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Subj: The ARRL Contest Update
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From: I0OJJ @ I0OJJ.ITA.EU (Gustavo)
To: DXNEWS @ WW
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From: "ARRL" <memberlist@arrl.org
Subject: The ARRL Contest Update for March 18, 2026
Date: Tue, 24 Mar 2026 04:53:36 EDT
Reply-To: memberlist@arrl.org
To: dx@ww
March 18, 2026
Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG [ mailto:brian.moran@gmail.com ]
ARRL Home Page
https://www.arrl.org/
Contest Calendar
https://www.arrl.org/contest-calendar
In this Issue:
- Upcoming Contests - Things to Do
- Contest Summary
- News, Press Releases, and Special Interest
- Word to the Wise
- Club Focus
- Results and Records
- Operating Tip
- Technical Topics and Discussion
- Conversation
- Contests
- Log Due Dates
Upcoming Contests - Things to Do
Coming up the weekend of March 21, the Russian DX Contest [
https://www.rdxc.org/rules_eng ] 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 BARTG HF
RTTY Contest [ https://bartg.org.uk/bartg-hf-rtty-contest/ ] . 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 State QSO Party Challenge [ https://stateqsoparty.com/ ]
won't want to miss the Virginia QSO Party [
https://www.qsl.net/sterling/VA_QSO_Party/2026_VQP/2026_VQP_Main.html ] .
The following weekend, March 28-29, look for the CQ WW WPX SSB Contest [
https://cqwpx.com/ ] to warm the ionosphere a bit. Logs are due 48 hours
after the contest!
SARL, the contest sponsors of the Africa All-Mode International DX Contest [
https://mysarl.org.za/contest-resources/ ] , 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 SARL Contest Manual
PDF [
https://mysarl.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2026-SARL-Contest-Manual-Version-1.1-2025-12-15.pdf
] : 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.
[https://surgestop.com/filter-products/index.html]
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
- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA [ https://ft8activity-na.net/rules/ ]
- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest [ https://qrpcontest.com/pigwalk20/ ]
- NAQCC CW Sprint [ http://naqcc.info/sprint_rules.html ]
- CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ]
- NTC QSO Party [ https://pi4ntc.nl/ntcqp/ ]
March 20
- QRP Fox Hunt [ https://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ]
- NCCC FT4 Sprint [ https://www.ncccsprint.com/ft4ns.html ]
- Weekly RTTY Test [ https://radiosport.world/wrt.html ]
- NCCC Sprint [ https://ncccsprint.com/rules.html ]
- K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ]
March 21
- PODXS 070 Club St. Patrick's Day Contest [
https://www.podxs070.com/o7o-club-sponsored-contests/saint-patrick-s-day-contest
]
- BARTG HF RTTY Contest [ http://www.bartg.org.uk/ ]
- Popov Memorial Contest [ https://www.contest.ru/memorial-popov-eng/ ]
- Russian DX Contest [ https://www.rdxc.org/rules_eng ]
- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest [ https://www.agcw.de/contest/vhf-uhf/ ]
- Virginia QSO Party [
https://www.qsl.net/sterling/VA_QSO_Party/2026_VQP/2026_VQP_Main.html ]
- Feld Hell Sprint [
https://sites.google.com/site/feldhellclub/Home/contests/sprints/leprechaun-sprint
]
March 22
- UBA Spring Contest, SSB [
https://www.uba.be/en/hf/contest-rules/spring-contest-dst ]
March 23
- 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 24
- Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest [ https://wwsac.com/rules.html ]
- ICWC Medium Speed Test [
https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ]
March 25
- SKCC Sprint [
https://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/weekday_sprint/ ]
- QRP Fox Hunt [ https://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/ ]
- 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 26
- CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ]
- RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB [
https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2026/r80mcc.shtml ]
March 27
- QRP Fox Hunt [ https://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ]
- NCCC FT4 Sprint [ https://www.ncccsprint.com/ft4ns.html ]
- Weekly RTTY Test [ https://radiosport.world/wrt.html ]
- NCCC Sprint [ https://ncccsprint.com/rules.html ]
- Sasquatch Stomp [ https://www.pnwqrp.org/sasquatch-stomp ]
- K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ]
March 28
- CQ WW WPX Contest, SSB [ https://www.cqwpx.com/rules.htm ]
- Bill Windle QSO Party [ http://g4foc.org/qsoparty/ ]
- Africa All Mode International DX Contest [
