Contest Update Issue

The ARRL Contest Update for February 18, 2026 undefined

February 18, 2026


	ARRL Home Page


	Contest Calendar

In this Issue:

Upcoming Contests – Things to Do
Contest Summary
News, Press Releases, and Special Interest
Word to the Wise
Sights and Sounds
Results and Records
Operating Tip
Technical Topics and Discussion
Conversation
Contests
Log Due Dates

Upcoming Contests – Things to Do

The weekend of February 21, the ARRL International DX Contest, CW will be where many ARRL-affiliated club members will be spending time. The contest counts towards the Affiliated Club Competition. The exchange is easy for US amateurs: Signal report and state or province.

The weekend of February 28, the CQ WW 160-meter contest will keep some operators up at night trying to make phone contacts, while others will be on RTTY for the North American QSO Party. A more laid-back time may be had with the South and North Carolina QSO parties also on that weekend. The South Carolina QSO party encourages use of FT4/8 modes with special setup instructions — see below for more information.

Contest Summary

February 19, 2026 - March 4, 2026

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

February 19

February 20

February 21

February 22

February 23

February 24

February 25

February 26

February 27

February 28

March 1

March 2

March 3

March 4

News, Press Releases, and Special Interest

Many of today’s radios support using a single USB interface for both CAT control and a virtual sound card. Gabriel Tudoran, YO3HEX, takes advantage of radios with those capabilities to create an all-software solution for SO2R operation: “I'm happy to announce the release of GhostBox V1.0 - a software-based SO2R controller that I've been developing for the past couple of months.

(Features include:)

Advanced DSP Suite:

Binaural enhancement with adjustable interaural delay (reduces listening fatigue significantly)
Per-radio adaptive noise reduction with automatic makeup gain (Wiener-like filtering)
CW tone enhancement using Goertzel resonators (helps pull weak signals from QRM)

TX Audio Path:

Full voice bandpass filtering (adjustable 50-2800 Hz)
Real-time mic level monitoring
Dual TX output routing with OTRSP control

Contest Recording:

Continuous MP3 recording with automatic file rotation
MP3 direct recording with various settable levels of quality
Real-time audio health monitoring of the recording process

Integration:

OTRSP protocol support (TCP and Serial)
Works with DxLog, N1MM Logger+, Win-Test, and any compatible software capable of the OTRSP protocol
Plug-and-play with any WASAPI-compatible USB audio device

Compatible Radios: Any transceiver with USB Audio interface

System Requirements: Windows 10/11 (32/64-bit) with USB audio interfaces

For more information and download: https://rig2cast.com/utils/GhostBox/

The Four State QRP Group runs the Second Sunday Sprint every month, which takes place on … the second Sunday of the month, from 7 – 9 PM Central Time in the US. Valid modes are CW, SSB, and JS8Call. Everyone can participate — see the rules for the exchange.

The Southeastern VHF Society 2026 Conference will be held April 17 – 19 in Macon, Georgia. While the agenda has not been published yet, you can look to the SVHFS Groups.io group for the call for papers and discussions of potential agenda items.

The use of FT4/8 modes in QSO parties has been limited by the inability for the current FT-mode software to be able to send and receive the typical QSO party exchange: county and state abbreviations. Some QSO parties work around this by allowing and accepting grids as a valid exchange when using FT-modes. The South Carolina QSO party has taken a different route — they’re utilizing FT-mode software in Field Day mode, sending county abbreviation in a CQ message, and mapping field day exchanges to counties. The contest sponsors have published setup information to help those that want to give it a try.

AI6YM has developed a very small 2-meter transmitter, specifically for Fox Hunting contests. It’s part of the Radio Orienteering sport (previously known as Amateur Radio Direction Finding), which combines radio with outdoor activity.

IEEE Spectrum emphasized the use of ham radio in their recent article on the hobby (and sometimes competition) of pico-balloons, specifically for tracking. Pico-balloons weigh up to 30 grams, and can circle the globe multiple times.

Two new items from the World Wide Radio Operators Foundation: “WWROF Assumes Stewardship for WRTC.info” and “WWROF strengthens leadership with appointments supporting mission and Stewardship” — both these items came from the CQ-Contest email list.

