November 21, 2025

Editor: Bart Jahnke, W9JJ

In this Issue:

• Upcoming Contests – Things to Do
• Call for Authors
• Bulletins
• Technical Topics and Discussion
• Contests
• Log Due Dates

The CW-only ARRL 160 Meter Contest begins at 2200 UTC on Friday, December 5, and ends at 1559 UTC on Sunday, December 7. This is a 42-hour period with no time limitation. There are no changes to multipliers in 2025.

The 2024 multiplier list will be used for all Section-based contests for the remainder of 2025. Canadian stations located in Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut should continue to send TER (Territories) as their section.

This Top-Band event is generally not for those who are weak in radiating surface (tower or wire) — that is, you need to consider what design of antenna you can muster to get on the band, whether the popular Inverted-L, or a loaded Vertical tower or Wire of some type. Even an Inverted-Vee can generally be managed (albeit 270 or so feet from end to end), but for most of the Vertical designs you need to establish a radial system (build out the radials to whatever fit your goals — the more the better).

Don’t forget the Club Competition: You can contribute your score to your ARRL Affiliated Club by selecting the club name when you upload your log. Club Competition rules are available here.

And if you are still feeling the holiday’s contesting spirit, just a week later, start thinking about the ARRL 10 Meter Contest.

ARRL 10 Meter Contest

The ARRL 10 Meter Contest runs the second full weekend of December, starting at 0000 UTC on Saturday, December 13, and runs through 2359 UTC on Sunday, December 14. This event allows you to make contacts CW or SSB or both (Mixed) categories. Using only the 28 MHz band, both phone and CW may be used to contact stations only once per mode (there are no Digital contacts counted in this event). See 10-Meter Contest Rules for more details.

Contest exchange: All stations send a signal report. W/VE stations, including Alaska and Hawaii, send their state or province. District of Columbia stations send “DC.” Mexican stations send their state or province. DX stations send a serial number. Maritime mobile stations send ITU Region (1-3).

This is an event for newcomers as well as seasoned contesters! The 10-meter band can offer many propagation surprises, including: The elusive sporadic-E (single or multi-hop); early morning meteor Scatter; Aurora and Auroral-E; TEP; Backscatter; and Groundwave out to several hundred miles. Conditions can be open to any direction, and rapid propagation changes are routine. All it takes is a small antenna and low to medium power (5-50 watts) at the right time to make great contacts on SSB or CW.

Don’t forget the Club Competition: You can contribute your score to your ARRL Affiliated Club by selecting the club name when you upload your log. Club Competition rules are available here. See the ARRL Contest Calendar for major ARRL upcoming contests.

ARRL conducts a number of contests in the calendar year, and there are a handful where we are seeking people wanting to write about them, to offer a fresh look at them. If you would like to try writing an analysis of an ARRL HF or VHF contest, contact us at contests@arrl.org with your availability. A stipend is paid for your work. Contact us with any questions you may have.

The World Above 50 MHz has been fortunate to have had several prolific VHF’ers conduct the column over many decades. Jon Jones, N0JK, has indicated that he wishes to pass the torch of conducting this column to a new conductor who is prepared to offer their own fresh perspective. Jon, N0JK; Emil, W3EP (sk); Gene, W3ZZ; Bill, W3XO (sk); and those before them, each brought a wealth of VHF+ flavor to this column. If you know of someone who follows VHF+/Weak-Signal activity closely, and is someone who enjoys writing about the activity, share their name or have them contact us at contests@arrl.org to help continue this QST journey on matters above 50 MHz.

As part of the Year of the Club in 2026, ARRL is sponsoring two contests and 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 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 www.arrl.org/year-of-the-club for details on how to take photos that will work for QST.

Sweepstakes Mugs and Pins Are Available

If you’ve participated in the ARRL 2025 Sweepstakes and qualify for the mug or pin, see the mug, the CW pin, or the phone pin at the ARRL Store.

Call for Manuscripts: Share Technical Insights On Your Field Day Setup

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.

Tell us about your contest activity (what made a difference this year vs prior years)

Send us your description of activity or changes that have or will make your contests more enjoyable (something others can benefit from in your experiences). Are you engaged in any youth or newcomer mentoring? Whatever it is, we want to hear about it (and we’d like to share your experiences with others. Share photos as well (include photo releases for youth younger than 18). Send to contests@arrl.org.

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

November 20

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

November 21

• NCCC FT4 Sprint
• Weekly RTTY Test
• QRP Fox Hunt
• NCCC Sprint
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

November 22

• LZ DX Contest

November 23

• North American SSB Sprint Contest

November 24

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

November 25

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

November 26

• SKCC Sprint
• QRP Fox Hunt
• Phone Weekly Test
• A1Club AWT
• CWops Test (CWT)
• Mini-Test 40
• Mini-Test 80
• CWops Test (CWT)
• UKEICC 80m Contest

November 27

• CWops Test (CWT)
• CWops Test (CWT)
• RSGB 80m Autumn Series, CW

November 28

• NCCC FT4 Sprint
• Weekly RTTY Test
• QRP Fox Hunt
• NCCC Sprint
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

November 29

• CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW

December 1

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

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.

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.

QRP Fox Hunt, Nov 19, 0200z to Nov 19, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; 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.

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.

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.

Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Nov 20, 0000z to Nov 21, 0300z; CW; Bands: 20; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Nov 27.

NAQCC CW Sprint, Nov 20, 0130z to Nov 20, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RST + (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: Nov 23.

CWops Test (CWT), Nov 20, 0300z to Nov 20, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 22.

CWops Test (CWT), Nov 20, 0700z to Nov 20, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 22.

