Contesting at BARC
Whether you're chasing your first 100-QSO score or serious about a plaque, BARC has members across all experience levels. Field Day (the largest ham radio event in North America) counts as a contest — so if you've done Field Day, you've already contested.
2026 Contest Calendar
| Contest | Date(s) | Mode(s) | Exchange |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARRL January VHF arrl.org → |
Jan 18–19 | CW/SSB/Digital | Grid square |
| CQ WPX RTTY cqwpx.com → |
Feb 8–9 | RTTY | Serial number |
| ARRL DX CW arrl.org → |
Feb 15–16 | CW | RST + state/power |
| ARRL DX Phone | Mar 1–2 | SSB | RST + state/power |
| CQ WPX SSB | Mar 28–29 | SSB | Serial number |
| Ohio QSO Party ohqp.org → |
Aug 23 | CW/SSB/Digital | RST + county |
| ARRL Field Day Club event → |
4th weekend June | All modes | Class + section |
| CQ WW DX SSB | Oct 25–26 | SSB | RST + CQ zone |
| CQ WW DX CW | Nov 29–30 | CW | RST + CQ zone |
| ARRL 10-Meter | Dec 13–14 | CW/SSB | RST + state/serial |
Dates approximate — always verify at arrl.org/contest-calendar or contestcalendar.com
Getting Started in Contesting
The best way to start contesting is to jump in during a large event like ARRL Sweepstakes or the Ohio QSO Party. You don't need a perfect station — many top contesters run 100 watts and a dipole.
Popular logging software: N1MM+ (free, most popular), Log4OM, or DXLab Suite. Most contests accept Cabrillo log format for submission.
BARC members are glad to answer questions at meetings or Tech Night. Look for contest announcements on the club reflector email list.