In this Issue:

• Upcoming Contests - Things to Do
• Bulletins
• Contest Summary
• Results and Records
• Contests
• Log Due Dates

ARRL International DX Contest - CW

The ARRL International DX Contest - CW is this weekend, starting at 0000 UTC on Saturday, February 17, and concluding at 2359 UTC on Sunday, February 18. This contest is a great opportunity for US and W/VE amateurs to make DX contacts and boost their DXCC totals.

For complete rules and more information, visit www.arrl.org/arrl-dx.

Upcoming State QSO Parties

Two state QSO parties are happening next weekend. The South Carolina QSO Party begins at 1500 UTC on Saturday, February 24 and concludes at 0159 UTC on Sunday, February 25. The North Carolina QSO Party begins at 1500 UTC on Sunday, February 25, and concludes at 0100 UTC on Monday, February 26. Both events count toward the State QSO Party Challenge, including the Worked All QSO Parties award. For more details, visit the individual event web pages above, as well as http://stateqsoparty.com/.

North American QSO Party, RTTY

The North American QSO Party, RTTY also runs next weekend, starting at 1800 UTC Saturday, February 24, and concluding at 0559 UTC on Sunday, February 25. The exchange for North American stations is their name and station location (state, province, or country, while all other stations use only their name. This event runs concurrently with the 2024 North American Collegiate Championship, which is sponsored by the Society of Midwest Contesters.

CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB

The CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB, begins at 2200 UTC on Friday, February 23, and concludes at 2200 UTC on Sunday, February 25. Stations located in the US and Canada send a signal report and their state or Canadian province; stations located outside of the US and Canada send a signal report and their CQ zone. Complete rules are available at https://cq160.com/rules.htm.

Contest University Course Outline and Professor Bios Announced

Tim Duffy, K3LR, has announced that the 2024 course outline and professor biographies are now posted on the Contest University website at https://www.contestuniversity.com/course-outline/. Contest University will be held on Thursday, May 16 from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, at the Hope Hotel in Dayton, Ohio.

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

February 15

• CWops Test (CWT)
• NTC QSO Party

February 16

• NCCC FT4 Sprint
• Weekly RTTY Test
• QRP Fox Hunt
• NCCC Sprint Ladder
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

February 17

• ARRL International DX Contest, CW
• YLRL YL-OM Contest
• Russian PSK WW Contest
• Feld Hell Sprint

February 18

• FISTS Sunday Sprint
• Run for the Bacon QRP Contest

February 19

• K1USN Slow Speed Test
• ICWC Medium Speed Test
• OK1WC Memorial (MWC)

February 20

• Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
• ICWC Medium Speed Test

February 21

• QRP Fox Hunt
• Phone Weekly Test
• A1Club AWT
• CWops Test (CWT)
• VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest
• Mini-Test 40
• Mini-Test 80
• AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening

February 22

• Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest
• CWops Test (CWT)
• RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW

February 23

• NCCC FT4 Sprint
• Weekly RTTY Test
• QRP Fox Hunt
• NCCC Sprint Ladder
• K1USN Slow Speed Test
• CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB

February 24

• REF Contest, SSB
• UBA DX Contest, CW
• South Carolina QSO Party
• North American QSO Party, RTTY
• NA Collegiate Championship, RTTY

February 25

• World Wide Patagonia DX Contest
• High Speed Club CW Contest
• North Carolina QSO Party

February 26

• K1USN Slow Speed Test
• QCX Challenge
• ICWC Medium Speed Test
• OK1WC Memorial (MWC)
• QCX Challenge
• RSGB FT4 Contest

February 27

• Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
• QCX Challenge
• ICWC Medium Speed Test

February 28

• SKCC Sprint
• QRP Fox Hunt
• Phone Weekly Test
• A1Club AWT
• CWops Test (CWT)
• Mini-Test 40
• Mini-Test 80
• UKEICC 80m Contest

The full results article, searchable score database, and line scores for the 2023 ARRL June VHF Contest are available at http://contests.arrl.org. Select Jun VHF on the left-hand navigation of the page, and then select the link on the left side of the page to view the selected content.

CQ World Wide Contest Director, John Dorr, K1AR, has announced that the final scores for the 2023 CQ WW SSB Contest are now available at https://www.cqww.com/.

