From: "ARRL" <memberlist@arrl.org>

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February 26, 2025
Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE [ mailto:contest-update@arrl.org ]

ARRL Home Page
https://www.arrl.org/

Contest Calendar
https://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar

iCom
[https://www.icomamerica.com/lineup/amateur/]


In this Issue:
�-�Upcoming Contests - Things to Do
�-�Contest Summary
�-�News, Press Releases, and Special Interest
�-�Results and Records
�-�Conversation
�-�Contests
�-�Log Due Dates

Upcoming Contests - Things to Do

ARRL International DX SSB Contest

The ARRL International DX SSB Contest, gets underway this weekend at 0000 UTC on Saturday, March 1, and concludes at 2359 UTC on Sunday, March 2. This is a great contest to work some new DX and to add to your DXCC totals, as DX stations will be pointing their antennas towards the US and Canada this weekend. Even modest stations can experience the thrill of working some new countries!

The contest exchange for stations in the U.S. (with the exception of Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories and possessions) and Canada is a signal report and your state or Canadian province. This differs from contests like ARRL November Sweepstakes and operating events like Field Day, where the exchange is your ARRL or Radio Amateurs of Canada Section abbreviation. Please refer to the appropriate ARRL contest multiplier lists below:
�-�United States [ https://contests.arrl.org/contestmultipliers.php?a=usa ] �-�Canadian Provinces and Territories [ https://contests.arrl.org/contestmultipliers.php?a=ve ]

The exchange for DX stations located outside of the lower 48 states and Canada is a signal report and transmitter power output.

For complete rules and more information, visit www.arrl.org/arrl-dx [ http://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx/?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ]

Upcoming State QSO Parties

For those of you who enjoy state QSO parties, here are some upcoming events that might be of interest to you. More details can also be found in the Contests section.

March 8:
�-�Oklahoma QSO Party [ http://k5cm.com/okqp.htm ]
�-�Idaho QSO Party [ https://www.idahoqsoparty.org/ ]

March 9:
�-�Wisconsin QSO Party [ https://www.warac.org/wqp/wqp.htm ]

North American RTTY Sprint

The North American RTTY Sprint takes place next weekend, starting at 0000 UTC on Sunday, March 9 (Saturday evening in North America), and concluding at 0359 UTC. Full rules and contest details are available at ncjweb.com/north-american-sprint [ https://ncjweb.com/north-american-sprint ]

[https://www.kf7p.com/KF7P/Dacron_Rope.html]


Contest Summary

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

February 27
�-�CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ]
�-�RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW [ https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2025/r80mcc.shtml ]

February 28
�-�NCCC FT4 Sprint [ https://www.ncccsprint.com/ft4ns.html ]
�-�Weekly RTTY Test [ https://radiosport.world/wrt.html ]
�-�QRP Fox Hunt [ http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ]
�-�NCCC Sprint Ladder [ https://ncccsprint.com/rules.html ]
�-�K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ]

March 1
�-�ARRL International DX Contest, SSB [ https://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ]
�-�Wake-Up! QRP Sprint [ http://qrp.ru/contest/wakeup/333-wakeup-eng ]

March 2
�-�UBA Spring Contest, CW [ https://www.uba.be/en/hf/contest-rules/spring-contest-dst ]
�-�NSARA Contest [ http://nsara.ca/ ]
�-�SARL Hamnet 40m Simulated Emerg Contest [ https://www.sarl.org.za/public/contests/contestrules.asp ]
�-�WAB 3.5 MHz Phone [ http://wab.intermip.net/Contests.php ]

March 3
�-�K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ]
�-�ICWC Medium Speed Test [ https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ] �-�OK1WC Memorial (MWC) [ https://memorial-ok1wc.cz/index.php?page=rules2l ] �-�RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data [ https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2025/r80mcc.shtml ]

March 4
�-�ARS Spartan Sprint [ http://ars-qrp.com/Spartan_Sprint/Spartan_Sprint.html ]
�-�Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest [ https://wwsac.com/rules.html ] �-�ICWC Medium Speed Test [ https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ] �-�AGCW YL-CW Party [ https://www.agcw.de/contest/yl-cw-party/ ]

March 5
�-�QRP Fox Hunt [ http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ]
�-�Phone Weekly Test [ http://www.perluma.com/Phone_Fray_Contest_Rules.pdf ] �-�A1Club AWT [ https://a1club.org/contest/awt/ ]
�-�CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ]
�-�VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest [ http://www.ft8activity.eu/index.php/en/ ] �-�Mini-Test 40 [ http://minitest.narod.ru/ ]
�-�Mini-Test 80 [ http://minitest.narod.ru/ ]
�-�UKEICC 80m Contest [ https://www.ukeicc.com/80m-rules.php ]

