The ARRL Contest Update for February 4, 2026

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Feb 4, 2026, 4:11:04 PM (5 days ago) Feb 4
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73 & Gud DX

K4WSB  /C6A VP2MSB

#1 DXCC 340/357

 

 

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February 4, 2026

Editor: Brian Moran, N9ADG

ARRL Home Page
Contest Calendar
iCom

 

In this Issue:

Upcoming Contests – Things to Do

Now might be a good time to check all of the antennas, walk the beverages, check all of the station readings against your station’s notebook.

 

The ARRL School Club Roundup starts on February 9. This is a five-day event, where the schools can operate up to 24 total hours, and no more than 6 hours in any one 24-hour period. All Amateur bands (except WARC) are allowed, including UHF/VHF simplex. See the rules, of course, for the details. Individuals, clubs, and schools have different classes — and everyone is invited to participate. If you hear someone operating in this contest, why not make a contact? Call sign, signal report, class (one of I, C, or S for individual, club, or school), and state/province/DX country.

 

State QSO Parties are starting for 2026, with Vermont and Minnesota on February 7. British Columbia’s QSO Party is also on that day. Don’t forget that your activity can be recorded and tracked for the State QSO Party Challenge.

 

“Work it while you can” may apply to the 10-10 International SSB Contest also on February 7. Ten-meter activity will likely decline with the sunspots over the next few years.

 

The first CW NA Sprint contest of the year, sponsored by NCJ, is on February 8 (night of February 7 in the US). The format is unique, with a specific protocol for making contacts. The action is fast and furious. Some love it, some love to avoid it. It’s highly suggested that first-timers try the NCCC Sprint events which occur every week on Thursday evening in North American time zones.

 

The weekend of February 14, the big contest will be the CQ WPX RTTY Contest. This 48-hour contest is appealing to over 20,000 operators most years. See an item below for some rules changes for 2026.

 

 

Contest Summary

February 4, 2026 - February 17, 2026

 

See the "Contests" section below for complete contest information.

 

February 4

February 5

February 6

February 7

February 8

February 9

February 10

February 11

February 12

February 13

February 14

February 15

February 16

February 17

 

RigSelect Radio Switch SO2R Controller

 

News, Press Releases, and Special Interest

David G3YYD has updated his 2Tone RTTY program. According to him, changes include:

  • Multiple consecutive “.” characters are condensed to show only one
  • When transmitting, if “FIGS” has been transmitted, a space character will be followed by the case shift for the next character, and CR or CRLF or CRsp or LFsp or CRLFsp will be followed by a shift character, dependent on the next printable character
  • Tone frequencies supported include 250 to 3000 Hz (previously 650 was the lowest)
  • Better inter-process message checking
  • Documentation changes

For the upcoming AGCW Straight Key Contest, the exchange is a long one: RST, serial number, class, name, and age. While the contest rules want the logs to look like "599 001/B/Heinz/84,” the example shown of “569001 A Tom 39” omits the slashes. It may be easier to send spaces instead of those slashes.

 

During the upcoming Vermont QSO Party, you may be able to hear W1AW/1 operating from various locations in Vermont. Be aware that the W1AW call sign will also be active from Alabama, Indiana, or Kansas during the same interval. Vermont’s QSO Party encourages FT-mode operation. Vermont grid squares count towards the multiplier count for out-of-state stations — with a maximum of five. Vermont stations get the homestead exemption, and are able to use all of the unique grid squares they can work scaled by 1/3. See the rules for the details.

 

The rules for the CQ WW WPX RTTY Contest have just been updated for 2026 on the website. Ed, W0YK, notes some changes in the rules:

  1. DXCC entity is now determined by the license rather than the call sign. (V. SCORING/C. Prefix Multipliers/1.)
  2. Previous Rookie winners are not eligible for Rookie plaques. (VI. ENTRY CATEGORIES/B. Single Operator Overlay Categories/2. Rookie (ROOKIE))
  3. Eligible club members may contribute their DXpedition scores to their club entry. (VIII. CLUB COMPETITION/C. General Club Rules/5.)
  4. Autonomous operation is explicitly prohibited. (X. GENERAL RULES FOR ALL ENTRANTS/M.)
  5. 48-hour log submittal deadline. (XII. LOG DEADLINE/A.)
  6. Station information requirement (“Entrants must agree to supply the following information upon request of the Contest Committee: Details and photographs of their station equipment, antennas, amplifiers switching systems, etc.” – Ed.). (XIII. JUDGING/D. Station Information)

 

Word to the Wise

Prosign — a combination of two Morse code letters sent without an intervening space to communicate a phrase or concept. For example, “SK” sent as end-of-contact. When written, the letters usually have a bar across the top.

