 January 17, 2024 Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE | |
In this Issue:
Upcoming Contests - Things to Do The ARRL January VHF Contest is this weekend, beginning at 1900 UTC on Saturday, January 20, and concluding at 0359 UTC on Monday, January 22. Contacts can be made on all amateur frequencies above 50 MHz. Whether your mode of choice is CW, phone, or one of the newer digital modes (such as FT4 and FT8), there are plenty of ways for hams of all experience levels to participate in the event. Single operator participants can enter in all mode or analog-only (CW and phone) categories. Participants in the FM Only category can now count contacts on 902 MHz and 1.2 GHz toward their scores. Previously, only contacts on the four lowest VHF bands (50, 144, 222, and 432 MHz) counted toward the scores of participants in this category. For more details, see http://www.arrl.org/january-vhf. The North American QSO Party, SSB also runs this weekend, starting at 1800 UTC on Saturday, January 20 and concluding at 0559 UTC on Sunday, January 21. For North American stations, the exchange is your name and station location (state, province, or country, while non-North American stations use only their name. This event runs concurrently with the 2024 North American Collegiate Championship, which is sponsored by the Society of Midwest Contesters. Visit the above links for more information. The CQ World Wide 160-Meter Contest, CW begins at 2200 UTC on Friday, January 26, and runs through 2200 UTC on Sunday, January 28. See the website for rules and other contest details. Winter Field Day, sponsored by the Winter Field Day Association, is the last full weekend of January. It starts at 1900 UTC on Saturday, January 27, and concludes at 1859 UTC onSunday, January 28. The use of any mode that fully supports the exchange is allowed during the contest. Operation on all bands HF, VHF, and UHF, with the exception of 12, 17, 30, and 60 meters is allowed. For more information, visit the Winter Field Day website. Bulletins Record Number of ARRL RTTY Roundup Logs Received As of Tuesday, January 16, a record number of 1,976 logs have been received for the 2024 ARRL RTTY Roundup. The previous record was in 2013 with 1,908 logs being submitted. 2024 CQ Contest Hall of Fame Nominations Sought CQ World Wide Contest Director John Dorr, K1AR, is seeking nomination applications for the CQ Contest Hall of Fame, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to amateur radio contesting (both in support of others and in personal operating achievements). In addition, candidates should be known for having made significant contributions to the hobby at large. Please include the following information with your application:
Nominations will be accepted until March 1, 2024. Send your Busted QSOs In last week's Contest Update, a blog post by Ron Schwartz, VE3VN, was incorrectly attributed to Curt Bowles, VE3ZN. ARRL apologizes for the error. You can read Ron's excellent contesting blog here. Contest Summary See the "Contests" section below for complete contest information. January 18 January 19 January 20
January 21 January 22 January 23 January 24 January 25 January 26 January 27 January 28 January 29 January 30 January 31 News, Press Releases and Special Interest 2024 Contest Dinner Tickets Now Available North Coast Contesters have announced that the 30th Annual Dayton Contest Dinner will be held on Saturday, May 18, 2023, at the Hope Hotel at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. Tickets are now on sale at http://contestdinner.com. This year's Master of Ceremonies is Contest Hall of Fame member and CQ World Wide Contest Director, John Dorr, K1AR. This year's keynote speaker is Tim Duffy, K3LR. Sights and Sounds State QSO Party Challenge Presentation Anthony Luscre, K8ZT, will be giving a live Zoom presentation about the State QSO Party Challenge on Wednesday, January 17 at 9 PM EST. The live presentation, as well as links to previous presentations, are available at www.ratpac.us/zoom. Interview with World Class Contesters Dan Craig, N6MJ, and Chris Hurlbut, KL9A Kevin Thomas, W1DED, posted an interview with Dan Craig, N6MJ, and Chris Hurlbut, KL9A, on his YouTube channel "W1DED Worldwide Ham Radio." They've competed nine times at the World Radiosport Team Championships (WRTC) and have earned medals together twice, winning Gold in 2014 and Bronze in 2018. In the interview, they discuss their operating strengths and weaknesses, as well as the preparation and station excellence that are required to win. Results and Records The Scandinavian Activity Contest (SAC) Committee has announced that the final results for SAC 2023 are available at https://www.sactest.net/blog/sac-2023-final-results/ -- Thanks to Martti Laine, OH2BH, and Ingo Fogelberg, SM5AJV. 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 January 18, 2024 - January 31, 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 Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Jan 18, 0000z to Jan 19, 0300z; CW; Bands: 20; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Jan 25. NAQCC CW Sprint, Jan 18, 0130z to Jan 18, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RST + (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: Jan 21. CWops Test (CWT), Jan 18, 0300z to Jan 18, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jan 20. CWops Test (CWT), Jan 18, 0700z to Jan 18, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jan 20. NTC QSO Party, Jan 18, 1900z to Jan 18, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; NTC Member: RST + Member No., non-Member: RST + "NM", Less than 25 wpm; Logs due: Jan 21. NCCC FT4 Sprint, Jan 19, 0100z to Jan 19, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Jan 21. Weekly RTTY Test, Jan 19, 0145z to Jan 19, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jan 21. QRP Fox Hunt, Jan 19, 0200z to Jan 19, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Jan 20. NCCC Sprint, Jan 19, 0230z to Jan 19, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Jan 21. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Jan 19, 2000z to Jan 19, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jan 21. Hungarian DX Contest, Jan 20, 1200z to Jan 21, 1159z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; HA: RS(T) + 2-letter county, non-HA: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Jan 26. PRO Digi Contest, Jan 20, 1200z to Jan 21, 1159z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Digi Club Member: RST + "ME", non-Members: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jan 28. RSGB AFS Contest, SSB, Jan 20, 1300z to Jan 20, 1700z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Jan 21. North American QSO Party, SSB, Jan 20, 1800z to Jan 21, 0559z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; NA: Name + (state/DC/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Jan 28. NA Collegiate Championship, SSB, Jan 20, 1800z to Jan 21, 0559z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; NA: Name + (state/DC/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Jan 28. Feld Hell Sprint, Jan 20, 2000z to Jan 21, 0559z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80, 40; (see rules); Logs due: Jan 25. Classic Exchange, CW, Jan 21, 1300z to Jan 24, 0700z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; Name + RST + (state/province/country) + rcvr/xmtr manuf/model; Logs due: Mar 1. Run for the Bacon QRP Contest, Jan 21, 2300z to Jan 22, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs due: Jan 27. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Jan 22, 0000z to Jan 22, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jan 24. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jan 22, 1300z to Jan 22, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jan 25. OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Jan 22, 1630z to Jan 22, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jan 26. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jan 22, 1900z to Jan 22, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jan 25. Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Jan 23, 0100z to Jan 23, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Jan 24. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jan 23, 0300z to Jan 23, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jan 25. SKCC Sprint, Jan 24, 0000z to Jan 24, 0200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Jan 28. QRP Fox Hunt, Jan 24, 0200z to Jan 24, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Jan 25. Phone Weekly Test, Jan 24, 0230z to Jan 24, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Jan 26. A1Club AWT, Jan 24, 1200z to Jan 24, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Jan 29. CWops Test (CWT), Jan 24, 1300z to Jan 24, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jan 27. Mini-Test 40, Jan 24, 1700z to Jan 24, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jan 26. Mini-Test 80, Jan 24, 1800z to Jan 24, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jan 26. CWops Test (CWT), Jan 24, 1900z to Jan 24, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jan 27. NAQCC CW Sprint, Jan 25, 0130z to Jan 25, 0330z; CW; Bands: 160; RST + (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: Jan 28. CWops Test (CWT), Jan 25, 0300z to Jan 25, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jan 27. CWops Test (CWT), Jan 25, 0700z to Jan 25, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jan 27. Australia Day Contest, Jan 25, 2200z to Jan 26, 1000z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 3. NCCC FT4 Sprint, Jan 26, 0100z to Jan 26, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Jan 28. Weekly RTTY Test, Jan 26, 0145z to Jan 26, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jan 28. QRP Fox Hunt, Jan 26, 0200z to Jan 26, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Jan 27. NCCC Sprint, Jan 26, 0230z to Jan 26, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Jan 28. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Jan 26, 2000z to Jan 26, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jan 28. CQ 160-Meter Contest, CW, Jan 26, 2200z to Jan 28, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160; W/VE: RST + (state/province), DX: RST + CQ Zone; Logs due: Feb 2. REF Contest, CW, Jan 27, 0600z to Jan 28, 1800z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; French: RST + Department/Prefix, non-French: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 5. BARTG RTTY Sprint, Jan 27, 1200z to Jan 28, 1200z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Serial No. (no signal report); Logs due: Feb 4. UBA DX Contest, SSB, Jan 27, 1300z to Jan 28, 1300z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; ON: RST + Serial No. + section, non-ON: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 4. Winter Field Day, Jan 27, 1900z to Jan 28, 1900z; Any (see rules for exceptions); Bands: All, except WARC; Category + ARRL Section (or MX or DX); Logs due: Mar 1. Classic Exchange, Phone, Jan 28, 1300z to Jan 31, 0700z; AM, SSB, FM; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; Name + RS + (state/province/country) + rcvr/xmtr manuf/model; Logs due: Mar 1. K1USN Slow Speed Test, Jan 29, 0000z to Jan 29, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jan 31. QCX Challenge, Jan 29, 1300z to Jan 29, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Feb 4. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jan 29, 1300z to Jan 29, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 1. OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Jan 29, 1630z to Jan 29, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 2. QCX Challenge, Jan 29, 1900z to Jan 29, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Feb 4. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jan 29, 1900z to Jan 29, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 1. Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Jan 30, 0100z to Jan 30, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Jan 31. QCX Challenge, Jan 30, 0300z to Jan 30, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Feb 4. ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jan 30, 0300z to Jan 30, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 1. QRP Fox Hunt, Jan 31, 0200z to Jan 31, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 1. Phone Weekly Test, Jan 31, 0230z to Jan 31, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Feb 2. A1Club AWT, Jan 31, 1200z to Jan 31, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Feb 5. CWops Test (CWT), Jan 31, 1300z to Jan 31, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 3. Mini-Test 40, Jan 31, 1700z to Jan 31, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 2. Mini-Test 80, Jan 31, 1800z to Jan 31, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 2. CWops Test (CWT), Jan 31, 1900z to Jan 31, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 3. UKEICC 80m Contest, Jan 31, 2000z to Jan 31, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Jan 31. VHF+ CONTESTS ARRL January VHF Contest, Jan 20, 1900z to Jan 22, 0359z; Any; Bands: 50 MHz and up; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 1. See also: Classic Exchange, CW, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, SKCC Sprint, Classic Exchange, Phone, Log Due Dates January 18 January 19 January 20 January 21
January 22 January 23 January 24 January 25 January 26 January 27 January 28
January 29 January 31
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. | |
 | |
