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Contest Update Issues

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The ARRL Contest Update
April 10, 2024
Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE
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In this Issue:

 

Upcoming Contests - Things to Do

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. You can also find more details in the Contests section.

April 13 - 14:

April 20 - 21:

April 21:


ARRL Rookie Roundup - SSB

The ARRL Rookie Roundup begins on Sunday, April 21 at 1800 UTC, and concludes at 2359 UTC. Rookie Roundup is a great opportunity for newly licensed operators to experience competitive Amateur Radio operating.

A Rookie is defined has having been first licensed or having made their first amateur radio contact in the current calendar year or the previous three calendar years, regardless of their license class. You can also be considered a rookie if you haven't made any contest contacts using SSB phone before the event.

Visit the event webpage at www.arrl.org/rookie-roundup for rules and more information.


2024 Holyland DX Contest

The Holyland DX Contest begins on Friday, April 19 at 2100 UTC and concludes on Saturday, April 20 at 2059 UTC. For stations located outside of Israel, the exchange is a signal report and a sequential serial number starting with 1. Israeli stations will send a signal report and a 5 digit area number. Visit https://www.iarc.org/iarc/Content/docs/Holyland2023eng.pdf for complete rules.

Bulletins

2024 Florida QSO Party

The 2024 Florida QSO Party (FQP) begins on Saturday, April 27 at 1600 UTC and concludes on Sunday, April 28 at 2159 UTC.

This year, there will be a total of 12 1x1 special event stations whose call sign suffixes spell KEYS. Contact at least one station of each suffix letter spelling the word KEYS to earn a special Spelling Bee award. The stations will be using both modes (phone and CW) for the duration of the event. QSL via KU9C direct or Logbook of The World (LoTW).

Visit the FQP website at floridaqsoparty.org for rules, previous FQP results, records, and more information.

- Thanks to Chris Blake, NX4N

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Contest Summary

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

April 11

April 12

April 13

April 14

April 15

April 16

April 17

April 18

April 19

April 20

April 21

April 22

April 23

April 24

Sights and Sounds

A team of operators from the United States and Cuba operated using the call sign T42T in the 2024 ARRL DX SSB Contest. They logged over 6,000 contacts in the event. [James Millner, WB2REM, photo.]

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Results and Records

2023 Oceania DX Contest

The final results for the 2023 Oceania DX Contest have been published at https://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/. A total of 1,825 logs were received for the event- 1,076 phone and 749 CW. The 2024 event will be held during the first two full weekends of October.

- Thanks to Brian Miller, VK3MI / ZL1AZE

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

Contests

April 11, 2024 - April 24, 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), Apr 11, 0300z to Apr 11, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 13.

CWops Test (CWT), Apr 11, 0700z to Apr 11, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 13.

NCCC FT4 Sprint, Apr 12, 0100z to Apr 12, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Apr 14.

Weekly RTTY Test, Apr 12, 0145z to Apr 12, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 14.

NCCC Sprint, Apr 12, 0230z to Apr 12, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Apr 14.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Apr 12, 2000z to Apr 12, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 14.

QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party, Apr 13, 0000z to Apr 13, 0600z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS + (state/province/country) + (ARCI number/power); Logs due: May 2.

JIDX CW Contest, Apr 13, 0700z to Apr 14, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; JA: RST + Prefecture No., non-JA: RST + CQ Zone No.; Logs due: May 14.

SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Apr 13, 1200z to Apr 14, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Apr 21.

OK/OM DX Contest, SSB, Apr 13, 1200z to Apr 14, 1200z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; OK/OM: RS + 3-letter county code, non-OK/OM: RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 21.

Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest, Apr 13, 1200z to Apr 14, 1159z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, Satellites; RST + ITU Zone No.; Logs due: Apr 28.

IG-RY World Wide RTTY Contest, Apr 13, 1200z to Apr 14, 1800z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + 4-digit year license first issued; Logs due: Apr 19.