 

Club Focus

The Potomac Valley Radio Club’s February 2026 newsletter details how Tom, K3AJ, was able to use an external SDR with a Yaesu FTDX10 to drive the spectrum window in N1MM Logger+. The key is to extract the IF signal from a radio that doesn’t normally support an IF output. Panoramic Adapter Tap Boards are available from sdr-kits.net.

 

The January 2026 edition of the Northern California Contest Club’s newsletter, The Jug, features an article by Gary Johnson, NA6O, on how to make reliable antenna feed points consisting of an enclosure with matching network or switching network parts. Considerations for hardware, internal components, layout, and so forth are presented, along with four examples he’s built for dipoles and verticals.

 

Sights and Sounds

“Using Linear Amplification is a terribly unnatural, and unwholesome, thing to do” — Hans, G0UPL, from QRP Labs, in an interview on G3LRC’s Ham Radio podcast, talking about the benefits of Polar Modulation techniques. He talks about how it’s better to meet clean signal initiatives, provide great performance, and at a lower cost than conventional techniques.

 

Operating Tip

Log vs. Dupe

 

For most contests, the exchange is short — a report, a section, state, or other trifle, and you’re done. So when someone calls in and you think they’re a DUPE, it might be better just to work them. Especially if you’re busy running, or if the contest is really slow. If you’re running hard, you don’t want to interrupt your flow. If things are slow, working someone again breaks up the monotony of repeatedly calling CQ. Others may also be lurking on your frequency just to hear your exchange, so that they are more confident in calling you, or to confirm what you sent them in a previous contact. Sending DUPE may be useful in contests with long exchanges, but that’s likely rare. Be aware that in a “serial number contest” like the ARRL Sweepstakes, a competitor may make a contact with you just to find out how many QSOs you have. In QSO parties, contests with mobile or roving stations, the exchange changes with the location, so work them. In the Worked All Europe contest, multiple QSOs can be made to exchange up to 10 total QTCs between two stations, a very legitimate reason to work someone more than once.

 

Technical Topics and Discussion

It’s a sticky topic: Use a metal fastener, or try something different? 3M VHB Tape is very useful as a semi-permanent to permanent mounting solution. Just make sure to use it correctly by heeding the guidance for using the right tape for the right surface, and instructions on how to apply it. There is even a family of VHB useful for bonding to traditionally challenging surfaces like plastics and composites.

 

Even though some “New Old Stock” surplus doorknob capacitors have robust-looking screws for their terminals, those terminals are not “structural” — it’s not advisable to support more than the weight of the capacitor, especially if the gear is going to be subject to vibration or jarring.

 

Modern ceramic film capacitors for RF can be quite physically large. When they’re soldered, they need to be heated per the manufacturer’s instructions, which specifies time and temperature profiles for heating. Not following the guidelines can lead to cracking or premature failure of the part. Kyocera, one maker of ceramic capacitors, publishes a guide to soldering multi-layer capacitors.

 

Results and Records

According to Jim, K8MR, the chairman of the Ohio QSO Party: “The results of the 2025 Ohio QSO Party are now available at the OhQP web site www.ohqp.org. Thanks to all who participated, and we hope you all will be back for the 2026 OhQP on Saturday, August 22!”

 

Results from the 2025 Oceania DX Contest are available at www.oceaniadxcontest.com. The 2026 OCDX events will be October 3 – 4 (SSB) and October 10 – 11 (CW).

 

Conversation

Chatting with Rudy Bakalov, N2WQ

 

I had a chat with Rudy Bakalov, N2WQ/VE3EID, recently. You may recognize one of his contest call signs, HQ9X. Rudy calls himself a “social contester” since he prefers to contest with others as a group. For the past two months, he’s been developing a contest-first spot server designed from the ground up for logging programs like N1MM Logger and DXLog. It is NOT for watching raw telnet streams scroll by —Rudy's server pushes richer spot data right into your logger's bandmap where you actually use it.

 

The project grew out of Rudy’s “simple” need to be able to trust that the spots showing up in his bandmaps were accurate, and workable.

 

With his background in IT and computer security working for a large cloud computer provider, he felt a successful outcome to his project would be guided by well-thought-out design documentation. With his extensive professional use of AI tools over the last few years, he also knew that those outcome-oriented documents could accelerate his development.

