 August 30, 2023 Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE | |
Upcoming Contests - Things to Do Upcoming State QSO Parties For state QSO party enthusiasts, there are 3 opportunities to participate in the coming weeks: the Colorado QSO Party begins on September 2 at 1300 UTC, and concludes on September 3 at 0400 UTC; the Tennessee QSO Party begins on September 3 at 1800 UTC, and concludes on September 4 at 0300 UTC; and the Alabama QSO Party begins on September 9 at 1500 UTC, and concludes on September 11 at 0300 UTC. More information and rules for each event can be found on their respective web sites, or in the "Contests" section below. ARRL September VHF Contest The 2023 ARRL September VHF Contest begins on September 9 at 1800 UTC, and concludes on September 11 at 0259 UTC. Operation is allowed on any amateur frequency from 50 MHz to light. Complete rules are available at www.arrl.org/september-vhf. North American CW and RTTY Sprints The North American CW and RTTY Sprints are coming up this month. The CW Sprint begins on Sunday, September 10 at 0000 UTC and concludes at 0359 UTC. The RTTY Sprint begins on Sunday, September 17 at 0000 UTC and concludes at 0359 UTC. Participants are reminded that these events occur on Saturday evenings in North America. If you are new to sprinting, an article on the National Contest Journal North American Sprint website written by Jim George, N3BB, at ncjweb.com/sprint-scores/CW-Sprinting-N3BB.pdf is a great introduction to the event. For complete rules and contest details, see ncjweb.com/Sprint-Rules.pdf. -Thanks to Ward Silver, N0AX
The yearlong ARRL Volunteers On the Air event, recognizing the support and contributions of ARRL volunteers, continues. Get on the air and make contacts with as many ARRL volunteers or members as possible. There will be week-long activations of portable W1AW/# stations in all 50 states, and in several US possessions/territories. For a schedule of W1AW/# portable operations, see the W1AW Portable Activations Schedule. Be sure to upload your logs to LoTW and check your score online. Check out the full details at http://vota.arrl.org. Bulletins ARRL Affiliated Club Competition Eligibility Lists As announced in the last edition of the ARRLContest Update, changes have been made to the ARRL Affiliated Club Competition (ACC) rules. The eligibility circle radius for clubs in the unlimited and medium categories who are active in the club competition has increased from 175 to 250 miles. Contest club secretaries are reminded to revisit their club's eligibility lists and make any necessary updates before the start of the next contest. For more details regarding the ACC, visit http://www.arrl.org/contest-club-tools/. 36th Biennial NCCC Sprint Ladder On the five Fridays during the month of September 29 (Thursday nights in North America,) the Northern California Contest Club (NCCC) Sprint Ladder Competition will replace the weekly NCCC CW Sprint. The 30-minute sessions start at 0230 UTC, and conclude at 0300 UTC. The first two sessions of the NS Ladder are an excellent practice for the September 10 North American CW Sprint Scores are cumulative and a station's top three scores count toward the final scores in the contest's five geographic divisions. No logs are required to be submitted; participants should report their scores to www.3830scores.com. Results will be posted at http://n3qe.org/ladder.html. New participants are encouraged, but not required, to join the contest reflector at https://groups.io/g/nccc-blue. For full rules and contest details, visit https://ncccsprint.com/. Contest Summary See the "Contests" section below for complete contest information. August 31 September 1 September 2
September 3 September 4
September 5 September 6
September 7 September 8 September 9
September 10 September 11
September 12 September 13
News, Press Releases, and Special Interest WRTC 2026 Selection Criteria Announced
An email reflector has also been created to discuss all aspects of the event. You can join the reflector by visiting https://groups.io/g/wrtc2026-discuss. Results and Records 2023 ARRL International DX Contest - Phone Results Released The results for the 2023 ARRL International DX Contest - Phone are available at https://contests.arrl.org/dxph/. The full results article by Chris Tate, N6WM; line scores, and log checking reports are available at the website. Click on Articles/Line Scores on the left side of the web page to view results. Downloadable certificates are available by clicking on Certificates at the top of the web page. 2023 Maidenhead Mayhem Results Announced The results for the 2023 Maidenhead Mayhem Contest are now available at https://w9et.com/home.html. Prize winners will also be announced shortly at the website. The contest organizers would like thank all who participated, and hope to see you all in the 2024 Maidenhead Mayhem Contest events. -Thanks to Joe Mayenschein, WB9SBD 2023 ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest Raw Scores Posted The raw scores for the 2023 ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest are available at contests.arrl.org. Event participants should check to make sure that their entry category is correct. If there are any corrections that need to be made, contact the ARRL Contest Program at contests@arrl.org. Conversation With the ARRL September VHF Contest coming up on September 9 - 11, I'd like to suggest a method to increase the use of analog modes (eg: CW, SSB, and FM) in all VHF contests. At the top and bottom of each hour, call CQ using one of the analog modes around the weak signal calling frequencies. In this past weekend's 6 Meter Sprint, I managed to put a few SSB contacts in the log by using this method. Remember, analog-only categories have been added to the ARRL VHF contests, so users of digital modes might benefit by looking for analog-only participants to boost their score. I'd like to encourage some of the more prominent, higher-powered single operator and multioperator stations to adopt this practice, as this would give many of the low-power, portable, and rover operators more stations to contact.
