The ARRL Contest Update for March 4, 2026 undefined

 

 

 

 

March 4, 2026

Editor:

iCom

 

In this Issue:

Upcoming Contests – Things to Do

The weekend of March 7, have a DXtravagant weekend in the phone leg of the . DX stations are looking for US and Canadian stations to provide a signal report and US state or Canadian . The DX will provide a signal report and number, denoting power. Stations sometimes round up or down to a convenient and easy-to-communicate power phrase like “K,” “1000,” “100,” “5,” and the like, being sure to pick one that conforms to their power class.

 

During the weekend of March 14, operating events include QSO Parties from , , and , and a . You may hear a lot of CW activity for the , but if you’re a US amateur you’ll just have to sit on your hands — contest participants are limited to this list of .

 

 

Contest Summary

March 5, 2026 - March 18, 2026

 

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

 

March 5

March 6

March 7

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 11

March 12

March 13

March 14

March 15

March 16

March 17

March 18

 

RigSelect Radio Switch SO2R Controller

 

News, Press Releases, and Special Interest

There are some good resources for finding out what DX entities will be activated during the upcoming . Check out , , and the of the Northern California DX Foundation.

 

In 1976, Doug DeMaw, W1FB, unleashed the Tuna Tin 2 QRP Transmitter on the world. It was featured in the of QST, and is said to have inspired thousands of builds. It used two 2N2222 transistors to launch just under 1 W of CW power. For the 50-year anniversary of this kit, QRPme is releasing a “” to be available at the end of March 2026. This newer version will have more power and more convenience features, like a built-in keyer and support for receiver muting, that operators have come to expect.

 

is out with a new firmware revision for its K4 series of radios — R38.BETA2. Wayne Burdick, N6KR, notes: “This new K4 beta release (see release notes, below) marks a milestone for our software team: we've now completed integration of the K4 with the K4/0 remote panel. This comes with two side benefits. First, overall K4 Remote functionality and performance have come a long way since the last BETA. Second, full K4/0 support also means full support for software-only K4 remote-control solutions. These provide (for example) the ability to control a K4 from a mobile device.”

 

Developers get a number of new commands to work with in this release, too. Wayne recommends this update for all K4 users, even if they are not using the particular features of this release.

 

Uwe, DG2YCB, is out with . He writes: “A new WSJT-X Improved 3.1.0 260226 (beta) release … is ready for testing.” Changes include a new submode, better support for non-standard and compound call signs, a new MAP65 version, and a large number of improvements and fixes. He also provides updated default frequencies for the 60-meter band, which requires a reload of the built-in frequency table.

 

April 15, 2000, was the last time that Novice amateur radio licenses were issued in the US. As of this writing, the is showing 5,936 active Novice licensees. But you don’t have to be one of the 5,936 to participate in the 9-day , which runs from March 7 through March 15 this year. CW is the mode for this, and the sponsors suggest the old Novice frequencies. Those are conveniently listed in the event rules for those under 26 years old. Crystal operation (you can look it up) is encouraged, so CQers in this event should remember to scan up or down the segment looking for stations calling them. Stations can pick how challenging they want to make this — for example, the event’s Novice-1 class calls for using crystal-controlled frequency and 75 W or less of PA input power. See the rules for more information.

 

The announces the transition of the popular JARTS WW RTTY contest to the Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL): "We have been hosting the JARTS WW RTTY Contest for many years, and the 34th contest last year was a big success. Now, with this milestone, we have decided to transition the JARTS contest to the new JARL WW RTTY Contest sponsored by our national amateur association, Japan Amateur Radio League. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to RTTY enthusiasts who have participated until now. Your enthusiasm and participation made JARTS WW RTTY a success and left many fond memories. We, the contest committee have also learned and grown greatly through communicating with you. However, we are proud that the new RTTY contest will be hosted by the JARL from this year at the same period as the JARTS contest. Please visit the JARL website ) for details which will be announced soon … We will look forward to seeing you again on the air in various RTTY contests.” This contest has traditionally occurred on the third full weekend in October, 0000z Saturday through 2359z Sunday.

