ARRL Contest Update

Author:

Here’s the latest Amateur/Ham Radio Contest Update, compiled by HQ ARRL.

Views expressed in this Amateur/Ham Radio News update are those of the reporters and correspondents.

Accessed on 05 November 2025, 2023.

Content and Source provided by The ARRL.  Copyright ARRL.

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzQcqbhGGhpPzqgMnqqKJSrzkvjq

Please check email link or scroll down to read the complete report.

Russ Roberts (KH6JRM).

https://hawaiiarrlnews.com and https://simplehamradioantennas.blogspot.com.

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November 5, 2025

Editor: Paul Bourque, N1SFE
ARRL Home Page
Contest Calendar
iCom
 

In this Issue:
Upcoming Contests – Things to Do
Bruce Kelley Memorial QSO Party

 

The Bruce Kelley Memorial QSO Party takes place on November 8 – 10, and again on November 15 – 17. The event, sponsored by the Antique Wireless Association, is for hams who have acquired or built their own transmitters using designs, techniques, and tubes from 1929 or earlier. Hand keys or Vibroplex-type bugs should be used. The two weekends will be reminiscent of what ham radio sounded like in 1929, with a cacophony of whooping, chirping, buzzing, clicking, drifting, swishing, swaying, warbling, and other interesting signals. For rules and more information, visit https://www.antiquewireless.org/homepage/bk-qso-party-details/.

 

CQ Western Electric Contest

 

The CQ Western Electric (CQWE) Contest begins at 1900 UTC on Saturday November 8, and concludes at 0500 UTC on Monday, November 10. The event is open to all licensed amateur operators, with the objective being to contact as many amateurs as possible who currently (or previously) work for any part of the pre-divestiture Bell System, or any company that was created from the separated parts of the Bell System. Rules and more information are available at https://w8zpf.com/cqwe-contest-information/.

 

ARRL November Sweepstakes – SSB

 

ARRL November Sweepstakes – SSB begins at 2100 UTC on November 15 and concludes at 0259 UTC on November 17. If you’re new to HF operating and contesting, the contest can be challenging, as the exchange is a bit more complicated than that of other events. In this contest, multipliers are the 85 ARRL and RAC Sections; each may be contacted once as a multiplier in the contest, regardless of band. The three Canadian territories (Yukon, Northwest and Nunavut) are combined into a singular Territories (TER) multiplier. November Sweepstakes is a great way complete your Worked All States (WAS) award, because stations from all 50 states and across Canada participate every year. See the full rules and additional information at www.arrl.org/sweepstakes.

 
 
Bulletins
ARRL’s Year of the Club Brings Contests and Opportunities for Clubs

 

As part of the Year of the Club in 2026, ARRL is sponsoring two contests and also seeks club photos for publication.

  • Submit Your Club’s Newsletter or Website

The Year of the Club contests for ARRL Affiliated Clubs include a Club Newsletter Contest and a Club Website Contest. ARRL wants to see what your club does with the mix of information that can go into a newsletter or onto a website. Enter one or both of our Year of the Club contests for a chance to have your club newsletter or website honored in QST.

 

The Club Newsletter Contest is open to ARRL Affiliated Clubs that have published a newsletter for at least one (1) year. The Club Website Contest is open to ARRL Affiliated Clubs that maintain a club website.

 

Winners will be notified in May 2026, with awards presented at Huntsville Hamfest in August 2026. Winners will be announced in a 2026 issue of QST, as part of ARRL’s Year of the Club celebration.

 

The Submission Deadline for both contests is Friday, January 30, 2026, 4 p.m. Eastern time.

 

For more information and complete rules for both contests, visit https://www.arrl.org/year-of-the-club.

  • Submit a Club Photo to QST

Additionally, QST will feature club photos in every 2026 issue, as just one way of honoring various clubs. If your club wants a shot at being highlighted in the pages of QST, visit https://www.arrl.org/year-of-the-club for details on how to take photos that will work for QST.

 

ARRL Education and Learning Department Sponsors Youth Plaques for ARRL November Sweepstakes

 

The ARRL Education and Learning Department has generously sponsored plaques for the Overall Youth Overlay winners in the 2025 ARRL November Sweepstakes. Youth Overlay winners in CW and phone in low- and high-power categories will receive plaques to commemorate their accomplishments. The Youth Overlay is available to Single-Operator entrants who are 25 and younger.