March 6
�-�Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest [ https://qrpcontest.com/pigwalk40/ ] �-�CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ]
�-�NRAU 10m Activity Contest [ https://nrau.net/nrau-contests-in-general/ ] �-�SKCC Sprint Europe [ https://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/skse/ ]

March 7
�-�NCCC FT4 Sprint [ https://www.ncccsprint.com/ft4ns.html ]
�-�Weekly RTTY Test [ https://radiosport.world/wrt.html ]
�-�QRP Fox Hunt [ http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ]
�-�NCCC Sprint Ladder [ https://ncccsprint.com/rules.html ]
�-�K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ]

March 8
�-�Novice Rig Roundup [ http://www.novicerigroundup.org/ ]
�-�SARL VHF/UHF FM Contest [ https://www.sarl.org.za/public/contests/contestrules.asp ]
�-�SARL Field Day Contest [ https://www.sarl.org.za/public/contests/contestrules.asp ]
�-�Commonwealth (BERU) Contest [ https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2025/rcwc.shtml ]
�-�SKCC Weekend Sprintathon [ https://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/weekend_sprintathon/ ]
�-�EA PSK63 Contest [ https://concursos.ure.es/en/eapsk63/bases/ ]
�-�South America 10 Meter Contest [ http://sa10m.com.ar/wp/rules/ ]
�-�DIG QSO Party, SSB [ https://diplom-interessen-gruppe.info/downloads/dig-qso-party-en/ ]
�-�AGCW QRP Contest [ https://www.agcw.de/contest/qrp/qrp-c-engl/ ]
�-�Stew Perry Topband Challenge [ http://www.kkn.net/stew/ ]
�-�Oklahoma QSO Party [ http://k5cm.com/okqp.htm ]
�-�TESLA Memorial HF CW Contest [ http://www.radiosport.yu1srs.org.rs/HFTeslaMemorial/index.php/rules ]
�-�Idaho QSO Party [ https://www.idahoqsoparty.org/ ]

March 9
�-�North American Sprint, RTTY [ http://ncjweb.com/Sprint-Rules.pdf ]
�-�UBA Spring Contest, 2m [ https://www.uba.be/en/hf/contest-rules/spring-contest-dst ]
�-�FIRAC HF Contest [ http://www.firac.de/FIRAC_HF_CONTEST_E.pdf ]
�-�YOTA Contest [ https://www.ham-yota.com/contest/ ]
�-�Classic Exchange, Phone [ http://www.classicexchange.org/ ]
�-�Wisconsin QSO Party [ http://www.warac.org/wqp/wqp.htm ]

March 10
�-�4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint [ http://www.4sqrp.com/SSS/sss_rules.pdf ]
�-�K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ]
�-�ICWC Medium Speed Test [ https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ] �-�OK1WC Memorial (MWC) [ https://memorial-ok1wc.cz/index.php?page=rules2l ]

March 11
�-�Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest [ https://wwsac.com/rules.html ] �-�ICWC Medium Speed Test [ https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ]

March 12
�-�QRP Fox Hunt [ http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ]
�-�Phone Weekly Test [ http://www.perluma.com/Phone_Fray_Contest_Rules.pdf ] �-�A1Club AWT [ https://a1club.org/contest/awt/ ]
�-�CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ]
�-�VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest [ http://www.ft8activity.eu/index.php/en/ ] �-�Mini-Test 40 [ http://minitest.narod.ru/ ]
�-�Mini-Test 80 [ http://minitest.narod.ru/ ]
�-�CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ]
�-�RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW [ https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2025/r80mcc.shtml ]

RigSelect Radio Switch SO2R Controller
[https://rigselect.com/]


News, Press Releases, and Special Interest

N3FJP Logging Software Updates

The N3FJP team has been busy releasing several updates to their popular contest logging software programs.

VHF Contest Log 6.6.10 has been updated to support the changes to the CQ World Wide VHF Contest into analog and digital events. Participants are reminded to select the correct event in the Setup menu before generating the Cabrillo log submission file.

Additionally, Virginia QSO Party Log 3.3.8 has been updated to accommodate the rule change for multiple bonus stations.

The software updates are available at the links below:
VHF Contest Log: www.n3fjp.com/vhfuhf.html [ https://www.n3fjp.com/vhfuhf.html ]
Virginia QSO Party Contest Log: www.n3fjp.com/stateqsoparty.html [ https://www.n3fjp.com/stateqsoparty.html ]

- Thanks to Scott Davis, N3FJP

Results and Records

February North American CW Sprint Final Results

The final results for the February, 2025 North American CW Sprint are available at ncjweb.com/north-american-sprint [ https://ncjweb.com/north-american-sprint/ ] . A summary of the results will be published in a future edition of NCJ magazine, available to all ARRL members and print subscribers.

