April 23, 2025

Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE

In this Issue:

• Upcoming Contests – Things to Do
• Contest Summary
• Results and Records
• Technical Topics and Discussion
• Contests
• Log Due Dates

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

April 26-27:

• Florida QSO Party

May 3-4:

• 7th Call Area QSO Party
• Indiana QSO Party
• Delaware QSO Party
• New England QSO Party

10-10 International QSO Party

For 10-meter operators, there are two events of interest over the next two weekends. The 10-10 International QSO Party – Digital begins at 0001 UTC on Saturday, April 26 and concludes at 2359 UTC on Sunday, April 27. The following weekend, the 10-10 International QSO Party – CW begins at 0001 UTC on Saturday, May 3, and concludes at 2359 UTC on Sunday, May 4. For complete rules, visit www.ten-ten.org/index.php/activity/2013-07-22-20-26-48/qso-party-rules.

UK/EI DX CW Contest

the United Kingdom and Ireland (UK/EI) DX CW Contest begins at 1200 UTC on Saturday, April 26 and concludes at 1200 UTC on Sunday, April 27. Participating stations can work everyone else for points and multipliers, but contacting as many UK and EI stations as possible can really boost your score. Stations within the UK and Ireland send a signal report and two-letter district code as their exchange. Stations located elsewhere send a signal report and a sequential serial number starting at one. Logs are due 24 hours after the conclusion of the event. Visit www.ukeicc.com/dx-contest-rules.php for complete rules.

Central States VHF Society Spring Sprints

The Central States VHF Society Spring Sprints continue with the 432 MHz Sprint on Wednesday, April 30 at 2300 UTC, concluding on Thursday, May 1 at 0600 UTC. Participants may operate no longer than 4 hours starting with their first contact. The Microwave Sprint is Saturday, May 3 from 8:00 local time – 2:00 PM local time. Full details and rules are available at https://sites.google.com/site/springvhfupsprints/2025-information.

April 24

• CWops Test (CWT)
• RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data

April 25

• NCCC FT4 Sprint
• Weekly RTTY Test
• NCCC Sprint
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

April 26

• 10-10 International Spring Contest, Digital
• Tipalayo DX Contest
• SP DX RTTY Contest
• UK/EI DX Contest, CW
• Helvetia Contest
• Florida QSO Party

April 27

• UA1DZ Memorial Cup
• BARTG Sprint 75

April 28

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

April 29

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

April 30

• Phone Weekly Test
• A1Club AWT
• CWops Test (CWT)
• Mini-Test 40
• Mini-Test 80
• UKEICC 80m Contest
• 432 MHz Spring Sprint

May 1

• Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest
• CWops Test (CWT)
• AGCW QRP/QRP Party
• NRAU 10m Activity Contest
• SKCC Sprint Europe

May 2

• NCCC FT4 Sprint
• Weekly RTTY Test
• NCCC Sprint
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

May 3

• 10-10 International Spring Contest, CW
• RCC Cup
• SBMS 2.3 GHz and Up Contest and Club Challenge
• Microwave Spring Sprint
• ARI International DX Contest
• F9AA Cup, PSK
• 7th Call Area QSO Party
• Indiana QSO Party
• Delaware QSO Party
• New England QSO Party

May 4

• WAB 7 MHz Phone
• MIE 33 Contest

May 5

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

May 6

• ARS Spartan Sprint
• Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
• ICWC Medium Speed Test

May 7

• Phone Weekly Test
• A1Club AWT
• CWops Test (CWT)
• VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest
• Mini-Test 40

The results for the 2024 ARRL Sweepstakes CW and Phone events are available at contests.arrl.org.

Results articles, line scores, and log-checking reports are available on the website. To view the results, select the contest you’d like to view on the left-hand navigation bar of the page, and then select “Articles/Line Scores.” Downloadable certificates are available by clicking on the word “Certificates” at the top of the page.

On April 16, a severe geomagnetic storm caused electricity to flow through the rocks and soil of North America. Red zones in an animated map from NOAA show where voltages were the greatest. Geoelectric voltages were more than 70 times normal in the Appalachian Mountain range, Northern Minnesota, and Northwestern Canada. Texas and other western US states were relatively unscathed.

You can view the animated map and read more on the Spaceweather.com Website, at spaceweather.com/archive.php?view=1&day=18&month=04&year=2025.

– Thanks to Ev Tupis, W2EV, via the Rochester VHF Group email reflector.

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

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 24, 0300z to Apr 24, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 26.

CWops Test (CWT), Apr 24, 0700z to Apr 24, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 26.

RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data, Apr 24, 1900z to Apr 24, 2030z; RTTY, PSK; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 25.

NCCC FT4 Sprint, Apr 25, 0100z to Apr 25, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Apr 27.

Weekly RTTY Test, Apr 25, 0145z to Apr 25, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 27.

