ARRL

Register Account

Login Help

Contest Update Issues

Preview
The ARRL Contest Update
March 2, 2022
Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE
Ad

In this Issue:

 

Upcoming Contests - Things to Do

ARRL International Contest- SSB

The ARRL International DX Contest- SSB, gets underway this weekend at 0000 UTC Saturday, March 5, and concludes at 2359 UTC Sunday, March 6. Remember, there are new categories added for the 2022 event, with the Single-Operator, Single Band categories now having three power subcategories (QRP, Low Power and High Power) in both Non-Assisted and Unlimited (Assisted) categories.

Also new for this year's ARRL DX Contest, for the Affiliated Club Competition, Multioperator DXpedition scores (operations outside the United States and Canada) can be distributed to clubs that each operator declares. The club must be active in the ARRL's Club Eligibility listing, and the operator's call sign must be included in the club's eligibility list. Each eligible operator's portion of the total station score will be attributed to the club of their choosing. See the Affiliated Club Competition rules for more details.

For complete rules and more information, visit arrl.org/arrl-dx/.


Upcoming State QSO Parties

For those of you who like to participate in the state QSO parties, here's some upcoming events that might be of interest. You can also find more details in the Contests section.

March 12:

Oklahoma QSO Party, Idaho QSO Party

March 13:

Wisconsin QSO Party

Bulletins

The organizers of this weekend's Open Ukraine RTTY Contest have announced that due to the current events and the suspension of the amateur service in the Ukraine, they have cancelled the event for 2022. They will announce a later date in 2022 if possible.

Ad
Busted QSOs

In the February 16, 2022 Contest Update, the newly-announced ARRL International Digital Contest was incorrectly titled as the "ARRL International DX Contest" in the article headline. It has been subsequently corrected in the online edition.

Contest Summary

Complete information for all contests follows the Conversation section

March 3

March 4

March 5

March 6

March 7

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 11

March 12

March 13

March 14

March 15

March 16

Ad
News, Press Releases and Special Interest

Scott, N3FJP, has announced the release of Amateur Contact Log version 7.0.4. The software now includes some new features including a world map, additional Parks on the Air (POTA) support, a greyline map, and an awards map. More details about the new release are available at www.n3fjp.com.

Results and Records

The full results article for the February North American Sprint- CW, is available at ncjweb.com/north-american-sprint/. The organizers would like to thank all 191 participants that submitted a log.

- Thanks to Ward, N0AX


Ed, W0YK, has announced that the raw scores for the 2022 CQ WPX RTTY Contest have been posted at cqwpxrtty.com/raw.htm. Ed would like to remind us that the raw scores are from the log checking software prior to any score deductions due to errors.


The January 2022 North American QSO Party CW preliminary results have been released at ncjweb.com/current-naqp-cw-results/.

- Thanks to Kirk, K4RO


The full results article, line scores, and searchable score database for the 2021 ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest are now available at contests/arrl.org/10g/.


The 2021 CQ World Wide VHF Contest full results article by John Kalenowsky, K9JK, is now available at cqww-vhf.com/. In addition to the results article, an online score database, contest records, and downloadable certificates are available at the web site.

Ad
Technical Topics and Discussion

For those operators who are interested in setting up a Multioperator contest station, Craig, K9CT, wrote an informative guide in the November/December 2019 issue of National Contest Journal. You can download the article at ncjweb.com/bonus-content/Thompson.pdf.

Conversation

With the ARRL International DX SSB Contest coming up this weekend, I'd like to remind participants to be mindful of band edges. If you're operating near the upper or lower edges of the band, or your operating privileges, be aware that your signal's bandwidth may extend beyond what the frequency display on your radio is reading. For example, when operating lower sideband phone, if your radio dial reads 7.125 MHz, your signal extends outside of the phone privileges for US amateurs and into the CW portion of the 40-meter band.

In the quick pace and excitement of a contest, it's easy to forget where the upper and lower edges of the bands are and what your license class privileges are. It's always best to review and have a copy of the band plan at handy reference. If using spotting assistance, be aware that some foreign amateurs have different frequency allocations and may be spotted working on frequencies that are not allowed for US amateurs. Be sure to always check that the spot you just clicked on is within your privileges.

The ARRL website has a handy, printable US Amateur Radio Allocations Chart for those who wish to have one for quick reference.

I hope to hear you this weekend in the contest!

That's all for this time. Get on the air and work some DX this weekend! 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, Paul, N1SFE

Contests

March 3, 2022 - March 16,2022

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, Mar 3, 0000z to Mar 4, 0300z; CW; Bands: 40; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Mar 10.