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

 
November 6

November 7

November 8

November 9

November 10

November 11

November 12

November 13

November 14

November 15

November 16

November 17

November 18

November 19

 
Results and Records
2025 ARRL Field Day Results

 

The 2025 ARRL Field Day results are now available in the December issue QST and on the ARRL Field Day website at https://field-day.arrl.org/fdresults.php. Class A, B, and C scores are included in the 2025 QST results article. The scores for Class D, E and F station and club aggregate scores are listed in the 2025 line scores on the web site, as well in the digital edition of QST. The digital edition of QST will be available on November 7.

 

CQ World Wide SSB Raw Scores

 

The raw scores for the CQ World Wide SSB Contest are now available. You can

find them at: https://cqww.com/raw.htm?mode=ph. If you find any errors or have questions, contact CQ World Wide Contest Director, John Dorr, K1AR, at cqk1ar@gmail.com.

 

Makrothen RTTY Contest Results

 

The 2025 Makrothen RTTY Contest results are now available on the Pizza Lovers 259 web site, https://www.pl259.org/makrothen/results/. Certificates and log-checking reports are also available on the website.

 

– Thanks to Makrothen RTTY Contest Manager, Stu Phillips, K6TU

 
Technical Topics and Discussion
ARRL Call for Technical Manuscripts

 

Call for Manuscripts: Share your technical insights on your Field Day setups. QST invites submissions of technical manuscripts from licensed amateur radio operators for upcoming issues focused on ARRL Field Day operations. We’re looking for educational, how-to pieces that help fellow hams improve their setups, strategies, and technical know-how.

 

What We’re Looking For:

  • Technical solutions for Field Day operations—power, antennas, logging, digital modes, etc.
  • Integration of new technologies (e.g., SDR, mesh networking, solar power) in field scenarios.
  • Examples of how the popularity of Parks on the Air (POTA) portable activations has changed your approach to setting up Field Day stations.
  • Examples of how portable antennas and LiFePO batteries have replaced base station antennas and generators.
  • Manuscripts should have a strong “how-to” component. Tell us what you did, but more importantly, tell us how you did it.

Submission Guidelines:

  • Audience: Licensed amateur radio operators.
  • Length: 1,000 –1,800 words, plus high-resolution images with caption and photo credit information (name and call sign of photographer).
  • Tone: Educational and collaborative—share what works!
  • Format: Plain text or Word document.
  • Deadline: January 31, 2026
  • Submit to: qst@arrl.org

Why Contribute? Your article could be published in QST, ARRL’s membership journal, which reaches thousands of fellow amateurs across the country and beyond. It’s a great way to give back to the community and inspire others with your experience.

 
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

 
RigSelect Radio Switch SO2R Controller
 
Contests
November 6, 2025 – November 19, 2025

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

NCCC Sprint, Nov 7, 0230z to Nov 7, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Nov 9.

 

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

 

WAE DX Contest, RTTY, Nov 8, 0000z to Nov 9, 2359z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 16.

 

PODXS 070 Club Triple Play Low Band Sprint, Nov 8, 0000z to Nov 10, 2359z; PSK31; Bands: 160, 80, 40; RST + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 17.

 

FISTS Saturday Sprint, Nov 8, 0000z to Nov 8, 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: Nov 15.

 

10-10 International Fall Contest, Digital, Nov 8, 0001z to Nov 9, 2359z; Digital; Bands: 10; 10-10 Member: Name + 10-10 number + (state/province/country), Non-Member: Name + 0 + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 17.

 

JIDX Phone Contest, Nov 8, 0700z to Nov 9, 1300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; JA: RST + Prefecture No., non-JA: RST + CQ Zone No.; Logs due: Dec 9.

 

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

 

OK/OM DX Contest, CW, Nov 8, 1200z to Nov 9, 1200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; OK/OM: RST + county, non-OK/OM: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 16.

 

CQ-WE Contest, Nov 8, 1900z to Nov 10, 0500z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2, 432 MHz; Name + Location Code (see rules) + Years of Service (see rules); Logs due: Dec 1.

 

AWA Bruce Kelley 1929 QSO Party, Nov 8, 2300z to Nov 17, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20; RST + Name + QTH + Eqpt Year + Transmitter Type (see rules for format) + Input Power(W); Logs due: Dec 9.

