The ARRL Contest Update – Hawaii ARRL News

Here’s the latest Amateur/Ham Radio Contest Update from The ARRL.

Views expressed in this Amateur/Ham Radio update are those of the reporters and correspondents. Accessed on 26 February 2025, 1959 UTC.

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February 26, 2025

Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE


	ARRL Home Page


	Contest Calendar

In this Issue:

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:

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

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:

March 9:

Wisconsin QSO Party

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

Contest Summary

See the “Contests” section below for complete contest information.

February 27

February 28

March 1

March 2

March 3

March 4

March 5

March 6

March 7

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 11

March 12

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

Virginia QSO Party Contest Log: 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. 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. 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 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.

73, Paul, N1SFE

Contests

February 27, 2025 – March 12

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 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), 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, CW, Feb 27, 2000z to Feb 27, 2130z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 28.

NCCC FT4 Sprint, Feb 28, 0100z to Feb 28, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 2.

Weekly RTTY Test, 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, Feb 28, 0200z to Feb 28, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Mar 1.

NCCC Sprint Ladder, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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, 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), Mar 3, 1630z to Mar 3, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 7.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, 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, Data, Mar 3, 2000z to Mar 3, 2130z; RTTY, PSK; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 4.

ARS Spartan Sprint, 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, 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, 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, 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, Mar 5, 0200z to Mar 5, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Mar 6.

Phone Weekly Test, 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, Mar 5, 1145z to Mar 5, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Mar 10.

CWops Test (CWT), Mar 5, 1300z to Mar 5, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 8.

Mini-Test 40, Mar 5, 1700z to Mar 5, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 7.

Mini-Test 80, Mar 5, 1800z to Mar 5, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 7.

CWops Test (CWT), Mar 5, 1900z to Mar 5, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 8.

UKEICC 80m Contest, Mar 5, 2000z to Mar 5, 2100z; SSB; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Mar 5.

Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Mar 6, 0000z to Mar 7, 0300z; CW; Bands: 40; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Mar 13.

CWops Test (CWT), Mar 6, 0300z to Mar 6, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 8.

CWops Test (CWT), Mar 6, 0700z to Mar 6, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 8.

NRAU 10m Activity Contest, Mar 6, 1800z to Mar 6, 2200z; CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10; RS(T) + 6-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 20.

SKCC Sprint Europe, Mar 6, 2000z to Mar 6, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./”NONE”); Logs due: Mar 13.

NCCC FT4 Sprint, Mar 7, 0100z to Mar 7, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 9.

Weekly RTTY Test, Mar 7, 0145z to Mar 7, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 9.

QRP Fox Hunt, Mar 7, 0200z to Mar 7, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Mar 8.

NCCC Sprint Ladder, Mar 7, 0230z to Mar 7, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Mar 9.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Mar 7, 2000z to Mar 7, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 9.

Novice Rig Roundup, Mar 8, 0000z to Mar 16, 2359z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 15, 10, 2; Name + QTH + Optional (Rig, NRR number); Logs due: Apr 15.

SARL Field Day Contest, Mar 8, 0800z to Mar 9, 1000z; CW, SSB, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + Number of transmitters + Category (see rules) + Province (or “DX”); Logs due: Mar 14.

Commonwealth (BERU) Contest, Mar 8, 1000z to Mar 9, 1000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 14.

SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Mar 8, 1200z to Mar 9, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./”NONE”); Logs due: Mar 16.

EA PSK63 Contest, Mar 8, 1200z to Mar 9, 1200z; PSK63; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; EA: RSQ + province code, non-EA: RSQ + Serial no.; Logs due: Mar 24.

South America 10 Meter Contest, Mar 8, 1200z to Mar 9, 1200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 10; RS(T) + CQ zone; Logs due: Mar 16.

DIG QSO Party, SSB, Mar 8, 1200z to Mar 9, 1100z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; DIG Member: RS + Member No., non-Member: RS; Logs due: May 31.

AGCW QRP Contest, Mar 8, 1400z to Mar 8, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + QSO No. + class(pwr) + (AGCW Member No./”NM” if not member); Logs due: Mar 22.

Stew Perry Topband Challenge, Mar 8, 1500z to Mar 9, 1500z; CW; Bands: 160; 4-Character grid square; Logs due: Mar 24.

Oklahoma QSO Party, Mar 8, 1500z to Mar 9, 2100z; CW, Phone, Digital (no FT8); Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; OK: RS(T) + County, non-OK: RS(T) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 1.

TESLA Memorial HF CW Contest, Mar 8, 1800z to Mar 9, 0559z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No. + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 13.

Idaho QSO Party, Mar 8, 1900z to Mar 9, 1900z; CW, Phone, Digital (no FT8); Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; ID: County, non-ID: (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 19.

North American Sprint, RTTY, Mar 9, 0000z to Mar 9, 0359z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station’s call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name] + [your state/DC/province/country]; Logs due: Mar 16.

FIRAC HF Contest, Mar 9, 0700z to Mar 9, 1700z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RS(T) + Serial No. + “F”, Non-member: RS(T); Logs due: Mar 23.

YOTA Contest, Mar 9, 1000z to Mar 9, 2159z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Single Op: RS(T) + age (on Jan 1 of year of contest), Multi-Op: RS(T) + average age of ops (on Jan 1 of year of contest); Logs due: Mar 14.

Classic Exchange, Phone, Mar 9, 1300z to Mar 12, 0700z; AM, SSB, FM; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; Name + RS + (state/province/country) + rcvr/xmtr manuf/model; Logs due: Apr 30.

Wisconsin QSO Party, Mar 9, 1800z to Mar 10, 0100z; CW, Phone, Digital (no FT4/8); Bands: All, except WARC; WI: county, non-WI: (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 23.

4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, Mar 10, 0000z to Mar 10, 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: Mar 12.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Mar 10, 0000z to Mar 10, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 12.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Mar 10, 1300z to Mar 10, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 13.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Mar 10, 1630z to Mar 10, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 14.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Mar 10, 1900z to Mar 10, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 13.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Mar 11, 0100z to Mar 11, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Mar 12.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Mar 11, 0300z to Mar 11, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Mar 13.

QRP Fox Hunt, Mar 12, 0100z to Mar 12, 0230z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Mar 13.

Phone Weekly Test, Mar 12, 0230z to Mar 12, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Mar 14.

A1Club AWT, Mar 12, 1145z to Mar 12, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Mar 17.

CWops Test (CWT), Mar 12, 1300z to Mar 12, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 15.

Mini-Test 40, Mar 12, 1700z to Mar 12, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 14.

Mini-Test 80, Mar 12, 1800z to Mar 12, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 14.

CWops Test (CWT), Mar 12, 1900z to Mar 12, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Mar 15.

RSGB 80m Club Championship, CW, Mar 12, 2000z to Mar 12, 2130z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 13.

VHF+ CONTESTS

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Mar 5, 1700z to Mar 5, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 144 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 10.

SARL VHF/UHF FM Contest, Mar 8, 0800z to Mar 9, 1000z; SSB; Bands: 50 MHz, 144 MHz, 432 MHz; RS(T) + 6-character grid locator; Logs due: Mar 14.

UBA Spring Contest, 2m, Mar 9, 0700z to Mar 9, 1100z; CW, Phone; Bands: 2; ON: RS(T) + Serial No. + UBA Section, non-ON: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 23.

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Mar 12, 1700z to Mar 12, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 432 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Mar 17.

Log Due Dates

February 27

February 28

March 1

March 2

March 3

March 4

March 5

March 6

March 7

March 8

March 9

March 10

March 12

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Acknowledgements

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

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