https://mysarl.org.za/contest-resources/ ]
March 30
- K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ]
- QCX Challenge [ http://www.qrp-labs.com/party.html ]
- ICWC Medium Speed Test [
https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ]
- OK1WC Memorial (MWC) [
https://memorial-ok1wc.cz/index.php?page=rules2l ]
- QCX Challenge [ http://www.qrp-labs.com/party.html ]
- ICWC Medium Speed Test [
https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ]
March 31
- Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest [ https://wwsac.com/rules.html ]
- QCX Challenge [ http://www.qrp-labs.com/party.html ]
- ICWC Medium Speed Test [
https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ]
April 1
- QRP Fox Hunt [ https://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 [ https://ft8activity.eu/rules/ ]
- Mini-Test 40 [ http://minitest.narod.ru/ ]
- Mini-Test 80 [ http://minitest.narod.ru/ ]
- CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ]
- UKEICC 80m Contest [ https://www.ukeicc.com/80m-rules.php ]
RigSelect Radio Switch SO2R Controller
[https://rigselect.com/]
News, Press Releases, and Special Interest
W1AW [
https://www.arrl.org/w1aw?utm_source=Informz&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=ARRL
] 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 North East
Weak Signal Group (NEWS) [ https://newsvhf.com/ ] will be held April 24 -
26 at the Hilton Garden Inn [
https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/bdlwhgi-903-d665789d-53bd-4134-86f6-eea1129eccb1/
] , 555 Corporate Drive, Windsor, CT.
Registration is available right now via newsvhf.com [ http://newsvhf.com/ ] ,
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 Paul Wade, W1GHZ [
mailto:w1ghz@arrl.net ] . If you have general questions about the conference,
contact Mark Casey, K1MAP [ mailto:map92map@gmail.com ] .
"The Connections Museum Seattle [
https://www.telcomhistory.org/ConnectionsSeattle.html ] , 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 Check Window [
https://n1mmwp.hamdocs.com/manual-windows/check-window/ ] provides
information gleaned from SCP about the call sign being typed in the entry
window.
>From supercheckpartial.com [ https://www.supercheckpartial.com/ ] : "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
contest-update@arrl.org [ mailto:contest-update@arrl.org ] , and maybe
you'll see it mentioned here.
Results and Records
Final results of the 2025 CQ WW CW Contest [ https://cqww.com/results/ ] 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 "Preliminary Results for the NAQP RTTY
contest [ http://www.ncjweb.com/current-naqp-rtty-results/ ] 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 NCJ
website [ http://ncjweb.com/ ] (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 DeepDeck [
https://www.crowdsupply.com/deepsea-developments/deepdeck ] 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 Creator Micro [
https://worklouder.cc/ ] , and MacroPad 2040 [
https://www.adafruit.com/product/5128 ] products.
The NanoFarfield [
https://www.crowdsupply.com/antenom-antenna-technologies/nanofarfield ] 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 conversion kit [ https://www.kf7p.com/KF7P/Hoist_mount.html ] 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, "Is that score a new record? [
https://cqww.com/blog/is-that-score-a-new-record/ ] " 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
contest-update@arrl.org [ mailto:contest-update@arrl.org ] .
73, Brian, N9ADG
Contests
March 19, 2026 - April 1, 2026
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
Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest [ https://qrpcontest.com/pigwalk20/ ] , 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.
NAQCC CW Sprint [ http://naqcc.info/sprint_rules.html ] , Mar 19, 0030z to
Mar 19, 0230z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RST + (state/province/country) + (NAQCC
No./power); Logs due: Mar 22.
CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ] , 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.
CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ] , 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.
NTC QSO Party [ https://pi4ntc.nl/ntcqp/ ] , 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.
QRP Fox Hunt [ https://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ] , Mar 20, 0100z
to Mar 20, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name +
power output; Logs due: Mar 21.
NCCC FT4 Sprint [ https://www.ncccsprint.com/ft4ns.html ] , Mar 20, 0100z to
Mar 20, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due:
Mar 22.
