9 HOURS FOR 95 TENNESSEE COUNTIES

All 95 counties will be activated for the 2010 Tennessee QSO Party, giving you nine hours to try to put together a sweep of the Volunteer State. Bob Harder W0BH is the defending out of state Single Op champ, while Bob Edmondson N4VV was the 2009 Single Op High Power champ inside Tennessee. Helping make things more interesting will be at least a dozen mobiles on the roads as well. NEW

HI3TEJ OUT, UA9AM IN AS WORLD #1

After his entry in the 2009 CQ WW SSB Contest was reclassified from Low Power to Assisted, Teddy Jiminez HI3TEJ has dropped out of the lead in the radio-sport.net Single Operator World Standings, clearing the way for Yuri Kurinyi UA9AM to grab the top spot, with a narrow lead over Yuri Onipko VE3DZ. MORE

NAQP SSB TRIES TO AVOID SOLAR FLARE

As the August 2010 NAQP SSB Contest arrives this weekend, contesters in North America don't want to see a repeat of the start of the NAQP CW from earlier this month, as the sun decided to throw out a decent-sized solar flare just as that test was getting underway. It didn't ruin the contest, but it once again helped to hold down high band numbers. MORE

MULTIPLE DQ'S EXPECTED FOR CQ WW CW

After the CQ WW Contest Committee handed out 7 Red Cards and 4 Yellow Cards for the 2009 CQ WW DX SSB Contest, one member of that panel says that "multiple" disqualifications should again be expected when the final numbers of the 2009 CQ WW CW Contest are published in coming weeks by CQ Magazine. MORE

BIG SUPPORT FOR CQ WW CRACKDOWN

A second straight year of high profile disqualifications and rules warnings by the CQ WW Contest Committee is winning worldwide support in the ham radio contest community, as contesters say the get-tough approach is the right way to deal with cheating. "It should have started many years ago," read one email to radio-sport.net. MORE

7 RED CARDS IN CQ WW CRACKDOWN

The CQ WW Contest Committee has continued its crackdown on cheating, handing out seven Red Cards and 4 Yellow Cards in log checks on the 2009 CQ WW SSB Contest. The big DQ tossed out the top QRP score from KP4KE (DK8ZB); also a top low power entrant, HI3TEJ, was moved to the Assisted category along with almost thirty other competitors. NEW

ALL SMILES IN AFTERMATH OF 2010 WRTC

With high praise for Russian organizers of the 2010 World Radiosport Team Championship, a number of operators had equally favorable reviews for the Field Day setup that was used, as a way to ensure an even playing field for all 48 teams from around the world. NEW

RUSSIAN DUO WINS 2010 WRTC TITLE

In a very close finish, the Russian duo of RW1AC and RA1AIP won a narrow victory in the 2010 World Radiosport Team Championship, the first time a team from outside North America has ever won the top prize in the "World Cup" of the ham radio contest community. NEW

WRTC, HQ CONTROVERSY MARK 2010 IARU

After months of controversy about the judging of the 2009 IARU HF Championships, the time for argument is over, and the time for switching on the radio and contesting is here on the second weekend in July 2010. This year's contest features the running of the World Radiosport Team Championships in Russia - and there will be hams outside of the ARRL ready to judge your HQ entries as well. NEW

2010 WRTC FINALLY ARRIVES IN RUSSIA

After years of preparation by Russian organizers, the 2010 World Radiosport Team Championship is finally here, as ham radio's "World Cup" of contesting will select the top pair of contesters in a unique Field Day-style competition near Moscow. This year's competition will use the internet to stream live video of the opening and closing ceremonies. NEW

EUROPEAN GROUP TO JUDGE IARU HQ

A group of European ham radio associations have agreed to take on the job of adjudicating HQ category entries for the 2010 IARU HF Contest, moving to fill the void left after the ARRL announced earlier this month that it would no longer judge the HQ competition because of rules disputes involving the 2009 entry of DA0HQ from Germany. NEW

COUNTDOWN ON TO 2010 WRTC RUSSIA

While the IARU HF Championships is a very popular July contest that is still a couple of weeks away for the ham radio contest community, for those contesters involved in the World Radiosport Team Championships in Russia, there is furious last minute preparation ongoing for what's basically the World Cup of amateur radio contesting. MORE

EFFORT UNDERWAY TO SAVE IARU HQ

With contesters still venting their frustrations over an ARRL move to scrap the HQ competition in the IARU HF Contest, a group of European hams has started looking for ways to forge a rules change that might be acceptable to the ARRL for the future. The group will evidently try to hold meetings on the plan at the Friedrichshafen convention in Germany later this month. MORE

ARRL SCRAPS IARU HQ COMPETITION

In a surprise move, the ARRL has announced that it will no longer judge the logs in the HQ category of the IARU HF Contest, saying the recent battle between Spanish and German amateurs over who won the 2009 HQ title had become a "distraction from the other issues facing Amateur Radio organizations today." MORE

EF8M, P49Y BID FOR WPX CW VICTORIES

While conditions weren't as good for the 2010 WPX CW Contest as the WPX SSB, the top scorers in the Single Op High Power and Low Power categories, EF8M & P49Y, could be on their way to victories - and for one - maybe a new World records. MORE

