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Open High Bands Mean More Strategy Choices in NAQP CW

Sun, 8 Jan 2012 08:10:20 EDT

The story is a familiar one now for the January running of the North American QSO Party, with plenty of active sunspots fueling the bands - but with more open bands also come more decisions on how best to maximize your score in this contest that counts multipliers on every band from 160 to 10 meters.

New Year Kicks Off With ARRL RTTY Roundup

Sun, 1 Jan 2012 09:10:20 EDT

After a 2010 contest that saw a number of individual country and W/VE section records set by RTTY contesters, much improved band conditions may spur even more action in this year's first big contest, the ARRL RTTY Roundup.

Fingers Crossed For "Amazing" Conditions in ARRL 10 Meter Test

Mon, 5 Dec 2011 23:10:20 EDT

After suffering through years of ARRL 10 Meter Contests where conditions sounded more like a somewhat dead 6 meter band, the 2011 version could turn out to be a record breaking affair, as contesters are hoping for what some predict will be "amazing" conditions this coming weekend.

High Bands Wide Open As Records Fall in CQ WW CW 2011

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:10:20 EDT

With high sunspot numbers for the first time in eight years, the 2011 CQ WW CW Contest lived up to the hype, as wide open high bands brought huge numbers of contacts on 10 meters, helping to boost scores around the world and likely re-writing a chunk of the CQ WW record book in the process.

Time To Start Focusing On 2011 CQ WW CW

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:00:20 EDT

With sunspot numbers still high, radio-sport.net starts the preview of this year's CQ WW CW contest, which if the bands are anything like they were in CQ WW SSB, then 10 and 15 meters will have more than enough DX activity to keep everyone interested for the last weekend in November.

Big Strategy Choices Loom For ARRL Sweepstakes SSB

Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:01:20 EDT

With the high bands active and sunspot numbers still high, the question is how will wide open bands on 10 and 15 meters impact this year's ARRL November Sweepstakes SSB Contest? Like other contests, it's been a number of years since more than a handful of operators went down 10 meters to make a few QSO's.

Open Bands Spur Hope For Good Conditions in CQ WW CW

Sun, 6 Nov 2011 13:40:20 EDT

From the big contest multi-ops to the little guy hunting for a few new countries, the return of 10 meters in the 2011 CQ WW SSB Contest was a welcome change from years of sluggish high band conditions - and it left many hoping for a repeat later this month in the 2011 CQ WW CW Contest.

After Dead Heat in 2010, ARRL SS CW Looks For One Winner

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 06:00:20 EDT

With some of the best contest conditions in years and new low power category offerings this year, contesters kick off the ARRL Sweepstakes for 2011 with one thing certain - it will be difficult to repeat the "dead heat" that resulted in a tie last year between Pat Barkey N9RV and Mark Obermann AG9A. Also, don't forget there are new low power sections inside the Assisted and Multi-Op categories for the first time this year.

High Bands Plentiful as 10 Meters Blows Wide Open in CQ WW SSB

Sun, 30 Oct 2011 20:40:20 EDT

After years of slogging through difficult conditions on the high HF contest bands, the 2011 CQ WW SSB Contest produced especially big numbers on 10 meters in a weekend that thrilled contesters around the world. "Conditions were incredible," said one top American contester just minutes after the contest ended.

Multi-Ops Face New Mandatory "Lockout" Rule in CQ WW DX

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:00:20 EDT

The biggest new rule in this year's CQ WW DX Contests is aimed at multi-operators, trying to make sure that those stations aren't running too many signals on one band. In order to make sure that doesn't happen, CQ WW is now requiring a "lockout" device to make sure only one signal is transmitted.

What Are the Best Zones To End Up in CQ WW SSB Top Ten?

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:00:10 EDT

When you are sitting down trying to figure out who might win the 2011 CQ WW DX Contest, taking a look back at the Top Ten from recent years shows that two of the most populous areas in the world - the East Coast of North America and Western Europe - also find their way into the Top Ten most often.

CQ WW SSB Kicks Off Big Stretch For WRTC Qualifying

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:00:00 EDT

Not only is the CQ WW DX SSB Contest the biggest ham radio test of the year, but it's also the kick off of a very difficult one month stretch for hams around the world - and especially in the US and Canada - on the road to qualifying for the 2014 World Radiosport Team Championship.

CQ WW Calls for End to Post-Contest Log Massage

Thu, 20 Oct 2011 19:00:00 EDT

As part of the drive to insure "fair play" in ham radio contesting, top officials from the CQ World Wide Contest Committee are asking contesters to end the practice of using outside aid to alter their logs - after the contest has ended. "Your contest result is a measure of your contesting skill," said one CQ WW CC member.

