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Contest Update Issues

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The ARRL Contest Update
May 24, 2023
Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE
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In this Issue:

 

Upcoming Contests - Things to Do

One of the most anticipated CW events of the year, the CQ World Wide WPX Contest, CW, begins at 0000 UTC on Saturday, May 27, and concludes at 2359 on Sunday, May 28. Single Operator stations may operate for 36 of the 48-hour contest period. Multioperator stations may operate for the full 48 hours. Complete rules are available at www.cqwpx.com/rules.htm.


The Kentucky QSO Party begins at 1300 UTC, June 3, and concludes at 0100 UTC, June 4. Kentucky stations can work all stations. Stations outside of Kentucky can only work stations located in Kentucky. Visit www.kyqsoparty.org/ for complete rules.


The second annual ARRL International Digital Contest occurs during the first full weekend of June (June 3 - 4, 2023). All digital modes, with the exception of RTTY, are allowed in the event. In addition to the event being eligible for the ARRL Affiliated Club Competition, a team competition consisting of teams of 2 to 5 Single Operator stations is also available. Teams must be registered before the start of the event at https://contests.arrl.org/teamreg.php?eid=31. For full rules, please visit https://contests.arrl.org/dig/.


The year-long ARRL Volunteers on the Air event continues, recognizing the support and contributions of ARRL volunteers. 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

Changes to ARRL VHF+ Contest Rules Announced

The ARRL Programs and Services Committee has approved rule changes to the ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest, and the January, June, and September VHF contests, effective with the 2023 10 GHz and Up Contest, and the 2023 September VHF contest.

In the 10 GHz and Up event, distance point multipliers have been added for each band as follows: 10 GHz 1x; 24 GHz 2x; 47 GHz 3x; 75 GHz 4x; 122 GHz and above 5x. For example, an 80 km contact made on 10 GHz would be worth 80 points while the same contact made on 47 GHz would be worth 240 points.

Starting in September, in the January, June, and September VHF contests, contacts made on 902 Mhz and 1.2 GHz will be allowed for participants in the FM-Only category. Currently, the category only allows contacts on 50, 144, 222 and 432 MHz. Additionally, there will be changes to the Affiliated Club Competition scoring for entrants in the Rover categories. For a Rover's score to be included in their club's score, the entrant must make contacts from somewhere within the club's territory during the course of the contest.

Contact the ARRL Contest Program at contests@arrl.org for more information regarding these changes.


Presentations from 2023 Contest University are Now Available

Select sessions from 2023 Contest University were live streamed by DX Engineering via YouTube. Those who missed the live streams can view the presentations at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dm3LtGdvbZg. Presenters shown in the video include Doug Grant, K1DG; Bob Wilson, N6TV; Philipp Springer, DK6SP, and Joel Harrison, W5ZN. Thanks to Tim Duffy, K3LR; Icom America, and DX Engineering for providing the video of the event.

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Contest Summary

See the "Contests" section below for complete contest information.

May 25

May 26

May 27

May 29

May 30

May 31

June 1

June 2

June 3

June 5

June 6

June 7

News, Press Releases and Special Interest

New NCCC FT4-NS contest Debuts this Week

The Northern California Contest Club (NCCC) has announced that the first session of NCCC FT4-NS will be held this Friday, May 26, beginning at 0100 UTC (Thursday night in North America). The FT4-NS is a new component of the popular NCCC Sprint Thursday night contest series.

The goals of the new event are to promote high levels of proficiency in the FT4 mode, to develop high QSO rate and low NIL rate FT contesting skills, and to serve as a practice prior to contests such as the ARRL International Digital Contest and the ARRL June VHF Contest. For more information, visit https://ncccsprint.com/ft4ns.html.

- Thanks to Bill Haddon, N6ZFO


55th Annual Central States VHF Society Conference

Registration is now open for the 55th annual Central States VHF Society Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas to be held on July 27-29, 2023. Highlights include a range for 50 through 10 GHz antenna measurements, a noise figure workshop for preamps and transverters, a "Rover Row" display of VHF rover stations and a "Microwave Dish Row" display. Technical presentations begin at noon Friday and continue through Saturday afternoon.

If you have a topic that you'd like to submit for the conference proceedings, contact Tony Emanuele, K8ZR, at wa8rjf@arrl.net. Possible topics range from operating techniques such as meteor scatter, rare grid activation, rovering, EME, etc. to more technical submittals on the latest developments in Software Defined Radios, antenna modeling and solid-state power amplifiers.

For more information and registration, visit http://2023.csvhfs.org/.

- Thanks to Joel Harrison, W5ZN, and Tony Emanuele, K8ZR

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Sights and Sounds

Aviel Stutman, KC1RNK, participated in the 2022 ARRL 10-Meter Contest. It was not only her first contest, but she also made her very first contact during the event.

Results and Records

2022 ARRL 10-Meter Contest Results

The results for the 2022 ARRL 10-Meter Contest are available at http://contests.arrl.org/10m. The full results article by Andrew Goss, AA5JF, line scores, and log checking reports are available at the website. Click on "Articles/Line Scores" on the left side of the page to view results. Downloadable certificates are available by clicking on the "Certificates" at the top of the page.

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, Paul, N1SFE

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Contests

May 25, 2023 - June 7, 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), May 25, 0300z to May 25, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 27.

CWops Test (CWT), May 25, 0700z to May 25, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 27.

RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW, May 25, 1900z to May 25, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: May 26.

NCCC FT4 Sprint, May 26, 0100z to May 26, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: May 28.

NCCC RTTY Sprint, May 26, 0145z to May 26, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: May 28.

NCCC Sprint, May 26, 0230z to May 26, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: May 28.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, May 26, 2000z to May 26, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 28.

