May 7, 2025

Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE

In this Issue:

• Upcoming Contests – Things to Do
• Bulletins
• Contest Summary
• Sights and Sounds
• Results and Records
• Contests
• Log Due Dates

The Canadian Prairies QSO Party begins at 1700 UTC on Saturday, May 10, and concludes at 0300 UTC on Sunday, May 11. The Canadian prairies are the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Stations outside of the three provinces contact as many stations in as many electoral districts as possible. Stations inside the Canadian prairie provinces work everyone. Contacts between stations located in the prairie provinces do not count for QSO credit. Visit cpqp.ve6hams.ca for rules and log submission information.

50 MHz Spring Sprint

The last 2025 VHF/UHF Spring Sprint, the 50 MHz Spring Sprint, begins at 2300 UTC on Saturday, May 10, and concludes at 0300 UTC on Sunday, May 11. The Spring Sprints are sponsored by the Central States VHF Society. For rules and other information, visit sites.google.com/site/springvhfupsprints/2025-information.

Arkansas QSO Party

The Arkansas QSO Party begins at 1400 UTC on Saturday, May 18 and concludes at 0200 UTC on Sunday, May 19. Rules are available on their website at arkqp.com. The Arkansas QSO Party and the Canadian Prairies QSO Party, are part of the State QSO Party Challenge. Visit stateqsoparty.com for more details.

The Microwave Update 2025 itinerary, hosted by the Arizona Microwave Group, to be held October 17 – 18 in Tucson, Arizona, is now available at microwaveupdate.org/Schedule. Registration for the conference is also available at microwaveupdate.org/Page/Registration.

• CWops Test (CWT)

May 9

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

May 10

• FISTS Saturday Sprint
• VOLTA WW RTTY Contest
• CQ-M International DX Contest
• SKCC Weekend Sprintathon
• Canadian Prairies QSO Party
• 50 MHz Spring Sprint

May 12

• 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint
• K1USN Slow Speed Test
• ICWC Medium Speed Test
• OK1WC Memorial (MWC)
• RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB

May 13

• Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
• ICWC Medium Speed Test
• DARC FT4 Contest

May 14

• Phone Weekly Test
• A1Club AWT
• CWops Test (CWT)
• VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest
• Mini-Test 40
• Mini-Test 80

May 15

• Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest
• CWops Test (CWT)
• NTC QSO Party

May 16

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

May 17

• UN DX Contest
• NZART Sangster Shield Contest
• His Maj. King of Spain Contest, CW
• EU PSK DX Contest
• Feld Hell Sprint
• Arkansas QSO Party
• Baltic Contest

May 18

• FISTS Sunday Sprint
• Run for the Bacon QRP Contest

May 19

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

May 20

• Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
• ICWC Medium Speed Test

May 21

• Phone Weekly Test
• A1Club AWT
• CWops Test (CWT)
• VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest
• Mini-Test 40
• Mini-Test 80
• RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data

On April 18, Peter, VA3ELE, set a new Canadian 78 GHz distance record with two contacts from grid square FN13ax. The first contact was with Kevin Hobbs, VE3KH, at 166.36 km. Peter then broke the record again by completing a contact with Hugh Duff, VA3TO, at 167.13 km. Hugh shared a video of the contact from his end of the path at www.youtube.com/watch/ltrmlv9mBnA. Peter also shared a video of the contact from his end of that path at www.youtube.com/watch?v=5754l1q86NY.

– Thanks to Peter Prabucki, VA3ELE and Hugh Duff, VA3TO

The 2024 ARRL 160-Meter Contest results are available at contests.arrl.org/160m. The QST results article, line scores, and log checking reports are available on the website. Click on “Articles/Line Scores” on the left side of the page to view the results. The expanded results article by Mark Beckwith, N5OT, will be available shortly. Downloadable certificates are available by clicking on “Certificates” at the top of the page.

Winter 2025 North American QSO Party (NAQP) CW/RTTY Results

The January 2025 NAQP CW and February 2025 NAQP RTTY results are now available at ncjweb.com/naqp-results. Additionally, CW Sprint results from 1977 to 1999 can be found on the sprints results page at ncjweb.com/Sprint-results.

– Thanks to Matt Wilhelm, W1PY

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.

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

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

NCCC FT4 Sprint, May 9, 0100z to May 9, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: May 11.

Weekly RTTY Test, May 9, 0145z to May 9, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 11.

NCCC Sprint, May 9, 0230z to May 9, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: May 11.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, May 9, 2000z to May 9, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 11.

FISTS Saturday Sprint, May 10, 0000z to May 10, 2359z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; FISTS: RST + first name + FISTS No. + (state/province/country), non-FISTS: RST + first name + “0” + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 17.

VOLTA WW RTTY Contest, May 10, 1200z to May 11, 1200z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + QSO No. + CQ Zone; Logs due: May 26.

CQ-M International DX Contest, May 10, 1200z to May 11, 1159z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: May 21.

SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, May 10, 1200z to May 11, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./”NONE”); Logs due: May 18.

Canadian Prairies QSO Party, May 10, 1700z to May 11, 0300z; CW, Phone; Bands: 40, 20, 15, 10; VE4/5/6: RS(T) + district code, Non-VE4/5/6: RST + (state/province/”DX”); Logs due: May 26.

4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, May 12, 0000z to May 12, 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: May 14.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, May 12, 0000z to May 12, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 14.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, May 12, 1300z to May 12, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: May 15.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), May 12, 1630z to May 12, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: May 16.

RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB, May 12, 1900z to May 12, 2030z; SSB; Bands: 80; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: May 13.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, May 12, 1900z to May 12, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: May 15.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, May 13, 0100z to May 13, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: May 14.

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

DARC FT4 Contest, May 13, 1900z to May 13, 2029z; FT4; Bands: 80; DL: RST + 4-character grid square; Logs due: May 20.

Phone Weekly Test, May 14, 0230z to May 14, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: May 16.

A1Club AWT, May 14, 1145z to May 14, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: May 19.

CWops Test (CWT), May 14, 1300z to May 14, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 17.

Mini-Test 40, May 14, 1700z to May 14, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: May 16.

Mini-Test 80, May 14, 1800z to May 14, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: May 16.

CWops Test (CWT), May 14, 1900z to May 14, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: May 17.

Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, May 15, 0000z to May 16, 0300z; CW; Bands: 20; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: May 22.

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

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

NTC QSO Party, May 15, 1900z to May 15, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; NTC Member: RST + Member No., non-Member: RST + “NM”, Less than 25 wpm; Logs due: May 19.

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

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

NCCC Sprint, May 16, 0230z to May 16, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: May 18.

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

UN DX Contest, May 17, 0600z to May 17, 2100z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Kazakhstan: RS(T) + District Code, non-Kazakhstan: RS(T) + QSO No.; Logs due: Jun 1.

NZART Sangster Shield Contest, May 17, 0800z to May 18, 1100z; CW; Bands: 80; ZL: RST + Serial No. + Branch No., non-ZL: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jun 15.

His Maj. King of Spain Contest, CW, May 17, 1200z to May 18, 1200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; EA: RST + province, non-EA: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Jun 2.

EU PSK DX Contest, May 17, 1200z to May 18, 1200z; BPSK63; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; EU: RST + EU area, non-EU: RST + QSO No.; Logs due: May 23.

Feld Hell Sprint, May 17, 1200z to May 17, 1600z; Feld Hell; Bands: 20, 15, 10, 6; (see rules); Logs due: May 21.

Arkansas QSO Party, May 17, 1400z to May 18, 0200z; CW, Phone, Digital (no FT8); Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; AR: RS(T) + County, non-AR: RS(T) + (state/province/”DX”); Logs due: Jun 1.

Baltic Contest, May 17, 2100z to May 18, 0200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80; RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Jun 1.

FISTS Sunday Sprint, May 18, 0000z to May 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: May 25.

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

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

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

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

RSGB FT4 Contest, May 19, 1900z to May 19, 2100z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Signal report; Logs due: May 20.

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

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

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

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

A1Club AWT, May 21, 1145z to May 21, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: May 26.

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

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

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

RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data, May 21, 1900z to May 21, 2030z; RTTY, PSK; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: May 22.

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

VHF+ CONTESTS

50 MHz Spring Sprint, May 10, 2300z to May 11, 0300z; Analog, Digital; Bands: 6; 4-character grid square; Logs due: May 24.

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, May 14, 1700z to May 14, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 432 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: May 19.

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

See also: SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Arkansas QSO Party, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest

May 8

• ARS Spartan Sprint
• SKCC Sprint Europe
• Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest
• ICWC Medium Speed Test

May 9

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

May 10

• CWops Test (CWT)
• ARI International DX Contest
• RCC Cup

May 11

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

May 12

• 10-10 Int. Spring Contest, CW
• A1Club AWT
• VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest

May 13

• JIDX CW Contest
• RSGB 80m Club Championship, SSB

May 14

• 432 MHz Spring Sprint
• WAB 7 MHz Phone
• 7th Call Area QSO Party
• 4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint
• Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

May 15

• AGCW QRP/QRP Party
• NRAU 10m Activity Contest
• North Dakota QSO Party
• ICWC Medium Speed Test

May 16

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

May 17

• Microwave Spring Sprint
• FISTS Saturday Sprint
• Maundy Thursday Contest
• CWops Test (CWT)

May 18

• NCCC Sprint
• NCCC FT4 Sprint
• Weekly RTTY Test
• SKCC Weekend Sprintathon
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

May 19

• NTC QSO Party
• A1Club AWT
• VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest

May 20

• Ontario QSO Party
• EA-QRP CW Contest
• DARC FT4 Contest
• RSGB FT4 Contest
• Quebec QSO Party

May 21

• CQ-M International DX Contest
• Feld Hell Sprint
• Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

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