The ARRL Contest Update for March 18, 2026 undefined

 

 

 

 

March 18, 2026

Editor:

iCom

 

In this Issue:

Upcoming Contests – Things to Do

Coming up the weekend of March 21, the will be a challenge for phone and CW operators. There’s a special Senior category for those 75 and older that offers a 12-hour contest period, and special classes for YL and Junior operators, in addition to single and multioperator classes. Interesting aspects of this contest include the allowance for a multiplier-only station on a different band than a run station, 10-minute rules, and other details that can be found on the contest website.

 

During that same weekend, the RTTY-inclined will enjoy the 48-hour . Definitely read the rules for this one, and also review the US band maps, to make sure you’re transmitting within the rules and legally.

 

Those chasing the won’t want to miss the .

 

The following weekend, March 28-29, look for the to warm the ionosphere a bit. Logs are due 48 hours after the contest!

 

SARL, the contest sponsors of the , occurring during the same weekend, don’t make it especially easy to quickly find out about their contest. I’ll summarize the information from page 47 of their : The purpose is to “stimulate contesting from Africa.” The contest period is 24 hours — 12:00 UTC on Saturday, March 28 to 12:00 UTC on Sunday, March 29, 2026 (the fourth full weekend of March). Bands are 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10; modes are CW and SSB. The exchange is RS(T) and an increasing serial number. While anyone can contact anyone in this contest, only African stations count as multipliers, once per band/mode.

 

 

Contest Summary

March 19, 2026 - April 1, 2026

 

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

 

Note: Contest dates and times are in UTC. This means that a contest that is listed to start on a Saturday at 0000z, for example, really starts on a Friday night in US time zones. In this week’s listings, the VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest NA is shown as being on March 19. In the US time zones, it occurs the afternoon/evening of March 18.

 

March 19

March 20

March 21

March 22

March 23

March 24

March 25

March 26

March 27

March 28

March 30

March 31

April 1

 
RigSelect Radio Switch SO2R Controller

 

News, Press Releases, and Special Interest

is available for guest operating Monday – Friday, 1400 UTC – 1945 UTC (10 AM – 3:45 PM EDT). Show up with a copy of your license and you could maybe enter the CWT test for 45 minutes between 3:00 – 3:45 PM on a Wednesday. Or you could just operate.

 

The 49th Eastern VHF-UHF-Microwave Conference sponsored by the will be held April 24 – 26 at the , 555 Corporate Drive, Windsor, CT. Registration is available right now via , or at the door for slightly more. Friday’s activities start with lunch at a local restaurant, then an afternoon program and evening social with an indoor swap. Saturday has a full day of programs, an auction, and vendor displays. There will be a test lab available, with capability up to 67 GHz courtesy of Rhode & Schwartz. Saturday finishes with another social, indoor swap, and banquet, along with a prize giveaway. Sunday finishes with a morning tailgate, 8 AM – noon. If you have a paper or presentation you’d like to submit, contact . If you have general questions about the conference, contact .

 

“The , formerly the Herbert H. Warrick Jr. Museum of Communications, is a part of The Telecommunications History Group, Inc. and is located in the Georgetown neighborhood of Seattle, Washington.” This is a great place to spend a few hours on a Sunday (when they are open), to see, hear, and learn about the evolution of communications from the 1880s through the computer era. The emphasis is definitely on telephones, understandable since the museum is located in a building that also houses a telephone switching center, and has its roots in veterans of the telephone companies. Working examples of early central office equipment like panel, crossbar, and step-by-step are side-by-side with more modern DMS and 3ESS switches. There’s also an area featuring telegraphy and wireless communications, along with vintage test equipment.

 

 

Word to the Wise

SCP or Super Check Partial

 

A database that is used in conjunction with contest logging programs to help cut down on mistyping or provide a warning of mis-copied call signs. In N1MM Logger+, the provides information gleaned from SCP about the call sign being typed in the entry window.

 

From : “The Super Check Partial database files provide a list of call signs used by active contesters. The data comes from Cabrillo logs contributed by contesters themselves. Contributed logs from the past 24 months are used to create the database. These logs are combined and filtered so that they result in a fairly good (but not perfect) list. The files do not contain any QSO data, such as state, CQ zone, Maidenhead Grid Locator, etc.”

 

Club Focus

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

 

Results and Records

are now available. John Dorr, K1AR states: “My thanks to the CQ WW Contest Committee for their hard work and to everyone who participated.” There were over 19,000 entries in 2025, the 77th year of this contest.

 

Mark Aaker, K6UFO, reports that “ of February 2026 are now available at the National Contest Journal website.” Mark asks that any issues that are detected be reported to him. He’s also looking for photos or stories to add to the final results article.

 

The February 2026 NA CW Sprint preliminary results are now live on the (via Ward Silver, N0AX).

 

Operating Tip

Temporary Suffixes

 

If you’re running a frequency, you might have US callers with the “temporary” suffixes /AG or /AE. These suffixes indicate that the licensee has recently upgraded to General or Amateur Extra class — Authorized General and Authorized Extra. In addition to the exchange, you might want to take a moment to congratulate them on their upgrade. You might also get /P for portable, /M for mobile, /AM for aeronautical mobile, and /MM for maritime mobile. You should log those call signs along with their suffixes.

 

Technical Topics and Discussion

There are a couple of recent open-source hardware and software projects that could help with station-building.

 

For automating some computer operation using macros, the provides 16 keyboard keys, two rotary encoders, all controlled by an ESP32 module. It has compatibility with a variety of desktop and mobile operating systems, and is configurable via its built-in Wi-Fi interface. It also has RGB LEDs behind each key and encoder. On the product page is a comparison of DeepDeck with , and products.