 

His list of must-haves include:

  • Be able to segregate workable spots from unworkable spots
  • Be able to trust that a call sign in a served spot is accurate
  • Very fast spot processing with a “spot pipeline” that could work on local machines, but scale to nearly any size using cloud resources, automatically
  • Meeting specific latency goals, like the time taken to move a spot from ingestion to logger distribution should be less than 25 mS
  • Validation and call correction for incoming spots
  • Prediction of whether a spot can be worked using propagation models
  • Spot ingestion from existing cluster nodes, as well as non-cluster sources like PSKReporter and DXSummit
  • Work with contest logging software
  • Be well documented, and have test suites that verify appropriate behavior

His primary “use case” for his spot server supports the way in which he contests — running a main frequency, while using the second VFO to find stations using the bandmap or “Available Mult and QSO” functionality in logging programs. He uses keyboard shortcuts to navigate between spots while being able to instantly respond to callers on the main VFO. He wants to be able to trust the spots that are displayed in the logger, which is why he’s doing all of this work.

 

In the two months he’s been working on it, he’s been using a combination of Claude Code and OpenAI Codex to write this server in Go. Since it’s a popular compiled programming language, it’s well supported with tools and libraries — but in reality, he claims not to really dwell on the code. He tells his AI minions what the outcome should be through his 45+ page design document and makes sure that all of this tests correctly. He makes most changes via his design documentation.

 

It's working out for him. He’s noted solid success in feeding spots into N1MM Logger and DXLog, and has tested rates up to 200,000 spots per minute through his server. He’s been able to garner the interest of the logger development teams, and it’s in testing now, with about a dozen users connecting to his server during contests for their real-time spots. You too can try it out — using a logging program — by using cluster.n2wq.com port 8300 as your cluster server. He’d also like to “hear from folks that can brainstorm with me how to improve the robustness of propagation prediction and its use during a contest.”

 

Rudy is having a blast and “glad that the spot sources and logging program authors have been receptive to this work. I’ve also learned a lot from the suggestions that the AI has made for things like the database, or particular algorithms to use. I hope I’ll be able to make the world a better place for contesters.”

 

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...@arrl.org.

 

73, Brian, N9ADG

 

Contests

February 4, 2026 - February 17, 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.

 

HF CONTESTS

 

QRP Fox Hunt , Feb 4, 0200z to Feb 4, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 5.

 

Phone Weekly Test , Feb 4, 0230z to Feb 4, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Feb 6.

 

A1Club AWT , Feb 4, 1145z to Feb 4, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Feb 9.

 

CWops Test (CWT) , Feb 4, 1300z to Feb 4, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 7.

 

Mini-Test 40 , Feb 4, 1700z to Feb 4, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 6.

 

Mini-Test 80 , Feb 4, 1800z to Feb 4, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 6.

 

CWops Test (CWT) , Feb 4, 1900z to Feb 4, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 7.

 

UKEICC 80m Contest , Feb 4, 2000z to Feb 4, 2100z; SSB; Bands: 80; 6-Character grid square; Logs due: Feb 4.

 

Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest , Feb 5, 0000z to Feb 6, 0300z; CW; Bands: 40; Maximum 13 wpm, RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (Member No./power); Logs due: Feb 12.

 

CWops Test (CWT) , Feb 5, 0300z to Feb 5, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 7.

 

CWops Test (CWT) , Feb 5, 0700z to Feb 5, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 7.

 

NRAU 10m Activity Contest , Feb 5, 1800z to Feb 5, 2200z; CW, SSB, FM, Digital; Bands: 10; RS(T) + 6-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 19.

 

SKCC Sprint Europe , Feb 5, 2000z to Feb 5, 2200z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Feb 12.

 

NCCC FT4 Sprint , Feb 6, 0100z to Feb 6, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 8.

 

Weekly RTTY Test , Feb 6, 0145z to Feb 6, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 8.

 

QRP Fox Hunt , Feb 6, 0200z to Feb 6, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 7.

 

NCCC Sprint Ladder , Feb 6, 0230z to Feb 6, 0300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Feb 8.

 

K1USN Slow Speed Test , Feb 6, 2000z to Feb 6, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 8.

 

Vermont QSO Party , Feb 7, 0000z to Feb 8, 2359z; All (see rules for FT8 guidance); Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, VHF/UHF; VT: RS(T) + County, non-VT W/VE: RS(T) + (state/province), DX: RS(T); Logs due: Feb 22.

 

LABRE-RS Digi Contest , Feb 7, 0000z to Feb 8, 2059z; FT4/8; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 18.

 

10-10 Int. Winter Contest, SSB , Feb 7, 0001z to Feb 8, 2359z; Phone; Bands: 10; 10-10 Member: Name + 10-10 number + (state/province/country), Non-Member: Name + 0 + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 17.