 

Word to the Wise

Diddles — Some new-to-RTTY operators never had the experience of seeing, hearing, or smelling a mechanical RTTY machine. Those machines were big, loud, and often smelled like oil. Diddles are empty-character codes sent during a RTTY transmission when there are no printable characters to send, so that the receiver stays synchronized with the transmitter. For more information on this, and any RTTY topic, you can refer to AA5AU’s “” website.

 

Club Focus

Send a note about your contest club’s notable activities to , and maybe you’ll see it mentioned here.

 

Sights and Sounds

Steve Babcock, VE6WZ, is always up to something on Top Band. He must have run out of projects, since during a time of poor propagation, he came up with the . Yes, it’s AI.

 

: “Just for ‘full disclosure’ I am most certainly not a musician …. the lyrics are mine, but I did have a ‘little’ help from AI after I provided some guidance about style, tempo, choir Gospel style, etc … I had never done this before, and it took less than an hour … I did it for fun, and it … might resonate … with others.” With results like that, it’s hard to argue that Steve should instead be spending his time bringing back his antennas for the higher bands.

 

The Pacific Northwest VHF Society has activity events some weeknights. Mike Lewis, K7MDL, commented on a recent one: "Good turnout on 432. Worked 7 stations in 16 minutes tonight, almost as much as a whole contest weekend!” and “Airplane doppler on 432 FT-8 tonight.”

 

 

Results and Records

. Note that these are as-submitted, and don’t account for any log scoring reductions. According to Ed, W0YK, a large number of logs were not submitted by the submission deadline, perhaps because of “folks not being aware of the rules changes such as the 2-day log submittal deadline.”

 

The final results of the CQ WW RTTY Contest have been posted. Jeff Stai's, WK6I, results article () contains not only the results, but real-world RTTY contesting advice as provided by the contest participants.

 

Operating Tip

Log Submission

 

Remember to submit your log after the contest, before the log deadline. Here are some steps to log submission success:

  1. Before the contest, read the rules
  2. Contest within the rules, and your chosen category and class
  3. Immediately after the contest, or when you’ve finished the contest, submit your log

 

Technical Topics and Discussion

The SA612 mixer integrated circuit is a well-known staple of homebrew and QRP designs. It’s getting more difficult to find sources for this chip (and other parts we use), yet they exist. Jason Milldrum, NT7S, talks about alternatives in his talk from 2025.

 

Conversation

“I like that contest because…”

 

Perhaps instead of writing something, I could have had an AI compose and record a song to the tune of “My Favorite Things” which starts out with “Exchanges in Sweepstakes, teamwork in Roundup, but don’t work FT8 when you’ve got the sound up.” For nearly every contest I’ve participated in, there were intervals when I had no awareness for anything outside the contest, just concentrating on the contest or operating — being in the moment. In some 160-meter contests, it was when the band was playing dead, but the band noise dropped and I could hear propagation getting better and better as more and more stations faded in, got worked, and faded out again. Or running during Phone Sweepstakes when there were enough stations to hear and head-stack multiple call signs calling two or three or four in a row for a few hours at a time. Or when we’ve gathered our small contesting group together just after the holidays for the RTTY Roundup, and the focus was sharing stories with the other team members while doing the contest.

 

I cannot recall any contest that I’d classify as a never-again experience. I’d encourage you to at least try one new-for-you contest this year to make more memorable radio moments.

 

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 .

 

73, Brian, N9ADG

 

Contests

March 5, 2026 - March 18, 2026

 

An expanded, downloadable version of QST's is available as a PDF. Check the sponsors' website for information on operating time restrictions and other instructions.

 

HF CONTESTS

 

, Mar 5, 0000z to Mar 5, 0500z; FT8/4; Bands: 144; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 10.

 

, Mar 5, 0000z to Mar 6, 0300z; CW; Bands: 40; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Mar 12.

 

, Mar 5, 0300z to Mar 5, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 7.

 

, Mar 5, 0700z to Mar 5, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 7.

 

, Mar 5, 1800z to Mar 5, 2200z; CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10; RS(T) + 6-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 19.

 

, Mar 5, 2000z to Mar 5, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Mar 12.

 

, Mar 6, 0100z to Mar 6, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 8.

 

, Mar 6, 0145z to Mar 6, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 8.

