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Even as everyone eagerly awaits the big CQ World Wide SSB contest, there are plenty of contests and events coming up worth some of your time. This weekend, you can take part in the newish Japan Amateur Radio League (JARL) World Wide RTTY contest. Starting this year, JARL is taking over the administration of what was formerly the Japanese Amateur Radio Teleprinter Society World Wide RTTY contest. Just like other JARL events, the exchange for this one is RST report and age. Also this weekend is the Fall Stew Perry Topband Challenge, and the Illinois and New York QSO Parties. The countdown begins — we are just about a week out from CQ World Wide SSB, which will bring the bands alive for the 48-hour event. Tens of thousands of stations will be on the air from all over the world! The exchange is signal report and CQ zone, so it’s an easy first contest, and allows for some seriously high rates on phone! |
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Hank, W6SX, asked why there was the same list of contests twice in the last issue. This was my mistake! For reference, part of the contest update is a contest summary, which simply lists upcoming events, and a contest listing, which goes into a bit more detail. Last issue had the summary twice. |
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October 15, 2026 - October 28, 2026
See the "Contests" section below for complete contest information.
Note: Contest dates and times are in UTC. This means that a contest that is listed to start on a Saturday at 0000z, for example, really starts on a Friday night in US time zones. |
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| | October 15 October 16 October 17 October 18 October 19 October 20 October 21 October 22 October 23 October 24 October 26 October 27 October 28 |
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| | | | From Doug Grant, K1DG, President of the WRTC 2014 Board of Directors: Recent incidents in WRTC events have prompted the WRTC2014 Board of
Directors to review the results of that event.
The Board has concluded its review of the event and this is the result.
There was no evidence of frequency-holding, pirate or fraudulent multipliers, or excessive “cheerleading.”
Statement on the third-place finish at WRTC 2014:
The WRTC2014 Board of Directors has reviewed the finish for third place at
that event. The scores of the two teams concerned were separated by 0.13
percent. During adjudication in 2014 the two teams exchanged third and
fourth place repeatedly as the log checking progressed, and the closeness
of the finish was recognized at the time. As part of this review the Board
re-checked the two logs against the full set of logs received for the 2014
IARU HF Championship, many of which were not available during the judging period. That re-check left the two teams closer still, less than one
hundredth of one percent apart. The Board is satisfied that the difference
between them was below the resolution of the log-checking process, and that no adjudication could have separated them reliably. The rules of WRTC 2014 define the Champion and are silent on the order of finish below it, so
nothing in the rules stands in the way of recording a draw.
Both teams were consulted and have agreed to share third place. The board therefore records the finish for third place at WRTC 2014 as a draw between W1P, operated by DJ5MW and DL1IAO, and W1Z, operated by N5DX and N2IC, and both teams are shown in third place in the results. No published score is altered. This takes nothing away from either team, or from any other competitor. No rule set at any WRTC has addressed how such a close finish should be recorded, and the Board will ask the Sanctioning Committee to consider whether future rules should.
On behalf of the WRTC2014 Board of Directors
Doug K1DG
WRTC2014 Chairman |
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Make sure you know what’s going on! There’s always something happening in the world of amateur radio contesting, so make sure you know what’s happening! It can become easy to miss fun contests, neat presentations, and other goings-on. Resources like the contest calendar, various contest-related mailing reflectors, and this newsletter are great ways to make sure you and your friends are up to date on the latest happenings. |
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The JQ1YUF station, taken during a recent domestic contest. [Bruce Yang, KN8U, photo] |
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Practice your typing This may sound odd, but being a good typist will help improve your accuracy in contesting. Being able to type fast helps with high rate runs, and being able to type without looking down at the keyboard lets you shift your focus away from typing and onto maximizing your time on the radio. |
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Jochen Hammes has built on some existing work to make a successful 13-centimeter transmitter from an ESP32 microcontroller. It is highly experimental, transmits at extremely low power, but does appear to work with narrowband modes like SSB and RTTY. ESP32 microcontrollers are very cheap, pricing in around $5, so this is definitely a cheap way to explore the 13-centimeter band, even if you can only work from one end of your house to the other. |
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Safety FirstIf you’re on the CQ Contest or YCCC reflectors, you likely saw Paul Young’s message about an incident affecting his wife at a recent tower climb. They were very lucky and Charlotte suffered no major injury, mostly thanks to wearing a helmet. It serves as a great reminder to tread cautiously when working on or around towers. I can think of so many hams whose story ends with “died doing what he loved” meaning they died falling off a tower. There are things you must do to ensure the safety of everyone during tower work. Jim, K1IR, has a good presentation on the topic he’s done a few times, linked here. OSHA and the FCC have also released a communication tower best practices guide, which is a great read. Most importantly, never do any work that makes you uncomfortable. Schedule a tower climb, but wake up feeling off that day? Cancel it. Get up 90 feet of a 120-foot tower and it looks unsafe? Stop the climb. And, for when accidents do happen, always wear proper personal protective equipment; it will literally save the lives of you and others. No antenna work or tower climb is worth your life.