NTC QSO Party, Nov 20, 1900z to Nov 20, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; NTC Member: RST + Member No., non-Member: RST + “NM”, Less than 25 wpm; Logs due: Nov 24.

NCCC FT4 Sprint, Nov 21, 0100z to Nov 21, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Nov 23.

Weekly RTTY Test, Nov 21, 0145z to Nov 21, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name +(state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 23.

QRP Fox Hunt, Nov 21, 0200z to Nov 21, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Nov 22.

NCCC Sprint, Nov 21, 0230z to Nov 21, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Nov 23.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Nov 21, 2000z to Nov 21, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 23.

LZ DX Contest, Nov 22, 1200z to Nov 23, 1200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; LZ: RS(T) + 2-letter district, non-LZ: RS(T) + ITU Zone No.; Logs due: Dec 8.

North American SSB Sprint Contest, Nov 23, 0000z to Nov 23, 0400z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station’s call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name] + [your state/province/country]; Logs due: Nov 30.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Nov 24, 0000z to Nov 24, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 26.

QCX Challenge, Nov 24, 1300z to Nov 24, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Nov 30.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Nov 24, 1300z to Nov 24, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Nov 27.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Nov 24, 1630z to Nov 24, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 28.

QCX Challenge, Nov 24, 1900z to Nov 24, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Nov 30.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Nov 24, 1900z to Nov 24, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Nov 27.

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Nov 25, 0100z to Nov 25, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Nov 26.

QCX Challenge, Nov 25, 0300z to Nov 25, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Nov 30.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Nov 25, 0300z to Nov 25, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Nov 27.

SKCC Sprint, Nov 26, 0000z to Nov 26, 0200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST +

(state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./”NONE”); Logs due: Nov 29.

QRP Fox Hunt, Nov 26, 0200z to Nov 26, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Nov 27.

Phone Weekly Test, Nov 26, 0230z to Nov 26, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA:

Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Nov 28.

A1Club AWT, Nov 26, 1145z to Nov 26, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Dec 1.

CWops Test (CWT), Nov 26, 1300z to Nov 26, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 29.

Mini-Test 40, Nov 26, 1700z to Nov 26, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 28.

Mini-Test 80, Nov 26, 1800z to Nov 26, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 28.

CWops Test (CWT), Nov 26, 1900z to Nov 26, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 29.

UKEICC 80m Contest, Nov 26, 2000z to Nov 26, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Nov 26.

CWops Test (CWT), Nov 27, 0300z to Nov 27, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 29.

CWops Test (CWT), Nov 27, 0700z to Nov 27, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./”CWA”, non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 29.

RSGB 80m Autumn Series, CW, Nov 27, 2000z to Nov 27, 2130z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 30.

NCCC FT4 Sprint, Nov 28, 0100z to Nov 28, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Nov 30.

Weekly RTTY Test, Nov 28, 0145z to Nov 28, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 30.

QRP Fox Hunt, Nov 28, 0200z to Nov 28, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Nov 29.

NCCC Sprint, Nov 28, 0230z to Nov 28, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Nov 30.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Nov 28, 2000z to Nov 28, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 30.

CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW, Nov 29, 0000z to Nov 30, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + CQ Zone No.; Logs due: Dec 5.

K1USN Slow Speed Test, Dec 1, 0000z to Dec 1, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + state/province/country); Logs due: Dec 3.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Dec 1, 1300z to Dec 1, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Dec 4.

OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Dec 1, 1630z to Dec 1, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Dec 5.

ICWC Medium Speed Test, Dec 1, 1900z to Dec 1, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Dec 4.

• DARC FT4 Contest
• RSGB FT4 Contest

November 19

• Feld Hell Sprint
• Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

November 20

• Illinois QSO Party
• NRAU 10m Activity Contest
• YLRL DX/NA YL Anniversary Contest
• QRP Fox Hunt
• ICWC Medium Speed Test

November 21

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

November 22

• Run for the Bacon QRP Contest
• QRP Fox Hunt
• CWops Test (CWT)

November 23

• NCCC Sprint
• FISTS Sunday Sprint
• FIRAC HF Contest
• NCCC FT4 Sprint
• Weekly RTTY Test
• Ham Spirit Contest
• K1USN Slow Speed Test
• South American Integration Contest CW
• NAQCC CW Sprint

November 24

• NTC QSO Party
• A1Club AWT
• ARRL Sweepstakes Contest, SSB
• REF 160-Meter Contest
• VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest
• AWT – A1CLUB Weekly Test: Submit score to: www.3830scores.com Rules: a1club.org/contest/awt

November 26

• Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest
• UKEICC 80m Contest
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

November 27

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

November 28

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

November 29

• All Austrian 160-Meter Contest
• QRP Fox Hunt
• CWops Test (CWT)
• SKCC Sprint
• All Austrian 160m Contest: Submit Score to: contestrobot.aoec160m.oevsv.at Rules: www.oevsv.at/export/shared/.content/.galleries/Downloads_Referate/HF-Referat-Downloads/Rules_AOEC_160m.pdf

November 30

• NCCC Sprint
• IPARC Contest, CW
• IPARC Contest, SSB
• Classic Exchange, CW
• Classic Exchange, Phone
• NCCC FT4 Sprint
• Weekly RTTY Test
• North American SSB Sprint Contest
• QCX Challenge
• RSGB 80m Autumn Series, CW
• K1USN Slow Speed Test

December 1

• CQ-WE Contest
• A1Club AWT

December 9

• ARRL EME Contest (submit one log for all weekends active – up to 4 weekends): Submit Score to: contests.arrl.org/arrlemescoresubmission.php Rules: www.arrl.org/eme-contest

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