 

Mexico RTTY International Contest , Feb 7, 1200z to Feb 8, 2359z; RTTY Only; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; XE: RST + State, non-XE: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 22.

 

F9AA Cup, CW , Feb 7, 1200z to Feb 8, 1200z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 2; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Mar 8.

 

European Union DX Contest , Feb 7, 1200z to Feb 8, 1200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; EU Union: RS(T) + EU Union Region (4-characters), Non-EU Union: RS(T) + ITU Zone No.; Logs due: Feb 15.

 

Minnesota QSO Party , Feb 7, 1400z to Feb 7, 2359z; CW, Phone (FM/SSB/AM); Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; MN: Name + County, W/VE: Name + (state/province), DX: Name; Logs due: Feb 14.

 

FYBO Winter QRP Sprint , Feb 7, 1400z to Feb 8, 2359z; CW, SSB, Digital; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS(T) + (state/province/country)+ name + power out + temperature(F); Logs due: Mar 10.

 

AGCW Straight Key Party , Feb 7, 1600z to Feb 7, 1900z; CW; Bands: 80; AGCW: RST + Serial No. + "/" + Class + "/" + Name + "/" + Age; Logs due: Mar 4.

 

British Columbia QSO Party , Feb 7, 1600z to Feb 8, 2359z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; BC: RS(T) + District, non-BC: RS(T) + (state/province/"DX"); Logs due: Feb 22.

 

North American Sprint, CW , Feb 8, 0000z to Feb 8, 0359z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; [other station's call] + [your call] + [serial no.] + [your name] + [your state/province/country]; Logs due: Feb 15.

 

K1USN Slow Speed Test , Feb 9, 0000z to Feb 9, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 11.

 

4 States QRP Group Second Sunday Sprint , Feb 9, 0100z to Feb 9, 0300z; 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: Feb 11.

 

ARRL School Club Roundup , Feb 9, 1300z to Feb 13, 2359z; CW, Phone, RTTY/Digital; Bands: All, except 60, 30, 17, 12m; RS(T) + Class (I/C/S) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 28.

 

ICWC Medium Speed Test , Feb 9, 1300z to Feb 9, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 12.

 

OK1WC Memorial (MWC) , Feb 9, 1630z to Feb 9, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 13.

 

ICWC Medium Speed Test , Feb 9, 1900z to Feb 9, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 12.

 

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest , Feb 10, 0100z to Feb 10, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Feb 11.

 

ICWC Medium Speed Test , Feb 10, 0300z to Feb 10, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 12.

 

DARC FT4 Contest , Feb 10, 1900z to Feb 10, 2029z; FT4; Bands: 80, 40; Signal report + 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 17.

 

NAQCC CW Sprint , Feb 11, 0130z to Feb 11, 0330z; CW; Bands: 80, 40, 20; RST + (state/province/country) + (NAQCC No./power); Logs due: Feb 14.

 

QRP Fox Hunt , Feb 11, 0200z to Feb 11, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 12.

 

Phone Weekly Test , Feb 11, 0230z to Feb 11, 0300z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15; NA: Name + (state/province/country), non-NA: Name; Logs due: Feb 13.

 

A1Club AWT , Feb 11, 1145z to Feb 11, 1300z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: RST + Name; Logs due: Feb 16.

 

CWops Test (CWT) , Feb 11, 1300z to Feb 11, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 14.

 

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest , Feb 11, 1700z to Feb 11, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 432 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 16.

 

Mini-Test 40 , Feb 11, 1700z to Feb 11, 1759z; CW; Bands: 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 13.

 

Mini-Test 80 , Feb 11, 1800z to Feb 11, 1859z; CW; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 13.

 

CWops Test (CWT) , Feb 11, 1900z to Feb 11, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 14.

 

RSGB 80m Club Championship, Data , Feb 11, 2000z to Feb 11, 2130z; RTTY, PSK; Bands: 80; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 12.

 

CWops Test (CWT) , Feb 12, 0300z to Feb 12, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 14.

 

CWops Test (CWT) , Feb 12, 0700z to Feb 12, 0800z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Member: Name + Member No./"CWA", non-Member: Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 14.

 

YLRL YL-OM Contest , Feb 13, 0000z to Feb 14, 2359z; CW/Digital, SSB; Bands: All, except WARC; QSO No. + RS(T) + (section/province/country); Logs due: Mar 17.

 

NCCC FT4 Sprint , Feb 13, 0100z to Feb 13, 0130z; FT4; Bands: (see rules); 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 15.

 

Weekly RTTY Test , Feb 13, 0145z to Feb 13, 0215z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 15.