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| 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, Max, N4ML |
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October 15, 2026 - October 28, 2026
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. |
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| | HF Contests
Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest, Oct 15, 0000z to Oct 16, 0300z; CW; Bands: 20; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Oct 22.
CWops Test (CWT), Oct 15, 0300z to Oct 15, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 17.
CWops Test (CWT), Oct 15, 0700z to Oct 15, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 17.
NTC QSO Party, Oct 15, 1900z to Oct 15, 2000z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; NTC Member: RST + Member No., non-Member: RST + "NM", Less than 25 wpm; Logs due: Oct 19.
NCCC FT4 Sprint, Oct 16, 0100z to Oct 16, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Oct 18.
Weekly RTTY Test, Oct 16, 0145z to Oct 16, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 18.
NCCC Sprint, Oct 16, 0230z to Oct 16, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Oct 18.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Oct 16, 2000z to Oct 16, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 18.
JARL WW RTTY Contest, Oct 17, 0000z to Oct 18, 2359z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; SO: RST + age of operator, MO: RST + average age of operators or "01"; Logs due: Oct 28.
New York QSO Party, Oct 17, 1400z to Oct 18, 0200z; CW, SSB, Digital; Bands: All, except WARC; NY: RS(T) + county, non-NY: RS(T) + (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: Nov 1.
Worked All Germany Contest, Oct 17, 1500z to Oct 18, 1459z; CW, SSB; Bands: (Please observe contest free band segments per the rules), 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; DL, DARC-Member: RS(T) + DOK (chapter code), DL, non-DARC: RS(T) + "NM", non-DL: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 25.
Stew Perry Topband Challenge, Oct 17, 1500z to Oct 18, 1500z; CW; Bands: 160; 4-Character grid square; Logs due: Nov 2.
Feld Hell Sprint, Oct 17, 2000z to Oct 17, 2359z; Feld Hell; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; (see rules); Logs due: Oct 21.
Argentina National 7 MHz Contest, Oct 17, 2130z to Oct 17, 2330z; SSB; Bands: 40; RS + 2-digit year first licensed; Logs due: Oct 25.
Asia-Pacific Fall Sprint, CW, Oct 18, 0000z to Oct 18, 0200z; CW; Bands: 20, 15; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 25.
Illinois QSO Party, Oct 18, 1700z to Oct 19, 0100z; CW/digital (no FT4/8), Phone; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; IL: RS(T) + County, non-IL: RS(T) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 19.
Run for the Bacon QRP Contest, Oct 18, 2300z to Oct 19, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs due: Oct 24.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Oct 19, 0000z to Oct 19, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 21.
ARRL School Club Roundup, Oct 19, 1300z to Oct 23, 2359z; CW, Phone, RTTY/Digital; Bands: All, except 60, 30, 17, 12m; RS(T) + Class (I/C/S) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Nov 7.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Oct 19, 1300z to Oct 19, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Oct 22.
OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Oct 19, 1630z to Oct 19, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 23.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Oct 19, 1900z to Oct 19, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Oct 22.
Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Oct 20, 0100z to Oct 20, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Oct 21.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Oct 20, 0300z to Oct 20, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Oct 22.
Tuesday's Telegraphy Contest, Oct 20, 1930z to Oct 20, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 21.