Weekly RTTY Test [ https://radiosport.world/wrt.html ] , Mar 20, 0145z to Mar
20, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country);
Logs due: Mar 22.
NCCC Sprint [ https://ncccsprint.com/rules.html ] , Mar 20, 0230z to Mar 20,
0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Mar 22.
K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ] , 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.
PODXS 070 Club St. Patrick's Day Contest [
https://www.podxs070.com/o7o-club-sponsored-contests/saint-patrick-s-day-contest
] , Mar 21, 0000z to Mar 21, 2359z; PSK31; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6;
(state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 28.
BARTG HF RTTY Contest [ http://www.bartg.org.uk/ ] , 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.
Popov Memorial Contest [ https://www.contest.ru/memorial-popov-eng/ ] , 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.
Russian DX Contest [ https://www.rdxc.org/rules_eng ] , 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.
Virginia QSO Party [
https://www.qsl.net/sterling/VA_QSO_Party/2026_VQP/2026_VQP_Main.html ] , 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.
Feld Hell Sprint [
https://sites.google.com/site/feldhellclub/Home/contests/sprints/leprechaun-sprint
] , Mar 21, 2000z to Mar 21, 2159z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15,
10; (see rules); Logs due: Mar 25.
UBA Spring Contest, SSB [
https://www.uba.be/en/hf/contest-rules/spring-contest-dst ] , 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.
K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ] , 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.
ICWC Medium Speed Test [ https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ] ,
Mar 23, 1300z to Mar 23, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name +
QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 26.
OK1WC Memorial (MWC) [ https://memorial-ok1wc.cz/index.php?page=rules2l ] ,
Mar 23, 1630z to Mar 23, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs
due: Mar 27.
ICWC Medium Speed Test [ https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ] ,
Mar 23, 1900z to Mar 23, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name +
QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 26.
Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest [ https://wwsac.com/rules.html ] , 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.
ICWC Medium Speed Test [ https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ] ,
Mar 24, 0300z to Mar 24, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name +
QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 26.
SKCC Sprint [ https://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/weekday_sprint/
] , 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.
QRP Fox Hunt [ https://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ] , Mar 25, 0100z
to Mar 25, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name +
power output; Logs due: Mar 26.
Phone Weekly Test [ http://www.perluma.com/Phone_Fray_Contest_Rules.pdf ] ,
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.
A1Club AWT [ https://a1club.org/contest/awt/ ] , Mar 25, 1145z to Mar 25,
1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Mar
30.
CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ] , 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.
Mini-Test 40 [ http://minitest.narod.ru/ ] , Mar 25, 1700z to Mar 25, 1759z;
CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 27.
Mini-Test 80 [ http://minitest.narod.ru/ ] , Mar 25, 1800z to Mar 25, 1859z;
CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 27.
CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ] , 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.
UKEICC 80m Contest [ https://www.ukeicc.com/80m-rules.php ] , Mar 25, 2000z
to Mar 25, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Mar 25.
CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ] , 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.
CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ] , 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.
RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB [
https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2026/r80mcc.shtml ] , Mar 26, 2000z to Mar
26, 2130z; SSB; Bands: 80; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 27.
QRP Fox Hunt [ https://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ] , Mar 27, 0100z
to Mar 27, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name +
power output; Logs due: Mar 28.
NCCC FT4 Sprint [ https://www.ncccsprint.com/ft4ns.html ] , Mar 27, 0100z to
Mar 27, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due:
Mar 29.
Weekly RTTY Test [ https://radiosport.world/wrt.html ] , Mar 27, 0145z to Mar
27, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country);
Logs due: Mar 29.
NCCC Sprint [ https://ncccsprint.com/rules.html ] , Mar 27, 0230z to Mar 27,
0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Mar 29.
Sasquatch Stomp [ https://www.pnwqrp.org/sasquatch-stomp ] , 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.
K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ] , 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.
CQ WW WPX Contest, SSB [ https://www.cqwpx.com/rules.htm ] , Mar 28, 0000z to
Mar 29, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS + Serial No.; Logs
due: Apr 3.
Bill Windle QSO Party [ http://g4foc.org/qsoparty/ ] , 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.