- Thanks to Ward Silver, N0AX

2025 WPX RTTY Contest Raw Scores Available

CQ WPX RTTY Contest Director Ed Muns, W0YK, has announced that the raw scores for the 2025 CQ WPX RTTY Contest are now available at cqwpxrtty.com/raw.htm [ https://cqwpxrtty.com/ ] . Participants are reminded that the scores are computed prior to any score deductions in the log checking process.

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 of 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.

The ARRL website has a handy, printable US Amateur Radio Bands [ https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Regulatory/Band Chart/Hambands4_Color_17x11.pdf ] chart for those who wish to have one for quick reference.

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 [ mailto:contest-update@arrl.org ] .

73, Paul, N1SFE

Contests

February 27, 2025 - March 12

An expanded, downloadable version of QST's Contest Corral [ http://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ] is available as a PDF. Check the sponsors' website for information on operating time restrictions and other instructions.

HF CONTESTS

CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ] , Feb 27, 0300z to Feb 27, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 1.

CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ] , Feb 27, 0700z to Feb 27, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 1.

RSGB 80m Club Championship [ https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2025/r80mcc.shtml ] , CW, Feb 27, 2000z to Feb 27, 2130z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 28.

NCCC FT4 Sprint [ https://www.ncccsprint.com/ft4ns.html ] , Feb 28, 0100z to Feb 28, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 2.

Weekly RTTY Test [ https://radiosport.world/wrt.html ] , Feb 28, 0145z to Feb 28, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 2.

QRP Fox Hunt [ http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ] , Feb 28, 0200z to Feb 28, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Mar 1.

NCCC Sprint Ladder [ https://ncccsprint.com/rules.html ] , Feb 28, 0230z to Feb 28, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Mar 2.

K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ] , Feb 28, 2000z to Feb 28, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 2.

ARRL International DX Contest, SSB [ https://www.arrl.org/arrl-dx?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL ] , Mar 1, 0000z to Mar 2, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; W/VE: RS + (state/province), non-W/VE: RS + power; Logs due: Mar 9.

Wake-Up! QRP Sprint [ http://qrp.ru/contest/wakeup/333-wakeup-eng ] , Mar 1, 0600z to Mar 1, 0800z; CW; Bands: 40, 20; RST + Serial No. + suffix of previous QSO ("QRP" for 1st QSO); Logs due: Mar 8.

UBA Spring Contest, CW [ https://www.uba.be/en/hf/contest-rules/spring-contest-dst ] , Mar 2, 0700z to Mar 2, 1100z; CW; Bands: 80; ON: RST + Serial No. + UBA Section, non-ON: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 16.

NSARA Contest [ http://nsara.ca/ ] , Mar 2, 1200z to Mar 2, 2200z; CW, SSB, Digital; Bands: 80; Nova Scotia: RS(T) + county, non-NS: RS(T) + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 1.

SARL Hamnet 40m Simulated Emergency Contest [ https://www.sarl.org.za/public/contests/contestrules.asp ] , Mar 2, 1200z to Mar 2, 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 7.

WAB 3.5 MHz Phone [ http://wab.intermip.net/Contests.php ] , Mar 2, 1800z to Mar 2, 2200z; SSB; Bands: 80; British Isles: RS + serial no. + WAB square, Other: RS + serial no. + country; Logs due: Mar 12.

K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ] , Mar 3, 0000z to Mar 3, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 5.

ICWC Medium Speed Test [ https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ] , Mar 3, 1300z to Mar 3, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 6.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC) [ https://memorial-ok1wc.cz/index.php?page=rules2l ] , Mar 3, 1630z to Mar 3, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 7.

ICWC Medium Speed Test [ https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ] , Mar 3, 1900z to Mar 3, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 6.

RSGB 80m Club Championship [ https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2025/r80mcc.shtml ] , Data, Mar 3, 2000z to Mar 3, 2130z; RTTY, PSK; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 4.

ARS Spartan Sprint [ http://ars-qrp.com/Spartan_Sprint/Spartan_Sprint.html ] , Mar 4, 0100z to Mar 4, 0300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: Mar 6.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest [ https://wwsac.com/rules.html ] , Mar 4, 0100z to Mar 4, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Mar 5.

ICWC Medium Speed Test [ https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ] , Mar 4, 0300z to Mar 4, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 6.

AGCW YL-CW Party [ https://www.agcw.de/contest/yl-cw-party/ ] , Mar 4, 1900z to Mar 4, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80; YL: RST + Serial No. + "/YL/" + name, OM: RST + Serial No. + "/" + name; Logs due: Mar 18.

QRP Fox Hunt [ http://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ] , Mar 5, 0200z to Mar 5, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Mar 6.

Phone Weekly Test [ http://www.perluma.com/Phone_Fray_Contest_Rules.pdf ] , Mar 5, 0230z to Mar 5, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Mar 7.

A1Club AWT [ https://a1club.org/contest/awt/ ] , Mar 5, 1145z to Mar 5, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Mar 10.

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