DIG QSO Party, CW, Apr 13, 1200z to Apr 14, 1100z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; DIG Member: RST + Member No., non-Member: RST; Logs due: May 31.

New Mexico QSO Party, Apr 13, 1400z to Apr 14, 0200z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; NM: RS(T) + county, non-NM: RS(T) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 27.

Africa FT4 DX Contest, Apr 13, 1500z to Apr 13, 1900z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40, 20; Signal report + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Apr 18.

Georgia QSO Party, Apr 13, 1800z to Apr 14, 2359z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; GA: RST + county, non-GA: RST + (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: Apr 29.

North Dakota QSO Party, Apr 13, 1800z to Apr 14, 1800z; CW, Phone, Digital (RTTY/PSK); Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; ND: RS(T) + County, non-ND: RS(T) + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 15.

Hungarian Straight Key Contest, Apr 14, 1500z to Apr 14, 1600z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No. + Power Code; Logs due: Apr 29.

4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, Apr 15, 0000z to Apr 15, 0200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RS(T) + (State/Province/Country) + Member No., Non-member: RS(T) + (State/Province/Country) + Power; Logs due: Apr 17.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Apr 15, 0000z to Apr 15, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 17.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 15, 1300z to Apr 15, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 18.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Apr 15, 1630z to Apr 15, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 19.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 15, 1900z to Apr 15, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 18.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Apr 16, 0100z to Apr 16, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Apr 17.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 16, 0300z to Apr 16, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 18.

ZL Sprint, Apr 16, 0800z to Apr 16, 0859z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80; RS(T) + Outside Temperature (C); Logs due: Apr 17.

Phone Weekly Test, Apr 17, 0230z to Apr 17, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Apr 19.

A1Club AWT, Apr 17, 1200z to Apr 17, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Apr 22.

CWops Test (CWT), Apr 17, 1300z to Apr 17, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 20.

Mini-Test 40, Apr 17, 1700z to Apr 17, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 19.

Mini-Test 80, Apr 17, 1800z to Apr 17, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 19.

RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB, Apr 17, 1900z to Apr 17, 2030z; SSB; Bands: 80; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 18.

CWops Test (CWT), Apr 17, 1900z to Apr 17, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 20.

Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Apr 18, 0000z to Apr 19, 0300z; CW; Bands: 20; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Apr 25.

CWops Test (CWT), Apr 18, 0300z to Apr 18, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 20.

CWops Test (CWT), Apr 18, 0700z to Apr 18, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 20.

NTC QSO Party, Apr 18, 1900z to Apr 18, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; NTC Member: RST + Member No., non-Member: RST + "NM", Less than 25 wpm; Logs due: Apr 21.

NCCC FT4 Sprint, Apr 19, 0100z to Apr 19, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Apr 21.

Weekly RTTY Test, Apr 19, 0145z to Apr 19, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 21.

NCCC Sprint, Apr 19, 0230z to Apr 19, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Apr 21.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Apr 19, 2000z to Apr 19, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 21.

Holyland DX Contest, Apr 19, 2100z to Apr 20, 2059z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; 4X: RS(T) + area, non-4X: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 27.

ES Open HF Championship, Apr 20, 0500z to Apr 20, 0859z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40; RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: May 1.

Worked All Provinces of China DX Contest, Apr 20, 0600z to Apr 21, 0559z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; BY: RS(T) + 2-character province, non-BY: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 28.

YU DX Contest, Apr 20, 0700z to Apr 21, 0659z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; YU/YT: RS(T) + County, non-YU/YT: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: May 1.

Dutch PACCdigi Contest, Apr 20, 0700z to Apr 20, 1900z; FT4/8, RTTY; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; PA: Signal report + 2-character province, non-PA: Signal report + serial number; Logs due: Apr 30.

QRP to the Field, Apr 20, 0800 local to Apr 20, 1800 local; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + name/SOTA; Logs due: May 4.

CQMM DX Contest, Apr 20, 0900z to Apr 21, 2359z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; All: RST+continent abbreviation, CWJF members: RST + continent + "M", QRP: RST + continent + "Q", YL: RST + continent + "Y", Multi-Op,Clubs,Groups: RST + continent + "C"; Logs due: Jun 30.