Africa All Mode International DX Contest [
https://mysarl.org.za/contest-resources/ ] , 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.
K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ] , 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.
QCX Challenge [ http://www.qrp-labs.com/party.html ] , 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.
ICWC Medium Speed Test [ https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ] ,
Mar 30, 1300z to Mar 30, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name +
QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 2.
OK1WC Memorial (MWC) [ https://memorial-ok1wc.cz/index.php?page=rules2l ] ,
Mar 30, 1630z to Mar 30, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs
due: Apr 3.
QCX Challenge [ http://www.qrp-labs.com/party.html ] , 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.
ICWC Medium Speed Test [ https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ] ,
Mar 30, 1900z to Mar 30, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name +
QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 2.
Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest [ https://wwsac.com/rules.html ] , 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.
QCX Challenge [ http://www.qrp-labs.com/party.html ] , 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.
ICWC Medium Speed Test [ https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ] ,
Mar 31, 0300z to Mar 31, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name +
QSO No.; Logs due: Apr 2.
QRP Fox Hunt [ https://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ] , Apr 1, 0100z
to Apr 1, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power
output; Logs due: Apr 2.
Phone Weekly Test [ http://www.perluma.com/Phone_Fray_Contest_Rules.pdf ] ,
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.
A1Club AWT [ https://a1club.org/contest/awt/ ] , Apr 1, 1145z to Apr 1,
1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Apr
6.
CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ] , 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.
Mini-Test 40 [ http://minitest.narod.ru/ ] , Apr 1, 1700z to Apr 1, 1759z;
CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 3.
Mini-Test 80 [ http://minitest.narod.ru/ ] , Apr 1, 1800z to Apr 1, 1859z;
CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 3.
CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ] , 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.
UKEICC 80m Contest [ https://www.ukeicc.com/80m-rules.php ] , Apr 1, 2000z to
Apr 1, 2100z; SSB; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Apr 1.
VHF+ CONTESTS
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA [ https://ft8activity-na.net/rules/ ] , Mar
19, 0000z to Mar 19, 0500z; FT8/4; Bands: 1296; 4-character grid square; Logs
due: Mar 24.
AGCW VHF/UHF Contest [ https://www.agcw.de/contest/vhf-uhf/ ] , 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.
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest [ https://ft8activity.eu/rules/ ] , Apr 1, 1700z
to Apr 1, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 144 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due:
Apr 6.
Also, see PODXS 070 Club St. Patrick's Day Contest [
https://www.podxs070.com/o7o-club-sponsored-contests/saint-patrick-s-day-contest
] , Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest [ https://wwsac.com/rules.html ] ,
and SKCC Sprint [
https://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/weekday_sprint/ ] , above.
Log Due Dates
March 19, 2026 - April 1, 2026
March 19
- QRP Fox Hunt [ https://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ]
- ICWC Medium Speed Test [
https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ]
- TESLA Memorial HF CW Contest [
http://www.radiosport.yu1srs.org.rs/HFTeslaMemorial/index.php/rules ]
March 20
- Mini-Test 40 [ http://minitest.narod.ru/ ]
- Mini-Test 80 [ http://minitest.narod.ru/ ]
- Phone Weekly Test [
http://www.perluma.com/Phone_Fray_Contest_Rules.pdf ]
- OK1WC Memorial (MWC) [
https://memorial-ok1wc.cz/index.php?page=rules2l ]
- Commonwealth (BERU) Contest [