CQ WW DX Contest Organizers Urge "Fair Play"

Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:10:00 EDT

Part of an ongoing public relations offensive on cheating, the organizers of the CQ World Wide DX Contest are again urging contesters around the world to follow their operating rules and embrace "fair play." "The results depend on all of us being honest," said the CQ WW Contest Director K3EST.

Active Sun Could Mean Wide Open CQ WW DX SSB Contest

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 19:10:00 EDT

With what may be the best solar conditions for propagation since 2002, the CQ WW DX SSB Contest arrives the last weekend in October with high hopes for both a big turnout and stellar scores. "This could very well be the best CQWW season in nearly a decade," said one top contester.

Team W2RE Members Call CQ WW CW Yellow Card "Honest Mistake"

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:10:00 EDT

Members of the W2RE multi-op team say a faulty lockout that allowed two signals to be transmitted at the same time - and not cheating - was the reason they received a Yellow Card punishment in the 2010 CQ WW CW Contest. Read the details of what they say went wrong - "It was an honest mistake."

Golden State Challenge - 58 For a Clean Sweep in California QSO

Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:09:00 EDT

Looking to warm up your antennas for the big contest season ahead? Then you can check out your beam headings for W6, as the 2011 edition of the California QSO Party is here. Two big streaks are in play this year, as N6MJ tries for seven straight in-state Single Operator wins and W1UE looks for a fourth in a row from outside the Golden State

More Low Power Contest Options Coming in ARRL Sweepstakes

Sat, 24 Sep 2011 20:10:00 EDT

As you start your planning for the 2011-2012 contest season, there are more offerings for low power contesters, as extra categories will now be available in this year's ARRL November Sweepstakes, with the Multi-Op and Unlimited (Assisted) divided into both High and Low Power contests

Possible Rules Changes for ARRL DX On Hold, But Still Under Review

Sun, 18 Sep 2011 11:30:00 EDT

While a broad effort to overhaul the rules of the ARRL DX Contest has been delayed after a summer dispute over those proposals, the leader of the Contest Advisory Committee still intends to push ahead and present a reform plan to the ARRL in coming months.

CQ WW Contest Committee Casts Wider Net in CW Results

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:30:00 EDT

The offensive on ham radio contest cheating continues for the CQ Worldwide Contest Committee, as the results for the 2010 CQ WW CW test included two Red Cards and five Yellow Cards for rules violations, as three different stations in Europe were penalized in both the SSB and CW contests. Plus, the first Yellow Card has been handed out to a US station, as Team W2RE received a public rules rebuke.

Audio Recordings Net Multiple DQ's in 2011 Russian DX

Mon, 22 Aug 2011 06:00:00 EDT

Armed with audio evidence from this year's contest, organizers of the Russian DX Contest this week announced a series of DQ's in their 2011 test, and vowed to crack down even more in 2012. At the same time, the CQ WW Contest Committee is moving forward with a new rule designed to prevent multiple signals at the same time on one band from multi-ops for this year's CQ WW DX Contests.

Cheating Crackdown Continues with 2010 CQ WW SSB Results

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 21:57:05 EDT

The cheating crackdown started several years ago by the CQ World Wide Contest Committee showed no signs of easing up, as the newly-issued results of the 2010 CQ WW SSB Contest included three Red Card and two Yellow Card violations. Also, 54 different entries were moved into the Assisted category because of the use of outside assistance.

24 Hours Of IARU Continues to Grow in Popularity

Sun, 3 Jul 2011 21:01:05 EDT

It may only be a 24 hour contest, the but the IARU HF Contest continues to grow, offering contesters not only a shorter contest period, but also a variety of category options. The Low Power categories remain the most popular, while someone looking for a soft spot might want to look at QRP. If you want to have a good chance at victory, Zone 28 and Europe may be a popular location.

Contesters Divide Along Expected Lines Over ARRL DX Rule Change Ideas

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 06:01:05 EDT

An in-depth ARRL review of possible changes to the rules for the ARRL DX Contest has brought the expected range of opinions from the ham radio contest community, though a strong majority of emails to radio-sport.net showed surprising support for the idea of changing to a new scoring concept, using a distance-based scoring system like one in the popular Stew Perry 160 Meter Contest.

New Solar Studies Raise Chance Of Long Term Low Band Propagation

Sun, 19 Jun 2011 06:01:22 EDT

Even as the sun has shown signs of life in the last six months, a new report from the U.S. National Solar Observatory raises the question of whether the next solar cycle might be even less active than many had been forecasting in recent years. In other words, it could bring on an extended period of solar inactivity - bad for the higher HF bands like 10 and 15 meters, but great news for the low bands on 80 and 160 meters.