CQ WW WPX Contest, CW, May 27, 0000z to May 28, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jun 2.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, May 29, 0000z to May 29, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 31.

QCX Challenge, May 29, 1300z to May 29, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Jun 4.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, May 29, 1300z to May 29, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jun 1.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), May 29, 1630z to May 29, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jun 2.

QCX Challenge, May 29, 1900z to May 29, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Jun 4.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, May 29, 1900z to May 29, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jun 1.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, May 30, 0100z to May 30, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: May 31.

QCX Challenge, May 30, 0300z to May 30, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Jun 4.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, May 30, 0300z to May 30, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jun 1.

Phone Weekly Test, May 31, 0230z to May 31, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Jun 2.

A1Club AWT, May 31, 1200z to May 31, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Jun 5.

CWops Test (CWT), May 31, 1300z to May 31, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jun 3.

Mini-Test 40, May 31, 1700z to May 31, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jun 2.

Mini-Test 80, May 31, 1800z to May 31, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jun 2.

CWops Test (CWT), May 31, 1900z to May 31, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jun 3.

Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Jun 1, 0000z to Jun 2, 0300z; CW; Bands: 40; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Jun 8.

CWops Test (CWT), Jun 1, 0300z to Jun 1, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jun 3.

CWops Test (CWT), Jun 1, 0700z to Jun 1, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jun 3.

NRAU 10m Activity Contest, Jun 1, 1700z to Jun 1, 2100z; CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10; RS(T) + 6-character grid square; Logs due: Jun 15.

SKCC Sprint Europe, Jun 1, 2000z to Jun 1, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Jun 8.

PODXS 070 Club Three Day Weekend Contest, Jun 2, 0000z to Jun 4, 2359z; PSK31; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; 070 Members: Member No., Non-Members: "0000"; Logs due: Jun 11.

NCCC FT4 Sprint, Jun 2, 0100z to Jun 2, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Jun 4.

NCCC RTTY Sprint, Jun 2, 0145z to Jun 2, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Jun 4.

NCCC Sprint, Jun 2, 0230z to Jun 2, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Jun 4.

HA3NS Sprint Memorial Contest, Jun 2, 1900z to Jun 2, 1959z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; HACWG Members: RST + Membership No., non-Members: RST + NM; Logs due: Jun 9.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Jun 2, 2000z to Jun 2, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jun 4.

PVRC Reunion, Jun 3, 0000z to Jun 4, 0159z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; PVRC Member: 1st year of membership + name + (state/province/country) + callsign when joined PVRC, non-Member: name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jun 18.

10-10 Int. Open Season PSK Contest, Jun 3, 0000z to Jun 4, 2359z; PSK31; Bands: 10; Name + (state/province/country) + organization membership numbers; Logs due: Jun 12.

Tisza Cup CW Contest, Jun 3, 0200z to Jun 3, 1459z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + CQ Zone No.; Logs due: Jun 8.

Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, Jun 3, 0600z to Jun 3, 0800z; CW; Bands: 40, 20; RST + Serial No. + suffix of previous QSO ("QRP" for 1st QSO); Logs due: Jun 10.

KANHAM Contest, Jun 3, 0600z to Jun 4, 0600z; CW, Phone; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2, UHF; JA: RST + Prefecture No., JA Young or YL: RST + Prefecture No. + "Y", Non-JA: RST, Non-JA Young or YL: RST + "Y"; Logs due: Jun 11.

UKSMG Summer Contest, Jun 3, 1300z to Jun 4, 1300z; not specified; Bands: 6; RST + Serial No. + 6-character grid square + (optional UKSMG member no.); Logs due: Jun 30.

Kentucky QSO Party, Jun 3, 1300z to Jun 4, 0100z; CW, SSB, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; KY: RS(T) + county, non-KY: RS(T) + (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: Jun 30.

IARU Region 1 Field Day, CW, Jun 3, 1500z to Jun 4, 1459z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jun 11.

RSGB National Field Day, Jun 3, 1500z to Jun 4, 1500z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jun 9.

ARRL International Digital Contest, Jun 3, 1800z to Jun 4, 2359z; Digital (no RTTY); Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Jun 11.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Jun 5, 0000z to Jun 5, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jun 7.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jun 5, 1300z to Jun5, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jun 8.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Jun 5, 1630z to Jun 5, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jun 9.

RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data, Jun 5, 1900z to Jun 5, 2030z; RTTY, PSK; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jun 6.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jun 5, 1900z to Jun 5, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jun 8.

ARS Spartan Sprint, Jun 6, 0100z to Jun 6, 0300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: Jun 8.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Jun 6, 0100z to Jun 6, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Jun 7.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Jun 6, 0300z to Jun 6, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Jun 8.

Phone Weekly Test, Jun 7, 0230z to Jun 7, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Jun 9.

A1Club AWT, Jun 7, 1200z to Jun 7, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Jun 12.

CWops Test (CWT), Jun 7, 1300z to Jun 7, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jun 10.

Mini-Test 40, Jun 7, 1700z to Jun 7, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jun 9.

Mini-Test 80, Jun 7, 1800z to Jun 7, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jun 9.

CWops Test (CWT), Jun 7, 1900z to Jun 7, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Jun 10.

VHF+ CONTESTS

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Jun 7, 1700z to Jun 7, 2100z; FT8; Bands: 144 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Jun 12.

See Also: Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, SKCC Sprint Europe, Kentucky QSO Party, ARRL International Digital Contest.

Log Due Dates

May 25

May 26

May 27

May 28

May 29

May 31

June 1

June 2

June 3

June 4

June 5

June 6

June 7

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Acknowledgements

ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest Calendar.

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