CWops Test (CWT), Mar 3, 0300z to Mar 3, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 5.

CWops Test (CWT), Mar 3, 0700z to Mar 3, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 5.

RTTYOPS Weeksprint, Mar 3, 1700z to Mar 3, 1900z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name]; Logs due: Mar 10.

NRAU 10m Activity Contest, Mar 3, 1800z to Mar 3, 2200z; CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10; RS(T) + 6-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 17.

EACW Meeting, Mar 3, 1900z to Mar 3, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; EACW Member: RST + Member No. + Nickname, EA non-Member: RST + Nickname + EA province, non-EA: RST + Nickname + DXCC prefix; Logs due: Mar 5.

SKCC Sprint Europe, Mar 3, 2000z to Mar 3, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Mar 10.

NCCC RTTY Sprint, Mar 4, 0145z to Mar 4, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Mar 6.

NCCC Sprint, Mar 4, 0230z to Mar 4, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Mar 6.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Mar 4, 2000z to Mar 4, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 6.

ARRL International DX Contest, SSB, Mar 5, 0000z to Mar 6, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; W/VE: RS + (state/province), non-W/VE: RS + power; Logs due: Mar 13.

Novice Rig Roundup, Mar 5, 0000z to Mar 13, 2359z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 15, 10, 2; Name + QTH + Optional (Rig, NRR number); Logs due: Apr 12.

Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, Mar 5, 0600z to Mar 5, 0800z; CW; Bands: 40, 20; RST + Serial No. + suffix of previous QSO ("QRP" for 1st QSO); Logs due: Mar 12.

UBA Spring Contest, CW, Mar 6, 0700z to Mar 6, 1100z; CW; Bands: 80; ON: RST + Serial No. + UBA Section, non-ON: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 20.

NSARA Contest, Mar 6, 1200z to Mar 6, 2200z; CW, SSB, Digital; Bands: 80; Nova Scotia: RS(T) + county, non-NS: RS(T) + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 5.

SARL Hamnet 40m Simulated Emergency Contest, Mar 6, 1200z to Mar 6, 1400z; SSB; Bands: 40; Class A: RS + Serial No. (starting with 201), Class B: RS + Serial No. (starting with 401), Class C: RS + Serial No. (starting with 601), Class D: RS + Serial No. (starting with 801), Non-participants: RS + Serial No. (starting with 001); Logs due: Mar 11.

WAB 3.5 MHz Phone, Mar 6, 1800z to Mar 6, 2200z; SSB; Bands: 80; British Isles: RS + serial no. + WAB square, Other: RS + serial no. + country; Logs due: Mar 16.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Mar 7, 0000z to Mar 7, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 9.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Mar 7, 1630z to Mar 7, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 11.

RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data, Mar 7, 2000z to Mar 7, 2130z; RTTY, PSK; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 8.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Mar 8, 0100z to Mar 8, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Mar 9.

ARS Spartan Sprint, Mar 8, 0200z to Mar 8, 0400z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: Mar 10.

RTTYOPS Weeksprint, Mar 8, 1700z to Mar 8, 1900z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name]; Logs due: Mar 15.

Phone Weekly Test, Mar 9, 0230z to Mar 9, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Mar 11.

A1Club AWT, Mar 9, 1200z to Mar 9, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Mar 14.

CWops Test (CWT), Mar 9, 1300z to Mar 9, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 12.

Mini-Test 40, Mar 9, 1700z to Mar 9, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 11.

Mini-Test 80, Mar 9, 1800z to Mar 9, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 11.

CWops Test (CWT), Mar 9, 1900z to Mar 9, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 12.

CWops Test (CWT), Mar 10, 0300z to Mar 10, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 12.

CWops Test (CWT), Mar 10, 0700z to Mar 10, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 12.

RTTYOPS Weeksprint, Mar 10, 1700z to Mar 10, 1900z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name]; Logs due: Mar 17.

EACW Meeting, Mar 10, 1900z to Mar 10, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; EACW Member: RST + Member No. + Nickname, EA non-Member: RST + Nickname + EA province, non-EA: RST + Nickname + DXCC prefix; Logs due: Mar 12.

NCCC RTTY Sprint, Mar 11, 0145z to Mar 11, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Mar 13.

NCCC Sprint, Mar 11, 0230z to Mar 11, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Mar 13.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Mar 11, 2000z to Mar 11, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 13.

YB DX RTTY Contest, Mar 12, 0000z to Mar 12, 2359z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 19.