 

The is a crowdsourcing-stage “antenna far-field measurement system for NanoVNAs and LiteVNAs … It combines a precision motorized rotation platform, amplifier + RF limiter module, and measurement software that synchronizes VNA captures with angular metadata to produce high-quality polar and Cartesian radiation patterns.” It appears from the website that you’ll supply the VNA for this one.

 

KF7P makes s to change your manually raised and lowered tower to one that works with an electric motor. There’s no one-size-fits-all for this one, since there are so many different types of manual-crank towers.

 

Conversation

Slicing and Dicing

 

Randy Thomson’s, K5ZD, blog entry, “” talks about all of the statistics that are available for those planning an attempt at setting a new one in the CQ WW Contests. Besides the obvious high scores for categories and overlay categories, there are also winners by region and category, and scores by zone. And rates! Stats for 60-Minute QSO Rates are available for logs submitted from 2004 onward. If you entered the contest, you can find your score. Comparing to some of the other stations in your club or area could be another way to add to the between-contests fun, and provide some competitive “juice.” The meta-data on the CQ WW contest itself is also provided — you can examine the number of entries in particular classes, and which category records could be ready to have your call sign beside it.

 

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 19, 2026 - April 1, 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 19, 0000z to Mar 20, 0300z; CW; Bands: 20; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Mar 26.

 

, Mar 19, 0030z to Mar 19, 0230z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RST + (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: Mar 22.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

, Mar 20, 0100z to Mar 20, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Mar 21.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

, Mar 21, 0000z to Mar 21, 2359z; PSK31; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 28.

 

, Mar 21, 0200z to Mar 23, 0159z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No. + 4-digit time (UTC); Logs due: Mar 30.

 

, Mar 21, 0500z to Mar 21, 0859z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; YL: RS(T) + experience (see rules); Logs due: Apr 4.

 

, Mar 21, 1200z to Mar 22, 1200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Ru: RS(T) + 2-character oblast, non-Ru: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 4.

 

, Mar 21, 1400z to Mar 22, 2359z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: All, except WARC; VA: Serial No. + county, non-VA: Serial No. + (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: Apr 15.

 

, Mar 21, 2000z to Mar 21, 2159z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; (see rules); Logs due: Mar 25.

 

, Mar 22, 0700z to Mar 22, 1100z; SSB; Bands: 80; ON: RS + Serial No. + UBA Section, non-ON: RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 5.

 

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

 

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

 

, Mar 23, 1630z to Mar 23, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 27.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

, Mar 25, 0100z to Mar 25, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Mar 26.

 

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

 

, Mar 25, 1145z to Mar 25, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Mar 30.

 

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

 

, Mar 25, 1700z to Mar 25, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 27.

 

, Mar 25, 1800z to Mar 25, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 27.

 

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

 

, Mar 25, 2000z to Mar 25, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Mar 25.

 

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

 

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

 

, Mar 26, 2000z to Mar 26, 2130z; SSB; Bands: 80; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 27.

 

, Mar 27, 0100z to Mar 27, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Mar 28.

 

, Mar 27, 0100z to Mar 27, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 29.

 

, Mar 27, 0145z to Mar 27, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 29.

 

, Mar 27, 0230z to Mar 27, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Mar 29.

 

, Mar 27, 1900z to Mar 28, 0300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + (Sasquatch number/zip code) + name; Logs due: Apr 10.

 

, Mar 27, 2000z to Mar 27, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 29.

 

, Mar 28, 0000z to Mar 29, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 3.

 

, Mar 28, 0000z to Mar 28, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, VHF; FOC-Member: RST + Name + Member No., non-Members: RST + Name; Logs due: Apr 4.

 

, Mar 28, 1200z to Mar 29, 1200z; CW, SSB, RTTY; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 13.

 

, Mar 30, 0000z to Mar 30, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 1.

 

, Mar 30, 1300z to Mar 30, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Apr 5.

 

, Mar 30, 1300z to Mar 30, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 2.

 

, Mar 30, 1630z to Mar 30, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 3.

 

, Mar 30, 1900z to Mar 30, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Apr 5.

 

, Mar 30, 1900z to Mar 30, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 2.

 

, Mar 31, 0100z to Mar 31, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Apr 1.

 

, Mar 31, 0300z to Mar 31, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Apr 5.

 

, Mar 31, 0300z to Mar 31, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 2.

 

, Apr 1, 0100z to Apr 1, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Apr 2.

 

, Apr 1, 0230z to Apr 1, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Apr 3.

 

, Apr 1, 1145z to Apr 1, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Apr 6.

 

, Apr 1, 1300z to Apr 1, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 4.

 

, Apr 1, 1700z to Apr 1, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 3.

 

, Apr 1, 1800z to Apr 1, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 3.

 

, Apr 1, 1900z to Apr 1, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 4.

 

, Apr 1, 2000z to Apr 1, 2100z; SSB; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Apr 1.

 

VHF+ CONTESTS

 

, Mar 19, 0000z to Mar 19, 0500z; FT8/4; Bands: 1296; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 24.

 

, Mar 21, 1400z to Mar 21, 1800z; CW; Bands: 144 MHz, 432 MHz; RST + "/" + Serial No. + "/" Power class + "/" + 6-character grid locator; Logs due: Mar 29.

 

, Apr 1, 1700z to Apr 1, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 144 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Apr 6.

 

Also, see , , and , above.

 

Log Due Dates

March 19, 2026 – April 1, 2026

 

March 19

March 20

March 21

March 22

March 23

March 24

March 25

March 26

March 27

March 28

March 29

March 30

March 31

April 1

 

 

 

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Acknowledgements

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