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Upcoming Contests – Things to Do |
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This weekend brings two great contests: The SSB running of All Asian DX, and the second weekend for the ARRL EME contest. Contest activity continues to ramp up after that with September VHF, the fall North American CW Sprint, and Worked All Europe SSB!
This weekend’s running of ARRL EME is once again focused on the microwave bands. People have done EME as high as 76 GHz, and there are a surprising amount of microwave EME stations. The EME contest is a great time to test your equipment and make some good contacts.
The following weekend, we get to experience the fastest 4 hours in radiosport with the North American Sprint. This is the CW running of the event. It’s a great single-operator-only event and only takes 4 hours of your time!
For those QSO party fanatics, this Sunday is the Tennessee QSO Party, and next weekend brings us the Colorado and New Jersey QSO Parties.
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No mults lost this week! As always, feel free to email us if you identify any errors! |
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September 3, 2026 - September 16, 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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September 3
September 4
September 5
September 6
September 7
September 8
September 9
September 10
September 11
September 12
September 13
September 14
September 15
September 16
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News, Press Releases, and Special Interest |
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Hot off the press, the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) 2026 organizing committee has released their findings related to some reports of “pirate multipliers” and station identities being revealed. As a competitor in this WRTC, I was eager to see what the judging committee would find out. I’ll let the document speak for itself.
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Your network is your net worth
Who you know in contesting can really help you out in your contesting career, oftentimes more than your skill or talent. Having a strong network of friends who can answer your questions, offer up their station, and even loan equipment will help you become a better contester.
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It was great to meet the middle-school winners of the fall School Club Roundup, LaFayette Middle School, W4LMS, at Huntsville Hamfest! They put up a great score. | | | |
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Turn on that second receiver
Many modern radios have a second receiver, and this is a great way to add more contacts to the log. If SO2R seems daunting, a second receive-only VFO will ease you into running and searching at the same time!
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Technical Topics and Discussion |
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The Parks on the Air team has released a beta of their next version of pota.app. The new version has an updated user interface, enhanced spotting, and other neat new features. You can check out the beta for yourself at next.pota.app. It’s nice to see some of the highly used tools by hams get improved in new ways.
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When I was drafting up this issue of the contest update, I was thinking to myself, “We should be hearing about WRTC soon,” and I was concerned the announcement would come out after this contest update.
Thankfully, it came out before deadline, and the judging committee did a great job doing their due diligence and analyzing all the leads they had.
I’m sure over the next week we will hear from a lot of different voices about these new results.
Regardless, it is nice to close the books on this WRTC, and we can all sleep well knowing that this process will ensure better WRTC events in the future.
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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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September 3, 2026 - September 16, 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, Sep 3, 0000z to Sep 4, 0300z; CW; Bands: 40; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Sep 10.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 3, 0300z to Sep 3, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 5.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 3, 0700z to Sep 3, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 5.
SKCC Sprint Europe, Sep 3, 2000z to Sep 3, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Sep 10.
NCCC FT4 Sprint, Sep 4, 0100z to Sep 4, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 6.
Weekly RTTY Test, Sep 4, 0145z to Sep 4, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 6.
NCCC Sprint Ladder, Sep 4, 0230z to Sep 4, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Sep 6.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Sep 4, 2000z to Sep 4, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 6.
All Asian DX Contest, Phone, Sep 5, 0000z to Sep 6, 2359z; Phone; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS + 2-digit age; Logs due: Sep 16.
CWOps CW Open, Sep 5, 0000z to Sep 5, 0359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Serial No. + Name; Logs due: Sep 23.
Wake-Up! QRP Sprint, Sep 5, 0600z to Sep 5, 0800z; CW; Bands: 40, 20; RST + Serial No. + suffix of previous QSO ("QRP" for 1st QSO); Logs due: Sep 12.
Russian RTTY WW Contest, Sep 5, 1200z to Sep 6, 1159z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RU: RSQ + 2-letter oblast, non-RU: RST + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 20.
CWOps CW Open, Sep 5, 1200z to Sep 5, 1559z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Serial No. + Name; Logs due: Sep 23.
IARU Region 1 Field Day, SSB, Sep 5, 1300z to Sep 6, 1259z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 13.
RSGB SSB Field Day, Sep 5, 1300z to Sep 6, 1300z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 11.
PODXS 070 Club Jay Hudak Memorial 80m Sprint, Sep 5, 2000z to Sep 6, 2000z; PSK31; Bands: 80; RST + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 13.
CWOps CW Open, Sep 5, 2000z to Sep 5, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Serial No. + Name; Logs due: Sep 23.
Tennessee QSO Party, Sep 6, 1700z to Sep 7, 0300z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: All, except WARC; TN: RS(T) + county, non-TN: RS(T) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 15.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Sep 7, 0000z to Sep 7, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 9.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 7, 1300z to Sep 7, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 10.
OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Sep 7, 1630z to Sep 7, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 11.
RSGB 80m Autumn Series, SSB, Sep 7, 1900z to Sep 7, 2030z; SSB; Bands: 80; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 10.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 7, 1900z to Sep 7, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 10.
MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint, Sep 7, 2300z to Sep 8, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + (member no./power output); Logs due: Sep 21.
