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Upcoming Contests – Things to Do |
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These next two weeks bring us some great QSO parties, an activity for those on the microwave bands, and the start of the fall HF contest season.
This weekend is the ARRL 10 GHz and Up contest, which is the time to pull out your transverters, dishes, and IF rigs and get on a hilltop! This is the second weekend of the contest, so it’s your chance to get your last operating hours in.
The following weekend brings us CQWW RTTY, the RTTY edition of the ever-popular CQ World Wide DX contests. This weekend will surely have high RTTY activity from all over the world, and some serious competition at the top. With US states and Canadian provinces as multipliers, North American stations have a unique advantage here.
Mixed between the next two weeks are some more state QSO parties for those chasing. As a sidebar, this is a nice way to try and get some of the rarer states for Worked All States (WAS), because operators from the state of the QSO party will always be on. This weekend brings us the New Hampshire QSO Party, which will bring a great opportunity to get band slots for your 5-band WAS.
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No mults lost this week! As always, feel free to email us if you identify any errors! |
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September 17, 2026 - September 30, 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.
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September 17
September 18
September 19
September 20
September 21
September 22
September 23
September 24
September 25
September 26
September 28
September 29
September 30
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News, Press Releases, and Special Interest |
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The DX Marathon team has announced the 2026 running of the DX Marathon Sprint. This year the event runs from October 17 to October 26. You can see their proposed rules here.
Contest University announced details on its upcoming webinar:
Here is the link (below) to join the LIVE Zoom Webinar presented by Greg, W8WWV. The free webinar will be held on September 19, 2026 (this Saturday) at noon EDST - 1600 Zulu. This event will be recorded, and the recorded link will be posted on the CTU website next week:
w3lif.org/yagi
There is no pre-registration for this event. Click on the link (above) before 1600 Zulu on Saturday and you can watch W8WWV.
CTU - Contest University, Inc. is the sponsor of this event.
The Contest University website is here:
contestuniversity.com
Thanks to Greg, W8WWV, for preparing and presenting “The Yagi Turns 100 by W8WWV.”
Cory, W3JL, will be taking care of the Zoom controls.
Scott, N3RA, and Tim, K3LR, will monitor and ask questions from the live text chat (viewers) at the conclusion of Greg's talk.
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Err on the side of caution!
The “stakes” in amateur radio contesting are very low, really nothing more than bragging rights among your fellow contesters. So, play by the rules, and if you’re not sure if something’s in the rules, ask the group running the contest before doing it.
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An after contest ration from Phillip, DK6SP, who operated the DQ2A station for Worked All Europe. [Phillipp Springer, DK6SP, photo] | | | |
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Know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em
“While most contests will allow you to operate for the full weekend, pay attention to your rate sheet and points per QSO when the hours start to get long. Oftentimes, getting some sleep and being refreshed will produce more contacts than pushing through the sleep deprivation.”
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Technical Topics and Discussion |
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During one of my daily browses of YC Hacker News, I saw this link that described inverse square law in a neat way. It goes a bit more in-depth than the license exam question, and user lcamtuf does a nice job of adding in graphics.
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As I’m sure you all are, I am excited for the upcoming fall contest season.
I’ll get three very different experiences for each of the CQWW contests.
For CQWW RTTY, I will be on the NJ4P team, which is a fully remote Multi Two station.
I’ve operated with Ron before, but this contest is one of his favorites.
I won’t have to travel, and will operate from the comfort of my home, which will be neat.
For CQWW SSB, I will be at K3LR, and will get the full Multi Multi experience.
Tim has put together one of the best Multi Multi stations in the world, and it shows by just looking at some photos! Excited to work alongside some of the best contesters in the world and see what we can do.
For CQWW CW, I will be on a DXpedition to Christmas Island, VK9XY. The team and I will put together some sort of multiop and hand out the double mult to all those seeking.
This trip entails over 24 hours of plane travel, a team of 12 operators, and serious time and effort in putting together competent stations for all bands.
I hope to see everyone on for as many contests as time permits!
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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
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September 17, 2026 - September 30, 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.
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HF Contests
Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Sep 17, 0000z to Sep 18, 0300z; CW; Bands: 20; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Sep 24.