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 August 31, 2023 - September 13, 2023 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), Aug 31, 0300z to Aug 31, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 2. CWops Test (CWT), Aug 31, 0700z to Aug 31, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 2. QRP Fox Hunt, Sep 1, 0100z to Sep 1, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Sep 2. NCCC FT4 Sprint, Sep 1, 0100z to Sep 1, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 3. NCCC RTTY Sprint, Sep 1, 0145z to Sep 1, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Sep 3. NCCC Sprint Ladder, Sep 1, 0230z to Sep 1, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Sep 3. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Sep 1, 2000z to Sep 1, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 3. All Asian DX Contest, Phone, Sep 2, 0000z to Sep 3, 2359z; Phone; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS + 2-digit age; Logs due: Sep 15. Russian RTTY WW Contest, Sep 2, 0000z to Sep 2, 2359z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RU: RST + 2-letter oblast, non-RU: RST + CQ Zone; Logs due: Sep 12. INDEXA Worldwide QSO Party, Sep 2, 0000z to Sep 10, 2359z; CW, Phone, RTTY; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; W/VE: RS(T) + INDEXA Member status (N/M/O) + (state/province/territory), non-W/VE: RS(T) + INDEXA Member status (N/M/O); Logs due: Oct 1. Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, Sep 2, 0600z to Sep 2, 0800z; CW; Bands: 40, 20; RST + Serial No. + suffix of previous QSO ("QRP" for 1st QSO); Logs due: Sep 9. SARL Field Day Contest, Sep 2, 0800z to Sep 3, 1000z; CW, SSB, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + Number of transmitters + Category (see rules) + Province (or "DX"); Logs due: Sep 8. Colorado QSO Party, Sep 2, 1300z to Sep 3, 0400z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: All, except WARC; CO: Name + county, W/VE: Name + (state/province), DX: Name + DXCC prefix; Logs due: Oct 7. IARU Region 1 Field Day, SSB, Sep 2, 1300z to Sep 3, 1259z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 10. RSGB SSB Field Day, Sep 2, 1300z to Sep 3, 1300z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 8. AGCW Straight Key Party, Sep 2, 1600z to Sep 2, 1900z; CW; Bands: 80; AGCW: RST + Serial No. + "/" + Class + "/" + Name + "/" + Age; Logs due: Sep 30. PODXS 070 Club Jay Hudak Memorial 80m Sprint, Sep 2, 2000z to Sep 3, 2000z; PSK31; Bands: 80; RST + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 10. CWOps CW Open, Sep 2, 2000z to Sep 2, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Serial No. + Name; Logs due: Sep 17. Tennessee QSO Party, Sep 3, 1800z to Sep 4, 0300z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: All, except WARC; TN: RS(T) + county, non-TN: RS(T) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 13. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Sep 4, 0000z to Sep 4, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 6. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 4, 1300z to Sep 4, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 7. OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Sep 4, 1630z to Sep 4, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 8. RSGB 80m Autumn Series, SSB, Sep 4, 1900z to Sep 4, 2030z; SSB; Bands: 80; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 7. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 4, 1900z to Sep 4, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 7. MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint, Sep 4, 2300z to Sep 5, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + (member no./power output); Logs due: Sep 18. ARS Spartan Sprint, Sep 5, 0100z to Sep 5, 0300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: Sep 7. Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Sep 5, 0100z to Sep 5, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Sep 6. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 5, 0300z to Sep 5, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 7. Phone Weekly Test, Sep 6, 0230z to Sep 6, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Sep 8. A1Club AWT, Sep 6, 1200z to Sep 6, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Sep 11. CWops Test (CWT), Sep 6, 1300z to Sep 6, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 9. Mini-Test 40, Sep 6, 1700z to Sep 6, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 8. Mini-Test 80, Sep 6, 1800z to Sep 6, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 8. CWops Test (CWT), Sep 6, 1900z to Sep 6, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 9. UKEICC 80m Contest, Sep 6, 2000z to Sep 6, 2100z; SSB; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Sep 6. Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Sep 7, 0000z to Sep 8, 0300z; CW; Bands: 40; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Sep 14. CWops Test (CWT), Sep 7, 0300z to Sep 7, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 9. CWops Test (CWT), Sep 7, 0700z to Sep 7, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 9. NRAU 10m Activity Contest, Sep 7, 1700z to Sep 7, 2100z; CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10; RS(T) + 6-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 21. SKCC Sprint Europe, Sep 7, 2000z to Sep 7, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Sep 14. NCCC FT4 Sprint, Sep 8, 0100z to Sep 8, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 10. NCCC RTTY Sprint, Sep 8, 0145z to Sep 8, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Sep 10. NCCC Sprint Ladder, Sep 8, 0230z to Sep 8, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Sep 10. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Sep 8, 2000z to Sep 8, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 10. WAE DX Contest, SSB, Sep 9, 0000z to Sep 10, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 18. FOC QSO Party, Sep 9, 0000z to Sep 9, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, VHF; FOC-Member: RST + Name + Member No., non-Members: RST + Name; Logs due: Sep 16. YB7-DX Contest, Sep 9, 0000z to Sep 10, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 17. SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Sep 9, 1200z to Sep 10, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Sep 17. Ohio State Parks on the Air, Sep 9, 1400z to Sep 9, 2200z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; OH Park: park abbreviation, OH: "Ohio", W/VE: (state/province), DX: "DX"; Logs due: Sep 23. Alabama QSO Party, Sep 9, 1500z to Sep 10, 0300z; CW, Phone; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; AL: RS(T) + County, non-AL: RS(T) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 9. Russian Cup Digital Contest, Sep 9, 1500z to Sep 10, 0959z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Serial No. + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 20. North American Sprint, CW, Sep 10, 0000z to Sep 10, 0400z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name] + [your state/province/country]; Logs due: Sep 17. 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, Sep 11, 0000z to Sep 11, 0200z; 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: Sep 13. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Sep 11, 0000z to Sep 11, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 13. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 11, 1300z to Sep 11, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 14. OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Sep 11, 1630z to Sep 11, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 15. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 11, 1900z to Sep 11, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 14. Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Sep 12, 0100z to Sep 12, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Sep 13. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 12, 0300z to Sep 12, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 14. Phone Weekly Test, Sep 13, 0230z to Sep 13, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Sep 15. A1Club AWT, Sep 13, 1200z to Sep 13, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Sep 18. CWops Test (CWT), Sep 13, 1300z to Sep 13, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 16. Mini-Test 40, Sep 13, 1700z to Sep 13, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 15. Mini-Test 80, Sep 13, 1800z to Sep 13, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 15. RSGB 80m Autumn Series, CW, Sep 13, 1900z to Sep 13, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 16. CWops Test (CWT), Sep 13, 1900z to Sep 13, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 16. VHF+ CONTESTS IARU Region 1 145 MHz Contest, Sep 2, 1400z to Sep 3, 1400z; All; Bands: 145 MHz; RS(T) + QSO No. + 6-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 11. WAB 144 MHz QRO Phone, Sep 3, 1000z to Sep 3, 1400z; SSB; Bands: 2; British Isles: RS + serial no. + WAB square, Other: RS + serial no. + country; Logs due: Sep 13. VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Sep 6, 1700z to Sep 6, 2100z; FT8; Bands: 144 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 11. ARRL EME Contest, Sep 9, 0000z to Sep 10, 2359z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 50 MHz and up; Signal report; Logs due: Dec 26. ARRL September VHF Contest, Sep 9, 1800z to Sep 11, 0300z; All; Bands: 50 MHz and up; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 21. VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Sep 13, 1700z to Sep 13, 2100z; FT8; Bands: 432 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 18. See also: MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint, SKCC Sprint Europe, SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest Log Due Dates August 31 September 1
September 2 September 3
September 4 September 6 September 7 September 8
September 9 September 10
September 11 September 12 September 13
ARRL Information Click here to advertise in this newsletter, space subject to availability. Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information ARRL membership includes a choice of one print magazine: QST, the monthly membership journal, or On the Air, ARRL's new bimonthly publication for beginner and intermediate hams. All ARRL members can access all four ARRL magazines - QST, On the Air, NCJ, and QEX - digitally. 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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The World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) 2026 organizing committee has announced the selection criteria for entrants, which is now published on their website at