NCCC Sprint, Apr 25, 0230z to Apr 25, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Apr 27.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Apr 25, 2000z to Apr 25, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 27.

10-10 International Spring Contest, Digital, Apr 26, 0001z to Apr 27, 2359z; Digital; Bands: 10; 10-10 Member: Name + 10-10 number + (state/province/country), Non-Member: Name + 0 + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 5.

Tipalayo DX Contest, Apr 26, 0800z to Apr 27, 1159z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 10; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: May 4.

SP DX RTTY Contest, Apr 26, 1200z to Apr 27, 1200z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; SP: RST + 2-letter province, Non-SP: RST + QSO No.; Logs due: May 4.

UK/EI DX Contest, CW, Apr 26, 1200z to Apr 27, 1200z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; UK/EI: RST + Serial No. + District Code, DX: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Apr 28.

Helvetia Contest, Apr 26, 1300z to Apr 27, 1259z; CW, SSB, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; HB: RS(T) + 2-letter canton, non-HB: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: May 5.

Florida QSO Party, Apr 26, 1600z to Apr 27, 2159z; CW, Phone; Bands: 40, 20, 15, 10; FL: RS(T) + county, W/VE: RS(T) + (state/province), DX: RS(T) + DXCC prefix; Logs due: May 7.

UA1DZ Memorial Cup, Apr 27, 1300z to Apr 27, 1859z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; SP/LO Oblasts: RS(T) + RDA district, Non-SP/LO: RS(T) + 4-character grid square; Logs due: May 7.

BARTG Sprint 75, Apr 27, 1700z to Apr 27, 2059z; 75 Baud RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Serial No.; Logs due: May 4.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Apr 28, 0000z to Apr 28, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Apr 30.

QCX Challenge, Apr 28, 1300z to Apr 28, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: May 4.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 28, 1300z to Apr 28, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: May 1.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Apr 28, 1630z to Apr 28, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: May 2.

QCX Challenge, Apr 28, 1900z to Apr 28, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: May 4.

RSGB FT4 Contest, Apr 28, 1900z to Apr 28, 2100z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Signal report; Logs due: Apr 29.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 28, 1900z to Apr 28, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: May 1.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Apr 29, 0100z to Apr 29, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Apr 30.

QCX Challenge, Apr 29, 0300z to Apr 29, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: May 4.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Apr 29, 0300z to Apr 29, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: May 1.

ZL Sprint, Apr 29, 0800z to Apr 29, 0929z; CW, SSB, FT4; Bands: 80; CW/SSB: RS(T) + Outside Temperature (C), FT4: 4-character grid square; Logs due: Apr 30.

Phone Weekly Test, Apr 30, 0230z to Apr 30, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: May 2.

A1Club AWT, Apr 30, 1145z to Apr 30, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: May 5.

CWops Test (CWT), Apr 30, 1300z to Apr 30, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 3.

Mini-Test 40, Apr 30, 1700z to Apr 30, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: May 2.

Mini-Test 80, Apr 30, 1800z to Apr 30, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: May 2.

CWops Test (CWT), Apr 30, 1900z to Apr 30, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 3.

UKEICC 80m Contest, Apr 30, 2000z to Apr 30, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Apr 30.

Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, May 1, 0000z to May 2, 0300z; CW; Bands: 40; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: May 8.

CWops Test (CWT), May 1, 0300z to May 1, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 3.

CWops Test (CWT), May 1, 0700z to May 1, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 3.

AGCW QRP/QRP Party, May 1, 1300z to May 1, 1900z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + QSO No. + “/” + Class ID (A/B); Logs due: May 15.

NRAU 10m Activity Contest, May 1, 1800z to May 1, 2200z; CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10; RS(T) + 6-character grid square; Logs due: May 15.

SKCC Sprint Europe, May 1, 1900z to May 1, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./”NONE”); Logs due: May 8.

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

Weekly RTTY Test, May 2, 0145z to May 2, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 4.

NCCC Sprint, May 2, 0230z to May 2, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: May 4.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, May 2, 2000z to May 2, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 4.

10-10 International Spring Contest, CW, May 3, 0001z to May 4, 2359z; CW; Bands: 10; 10-10 Member: Name + 10-10 number + (state/province/country), Non-Member: Name + 0 + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 12.

RCC Cup, May 3, 0300z to May 3, 0859z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RCC Members: RS(T) + “RCC” + member number, Non-Members: RS(T) + ITU Zone; Logs due: May 10.

ARI International DX Contest, May 3, 1200z to May 4, 1159z; Phone, CW, RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; I: RS(T) + 2-letter province, non-I: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: May 10.

F9AA Cup, PSK, May 3, 1200z to May 4, 1200z; PSK; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 2; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jun 4.