Possible Rules Changes for ARRL DX Contest

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 07:01:05 EDT

The ARRL Contest Advisory Committee is considering a series of major rules changes for the ARRL DX Contest, some of which have sparked strong email battles in recent days over how best to foster changes that will bring increased participation in the future. The skirmishes have mainly focused on a distance-based scoring system and limits on the hours a single operator could spend in the contest.

End Of May Brings CQ WPX CW Prefix Shootout

Wed, 25 May 2011 09:01:05 EDT

After tough conditions on the bands in 2010, organizers are hopeful that this weekend's CQ WPX CW contest will draw a big field, though sunspot numbers may not be as high as back in March for the SSB leg of this popular contest.

Contest Focus Turns To 2011 Dayton Hamvention

Sat, 7 May 2011 21:01:05 EDT

For thousands of amateur radio enthusiasts - and hundreds in the ham radio contest community - the prime destination this next week is Dayton, Ohio, for the 2011 Dayton Hamvention, which runs May 20-22. As always, the Crowne Plaza hotel in downtown Dayton is the focus for most of the in-person contest pileup action.

May Brings Trifecta of State QSO Party Contests

Tue, 3 May 2011 09:01:05 EDT

This weekend starts the run for the "Triple Crown" in horse racing, with the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby on Saturday, just as ham radio contesters in the US have their own triple contest battle, with the New England, Indiana and 7th Call Area QSO parties.

Extra Sunspots Mean More Sunshine For Florida QSO Party

Sun, 24 Apr 2011 20:01:05 EDT

The end of April is here, which means the Sunshine State moves to center stage with the 2011 edition of the Florida QSO Party, where the goal has become not "if" you can get a sweep of Florida's 67 counties, but how fast.

Records Fall As Bands Go Wide Open In WPX SSB

Sun, 27 Mar 2011 21:11:05 EDT

After years of post contest reviews that sounded similar themes of awful conditions on the HF high bands, contesters are hoping that things are now on the upswing after 48 hour contest with big openings on 10 and 15 meters, this time in the CQ WPX SSB test. "We finally got good conditions for a contest weekend!" said WPX Contest Director Randy Thompson K5ZD.

WPX SSB Arrives With Reminder Of Cheating Crackdown

Wed, 23 Mar 2011 21:11:05 EDT

As the bands come alive this weekend for the CQ WPX SSB Contest, there's fresh evidence from the results of the 2010 WPX SSB of the ongoing crackdown by contest sponsors on cheating within the ham radio contest community. Jim Sullivan W7EJ is the defending WPX SSB champ in 2011, as he set a new Single Operator record last year from CN2R in Morocco, while Team DR1A set a new record for most prefixes.

Don't Waste Time After This Week's Russian DX Contest

Wed, 16 Mar 2011 21:11:05 EDT

This year's Russian DX Contest may not be remembered for enhanced HF band conditions, but rather for the fast turnaround that will be needed by top competitors to insure that they are eligible for awards in this 24 hour test, all an effort by organizers to get tough on ham radio contest cheating.

The British Empire Returns With CQ BERU

Wed, 9 Mar 2011 21:11:05 EDT

After a good weekend of propagation for the ARRL DX SSB Contest, the big beneficiaries of that could be those participating in the Commonwealth Contest, as the familiar "CQ BERU" will be heard on the bands this weekend in the 74th edition of what's known as the "original DX contest."

10 Meters Finally Explodes In 2011 ARRL DX SSB

Sun, 6 Mar 2011 22:31:05 EDT

While the 2011 ARRL CW Contest gave contesters a small taste of openings on 10 meters, last weekend's ARRL SSB test delivered for many, registering numbers not seen in a number of years on that band. "Simply amazing on Sunday," reported a number of US operators, most of whom hadn't run Europe on 10 meters in at least five years.

Cheating Charges Cloud Aftermath of ARRL DX CW

Tue, 1 Mar 2011 22:51:05 EDT

Instead of talk about extra 10 meter propagation and better contest conditions, the week after the ARRL DX CW Contest turned into accusations about cheating - focused on one Russian operator - and allegedly intentional bad spots put out during the test by another contester.

ARRL CW Single Operator Record From 1993 Falls To RD3A

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 17:21:05 EDT

An 18 year old record seems to be out the window in the ARRL DX CW contest, as a trip to the Carribean for Russian contester Valery Komarov RD3A has given him the top claimed score in this year's test, and a huge edge over the SOAB HP record held since 1993 by Jeff Steinman ex-KR0Y, now N5TJ.