Word to the Wise

Rubber-Clocking — Changing the logged time of contacts to conform with contest rules. Do not do this, it’s against the rules. Log the contact when you make it. With modern logging software it should never be necessary to change the time for any contacts in a contest log.

Sights and Sounds

The Madison DX Club makes their monthly presentations available on YouTube. In addition to DX-specific presentations, there are general-interest topics covered, such as how to protect your radio station computer (from hackers), propagation, and how to hunt down RFI sources.

Results and Records

The CQWW CW Contest results for 2025 are now available. A record number of logs were submitted in 2025, despite conditions being on the downside of the solar cycle. The 20-page writeup notes that in this contest there are “nearly 200 category awards available for winners across the spectrum of single ops through multi-operators.” The top category for submissions remains Single Operator, All Band, Low Power, comprising over 37% of the received logs.

Results for the North American CW Sprint, held in September 2025, are now available. (Ward Silver, N0AX)

According to Jim, K8MR, the chairman of the Ohio QSO Party: “The results of the 2025 Ohio QSO Party are now available at the OhQP web site www.ohqp.org. Thanks to all who participated, and we hope you all will be back for the 2026 OhQP on Saturday, August 22!”

Results from the 2025 Oceania DX Contest are available at www.oceaniadxcontest.com. The 2026 OCDX events will be October 3 – 4 (SSB) and October 10 – 11 (CW).

Operating Tip

New Contesters: Signal Reports

For major contests that require a signal report to be sent as part of an exchange, just send 59 or 599. You might think “huh, that’s not really a signal report!” and you’d be mostly right — it’s probably not an accurate signal report. You still have to send it. Contest sponsors, in general, do not check sent signal reports vs. received signal reports.

Technical Topics and Discussion

PSKReporter.info is more than just a pretty map with signal reports! You can query some of the underlying data by following the guidelines provided in the developer documentation.

WWVB, located in Colorado, broadcasts a PWM modulated time signal on 60 kHz. This is what operates the “synchronized with atomic clocks” feature in some wrist watches, wall clocks, and so forth. It turns out you can emulate the WWVB signals using a desktop computer, so you can influence very local devices that cannot otherwise receive those broadcasts. The open-source software underlying this technique is available on Github, or you can just try it out on your desktop computer with a web browser by visiting https://timestation.pages.dev/.

One of the best sources of wisdom and anecdotal information on the care and feeding of amateur radio towers is the Towertalk email list. You can peruse the latest posts, and search back through 30 years of posts, at http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk.

Conversation

To have a radio contest, it’s not enough to just publish a webpage, get listed on the contest calendar website, collect and score logs, and publish the results. A new contest might get a few entries. But to make a contest sustainable, a sponsor is going to have to win the attention of participants over other contests that are happening during that time, and over any alternative activity. It is essential that contest sponsors promote and market their contest. What worked 50, 30, 20, 10, or even 5 years ago to attract operators to your contest is not going to be as effective today.

For an example of a recent event that did promotion well, let’s look at the Minnesota QSO Party, which was held February 7. The contest, sponsored by the Minnesota Wireless Association, has an easy to read and up-to-date website, with easy one-page access to everything you need to understand the event. Rules. Plaques. Prizes. Activity Maps. Mobile Tracking. Spots. Resources. Sponsors. The website works to promote the contest, as well as provide a resource during the contest itself.

The MnQP sponsors were encouraging participants to use real-time contest (RTC) scoreboards in 2026, which required some setup. There were practice sessions before the contest, promoted via email. From a quick look at hamscore.com after the contest, at least 35 stations took the time to set up for real-time scoring.

During the contest, members of the Minnesota Wireless Association were on the air, making contacts — that they were on the air also contributed to the contest’s success.

After the contest, Bill, AC0W, again promoted the contest by reminding everyone of the log submission deadline, and of the forthcoming results.

I followed up with Bill, to ask him how else he promoted the contest: “We did additional promoting of the event on the RTC-Hamscore email group, the ARRL Contest email group, and the QSO Party email group. It was also promoted in the ARRL Dakota Division Director’s Division update e-newsletter. Then all mobiles and rovers were encouraged to post their plans on the county hunter sites.”

