CQ WW RELEASES 2008 LOGS ON WEB

It's almost the end of June, which means you have four months now to be ready for the CQ WW SSB Contest and five months until the CW version. And the logs of last year's contests are now online for your review. Also, we take a quick look at the new "Xtreme" category which debuts later this year. NEW

PVRC SETS CONTEST WEBINARS SKED

Taking the lead on internet presentations, the Potomac Valley Radio Club has set out an initial schedule for contest related webinars in June, July and August of this year. Club leaders say it's just the start of a series of web conferences geared towards contesting topics that will be open to anyone around the world. MORE

RECORDS FALL IN 2009 CQ WPX CW TEST

Despite a year that has so far seen historically low levels of sunspot activity and continued depressed conditions on 10 and 15 meters, the CQ WPX CW contest record books could get a significant update after this year's final scores are tallied. As of now, the Single Op leader is Valery Komarov RD3AF, who might just set a World record from his operation at EF8M. MORE

VK SHIRES: NEW TEST FROM DOWN UNDER

Not unlike state based QSO parties in the US, hams in Australia will present to the world a new contest next weekend, spotlighting multipliers based on local government entities known as "shires," with mobiles on the road to add in even more contest action. Also, don't forget the Alabama QSO Party this weekend, which will have mobiles criss-crossing all 67 counties in that state. MORE

NS LADDER BACK ON AIR THIS WEEK

After a three week respite for the Dayton Hamvention and the CQ WPX CW Contest, the weekly Thursday night half hour North American contest known as "NS Ladder" is back this week. The thirty minute modified Sprint contest continues to attract more attention, with N4OGW, N9RV, K9MMS and W0YK the leaders in the four different categories. MORE

CQ WW DQ's HK3RA/RA3CO SSB ENTRY

With the Colombian government formally stating that no license or authorization for operation was ever issued to Russian contester Dimitri Kryukov RA3CO, the CQ WW Contest Committee has rejected his Top Ten effort in last year's CQ WW SSB contest, labeling the HK3RA operation "illegal." MORE

CQ WPX CW BACK WITH TOP SPOTS OPEN

Once again in 2009, there is room to move up in the CQ WPX CW contest, as several single operator class winners from last year won't be defending their titles. And with sunspots still a rarity, that means crowded conditions on 20 meters during the day and big battles on 40 and 80 at night. MORE

5B4AII TOPS RUSSIAN DX CLAIMED SCORES

The official release of claimed scores from the 2009 Russian DX Contest shows Jack Danielyan RW3QC, who operated as 5B4AII from Cyprus, with a commanding lead in the Single Operator High Power Mixed category, as he looks to repeat his win of 2008. MORE

CONTESTERS QRX FOR FUN IN DAYTON

Gone were the sometimes bitter debates of a year ago about the controversial CW Skimmer program, as in 2009, the attitude was much more relaxed as contesters and ham radio operators from the entire world gathered for the Dayton Hamvention. Get a quick review of some of the fun from radio-sport.net! MORE

YET ANOTHER CYCLE 24 FORECAST OUT

Once again, U.S. Government forecasters have redone their estimates of Solar Cycle 24, delivering more bad new to HF contest enthusiasts. The new prediction is that Cycle 24 will be the weakest sunspot cycle since 1928, with a peak not arriving until May of 2013. That means an even longer wait for good conditions on the high bands - though some aren't so sure those will arrive in four years either. MORE

PVRC TO START CONTESTING WEBINARS

Looking to use the internet to further publicize the ham radio contest hobby, leaders of the Potomac Valley Radio Club in the US have decided to embark on a series of web conferences geared towards contesting. Among the early offerings, "Choosing Your First Tower," "Introduction to RTTY Contesting," and more. MORE

HI3TEJ STAYS RADIO-SPORT WORLD #1

A series of new contest results haven't changed the leader in the radio-sport.net World Single Operator Standings, as Teddy Jiminez HI3TEJ remains World #1. But some familiar calls are moving up in the standings like KK9A and K1ZM.