https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2026/rcwc.shtml ]
March 21
- Run for the Bacon QRP Contest [ http://qrpcontest.com/pigrun/ ]
- QRP Fox Hunt [ https://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ]
- CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ]
- YB DX RTTY Contest [ https://rtty.ybdxcontest.com/ ]
- Russian YL/OM Contest [
https://www.contest.ru/russian-yl-om-contest-en/ ]
March 22
- NCCC Sprint [ https://ncccsprint.com/rules.html ]
- UBA Spring Contest, CW [
https://www.uba.be/en/hf/contest-rules/spring-contest-dst ]
- NCCC FT4 Sprint [ https://www.ncccsprint.com/ft4ns.html ]
- South America 10 Meter Contest [ http://sa10m.com.ar/wp/rules/ ]
- Weekly RTTY Test [ https://radiosport.world/wrt.html ]
- FIRAC HF Contest [ http://www.firac.de/FIRAC_HF_CONTEST_E.pdf ]
- North American Sprint, RTTY [ http://ncjweb.com/Sprint-Rules.pdf ]
- YOTA Contest [ https://yotacontest.mrasz.org/ ]
- SKCC Weekend Sprintathon [
https://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/weekend_sprintathon/ ]
- K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ]
- NAQCC CW Sprint [ http://naqcc.info/sprint_rules.html ]
March 23
- NTC QSO Party [ https://pi4ntc.nl/ntcqp/ ]
- A1Club AWT [ https://a1club.org/contest/awt/ ]
- Bucharest Digital Contest [ https://yo3test201x.blogspot.com/ ]
- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest [ https://ft8activity.eu/rules/ ]
March 24
- VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA [ https://ft8activity-na.net/rules/ ]
March 25
- Feld Hell Sprint [
https://sites.google.com/site/feldhellclub/Home/contests/sprints/leprechaun-sprint
]
- Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest [ https://wwsac.com/rules.html ]
- UKEICC 80m Contest [ https://www.ukeicc.com/80m-rules.php ]
- K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ]
March 26
- Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest [ https://qrpcontest.com/pigwalk20/ ]
- Idaho QSO Party [ https://www.idahoqsoparty.org/ ]
- QRP Fox Hunt [ https://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ]
- ICWC Medium Speed Test [
https://internationalcwcouncil.org/mst-contest/ ]
March 27
- Mini-Test 40 [ http://minitest.narod.ru/ ]
- Mini-Test 80 [ http://minitest.narod.ru/ ]
- Phone Weekly Test [
http://www.perluma.com/Phone_Fray_Contest_Rules.pdf ]
- OK1WC Memorial (MWC) [
https://memorial-ok1wc.cz/index.php?page=rules2l ]
- RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB [
https://www.rsgbcc.org/hf/rules/2026/r80mcc.shtml ]
March 28
- PODXS 070 Club St. Patrick's Day Contest [
https://www.podxs070.com/o7o-club-sponsored-contests/saint-patrick-s-day-contest
]
- QRP Fox Hunt [ https://www.qrpfoxhunt.org/winter_rules.htm ]
- CWops Test (CWT) [ https://cwops.org/cwops-tests/ ]
- SKCC Sprint [
https://www.skccgroup.com/operating_activities/weekday_sprint/ ]
March 29
- NCCC Sprint [ https://ncccsprint.com/rules.html ]
- AGCW VHF/UHF Contest [ https://www.agcw.de/contest/vhf-uhf/ ]
- UBA Spring Contest, 6m [
https://www.uba.be/en/hf/contest-rules/spring-contest-dst ]
- Wisconsin QSO Party [ http://www.warac.org/wqp/wqp.htm ]
- NCCC FT4 Sprint [ https://www.ncccsprint.com/ft4ns.html ]
- Weekly RTTY Test [ https://radiosport.world/wrt.html ]
- K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ]
March 30
- Stew Perry Topband Challenge [ https://www.kkn.net/stew/ ]
- EA PSK63 Contest [ https://concursos.ure.es/en/eapsk63/bases/ ]
- A1Club AWT [ https://a1club.org/contest/awt/ ]
- BARTG HF RTTY Contest [ http://www.bartg.org.uk/ ]
March 31
- Classic Exchange, CW [ http://www.classicexchange.org/ ]
- NSARA Contest [ http://nsara.ca/ ]
- Classic Exchange, Phone [ http://www.classicexchange.org/ ]
- AGCW QRP Contest [ https://www.agcw.de/contest/qrp/qrp-c-engl/ ]
April 1
- IRTS 80m Counties Contest [
https://www.irts.ie/cgi/st.cgi?r_hfcrules.html ]
- Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest [
https://www.ukeicc.com/80m-rules.php ]
- UKEICC 80m Contest [ https://www.ukeicc.com/80m-rules.php ]
- K1USN Slow Speed Test [ http://www.k1usn.com/sst.html ]
ARRL Information
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