As far as the real-time contesting aspect? “The test sessions were there to help people make sure they had their logging software set up correctly. A missed setting results in data not being properly sent to the RTC scoreboard which then impacts the real-time log checking and scoring that takes place. The test sessions (occurring on Thursday before the contest — Ed.) were under-utilized. We saw several do their setup on Friday but then they didn’t have the option to test the software. Next year I think it would be better for us to have the test session on Friday. This should help with participating in the RTC.”

“As for entries we are at 479, which is up from last year.”

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, Brian, N9ADG

Contests

February 18, 2026 - March 4, 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.

HF CONTESTS

Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest , Feb 19, 0000z to Feb 20, 0300z; CW; Bands: 20; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Feb 26.

CWops Test (CWT) , Feb 19, 0300z to Feb 19, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 21.

CWops Test (CWT) , Feb 19, 0700z to Feb 19, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 21.

NTC QSO Party , Feb 19, 1900z to Feb 19, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; NTC Member: RST + Member No., non-Member: RST + "NM", Less than 25 wpm; Logs due: Feb 23.

NCCC FT4 Sprint , Feb 20, 0100z to Feb 20, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 22.

Weekly RTTY Test , Feb 20, 0145z to Feb 20, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 22.

QRP Fox Hunt , Feb 20, 0200z to Feb 20, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 21.

NCCC Sprint , Feb 20, 0230z to Feb 20, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Feb 22.

K1USN Slow Speed Test , Feb 20, 2000z to Feb 20, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 22.

ARRL International DX Contest, CW , Feb 21, 0000z to Feb 22, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; W/VE: RST + (state/province), non-W/VE: RST + power; Logs due: Mar 1.

REF Contest, SSB , Feb 21, 0600z to Feb 22, 1800z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; French: RS + Department/Prefix, non-French: RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 2.

Russian PSK WW Contest , Feb 21, 1200z to Feb 22, 1159z; BPSK31, BPSK63, BPSK125; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RU: RST + 2-letter oblast, non-RU: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 27.

Feld Hell Sprint , Feb 21, 1900z to Feb 21, 2059z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; (see rules); Logs due: Feb 25.

World Wide Argentina DX Contest , Feb 22, 0000z to Feb 22, 2359z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 1.

High Speed Club CW Contest , Feb 22, 1400z to Feb 22, 1700z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Members: RST + HSC No., non-Members: RST + "NM"; Logs due: Mar 8.

Classic Exchange, Phone , Feb 22, 1400z to Feb 25, 0800z; AM, SSB, FM; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; Name + RS + (state/province/country) + rcvr/xmtr manuf/model; Logs due: Mar 31.

K1USN Slow Speed Test , Feb 23, 0000z to Feb 23, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 25.

QCX Challenge , Feb 23, 1300z to Feb 23, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Mar 1.

ICWC Medium Speed Test , Feb 23, 1300z to Feb 23, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 26.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC) , Feb 23, 1630z to Feb 23, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 27.

QCX Challenge , Feb 23, 1900z to Feb 23, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Mar 1.

ICWC Medium Speed Test , Feb 23, 1900z to Feb 23, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 26.

RSGB FT4 Contest , Feb 23, 2000z to Feb 23, 2200z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Signal report; Logs due: Feb 24.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest , Feb 24, 0100z to Feb 24, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Feb 25.

QCX Challenge , Feb 24, 0300z to Feb 24, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Mar 1.

ICWC Medium Speed Test , Feb 24, 0300z to Feb 24, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 26.

SKCC Sprint , Feb 25, 0000z to Feb 25, 0200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Feb 28.

QRP Fox Hunt , Feb 25, 0200z to Feb 25, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 26.

Phone Weekly Test , Feb 25, 0230z to Feb 25, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Feb 27.

A1Club AWT , Feb 25, 1145z to Feb 25, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Mar 2.

CWops Test (CWT) , Feb 25, 1300z to Feb 25, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 28.

Mini-Test 40 , Feb 25, 1700z to Feb 25, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 27.

Mini-Test 80 , Feb 25, 1800z to Feb 25, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 27.

CWops Test (CWT) , Feb 25, 1900z to Feb 25, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 28.

UKEICC 80m Contest , Feb 25, 2000z to Feb 25, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Feb 25.

CWops Test (CWT) , Feb 26, 0300z to Feb 26, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 28.

CWops Test (CWT) , Feb 26, 0700z to Feb 26, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 28.

RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW , Feb 26, 2000z to Feb 26, 2130z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 27.