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 [email protected].

73, Paul, N1SFE

February 15, 2024 - February 28, 2024

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), Feb 15, 0300z to Feb 15, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 17.

CWops Test (CWT), Feb 15, 0700z to Feb 15, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 17.

NTC QSO Party, Feb 15, 1900z to Feb 15, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; NTC Member: RST + Member No., non-Member: RST + "NM", Less than 25 wpm; Logs due: Feb 18.

NCCC FT4 Sprint, Feb 16, 0100z to Feb 16, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 18.

Weekly RTTY Test, Feb 16, 0145z to Feb 16, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 18.

QRP Fox Hunt, Feb 16, 0200z to Feb 16, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 17.

NCCC Sprint Ladder, Feb 16, 0230z to Feb 16, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Feb 18.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Feb 16, 2000z to Feb 16, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 18.

ARRL International DX Contest, CW, Feb 17, 0000z to Feb 18, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; W/VE: RST + (state/province), non-W/VE: RST + power; Logs due: Feb 25.

YLRL YL-OM Contest, Feb 17, 0000z to Feb 18, 2359z; CW/Digital, SSB; Bands: All, except WARC; QSO No. + RS(T) + (section/province/country); Logs due: Mar 20.

Russian PSK WW Contest, Feb 17, 1200z to Feb 18, 1159z; BPSK31, BPSK63, BPSK125; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RU: RST + 2-letter oblast, non-RU: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 23.

Feld Hell Sprint, Feb 17, 1900z to Feb 17, 2059z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; (see rules); Logs due: Feb 21.

FISTS Sunday Sprint, Feb 18, 0000z to Feb 18, 2359z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; FISTS: RST + (state/province/country) + first name + FISTS No., non-FISTS: RST + (state/province/country) + first name + "0"; Logs due: Feb 25.

Run for the Bacon QRP Contest, Feb 18, 2300z to Feb 19, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs due: Feb 24.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Feb 19, 0000z to Feb 19, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 21.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Feb 19, 1300z to Feb 19, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 22.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Feb 19, 1630z to Feb 19, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 23.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Feb 19, 1900z to Feb 19, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 22.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Feb 20, 0100z to Feb 20, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Feb 21.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Feb 20, 0300z to Feb 20, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 22.

QRP Fox Hunt, Feb 21, 0200z to Feb 21, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 22.

Phone Weekly Test, Feb 21, 0230z to Feb 21, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Feb 23.

A1Club AWT, Feb 21, 1200z to Feb 21, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Feb 26.

CWops Test (CWT), Feb 21, 1300z to Feb 21, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 24.

Mini-Test 40, Feb 21, 1700z to Feb 21, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 23.

Mini-Test 80, Feb 21, 1800z to Feb 21, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 23.

AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening, Feb 21, 1900z to Feb 21, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No. + "/" + 2-digit year first used a bug; Logs due: Mar 6.

CWops Test (CWT), Feb 21, 1900z to Feb 21, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 24.

Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Feb 22, 0000z to Feb 23, 0300z; CW; Bands: 20; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Feb 29.

CWops Test (CWT), Feb 22, 0300z to Feb 22, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 24.

CWops Test (CWT), Feb 22, 0700z to Feb 22, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 24.

RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW, Feb 22, 2000z to Feb 22, 2130z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 23.

NCCC FT4 Sprint, Feb 23, 0100z to Feb 23, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 25.

Weekly RTTY Test, Feb 23, 0145z to Feb 23, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 25.

QRP Fox Hunt, Feb 23, 0200z to Feb 23, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 24.

NCCC Sprint Ladder, Feb 23, 0230z to Feb 23, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Feb 25.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Feb 23, 2000z to Feb 23, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 25.

CQ 160-Meter Contest, SSB, Feb 23, 2200z to Feb 25, 2200z; SSB; Bands: 160; W/VE: RS + (state/province), DX: RS + CQ Zone; Logs due: Mar 2.

REF Contest, SSB, Feb 24, 0600z to Feb 25, 1800z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; French: RS + Department/Prefix, non-French: RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 3.

UBA DX Contest, CW, Feb 24, 1300z to Feb 25, 1300z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; ON: RST + Serial No. + section, non-ON: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 3.

