It Begins!
October marks the unofficial beginning of the radio contesting season. In the next few months, we’ll have CQ WW SSB, CQ WW CW, ARRL Sweepstakes CW, ARRL Sweepstakes SSB, ARRL 160m, ARRL 10m, and a whole bunch of little but fun contests like ARRL School Club Roundup. There are still QSO parties to chase on a random weekend, too, including CA, NV, AZ, PA, SD, NY and, IL. If you’ve been having trouble making time to get on the air (as I have!) then there are a lot of excuses to put yourself in the saddle and make some Qs!
October Contest Highlights
CQ Worldwide SSB [0000Z, Oct 26 to 2359Z, Oct 27]
Exchange: RS + CQ Zone (5905 for New England)
This was the first contest I ever entered. It was 2002 and the bands were hopping. I had just hung a stealth antenna and was curious about what I could hear. It was amazing. The bands were full, all the other guy wanted was “5905”, and he was off to work the next one. No microphone jitters here—there wasn’t time! If you’re new to contesting give this a try. Do search-and-pounce (S&P), listen, listen, listen, then work them. By the end of the weekend, you might have DXCC!
California QSO Party [1600Z, Oct 5 to 2200Z, Oct 6]
Exchange: CA: Serial No. + County; non-CA: Serial No. + (state/VE area/DX)
Nevada QSO Party [0300Z, Oct 12 to 2100Z, Oct 13]
Exchange: NV: RS(T) + “NV” + county; non-NV: RS(T) + (state/province/”DX”)
Arizona QSO Party [1600Z, Oct 12 to 0600Z, Oct 13 and 1400Z to 2400Z, Oct 13]
Exchange: AZ: RS(T) + county; non-AZ: RS(T) + (state/province/country)
Pennsylvania QSO Party [1600Z, Oct 12 to 0500Z, Oct 13 and 1300Z-2200Z, Oct 13]
Exchange: PA: Serial No. + County; non-PA: Serial No. + ARRL/RAC Section
South Dakota QSO Party [1800Z, Oct 12 to 1800Z, Oct 13
Exchange: SD: RS(T) + county; non-SD: RS(T) + (state/province/country)
New York QSO Party [1400Z, Oct 19 to 0200Z, Oct 20]
Exchange: NY: RS(T) + county; non-NY: RS(T) + (state/province/”DX”)
Tip: Sometimes those close-in states like VT, NY, ME, and MA are hard to get on the higher bands. They tend to be in the skip-zones a lot of the time. Take advantage of these QSO parties to fill in the close-in states on the high bands.
Illinois QSO Party [1700Z, Oct 20 to 0100Z, Oct 21]
Exchange: IL: RS(T) + County; non-IL: RS(T) + (state/province/country)
Wrapping up
These contests give you your last big change to test and repair station equipment and antennas before the weather gets uncomfortable. (My poor SteppIR has died of neglect, for example!) So, don’t be like me! Get on and tune up your station for the long winter ahead.
Pumpkins image courtesy of
Aaron Burden
Scott, NE1RD