ARS Spartan Sprint, Sep 8, 0000z to Sep 8, 0200z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + Power; Logs due: Sep 10.
Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Sep 8, 0100z to Sep 8, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Sep 9.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 8, 0300z to Sep 8, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 10.
DARC CW-Training Contest, Sep 8, 1800z to Sep 8, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; DE: RST + DOK/NM, non-DE: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 15.
Tuesday's Telegraphy Contest, Sep 8, 1930z to Sep 8, 2020z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 9.
Phone Weekly Test, Sep 9, 0230z to Sep 9, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Sep 11.
A1Club AWT, Sep 9, 1145z to Sep 9, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Sep 14.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 9, 1300z to Sep 9, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 12.
Mini-Test 40, Sep 9, 1700z to Sep 9, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 11.
Mini-Test 80, Sep 9, 1800z to Sep 9, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 11.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 9, 1900z to Sep 9, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 12.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 10, 0300z to Sep 10, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 12.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 10, 0700z to Sep 10, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 12.
NCCC FT4 Sprint, Sep 11, 0100z to Sep 11, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 13.
Weekly RTTY Test, Sep 11, 0145z to Sep 11, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 13.
NCCC Sprint Ladder, Sep 11, 0230z to Sep 11, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Sep 13.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Sep 11, 2000z to Sep 11, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 13.
WAE DX Contest, SSB, Sep 12, 0000z to Sep 13, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 20.
SKCC Weekend Sprintathon, Sep 12, 1200z to Sep 13, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Sep 20.
Colorado QSO Party, Sep 12, 1400z to Sep 13, 0359z; CW, Phone; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2; CO: RS(T) + county, W/VE: RS(T) + (state/province), DX: RS(T) + "DX"; Logs due: Sep 19.
New Jersey QSO Party, Sep 12, 1400z to Sep 13, 0200z; CW, Phone, Digital; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; NJ: RS(T) + county, non-NJ: RS(T) + (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: Oct 1.
Ohio State Parks on the Air, Sep 12, 1400z to Sep 12, 2200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; OH Park: park abbreviation, OH: "Ohio", W/VE: (state/province), DX: "DX"; Logs due: Sep 26.
North American Sprint, CW, Sep 13, 0000z to Sep 13, 0400z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name] + [your state/province/country]; Logs due: Sep 20.
IRTS 70cm Counties Contest, Sep 13, 1300z to Sep 13, 1330z; FM, SSB; Bands: 70cm; EI/GI: RS(T) + Serial no. + county, non-EI/GI: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 27.
4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint, Sep 14, 0000z to Sep 14, 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: Sep 16.
K1USN Slow Speed Test, Sep 14, 0000z to Sep 14, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 16.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 14, 1300z to Sep 14, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 17.
OK1WC Memorial (MWC), Sep 14, 1630z to Sep 14, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 18.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 14, 1900z to Sep 14, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 17.
Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, Sep 15, 0100z to Sep 15, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Sep 16.
ICWC Medium Speed Test, Sep 15, 0300z to Sep 15, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Sep 17.
Tuesday's Telegraphy Contest, Sep 15, 1930z to Sep 15, 2020z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 16.
Phone Weekly Test, Sep 16, 0230z to Sep 16, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Sep 18.
A1Club AWT, Sep 16, 1145z to Sep 16, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Sep 21.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 16, 1300z to Sep 16, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 19.
Mini-Test 40, Sep 16, 1700z to Sep 16, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 18.
Mini-Test 80, Sep 16, 1800z to Sep 16, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 18.
RSGB 80m Autumn Series, CW, Sep 16, 1900z to Sep 16, 2030z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 19.
CWops Test (CWT), Sep 16, 1900z to Sep 16, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Sep 19.
VHF-UHF Contests
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA, Sep 3, 0000z to Sep 3, 0500z; FT8/4; Bands: 144; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 8.
ARRL EME Contest, Sep 5, 0000z to Sep 6, 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 29.
WAB 144 MHz Phone, Sep 6, 1000z to Sep 6, 1400z; SSB; Bands: 2; British Isles: RS + serial no. + WAB square, Other: RS + serial no. + country; Logs due: Sep 16.
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Sep 9, 1700z to Sep 9, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 432 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 12.
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA, Sep 10, 0000z to Sep 10, 0500z; FT8/4; Bands: 432; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 15.
ARRL September VHF Contest, Sep 12, 1800z to Sep 14, 0300z; All; Bands: 50 MHz and up; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 24.
IRTS 2m Counties Contest, Sep 13, 1330z to Sep 13, 1500z; FM, SSB; Bands: 2; EI/GI: RS(T) + Serial no. + county, non-EI/GI: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Sep 27.
VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest, Sep 16, 1700z to Sep 16, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 1.2G; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Sep 19.
Also, see SKCC Sprint Europe, MI QRP Labor Day CW Sprint, Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest, SKCC Weekend Sprintathon and Colorado QSO Party, above.
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September 3, 2026 - September 16, 2026
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September 3
September 4
September 5
September 6
September 7
September 8
September 9
September 10
September 11
September 12
September 13
September 14
September 15
September 16
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ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest Calendar.
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