South Carolina QSO Party, Feb 24, 1500z to Feb 25, 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 10.

North American QSO Party, RTTY, Feb 24, 1800z to Feb 25, 0559z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; NA: Name + (state/DC/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Mar 3.

NA Collegiate Championship, RTTY, Feb 24, 1800z to Feb 25, 0559z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; NA: Name + (state/DC/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Mar 3.

World Wide Patagonia DX Contest, Feb 25, 0000z to Feb 25, 2359z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 3.

High Speed Club CW Contest, Feb 25, 1400z to Feb 25, 1700z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Members: RST + HSC No., non-Members: RST + "NM"; Logs due: Mar 10.

North Carolina QSO Party, Feb 25, 1500z to Feb 26, 0100z; CW, Phone, Digital (no FT4/8); Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; NC: County, non-NC: (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: Mar 12.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Feb 26, 0000z to Feb 26, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 28.

QCX Challenge, Feb 26, 1300z to Feb 26, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Mar 3.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Feb 26, 1300z to Feb 26, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 29.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Feb 26, 1630z to Feb 26, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 1.

QCX Challenge, Feb 26, 1900z to Feb 26, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Mar 3.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Feb 26, 1900z to Feb 26, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 29.

RSGB FT4 Contest, Feb 26, 2000z to Feb 26, 2130z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Signal report; Logs due: Feb 27.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Feb 27, 0100z to Feb 27, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Feb 28.

QCX Challenge, Feb 27, 0300z to Feb 27, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Mar 3.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Feb 27, 0300z to Feb 27, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 29.

SKCC Sprint, Feb 28, 0000z to Feb 28, 0200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Mar 3.

QRP Fox Hunt, Feb 28, 0200z to Feb 28, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 29.

Phone Weekly Test, Feb 28, 0230z to Feb 28, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Mar 1.

A1Club AWT, Feb 28, 1200z to Feb 28, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Mar 4.

CWops Test (CWT), Feb 28, 1300z to Feb 28, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 2.

Mini-Test 40, Feb 28, 1700z to Feb 28, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 1.

Mini-Test 80, Feb 28, 1800z to Feb 28, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 1.

CWops Test (CWT), Feb 28, 1900z to Feb 28, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 2.

UKEICC 80m Contest, Feb 28, 2000z to Feb 28, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Feb 28.

VHF+ CONTESTS

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Feb 21, 1700z to Feb 21, 2100z; FT8; Bands: 1.2G; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 26.

See also:

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, South Carolina QSO Party, North Carolina QSO Party, SKCC Sprint

February 15

• NRAU 10m Activity Contest
• Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest
• QRP Fox Hunt
• ICWC Medium Speed Test
• RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data

February 16

• Mini-Test 40
• Mini-Test 80
• Phone Weekly Test
• OK1WC Memorial (MWC)
• CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest
• Dutch PACC Contest

February 17

• Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint, CW
• Minnesota QSO Party
• FISTS Saturday Sprint
• QRP Fox Hunt
• CWops Test (CWT)
• NAQCC CW Sprint

February 18

• SKCC Weekend Sprintathon
• NCCC Sprint Ladder
• NTC QSO Party
• NCCC FT4 Sprint
• Vermont QSO Party
• Balkan HF Contest
• K1USN Slow Speed Test
• Weekly RTTY Test

February 19

• British Columbia QSO Party
• A1Club AWT
• VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest

February 21

• Feld Hell Sprint
• PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint
• Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
• DARC FT4 Contest
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

February 22

• QRP Fox Hunt
• ICWC Medium Speed Test

February 23

• Mini-Test 40
• Mini-Test 80
• Phone Weekly Test
• OK1WC Memorial (MWC)
• Russian PSK WW Contest
• RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW

February 24

• Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
• QRP Fox Hunt
• CWops Test (CWT)

February 25

• NCCC Sprint Ladder
• FISTS Sunday Sprint
• NCCC FT4 Sprint
• ARRL International DX Contest, CW
• K1USN Slow Speed Test
• Weekly RTTY Test

February 26

• A1Club AWT
• KCJ Topband Contest
• VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest

February 27

• RSGB FT4 Contest

February 28

• AGCW Straight Key Party
• Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
• UKEICC 80m Contest
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

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