 

, Mar 6, 0200z to Mar 6, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Mar 7.

 

, Mar 6, 0230z to Mar 6, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Mar 8.

 

, Mar 6, 2000z to Mar 6, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 8.

 

, Mar 7, 0000z to Mar 8, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; W/VE: RS + (state/province), non-W/VE: RS + power; Logs due: Mar 15.

 

, Mar 7, 0000z to Mar 15, 2359z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 15, 10, 2; Name + QTH + Optional (Rig, NRR number); Logs due: Apr 15.

 

, Mar 7, 0600z to Mar 7, 0800z; CW; Bands: 40, 20; RST + Serial No. + suffix of previous QSO ("QRP" for 1st QSO); Logs due: Mar 14.

 

, Mar 7, 0700z to Mar 7, 1059z; CW, SSB; Bands: 40, 20, 15, 10; YL: RS(T) + "88", OM: RS(T) + "73"; Logs due: Mar 21.

 

, Mar 8, 0700z to Mar 8, 1100z; CW; Bands: 80; ON: RST + Serial No. + UBA Section, non-ON: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 22.

 

, Mar 8, 0700z to Mar 8, 1700z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RS(T) + Serial No. + "F", Non-member: RS(T); Logs due: Mar 22.

 

, Mar 8, 1300z to Mar 11, 0700z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; Name + RST + (state/province/country) + rcvr/xmtr manuf/model; Logs due: Mar 31.

 

, Mar 9, 0000z to Mar 9, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 11.

 

, Mar 9, 1300z to Mar 9, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 12.

 

, Mar 9, 1630z to Mar 9, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 13.

 

, Mar 9, 1900z to Mar 9, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 12.

 

, Mar 10, 0100z to Mar 10, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Mar 11.

 

, Mar 10, 0300z to Mar 10, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 12.

 

, Mar 10, 1800z to Mar 10, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; DE: RST + DOK/NM, non-DE: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 17.

 

, Mar 11, 0100z to Mar 11, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Mar 12.

 

, Mar 11, 0230z to Mar 11, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Mar 13.

 

, Mar 11, 1145z to Mar 11, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Mar 16.

 

, Mar 11, 1300z to Mar 11, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 14.

 

, Mar 11, 1700z to Mar 11, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 13.

 

, Mar 11, 1800z to Mar 11, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 13.

 

, Mar 11, 1900z to Mar 11, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 14.

 

, Mar 11, 2000z to Mar 11, 2130z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 12.

 

, Mar 12, 0300z to Mar 12, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 14.

 

, Mar 12, 0700z to Mar 12, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 14.

 

, Mar 13, 0100z to Mar 13, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Mar 14.

 

, Mar 13, 0100z to Mar 13, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 15.

 

, Mar 13, 0145z to Mar 13, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 15.

 

, Mar 13, 0230z to Mar 13, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Mar 15.

 

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

 

, Mar 14, 0000z to Mar 14, 2359z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 21.

 

, Mar 14, 0800z to Mar 15, 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 20.

 

, Mar 14, 1000z to Mar 15, 1000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 20.

 

, Mar 14, 1200z to Mar 15, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Mar 22.

 

, Mar 14, 1200z to Mar 15, 1200z; PSK63; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; EA: RSQ + province code, non-EA: RSQ + Serial no.; Logs due: Mar 30.

 

, Mar 14, 1200z to Mar 15, 1200z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 2; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 14.

 

, Mar 14, 1200z to Mar 15, 1200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 10; RS(T) + CQ zone; Logs due: Mar 22.

 

, Mar 14, 1400z to Mar 14, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + QSO No. + class(pwr) + (AGCW Member No./"NM" if not member); Logs due: Mar 28.

 

, Mar 14, 1500z to Mar 15, 1500z; CW; Bands: 160; 4-Character grid square; Logs due: Mar 30.

 

, Mar 14, 1500z to Mar 15, 2200z; CW, Phone, Digital (no FT8/4); Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; OK: RS(T) + County, non-OK: RS(T) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 7.

 

, Mar 14, 1600z to Mar 16, 0200z; CW, Phone, Digital (no FT8); Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; ID: County, non-ID: (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 26.