7th Call Area QSO Party, May 3, 1300z to May 4, 0700z; CW, Phone, Digital (no FT8); Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; 7th Area: RS(T) + 5-letter state/county code, non-7th Area: RS(T) + (state/province/DX); Logs due: May 14.

Indiana QSO Party, May 3, 1500z to May 4, 0300z; Phone, CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; IN: RS(T) + county, non-IN: W/VE: RS(T) + (state/province), DX: RS(T) + “DX”; Logs due: Jun 1.

Delaware QSO Party, May 3, 1700z to May 4, 2359z; Digital(CW/RTTY/Digital), Phone; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, VHF; DE: RS(T) + County, non-DE: RS(T) + (state/province/”DX”); Logs due: Jun 3.

New England QSO Party, May 3, 2000z to May 4, 2359z; Phone, CW/Digital; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; CT,ME,MA,NH,RI,VT: RS(T) + state + county, non-NE: RS(T) + (state/province/”DX”); Logs due: Jun 3.

WAB 7 MHz Phone, May 4, 1000z to May 4, 1400z; SSB; Bands: 40; British Isles: RS + serial no. + WAB square, Other: RS + serial no. + country; Logs due: May 14.

MIE 33 Contest, May 4, 2300z to May 5, 0300z; CW, Phone; Bands: All, except WARC; Mie: RS(T) + age + “ME”, non-Mie JA: RS(T) + age + “MEJ”, non-Mie non-JA: RS(T) + age; Logs due: May 31.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, May 5, 0000z to May 5, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 7.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, May 5, 1300z to May 5, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: May 8.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), May 5, 1630z to May 5, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: May 9.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, May 5, 1900z to May 5, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: May 8.

ARS Spartan Sprint, May 6, 0000z to May 6, 0200z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: May 8.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, May 6, 0100z to May 6, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: May 7.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, May 6, 0300z to May 6, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: May 8.

Phone Weekly Test, May 7, 0230z to May 7, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: May 9.

A1Club AWT, May 7, 1145z to May 7, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: May 12.

CWops Test (CWT), May 7, 1300z to May 7, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 10.

Mini-Test 40, May 7, 1700z to May 7, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: May 9.

Mini-Test 80, May 7, 1800z to May 7, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: May 9.

CWops Test (CWT), May 7, 1900z to May 7, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 10.

VHF+ CONTESTS

432 MHz Spring Sprint, Apr 30, 2300z to May 1, 0600z; (not specified); Bands: 432; 4-character grid square; Logs due: May 14.

SBMS 2.3 GHz and Up Contest and Club Challenge, May 3, 0600 local to May 4, 2359 local; Any; Bands: 2.3 GHz and up; 6-character Maidenhead locator; Logs due: May 28.

Microwave Spring Sprint, May 3, 0800 local to May 3, 1400 local; not specified; Bands: All above 902 MHz; 6-character grid square; Logs due: May 17.

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, May 7, 1700z to May 7, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 144 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: May 12.

• Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest
• ICWC Medium Speed Test

April 25

• Mini-Test 40
• Mini-Test 80
• Phone Weekly Test
• OK1WC Memorial (MWC)
• RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data

April 26

• New Mexico QSO Party
• World Wide Holyland Contest
• Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
• CWops Test (CWT)
• SKCC Sprint

April 27

• NCCC Sprint
• Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest
• NCCC FT4 Sprint
• Weekly RTTY Test
• Michigan QSO Party
• Worked All Provinces of China DX Contest
• International Vintage Contest HF
• K1USN Slow Speed Test
• Dutch PACCdigi Contest

April 28

• 144 MHz Spring Sprint
• Hungarian Straight Key Contest
• QRP ARCI Spring QSO Party
• Georgia QSO Party
• A1Club AWT
• DARC Easter Contest
• UK/EI DX Contest, CW

April 29

• RSGB FT4 Contest
• Texas State Parks on the Air

April 30

• Classic Exchange, CW
• Mississippi QSO Party
• Classic Exchange, Phone
• Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
• ZL Sprint
• UKEICC 80m Contest
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

May 1

• ES Open HF Championship
• ICWC Medium Speed Test

May 2

• Mini-Test 40
• Mini-Test 80
• Phone Weekly Test
• OK1WC Memorial (MWC)

May 3

• QRP to the Field
• CWops Test (CWT)

May 4

• NCCC Sprint
• BARTG Sprint 75
• SP DX RTTY Contest
• NCCC FT4 Sprint
• Weekly RTTY Test
• QCX Challenge
• Tipalayo DX Contest
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

May 5

• Helvetia Contest
• 10-10 International Spring Contest, Digital
• A1Club AWT
• IRTS 70cm Counties Contest
• IRTS 2m Counties Contest

May 6

• 222 MHz Spring Sprint
• Missouri QSO Party

May 7

• Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
• UA1DZ Memorial Cup
• Florida QSO Party
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

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