, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RST + (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: Feb 17. QRP Fox Hunt, Feb 14, 0200z to Feb 14, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 15. Phone Weekly Test, Feb 14, 0230z to Feb 14, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Feb 16. A1Club AWT, Feb 14, 1200z to Feb 14, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Feb 19. CWops Test (CWT), Feb 14, 1300z to Feb 14, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 17. Mini-Test 40, Feb 14, 1700z to Feb 14, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 16. Mini-Test 80, Feb 14, 1800z to Feb 14, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 16. CWops Test (CWT), Feb 14, 1900z to Feb 14, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 17. DARC FT4 Contest, Feb 14, 1900z to Feb 14, 2000z; FT4; Bands: 80; DL: RST + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 21. RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data, Feb 14, 2000z to Feb 14, 2130z; RTTY, PSK; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 15. VHF+ CONTESTS VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Feb 7, 1700z to Feb 7, 2100z; FT8; Bands: 144 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 12. VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Feb 14, 1700z to Feb 14, 2100z; FT8; Bands: 432 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 19. See also: SKCC Sprint Europe, Vermont QSO Party, F9AA Cup, CW, SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest. Log Due Dates February 1 February 2 February 3 February 4
February 5 February 6 February 7 February 8 February 9 February 10 February 11
February 12 February 14 ARRL Information Click here to advertise in this newsletter, space subject to availability. Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information 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. Acknowledgements ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest Calendar. | |
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