SARL Field Day Contest, Mar 12, 0800z to Mar 13, 1000z; CW, SSB, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + Number of transmitters + Category (see rules) + Province (or "DX"); Logs due: Mar 18.

RSGB Commonwealth (BERU) Contest, Mar 12, 1000z to Mar 13, 1000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 18.

SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Mar 12, 1200z to Mar 13, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Mar 20.

South America 10 Meter Contest, Mar 12, 1200z to Mar 13, 1200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 10; RS(T) + CQ zone; Logs due: Mar 20.

DIG QSO Party, SSB, Mar 12, 1200z to Mar 13, 1100z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; DIG Member: RS + Member No., non-Member: RS; Logs due: May 31.

AGCW QRP Contest, Mar 12, 1400z to Mar 12, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + QSO No. + class(pwr) + (AGCW Member No./"NM" if not member); Logs due: Mar 26.

Stew Perry Topband Challenge, Mar 12, 1500z to Mar 13, 1500z; CW; Bands: 160; 4-Character grid square; Logs due: Mar 28.

Oklahoma QSO Party, Mar 12, 1500z to Mar 13, 2100z; CW, Phone, Digital (no FT8); Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; OK: RS(T) + County, non-OK: RS(T) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 4.

EA PSK63 Contest, Mar 12, 1600z to Mar 13, 1600z; PSK63; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; EA: RSQ + province code, non-EA: RSQ + Serial no.; Logs due: Mar 28.

TESLA Memorial HF CW Contest, Mar 12, 1800z to Mar 13, 0559z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No. + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 18.

Idaho QSO Party, Mar 12, 1900z to Mar 13, 1900z; CW, Phone, Digital (no FT8); Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; ID: County, non-ID: Signal report + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 23.

North American Sprint, RTTY, Mar 12, 2300z to Mar 13, 0300z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name] + [your state/DC/province/country]; Logs due: Mar 20.

FIRAC HF Contest, Mar 13, 0700z to Mar 13, 1700z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RS(T) + Serial No. + "F", Non-member: RS(T); Logs due: Mar 27.

Wisconsin QSO Party, Mar 13, 1800z to Mar 14, 0100z; CW, Phone, Digital (no FT4/8); Bands: All, except WARC; WI: county, non-WI: (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 27.

4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, Mar 14, 0000z to Mar 14, 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: Mar 16.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Mar 14, 0000z to Mar 14, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 16.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Mar 14, 1630z to Mar 14, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 18.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Mar 15, 0100z to Mar 15, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Mar 16.

CLARA Chatter Party, Mar 15, 1700z to Mar 20, 1700z; CW, Phone; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 15.

RTTYOPS Weeksprint, Mar 15, 1700z to Mar 15, 1900z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name]; Logs due: Mar 22.

Phone Weekly Test, Mar 16, 0230z to Mar 16, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Mar 18.

A1Club AWT, Mar 16, 1200z to Mar 16, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Mar 21.

CWops Test (CWT), Mar 16, 1300z to Mar 16, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 19.

Mini-Test 40, Mar 16, 1700z to Mar 16, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 18.

Mini-Test 80, Mar 16, 1800z to Mar 16, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 18.

CWops Test (CWT), Mar 16, 1900z to Mar 16, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 19.

RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW, Mar 16, 2000z to Mar 16, 2130z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 17.

VHF+ CONTESTS

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Mar 9, 1700z to Mar 9, 2000z; FT8; Bands: 432 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 14.

UBA Spring Contest, 2m, Mar 13, 0700z to Mar 13, 1100z; CW, Phone; Bands: 2; ON: RS(T) + Serial No. + UBA Section, non-ON: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 27.

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Mar 16, 1700z to Mar 16, 2000z; FT8; Bands: 1.2G; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 21.

See also: SKCC Sprint Europe, Novice Rig Roundup, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Oklahoma QSO Party.

Log Due Dates

March 3

March 4

March 5

March 6

March 7

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 11

March 12

March 13

March 14

March 15

March 16

ARRL Information

Click here to advertise in this newsletter, space subject to availability.

Your One-Stop Resource for Amateur Radio News and Information

Join or Renew Today!

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, features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint and QSO Parties.

Subscribe to QEX - A Forum for Communications Experimenters. Published bimonthly, 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 E-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 sending email to 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, NCJ - the National Contest Journal, and Scott Davis, N3FJP.

Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad
Ad
www.arrl.org

 

Join ARRL

Donate Now

EXPLORE ARRL

Instragram     Facebook     Twitter     YouTube     LinkedIn