 

, Mar 14, 1800z to Mar 15, 0559z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No. + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 19.

 

, Mar 15, 0000z to Mar 15, 0359z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name] + [your state/DC/province/country]; Logs due: Mar 22.

 

, Mar 15, 1000z to Mar 15, 2159z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Single Op: RS(T) + age (on Jan 1 of year of contest), Multi-Op: RS(T) + average age of ops (on Jan 1 of year of contest); Logs due: Mar 20.

 

, Mar 15, 1800z to Mar 16, 0100z; CW, Phone, Digital (no FT4/8); Bands: All, except WARC; WI: county, non-WI: (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 29.

 

, Mar 15, 2300z to Mar 16, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs due: Mar 21.

 

, Mar 16, 0000z to Mar 16, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 18.

 

, Mar 16, 1300z to Mar 16, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 19.

 

, Mar 16, 1630z to Mar 16, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 20.

 

, Mar 16, 1800z to Mar 16, 2059z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40; RST + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 23.

 

, Mar 16, 1900z to Mar 16, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 19.

 

, Mar 16, 2000z to Mar 16, 2200z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Signal report; Logs due: Mar 17.

 

, Mar 17, 0100z to Mar 17, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Mar 18.

 

, Mar 17, 0300z to Mar 17, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 19.

 

, Mar 18, 0100z to Mar 18, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Mar 19.

 

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

 

, Mar 18, 1145z to Mar 18, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Mar 23.

 

, Mar 18, 1300z to Mar 18, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 21.

 

, Mar 18, 1700z to Mar 18, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 20.

 

, Mar 18, 1800z to Mar 18, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 20.

 

, Mar 18, 1900z to Mar 18, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 21.

 

, Mar 18, 2000z to Mar 18, 2100z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80; EI/GI: RS(T) + Serial no. + county, non-EI/GI: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 1.

 

VHF+ CONTESTS

 

, Mar 11, 1700z to Mar 11, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 432 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 16.

 

, Mar 12, 0000z to Mar 12, 0500z; FT8/4; Bands: 432; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 17.

 

, Mar 14, 0800z to Mar 15, 1000z; SSB; Bands: 50 MHz, 144 MHz, 432 MHz; RS(T) + 6-character grid locator; Logs due: Mar 20.

 

, Mar 15, 0700z to Mar 15, 1100z; CW, Phone; Bands: 6; ON: RS(T) + Serial No. + UBA Section, non-ON: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 29.

 

, Mar 18, 1700z to Mar 18, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 1.2G; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 23.

 

Log Due Dates

March 5, 2026 – March 18, 2026

 

March 5

March 6

March 7

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 11

March 12

March 13

March 14

March 15

March 16

March 17

March 18

 

 

 

ARRL Information

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

Your One-Stop Resource for amateur radio News and Information.

 

!

No other organization works harder to promote and protect amateur radio. Membership supports benefits, services, programs, and advocacy to help you get (and stay) active and on the air. Membership includes access to digital editions of all four ARRL magazines: QST, On the Air, QEX, and NCJ.

 

Subscribe to . Published bimonthly, it features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint, and QSO Parties.

 

Subscribe to . Published bimonthly, it features technical articles, construction projects, columns, and other items of interest to radio amateurs and communications professionals.

 

Free of charge to ARRL members: to The ARRL Letter (weekly digest of news and information), the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news), Division and Section news, and much more!

 

ARRL offers a wide array of to enhance your enjoyment of Amateur Radio. Visit the site often for new publications, specials, and sales.

 

to the fund of your choice - support programs not funded by member dues!

 

Reprint permission can be obtained by emailing with a description of the material and the reprint publication.

 

Acknowledgements

ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from .

 

 

The ARRL Contest Update is published every other Wednesday (26 times each year). ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member Data Page at .

 

Copyright © 2026 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other purposes require written permission.

 

 

ARRL Logo

ARRL

225 Main Street, Newington, CT 06111-1400

· 860-594-0200

ARRL Facebook
ARRL Instagram
ARRL X
ARRL YouTube
ARRL LinkedIn
ARRL Shop
ARRL Email

© 2026 - ARRL The National Association for Amateur Radio®

from this list.