 

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

 

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

 

4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, Nov 10, 0100z to Nov 10, 0300z; 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: Nov 12.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

DARC FT4 Contest, Nov 11, 1900z to Nov 11, 2029z; FT4; Bands: 80; DL: RST + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Nov 18.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

RSGB 80m Autumn Series, SSB, Nov 12, 2000z to Nov 12, 2130z; SSB; Bands: 80; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 15.

 

CWops Test (CWT), Nov 13, 0300z to Nov 13, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 15.

 

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

 

NCCC FT4 Sprint, Nov 14, 0100z to Nov 14, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Nov 16.

 

Weekly RTTY Test, Nov 14, 0145z to Nov 14, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 16.

 

NCCC Sprint, Nov 14, 0230z to Nov 14, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Nov 16.

 

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Nov 14, 2000z to Nov 14, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 16.

 

Ham Spirit Contest, Nov 15, 0700z to Nov 16, 0659z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + ITU Zone No. + 2-character grid field; Logs due: Nov 23.

 

All Austrian 160-Meter Contest, Nov 15, 1600z to Nov 15, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160; OE: RST + Serial No. + District Code, non-OE: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 29.

 

REF 160-Meter Contest, Nov 15, 1700z to Nov 15, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160; RST + Serial No. + Department Code; Logs due: Nov 24.

 

South American Integration Contest CW, Nov 15, 1800z to Nov 16, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 15, 10; CWSP Members: RST + “M”, QRP: RST + “QRP”, YL: RST + “YL”, All Others: RST + ITU Zone No.; Logs due: Nov 23.

 

Feld Hell Sprint, Nov 15, 1900z to Nov 15, 2059z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; (see rules); Logs due: Nov 19.

 

RSGB 1.8 MHz Contest, Nov 15, 2000z to Nov 15, 2300z; CW; Bands: 160; UK: RST + Serial No. + District Code, non-UK: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 16.

 

ARRL November Sweepstakes, SSB, Nov 15, 2100z to Nov 17, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Serial No. + Precedence (Q/A/B/U/M/S) + [your call sign] + Check + ARRL/RAC Section; Logs due: Nov 24.

 

FISTS Sunday Sprint, Nov 16, 0000z to Nov 16, 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: Nov 23.

 

Homebrew and Oldtime Equipment Party, Nov 16, 1300z to Nov 16, 1700z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No. + “/” + class; Logs due: Dec 20.

 

Run for the Bacon QRP Contest, Nov 16, 2300z to Nov 17, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs due: Nov 22.

 

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Nov 17, 0000z to Nov 17, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 19.

 

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Nov 17, 1300z to Nov 17, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Nov 20.

 

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Nov 17, 1630z to Nov 17, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 21.

 

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Nov 17, 1900z to Nov 17, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Nov 20.

 

RSGB FT4 Contest, Nov 17, 2000z to Nov 17, 2200z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Signal report; Logs due: Nov 18.

 

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Nov 18, 0100z to Nov 18, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Nov 19.

 

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

 

Phone Weekly Test, Nov 19, 0230z to Nov 19, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Nov 21.

 

A1Club AWT, Nov 19, 1145z to Nov 19, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Nov 24.

 

CWops Test (CWT), Nov 19, 1300z to Nov 19, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 22.

 

Mini-Test 40, Nov 19, 1700z to Nov 19, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 21.

 

Mini-Test 80, Nov 19, 1800z to Nov 19, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 21.

 

CWops Test (CWT), Nov 19, 1900z to Nov 19, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 22.

 

VHF+ CONTESTS

 

ARRL EME Contest, Nov 8, 0000z to Nov 9, 2359z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 50 MHz and up; 4-character grid square (standard signal report acceptable for analog modes if grid square not possible); Logs due: Dec 9.

 

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

 

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Nov 19, 1700z to Nov 19, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 1.2G; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Nov 24.

 
Log Due Dates
November 6

November 7

November 8

November 9

November 10

November 12

November 13

November 14

November 15

November 16

November 17

November 18

November 19

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

 
 

The ARRL Contest Update is published every other Wednesday (26 times each year). ARRL members may subscribe at no cost or unsubscribe by editing their Member Data Page at www.arrl.org/opt-in-out.

 

Copyright © 2025 American Radio Relay League, Incorporated. Use and distribution of this publication, or any portion thereof, is permitted for non-commercial or educational purposes, with attribution. All other purposes require written permission.

 
 
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