NAQCC CW Sprint, Sep 17, 0030z to Sep 17, 0230z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RST + (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: Sep 20.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 17, 0300z to Sep 17, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 19.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 17, 0700z to Sep 17, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 19.
BCC QSO Party, Sep 17, 1800z to Sep 17, 1959z; CW, SSB, RTTY; Bands: 80; RS(T) + T-shirt size (see rules); Logs due: Sep 17.
NTC QSO Party, Sep 17, 1900z to Sep 17, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; NTC Member: RST + Member No., non-Member: RST + "NM", Less than 25 wpm; Logs due: Sep 21.
NCCC FT4 Sprint, Sep 18, 0100z to Sep 18, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 20.
Weekly RTTY Test, Sep 18, 0145z to Sep 18, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 20.
NCCC Sprint, Sep 18, 0230z to Sep 18, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Sep 20.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Sep 18, 2000z to Sep 18, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 20.
FRAPR 10M Contest, Sep 19, 0000z to Sep 20, 2359z; CW, SSB; Bands: 10; RS(T) + power; Logs due: Sep 27.
ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest, Sep 19, 0900 local to Sep 21, 0759 local; Any; Bands: 10 GHz to light; 6-Character Maidenhead Locator; Logs due: Oct 21.
Scandinavian Activity Contest, CW, Sep 19, 1200z to Sep 20, 1200z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 25.
Texas QSO Party, Sep 19, 1400z to Sep 20, 2000z; All; Bands: All, except WARC; TX: RS(T) + County, non-TX: RS(T) + (state/province/country/MM region); Logs due: Oct 4.
Iowa QSO Party, Sep 19, 1400z to Sep 20, 0200z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: All, except WARC and 60m; IA: RS(T) + County, non-IA: RS(T) + (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: Oct 20.
QRP Afield, Sep 19, 1500z to Sep 19, 2100z; All; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + (state/province/country) + (power or NE QRP No.); Logs due: Oct 20.
New Hampshire QSO Party, Sep 19, 1600z to Sep 20, 2200z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; NH: RS(T) + county, non-NH W/VE: RS(T) + (state/province), DX: RS(T) + "DX"; Logs due: Oct 1.
Washington State Salmon Run, Sep 19, 1600z to Sep 20, 2359z; CW, Phone; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; WA: RS(T) + County, non-WA: RS(T) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 4.
Wisconsin Parks on the Air, Sep 19, 1600z to Sep 19, 2300z; All; Bands: All, except WARC; WI Park: K-POTA Park No., Non-Park: (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 30.
Feld Hell Sprint, Sep 19, 1800z to Sep 19, 1959z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; (see rules); Logs due: Sep 23.
North American Sprint, RTTY, Sep 20, 0000z to Sep 20, 0400z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name] + [your state/DC/province/country]; Logs due: Sep 27.
ARS Flight of the Bumblebees, Sep 20, 1700z to Sep 20, 2100z; CW; Bands: 40, 20, 15, 10; Home: RST + (state/province/country) + Power, Bumblebee: RST + (state/province/country) + Bumblebee no.; Logs due: Oct 4.
BARTG Sprint PSK63 Contest, Sep 20, 1700z to Sep 20, 2059z; PSK63; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 27.
Run for the Bacon QRP Contest, Sep 20, 2300z to Sep 21, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs due: Sep 26.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Sep 21, 0000z to Sep 21, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 23.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 21, 1300z to Sep 21, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 24.
OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Sep 21, 1630z to Sep 21, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 25.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 21, 1900z to Sep 21, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 24.
Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Sep 22, 0100z to Sep 22, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Sep 23.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 22, 0300z to Sep 22, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 24.
Tuesday's Telegraphy Contest, Sep 22, 1930z to Sep 22, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 23.
SKCC Sprint, Sep 23, 0000z to Sep 23, 0200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Sep 26.
Phone Weekly Test, Sep 23, 0230z to Sep 23, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Sep 25.
A1Club AWT, Sep 23, 1145z to Sep 23, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Sep 28.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 23, 1300z to Sep 23, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 26.
Mini-Test 40, Sep 23, 1700z to Sep 23, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 25.