Back To Topband for CQ 160 Meter SSB Contest

Mon, 21 Feb 2011 16:21:05 EDT

After a big weekend on all HF contest bands for the ARRL DX CW contest, this weekend brings a focus on 160 meters, with the 2011 running of the CQ 160 SSB Contest. The big question will be, what does the sun have in store for this Topband test? The signs from ARRL CW show that there could be a good bit of trans-Atlantic and Pacific DX.

ARRL Offers New Low Power Categories For ARRL DX

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 14:11:05 EDT

As operators prepare for the 2011 version of the ARRL DX CW Contest this weekend, ham radio contesters will have some new category choices to make thanks to some changes by the American Radio Relay League, as the Single Operator Assisted and the Multi-Single categories now have a Low Power option as well.

Florida Contest Group Tries To Create "Southern Dayton"

Sun, 13 Feb 2011 14:10:05 EDT

A new crackdown on cheating announced last week by the organizers of the Russian DX Contest was a hot topic of conversation as contesters from around the U.S. and the world gathered in Orlando, Florida, all part of this past weekend's Orlando Hamcation. See the pictures and how organizers are trying to make the Florida Contest Group Super Suite into the 'Southern Dayton.'

Russian DX Unveils Tough New Rules To Crack Down On Cheats

Wed, 9 Feb 2011 23:20:05 EDT

In yet another bid by a major contest to put the squeeze on possible cheating, organizers of the Russian DX Contest have unveiled plans that tighten the rules on log submissions for top scoring entries to just 36 hours and require the frequency of every contact to be in a log entry.

Record Book Again In Danger In 2011 CQ WPX RTTY

Mon, 7 Feb 2011 09:00:05 EDT

The fastest growing segment of the ham radio contest community continues to be RTTY contesting, and this coming weekend that will be very apparent on the bands, with the 2011 running of the CQ WPX RTTY Contest. The 2010 WPX RTTY shattered the record for submitted logs, as entries went up 16%.

WRTC Qualifying Resumes With NA Sprint CW Test

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:00:00 EDT

If you have shied away from the some of the qualifying contests for the 2014 World Radiosport Team Championships because of time constraints, you may have no excuse this coming weekend, as the North American Sprint CW Contest enters the WRTC fray. For four hours of contesting, you could find yourself with 800 WRTC points.

Active Mobile Roster For 2011 Minnesota QSO Party

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:00:05 EDT

The Land O'Lakes grabs top billing on the state QSO party circuit this coming weekend, as the Minnesota QSO Party throws a 12-hour contest onto the bands, with a good group of mobiles and some new rules - and prizes that include food - to stir up extra activity.

Back To Topband For 2011 CQ 160 CW Contest

Sun, 23 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EDT

It's time to head back to the Topband, as the biggest 160 meter contest of the year arrives this weekend, with the CQ 160 CW test. While it may not have the unbelievable conditions of two years ago, it's still a chance for expert and newcomer alike to work a host of DX from all corners of the world.

Contesters Hope For Better Future In Tunisia

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EDT

As the regime of Tunisian leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali collapsed over the weekend, some of the many citizens of that nation watching up close were ham radio operators from the North African nation, wondering if the change in government might mean more opportunities for radio hobbyists in 3V.

More 2014 WRTC Qualifying With NAQP SSB

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:20:00 EDT

Contesters in North America get another crack at a World Radiosport Team Championship qualifying event this weekend, as the SSB leg of the North American QSO Party is on the schedule for contesters. Last weekend's NAQP was the usual furious affair, which was spiced up by some openings on 10 meters.

Familiar Contest Names Do Battle In Legal Arena

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 22:22:00 EDT

In a legal battle that involves some very familiar names for ham radio contesters, the amateur radio products company DX Engineering has accused two companies and the hams that run them of wrongly copying and selling a patented antenna product.

2014 WRTC Qualifying Resumes With NAQP CW

Sun, 2 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EDT

Qualifying for the 2014 World Radiosport Team Championship gets off to a fast start in the New Year, as the CW leg of the North American QSO Party comes this weekend, launching a busy schedule of WRTC qualifying in 2011. For hams in North America, NAQP CW is followed next weekend by NAQP SSB, both of which are worth 800 WRTC qualifying points.

ARRL RTTY Looks For Even More Record Scores

Sun, 2 Jan 2011 08:00:02 EDT

If you search the record book for the ARRL RTTY Roundup, it doesn't take long to realize how much the sport of RTTY contesting has grown in recent years, as there are dozens of individual marks from just the last few years of that test. And as the RTTY Roundup arrives this weekend, there's no reason to think that contesters won't find a way to repeat that type of success in 2011