Phone Weekly Test, Oct 21, 0230z to Oct 21, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Oct 23.
A1Club AWT, Oct 21, 1145z to Oct 21, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Oct 26.
CWops Test (CWT), Oct 21, 1300z to Oct 21, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 24.
Mini-Test 40, Oct 21, 1700z to Oct 21, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 23.
Mini-Test 80, Oct 21, 1800z to Oct 21, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 23.
AGCW Semi-Automatic Key Evening, Oct 21, 1900z to Oct 21, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No. + "/" + 2-digit year first used a bug; Logs due: Nov 4.
CWops Test (CWT), Oct 21, 1900z to Oct 21, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 24.
IRTS 80m Counties Contest, Oct 21, 2000z to Oct 21, 2100z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80; EI/GI: RS(T) + Serial no. + county, non-EI/GI: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Nov 4.
CWops Test (CWT), Oct 22, 0300z to Oct 22, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 24.
CWops Test (CWT), Oct 22, 0700z to Oct 22, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 24.
RSGB 80m Autumn Series, SSB, Oct 22, 1900z to Oct 22, 2030z; SSB; Bands: 80; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 25.
NCCC FT4 Sprint, Oct 23, 0100z to Oct 23, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Oct 25.
Weekly RTTY Test, Oct 23, 0145z to Oct 23, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 25.
NCCC Sprint, Oct 23, 0230z to Oct 23, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Oct 25.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Oct 23, 2000z to Oct 23, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 25.
CQ Worldwide DX Contest, SSB, Oct 24, 0000z to Oct 25, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS + CQ Zone No.; Logs due: Oct 27.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Oct 26, 0000z to Oct 26, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 28.
QCX Challenge, Oct 26, 1300z to Oct 26, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Nov 1.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Oct 26, 1300z to Oct 26, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Oct 29.
OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Oct 26, 1630z to Oct 26, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 30.
QCX Challenge, Oct 26, 1900z to Oct 26, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Nov 1.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Oct 26, 1900z to Oct 26, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Oct 29.
RSGB FT4 Contest, Oct 26, 2000z to Oct 26, 2200z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Signal report; Logs due: Oct 27.
Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Oct 27, 0100z to Oct 27, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Oct 28.
QCX Challenge, Oct 27, 0300z to Oct 27, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Name + (state/province/country) + Rig; Logs due: Nov 1.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Oct 27, 0300z to Oct 27, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Oct 29.
Tuesday's Telegraphy Contest, Oct 27, 1930z to Oct 27, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 28.
SKCC Sprint, Oct 28, 0000z to Oct 28, 0200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Oct 31.
Phone Weekly Test, Oct 28, 0230z to Oct 28, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Oct 30.
A1Club AWT, Oct 28, 1145z to Oct 28, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Nov 2.
CWops Test (CWT), Oct 28, 1300z to Oct 28, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 31.
Mini-Test 40, Oct 28, 1700z to Oct 28, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 30.
Mini-Test 80, Oct 28, 1800z to Oct 28, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 30.
CWops Test (CWT), Oct 28, 1900z to Oct 28, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Oct 31.
UKEICC 80m Contest, Oct 28, 2000z to Oct 28, 2100z; CW; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Oct 28.
VHF-UHF Contests
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA, Oct 15, 0000z to Oct 15, 0500z; FT8/4; Bands: 1296; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Oct 20.
902 MHz and Up Fall Sprint, Oct 17, 0800 local to Oct 17, 1400 local; Analog, Digital; Bands: 902 MHz and above; 6-character grid square; Logs due: Oct 31.
UBA ON Contest, 2m, Oct 18, 0700z to Oct 18, 1000z; CW, Phone; Bands: 2; ON: RS(T) + Serial No. + ON Section, non-ON: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Oct 23.
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Oct 21, 1700z to Oct 21, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 1.2G; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Oct 24.
Also, see Feld Hell Sprint, Illinois QSO Party, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest and SKCC Sprint, above. |
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| | | | October 15 October 16 October 17 October 18 October 19 October 20 October 21 October 22 October 23 October 24 October 25 October 26 October 27 October 28 |
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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 © 2026 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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