Check out the latest standings and see if you've made it into the Single Operator World 100! MORE

N4PN AIMS FOR MORE NEQP LOBSTER

In the seven years of the New England QSO Party, there has only been one winner of the Single Operator competition, as Paul Newberry N4PN has had the top score each time - even when he ran low power in the inaugural 2002 NEQP. After a busy mobile weekend in the Florida QSO Party, Newberry will be back, looking for another first place lobster prize. MORE

W0BH GOES FOR FOUR 7QP VICTORIES

While Paul Newberry N4PN tries to repeat in the New England QSO Party, out West, the winning streak is in the hands of Bob Harder W0BH, as he has had the top Single Operator score in all three 7th Call Area QSO Parties. In 2008, Harder won easily, as he bagged over half of the 7QP counties, in a competition where no one will be talking about a "sweep." MORE

W8MJ AFTER 7th STRAIGHT FLORIDA QSO

The down solar cycle of the past few years hasn't made much difference to Ken Meier W8MJ, who has won six straight Single Operator titles in the Florida QSO Party and will try for seven consecutive in the 2009 edition. Meier also set the record last year for quickest sweep of Florida's counties, taking just over six hours to achieve that. MORE

SO FAR 2009 IS NOT A YEAR OF SUNSPOTS

The statistics from the first three months of 2009 show that the start of Solar Cycle 24 - which has been declared underway repeatedly - may not actually be here yet, as contesters around the world may have to wait even longer for 10 and 15 meters to rebound to their old ways. Check out the latest on how propagation might change this year. MORE

GEORGIA QSO STILL SEEKING A SWEEP

While the Easter weekend might slow down participation a bit in the 2009 Georgia QSO Party, it isn't dampening the enthusiasm and efforts of contest organizers, who are edging closer every year to their goal of having someone sweep all 159 counties in the Peach State. Check out this year's preview and make plans to join the fun! MORE

W2SC WITH NARROW WPX SSB LEAD

After three straight single operator wins in the CQ WPX SSB contest, Tom Georgens W2SC wasn't fighting just his competitors in the 2009 test, as he was hit with a "power outage" during the first night at his 8P5A contest station in Barbados, but he's still in first place overall. The Carribean wasn't the only place with power troubles, as bad storms smacked much of the US during the contest, resulting in unusually high static levels that kept scores down for many from 2008. UPDATED

CONTEST UNIVERSITY DRAWS BIG IN ITALY

The global reach of "Contest University" landed in Italy earlier this month, as Tim Duffy K3LR and Doug Grant K1DG took the CTU show on the road overseas for a second time. Check out some of the photos as contesters from Italy and other nations convened for a day of contest fun. MORE

ADVANTAGE ASIA, EUROPE IN RUSSIAN DX

While propagation conditions continue to be less than stellar, the 2009 Russian DX Contest seems likely to be an active one, in part because it's the last qualifying round for most amateurs in the chase for slots in next year's World Radiosport Team Championships. The edge in most categories goes to ops in Europe and Asia. Both overall single op champs were on Cyprus last year, as RW3QC and UA2FZ took home the high and low power crowns. MORE

WRTC SHOOTOUT IN 2009 RUSSIAN DX TEST

It's March Madness in this year's Russian DX Contest, as for almost the entire world, this is the final qualifier for the 2010 World Radiosport Team Championships in Russia. Team leader slots could be at stake in a number of qualifying regions, especially in the US, where a victory in Russian DX might mean the difference between a WRTC ticket and staying home. MORE

WORLDWIDE WRTC SCORES NOW UPDATED

The WRTC numbers are in from the 2008 WAE SSB, IARU and CQ WPX CW contests as radio-sport.net has updated qualifying numbers for the 2010 World Radiosport Team Championships in Russia.