Mini-Test 80, Sep 23, 1800z to Sep 23, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 25.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 23, 1900z to Sep 23, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 26.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 24, 0300z to Sep 24, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 26.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 24, 0700z to Sep 24, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 26.
RSGB 80m Autumn Series, Data, Sep 24, 1900z to Sep 24, 2030z; RTTY, PSK; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 27.
NCCC FT4 Sprint, Sep 25, 0100z to Sep 25, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 27.
Weekly RTTY Test, Sep 25, 0145z to Sep 25, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 27.
NCCC Sprint, Sep 25, 0230z to Sep 25, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Sep 27.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Sep 25, 2000z to Sep 25, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 27.
CQ Worldwide DX Contest, RTTY, Sep 26, 0000z to Sep 27, 2359z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; 48 States/Canada: RST + CQ Zone + (state/VE area), All Others: RST + CQ Zone; Logs due: Sep 29.
Bill Windle QSO Party, Sep 26, 0000z to Sep 26, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, VHF; FOC-Member: RST + Name + Member No., non-Members: RST + Name; Logs due: Oct 3.
YU DX Contest, Sep 26, 1200z to Sep 27, 1159z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; YU/YT: RS(T) + County, non-YU/YT: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 7.
Maine QSO Party, Sep 26, 1200z to Sep 27, 1200z; CW, Phone; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; ME: RS(T) + county, non-ME: RS(T) + (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: Oct 12.
Masonic Lodges on the Air, Sep 26, 1400z to Sep 26, 2200z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Lodge: Lodge Name + Lodge No. + Jurisdiction, non-Lodge: (State/Province/"DX"); Logs due: Oct 10.
AWA Amplitude Modulation QSO Party, Sep 26, 2000z to Sep 27, 2359z; AM; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 25.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Sep 28, 0000z to Sep 28, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 30.
QCX Challenge, Sep 28, 1300z to Sep 28, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Oct 4.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 28, 1300z to Sep 28, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Oct 1.
OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Sep 28, 1630z to Sep 28, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 2.
QCX Challenge, Sep 28, 1900z to Sep 28, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Oct 4.
RSGB FT4 Contest, Sep 28, 1900z to Sep 28, 2100z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Signal report; Logs due: Sep 29.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 28, 1900z to Sep 28, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Oct 1.
Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Sep 29, 0100z to Sep 29, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Sep 30.
QCX Challenge, Sep 29, 0300z to Sep 29, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Oct 4.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 29, 0300z to Sep 29, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Oct 1.
Tuesday's Telegraphy Contest, Sep 29, 1930z to Sep 29, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 30.
Phone Weekly Test, Sep 30, 0230z to Sep 30, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Oct 2.
A1Club AWT, Sep 30, 1145z to Sep 30, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Oct 5.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 30, 1300z to Sep 30, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 3.
Mini-Test 40, Sep 30, 1700z to Sep 30, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 2.
Mini-Test 80, Sep 30, 1800z to Sep 30, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 2.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 30, 1900z to Sep 30, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 3.
UKEICC 80m Contest, Sep 30, 2000z to Sep 30, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Sep 30.
VHF-UHF Contests
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA, Sep 17, 0000z to Sep 17, 0500z; FT8/4; Bands: 1296; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 22.
144 MHz Fall Sprint, Sep 21, 2300z to Sep 22, 0600z; Analog, Digital; Bands: 2; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Oct 6.
AGCW VHF/UHF Contest, Sep 26, 1400z to Sep 26, 1800z; CW; Bands: 144 MHz, 432 MHz; RST + "/" + Serial No. + "/" Power class + "/" + 6-character grid locator; Logs due: Oct 4.
222 MHz Fall Sprint, Sep 29, 2300z to Sep 30, 0600z; Analog, Digital; Bands: 222 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Oct 14.
Also, see ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest, Washington State Salmon Run, Feld Hell Sprint, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest and SKCC Sprint, above.
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September 17, 2026 - September 30, 2026
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September 17
September 18
September 19
September 20
September 21
September 22
September 23
September 24
September 25
September 26
September 27
September 28
September 29
September 30
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ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest Calendar.
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