 

QRP Fox Hunt , Feb 13, 0200z to Feb 13, 0330z; CW; Bands: 20; RST + (state/province/country) + name + power output; Logs due: Feb 14.

 

NCCC Sprint , Feb 13, 0230z to Feb 13, 0300z; CW; Bands: (see rules); Serial No. + Name + QTH; Logs due: Feb 15.

 

K1USN Slow Speed Test , Feb 13, 2000z to Feb 13, 2100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 15.

 

CQ WW RTTY WPX Contest , Feb 14, 0000z to Feb 15, 2359z; RTTY; Bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 20.

 

PODXS 070 Club Valentine Sprint , Feb 14, 0000z to Feb 14, 2359z; PSK31; Bands: 160, 80, 40; Name + (OM/YL) + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 21.

 

Asia-Pacific Spring Sprint, CW , Feb 14, 1100z to Feb 14, 1300z; CW; Bands: 40, 20; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 21.

 

SKCC Weekend Sprintathon , Feb 14, 1200z to Feb 15, 2359z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RST + (state/province/country) + Name + (SKCC No./"NONE"); Logs due: Feb 22.

 

KCJ Topband Contest , Feb 14, 1200z to Feb 15, 1200z; CW; Bands: 160; JA: RST + Prefecture/District Code, non-JA: RST + CQ Zone; Logs due: Mar 2.

 

Dutch PACC Contest , Feb 14, 1200z to Feb 15, 1200z; CW, SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; PA: RS(T) + province, non-PA: RS(T) + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 20.

 

Russian PSK WW Contest , Feb 14, 1200z to Feb 15, 1159z; BPSK31, BPSK63, BPSK125; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RU: RST + 2-letter oblast, non-RU: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 20.

 

OMISS QSO Party , Feb 14, 1500z to Feb 15, 1500z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RS + (state/province/DX) + (OMISS No. if member); Logs due: Mar 7.

 

WAB 1.8 MHz Phone , Feb 14, 1900z to Feb 14, 2359z; SSB; Bands: 160; British Isles: RS + serial no. + WAB square, Other: RS + serial no. + country; Logs due: Feb 24.

 

RSGB 1.8 MHz Contest , Feb 14, 2000z to Feb 14, 2300z; CW; Bands: 160; UK: RST + Serial No. + District Code, non-UK: RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 15.

 

Balkan HF Contest , Feb 15, 1300z to Feb 15, 1700z; CW, SSB; Bands: 80, 40; RS(T) + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 22.

 

Run for the Bacon QRP Contest , Feb 15, 2300z to Feb 16, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; RST + (state/province/country) + (Member No./power); Logs due: Feb 21.

 

K1USN Slow Speed Test , Feb 16, 0000z to Feb 16, 0100z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Maximum 20 wpm, Name + (state/province/country); Logs due: Feb 18.

 

ICWC Medium Speed Test , Feb 16, 1300z to Feb 16, 1400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 19.

 

OK1WC Memorial (MWC) , Feb 16, 1630z to Feb 16, 1729z; CW; Bands: 80, 40; RST + Serial No.; Logs due: Feb 20.

 

ICWC Medium Speed Test , Feb 16, 1900z to Feb 16, 2000z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 19.

 

Worldwide Sideband Activity Contest , Feb 17, 0100z to Feb 17, 0159z; SSB; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6; RS + age group (OM, YL, Youth YL or Youth); Logs due: Feb 18.

 

ICWC Medium Speed Test , Feb 17, 0300z to Feb 17, 0400z; CW; Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10; Name + QSO No.; Logs due: Feb 19.

 

VHF+ CONTESTS

 

VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest , Feb 4, 1700z to Feb 4, 2100z; FT8/4; Bands: 144 MHz; 4-character grid square; Logs due: Feb 9.

 

Log Due Dates

February 4, 2026 – February 17, 2026

 

February 4

February 5

February 6

February 7

February 8

February 9

February 11

February 12

February 13

February 14

February 15

February 16

February 17

 

 

 

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Subscribe to NCJ - the National Contest Journal. Published bimonthly, it features articles by top contesters, letters, hints, statistics, scores, NA Sprint, and QSO Parties.

 

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Free of charge to ARRL members: Subscribe to The ARRL Letter (weekly digest of news and information), the ARES Letter (monthly public service and emergency communications news), Division and Section news, and much more!

 

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Reprint permission can be obtained by emailing permi...@arrl.org with a description of the material and the reprint publication.

 

Acknowledgements

ARRL Contest Update wishes to acknowledge information from WA7BNM's Contest Calendar.

 

 

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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