NCCC FT4 Sprint , Feb 27, 0100z to Feb 27, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 1.

Weekly RTTY Test , Feb 27, 0145z to Feb 27, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 1.

QRP Fox Hunt , Feb 27, 0200z to Feb 27, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 28.

NCCC Sprint , Feb 27, 0230z to Feb 27, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Mar 1.

K1USN Slow Speed Test , Feb 27, 2000z to Feb 27, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 1.

CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB , Feb 27, 2200z to Mar 1, 2200z; SSB; Bands: 160; W/VE: RS + (state/province), DX: RS + CQ Zone; Logs due: Mar 6.

UBA DX Contest, CW , Feb 28, 1300z to Mar 1, 1300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; ON: RST + Serial No. + section, non-ON: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 8.

South Carolina QSO Party , Feb 28, 1500z to Mar 1, 0159z; CW, Digital, Phone; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; SC: RS(T) + County, non-SC: RS(T) + (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: Mar 15.

North American QSO Party, RTTY , Feb 28, 1800z to Mar 1, 0559z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; NA: Name + (state/DC/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Mar 8.

NA Collegiate Championship, RTTY , Feb 28, 1800z to Mar 1, 0559z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; NA: Name + (state/DC/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Mar 8.

NSARA Contest , Mar 1, 1200z to Mar 1, 2200z; CW, SSB, Digital; Bands: 80; Nova Scotia: RS(T) + county, non-NS: RS(T) + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 31.

SARL Hamnet 40m Simulated Emerg Contest , Mar 1, 1200z to Mar 1, 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 6.

North Carolina QSO Party , Mar 1, 1500z to Mar 2, 0100z; CW, Phone, Digital (FT4/8 see rules); Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; NC: County, non-NC: (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: Mar 15.

WAB 3.5 MHz Phone , Mar 1, 1800z to Mar 1, 2200z; SSB; Bands: 80; British Isles: RS + serial no. + WAB square, Other: RS + serial no. + country; Logs due: Mar 11.

K1USN Slow Speed Test , Mar 2, 0000z to Mar 2, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 4.

ICWC Medium Speed Test , Mar 2, 1300z to Mar 2, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 5.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC) , Mar 2, 1630z to Mar 2, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 6.

ICWC Medium Speed Test , Mar 2, 1900z to Mar 2, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 5.

RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data , Mar 2, 2000z to Mar 2, 2130z; RTTY, PSK; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 3.

ARS Spartan Sprint , Mar 3, 0100z to Mar 3, 0300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: Mar 5.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest , Mar 3, 0100z to Mar 3, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Mar 4.

ICWC Medium Speed Test , Mar 3, 0300z to Mar 3, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 5.

AGCW YL-CW Party , Mar 3, 1900z to Mar 3, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80; YL: RST + Serial No. + "/YL/" + name, OM: RST + Serial No. + "/" + name; Logs due: Mar 17.

QRP Fox Hunt , Mar 4, 0200z to Mar 4, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Mar 5.

Phone Weekly Test , Mar 4, 0230z to Mar 4, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Mar 6.

A1Club AWT , Mar 4, 1145z to Mar 4, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Mar 9.

CWops Test (CWT) , Mar 4, 1300z to Mar 4, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 7.

Mini-Test 40 , Mar 4, 1700z to Mar 4, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 6.

Mini-Test 80 , Mar 4, 1800z to Mar 4, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 6.

CWops Test (CWT) , Mar 4, 1900z to Mar 4, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 7.

UKEICC 80m Contest , Mar 4, 2000z to Mar 4, 2100z; SSB; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Mar 4.

VHF+ CONTESTS

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA , Feb 19, 0000z to Feb 19, 0500z; FT8/4; Bands: 1296; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 24.

UBA Spring Contest, 2m , Mar 1, 0700z to Mar 1, 1100z; CW, Phone; Bands: 2; ON: RS(T) + Serial No. + UBA Section, non-ON: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 15.

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest , Mar 4, 1700z to Mar 4, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 144 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 9.

Log Due Dates

February 19, 2026 – March 4, 2026

February 19

February 20

February 21

February 22

February 23

February 24

February 25

February 26

February 27

February 28

March 1

March 2

March 3

March 4

ARRL Information

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Acknowledgements

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

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