There are full spreadsheets for every corner of the globe where you can check your own qualifying chances for Russia 2010. MORE

VY2ZM (K0DQ) TOPS ARRL CW SINGLE OPS

Retirement has been pretty good to Scott Redd K0DQ, and some recent contest results show the former United States Government Intelligence official hasn't lost much of his contest abilities, as he leads all single operators in the 2009 ARRL DX CW Contest. While VY2ZM leads all, ZF2AM tops the DX ops and NN3W is ahead in the US. MORE

MORE RECORDS FALL IN 2009 CQ 160 SSB

Conditions were not as great for the 2009 CQ 160 SSB test as they had been for CQ 160 CW, but that didn't stop records from being broken in the US and Europe. Paul Newberry N4PN led the charge from the USA, easily breaking his two year old Single Op High Power record from W8JI, but just behind is Jerry Rosalius WB9Z. Over in Europe, the big scores started with Team E7DX in Multi-op. Check the scores and the CQ 160 SSB stories. MORE

WORLD RECORDS FALL IN CQ WPX RTTY

Conditions at the start weren't very good for the 2009 CQ WPX RTTY Contest, but with more and more stations on the air, new records were likely set in at least three world categories. Current SOHP record holder Ed Muns W0YK/P49X shattered his one year old mark with over 11 million points. Also likely broken, the World low power and World Multi-Single records. MORE

G4PIQ, UA9AM WIN 2008 WAE SSB TITLE

With extra interest because of qualifying for the 2009 World Radiosport Team Championships, Andy Cook G4PIQ helped his bid for the WRTC by winning top European honors in the 2008 WAE SSB Contest. The overall leading single op score went to Yuri Kurinyi UA9AM. Check out the top scores and how it shakes up the WRTC. MORE

RD3AF, GM3POI LEAD 2009 CQ 160 CW

As the scores continue to trickle in from last month's CQ 160 CW Contest, the records keep falling, as now the European single op mark may fall to Clive Penna GM3POI, who went over 2 million points for the contest. He trails only Valery Komarov RD3AF, who ran EA8AH to 2.21 million. In the US, new records seem likely for Multi-op, Single Op High Power, Low Power and QRP! MORE

ARRL OKAYS CW SKIMMER CONTEST USE

After months of official review, the the ARRL has decided to allow the use of the controversial CW Skimmer program only for multi-ops and single operators using assistance in ARRL contests, mirroring a decision made last year by the CQ WW DX Contest. The ARRL will also re-name the Assisted category for the future. MORE

FEW SUPPORT 6Y1V PUBLIC LOG PROTEST

Just a few weeks after submitting the top Multi-Two score from North America in CQ WW SSB, the leader of the 6Y1V Multi-op team did an about face, refusing to enter his team's CQ WW CW score, in a protest over the public release of CQ WW logs on the internet. The move by David Kopacz KY1V appeared to win him more scorn than public backing. MORE

ACTIVE QSO PARTY WEEKEND IN W/VE

There won't be a any excuses the first full weekend of February this year, as HF operators can chase awards in four different US state QSO parties as well as one Canadian province. Leading the way is the Minnesota QSO Party, but it by no means rules the contest roost, as contests will pop up from Vermont, New Mexico, Delaware and British Columbia. MORE

WAE CW GOES TO TC4X (OH2PM) & DL1IAO

The results are in from the 2008 WAE CW test and the win goes to the operation of TC4X in Turkey, as Pertti Simovaara OH2PM will help put that nation on the map even more in the minds of contesters. Other winners included Stefan Von Baltz DL1IAO and Team 4L0A from Georgia in the World Multi category.. MORE

RUMORS ABOUND ON CQ WW CW LEADER

If you only pay attention to claimed scores on the 3830 reflector, then it looks like Jose Nunes CT1BOH is leading the 2008 CQ WW CW Contest. But as the log deadline passed, there were questions about top scores from both 3V8BB (YT1AD) and EF8M (RD3AF.) Also check the radio-sport.net review of chat room use during the 2008 CW test. MORE

HOME STRETCH IN WRTC 2010 BATTLES

There is only one qualifying contest left in the fight to make it into the 2010 World Radiosport Team Championships in Russia, as the 2009 Russian DX Contest looms in March. Before then, results from a number of 2008 contests will determine how many operators have a shot at qualifying for the 2010 WRTC. MORE

