The weather’s getting warmer and that means the bands will be hot for the ARRL SSB Rookie Roundup, Sunday, April 21, 1800-2359 UTC. Created to give the budding operator a place to learn about contesting at an easier pace, the ARRL Rookie Roundup is a six hour contest open to all amateurs who first got their ticket in 2011, 2012 or 2013.

Even if you were licensed prior to 2011, you can still get on the air and work Rookies, help a Rookie get on the air or help your club members put together a team of Rookies. The contest exchange is easy: send both call signs, your first name and your location, either your US state, Canadian province or Mexican call area. If you’re not in one of those areas, send “DX” for your location. Remember: Rookies can work anybody, but non-Rookies can only work Rookies. Clubs can promote either a Multioperator effort (several Rookies operating from the same station with the same call) or a team effort (up to five Single Operator Rookies operating from their own stations and combining their score). Larger clubs can make more than one team and compete for club bragging rights!

You can log the contest using paper forms provided on the Rookie Roundup web page, or try your hand at InTheLog.com, a website for real-time logging. Once the contest is over and you’ve calculated your score, fill out and submit the Rookie Roundup Online Score Submission Form. All score summaries must be received by 2359 UTC on Wednesday, April 24.

Complete rules and score submission information can be found on the ARRL Rookie Roundup website. For more information, contact ARRL Contest Branch Manager Sean Kutzko, KX9X, via e-mail.

Mark your calendars: The ARRL Rookie Roundup happens three times every year. In 2013, SSB is April 21, RTTY is August 18 and CW is December 22.