Nebraska QSO Party, Apr 20, 1100z to Apr 21, 2259z; CW, Phone, Digital (non-FT8), FT4/8; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, VHF/UHF; NE (non-FT8): county, non-NE (non-FT8): (state/province/country), FT8: grid square; Logs due: May 21.

Texas State Parks on the Air, Apr 20, 1400z to Apr 21, 2000z; All, except FT#; Bands: All, except WARC; TX Park: RS(T) + park abbreviation), W/VE: RS(T) + (state/province), DX: RS(T) + "DX"; Logs due: May 5.

Michigan QSO Party, Apr 20, 1600z to Apr 21, 0400z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; MI: RST + county, non-MI: RST + (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: Apr 28.

EA-QRP CW Contest, Apr 20, 1700z to Apr 21, 1200z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + 1-letter category + "M" (if EA-QRP member); Logs due: May 21.

Feld Hell Sprint, Apr 20, 1800z to Apr 20, 2159z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; (see rules); Logs due: Apr 24.

Ontario QSO Party, Apr 20, 1800z to Apr 21, 1800z; CW, Phone; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; ON: RS(T) + county, non-ON: RST + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 21.

International Vintage Contest HF, Apr 21, 0700z to Apr 21, 1900z; CW, SSB, AM; Bands: 80, 40; RS(T) + 6-character grid square; Logs due: May 1.

Quebec QSO Party, Apr 21, 1200z to Apr 21, 2200z; CW, Phone; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; QC: RS(T) + QC zone, non-QC: RST + (state/province/'DX'); Logs due: May 21.

ARRL Rookie Roundup, SSB, Apr 21, 1800z to Apr 21, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + 2-digit year first licensed + (state/province/XE area/DX); Logs due: Apr 24.

Run for the Bacon QRP Contest, Apr 21, 2300z to Apr 22, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs due: Apr 27.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Apr 22, 0000z to Apr 22, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 24.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 22, 1300z to Apr 22, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 25.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Apr 22, 1630z to Apr 22, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 26.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 22, 1900z to Apr 22, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 25.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Apr 23, 0100z to Apr 23, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Apr 24.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 23, 0300z to Apr 23, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 25.

ZL Sprint, Apr 23, 0800z to Apr 23, 0859z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80; RS(T) + Outside Temperature (C); Logs due: Apr 24.

SKCC Sprint, Apr 24, 0000z to Apr 24, 0200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Apr 28.

Phone Weekly Test, Apr 24, 0230z to Apr 24, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Apr 26.

A1Club AWT, Apr 24, 1200z to Apr 24, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Apr 29.

CWops Test (CWT), Apr 24, 1300z to Apr 24, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 27.

Mini-Test 40, Apr 24, 1700z to Apr 24, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 26.

Mini-Test 80, Apr 24, 1800z to Apr 24, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 26.

CWops Test (CWT), Apr 24, 1900z to Apr 24, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 27.

UKEICC 80m Contest, Apr 24, 2000z to Apr 24, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Apr 24.

VHF+ CONTESTS

222 MHz Spring Sprint, Apr 16, 1900 local to Apr 16, 2300 local; (not specified); Bands: 222 Mhz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Apr 30.

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Apr 17, 1700z to Apr 17, 2100z; FT8; Bands: 1.2G; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Apr 22.

432 MHz Spring Sprint, Apr 24, 1900 local to Apr 24, 2300 local; (not specified); Bands: 432; 4-character grid square; Logs due: May 8.

See also: SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, New Mexico QSO Party, Georgia QSO Party, North Dakota QSO Party, Nebraska QSO Party, Ontario QSO Party, Quebec QSO Party, SKCC Sprint.

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Log Due Dates

April 11

April 12

April 13

April 14

April 15

April 16

April 17

April 18

April 19

April 20

April 21

April 22

April 24

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Acknowledgements

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

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