MOVING MULTS KEY IN NAQP 2009 TEST

With the calendar now securely into 2009, that means the North American QSO Party is back, with much of the focus on maximizing multipliers in these times of low sunspots. A year ago 20 mults on 10 meters was a big deal as top competitors try to juggle the need to run with the need to squeeze out another mult or two on 10 and 15 meters. MORE

WE3C ZEROES IN ON ARRL 10 TOP SPOT

With just about a week to get your log to the ARRL for the 2008 10 Meter Contest, John Rodgers WE3C is the man to beat, as he has a strong lead with a claimed score of almost 450,000 points. Barring a log checking disaster, that will likely stop the bid for a repeat Mixed High Power victory by Scott Jasper NE9U, who ran up 384k from W0AIH. MORE

RTTY ROUNDUP KICKS OFF 2009 TESTS

As the calendar turns to January 2009, that means RTTY contesters get the opportunity to kick off the New Year with the ARRL RTTY Roundup. After another record setting number of logs in 2008, this contest seems ready to grow again this year. Also, will Hurricane Gustav derail the 14 year winning streak of AA5AU? MORE

NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: SUNSPOTS

The first weekend of 2008 brought great news for ham radio contesters, with the appearance of the first sunspot of Cycle 24! Unfortunately, the rest of the year didn't produce in terms of new sunspots and better HF propagation, as 2008 will record the second highest number of days without sunspots since 1900. See what might be in store in 2009. MORE

MIXED BAG IN 2008 ON CONTEST ETHICS

Looking back on the 2008 contest year, there were a variety of flashpoints when it came to contesting ethics, from chat room use on 160 meters to continued criticism of major contest log checks to what should be done with the controversial CW Skimmer program. What might be next as we move into 2009? MORE

RULES CHANGES IN STORE AT CQ 160, WPX

As you start to plot your personal contesting calendar for the New Year of 2009, take a minute to check out some of the rules changes made in two popular contests from CQ Magazine, as the CQ 160 and CQ WPX tests have revamped their rules on a number of fronts, both big and small. MORE

STEW PERRY LOOKS FOR BIG 2008 FINISH

After fantastic conditions on 160 meters for many competitors in the 2008 CQ WW CW Contest, organizers are hoping for much the same as the Stew Perry 160 Top Band Distance Challenge helps end the contest year. Al Van Buren K7CA will be back in Chile to defend his 2007 High Power title with a K3 radio and a new listening array as well. MORE

HK HAMS TARGET RA3CO CQ WW EFFORT

A dispute over a contest operation in Colombia has sparked a formal complaint to that nation's Communications Ministry, alleging that a Russian contester used a Colombian callsign without permission in the 2008 CQ WW SSB test. A group of Colombian hams say that Dimitry Kryukov RA3CO did not follow that nation's amateur radio rules when he signed as HK3RA back in October. MORE

CQ WW SSB 2008: A LOOK INSIDE D4C

After more than a year of hard work, an international group of contesters has put together a top flight station in the Cape Verde Islands, as D4C is now becoming a staple of major contests like CQ WW DX. Team member Fabio Schettino I4UFH gives radio-sport.net readers a special look inside D4C. MORE

CQ WW CW 2008: YT1AD LEADS CT1BOH

The results of this year's CQ WW CW Contest seem to be going to form in the top echelons of the sport, as Hrane Milosevic YT1AD used a big time performance at 3V8BB to grab the claimed score lead over Jose Nunes CT1BOH. Meanwhile, K1LZ has scored more than USA favorite K5ZD. MORE

CW SKIMMER TAKES ON CQ WW ASSISTED

We have read about it for months. It has been debated endlessly on the contest reflectors and in the ham radio contest community. Now the CW Skimmer gets its first workout in the 2008 CQ WW CW Contest. Will it tilt the playing field at all, or not matter in the final standings? MORE

HC8A (N6KT) ROLLS INTO CQ WW SSB LEAD

Gunning for a record eighth CQ WW SSB Single Op title, Rich Smith N6KT has the highest claimed score so far from his operation at HC8A, with over 14 million points. In second for now is Toni Linden CU2X/OH2UA at over 11 million. Linden has a big lead in Europe, as does Randy Thompson K5ZD in the USA. MORE