CQWW LOGS SHOW FEW OPERATE 48 HRS

A review of the 2009 CQ WW DX SSB logs now posted on the internet shows that while Single Operators can be on the air for 48 hours, the average time spent in the contest last year was much less, just over 12 hours per all-band entry. Take a look at the some of the details churned out by DL8MBS and DL6MHW. MORE

MULTS GALORE IN 2010 VK SHIRES TEST

After a successful start in 2009, the Australian Shires Contest returns for 2010, with organizers hoping that they can get even more hams from around the world to turn their antennas "Down Under" for a few contacts. If you like multipliers, this is for you, as 741 different "Shires" are up for grabs. MORE

SOUTH AMERICAN FOCUS IN WWSA CW

It will feel a lot like a CQ WW Contest with the exchange and point system, except that South American stations are worth extra points - that's because they are the focus of this weekend's WWSA CW Contest, sponsored by the Grupo Argentino de Radiotelegrafia (GACW). MORE

2009 CQ WW SSB LOGS NOW ON INTERNET

Your homework for the 2010 CQ WW DX SSB Contest is now on the internet, as over 5,000 SSB logs from last year's contest are now available for anyone to look through on the internet, five months before this year's SSB test. MORE

67 THE MAGIC NUMBER IN ALABAMA QSO

The Alabama QSO Party returns this week with organizers hoping for another year of growth in terms of contest activity. Last year, all 67 counties were active, but no one made the sweep. The closest was a QRP op, Erik Andersen K9EU of Illinois, who got to 66. MORE

DARC REJECTS CHARGE OF LOG PADDING

While acknowledging that the "German amateur radio community was overly eager" in helping Team DA0HQ to a first place finish in the 2009 IARU Contest, officials of the Deustcher Amateur Radio Club have told the IARU and ARRL that no "log padding" was used for that victory. MORE

RECORD BOOK IN DANGER IN CW WPX CW

After watching big chunks of the CQ WPX SSB record book get re-written in this year's contest, it's not too big of a stretch to think that 2010 may bring the same kind of high scores for the CQ WPX CW Contest this weekend. MORE

HI3TEJ STILL TOPS IN WORLD STANDINGS

The leader of the radio-sport.net Single Operator World Standings remain the same, as Teddy Jiminez HI3TEJ kept the top spot with the addition of results from the 2009 CQ WPX CW, WAE SSB/CW and Stew Perry 160 Contests. The big jump came from another WRTC operator, Yuri Onipko VE3DZ, who is now tied for second with UA9AM. NEW

CONTESTERS CONVERGE ON DAYTON 2010

Dayton, Ohio is the destination for ham radio operators from all over the world this week, as amateurs will gather for the 2010 Dayton Hamvention. For contesters, it's the usual busy four days and nights of action, much of it centering on the Crowne Plaza Hotel. MORE

NEW SPOT OPTIONS WITH 'MY DX SUMMIT'

The popular internet site "DX Summit" this week is rolling out a newly personalized web site, calling it "My DX Summit," giving amateur radio operators of all interests the chance to improve DX alerts and the way that spots are delivered to users around the world. And some of the future changes could be targeted to contesters. MORE

NOT AT DAYTON? THEN GET ON THE AIR

While amateur radio enthusiasts from all over the world are gathering in Dayton, Ohio this weekend, maybe you are one of the many opeartors who won't be traveling and would rather turn on the radio and work a contest. In the Americas, one option is the Manchester Mineira All America CW Contest. MORE

NO DARC RESPONSE YET ON LOG PADDING

With an extensive analysis by Spanish hams in hand that makes claims of "log padding" by Team DA0HQ in the 2009 IARU Contest, officials at the American Radio Relay League say they are withholding judgment on the findings until the charges draw a response from DARC, the Deustcher Amateur Radio Club of Germany. Meanwhile, many contesters say what DA0HQ deserves is a DQ. MORE

URE ACCUSES DA0HQ OF LOG PADDING

The controversy over the 2009 IARU HQ victory of Team DA0HQ deepened in recent days, as the Spanish Radio Union URE publicly accused German hams of "serious irregularities", citing multiple examples of one ham using multiple calls to repeatedly work DA0HQ on all bands. URE says that not only is unethical, but violates ARRL Contest Rules as well. Read the documents and find out for yourself. MORE

WIN STREAK ON LINE IN NEW ENGLAND QP

There have been eight runnings of the New England QSO Party, and eight times, the winner of the Single Operator Category from outside of New England has been the same contester, as Paul Newberry N4PN has been the man to beat since this contest debuted - and again - he'll be in the spotlight in this year's NEQP MORE

W0BH TRIES FOR FIVE 7QP VICTORIES

While N4PN has dominated the out-of-state competition in the New England QSO Party for the last seven years, the last four on this same weekend have been victorious for Bob Harder W0BH, as he looks to make it five straight Single Operator wins in the 2010 7th Call Area QSO Party. MORE

VOLCANO RAISES 2010 WRTC QUESTIONS

With European air travel encountering widespread delays and cancellations in recent days because of a cloud of volcanic ash from an eruption in Iceland, the question is what would happen to the World Radiosport Championships set for Russia in July if these travel troubles persist? MORE

SUN SHINES ON 2010 FLORIDA QSO PARTY

The words of the late K4OJ will be echoing in the ears of many competitors this week, as we count down the days to the Florida QSO Party, back again this year for the 2010 edition. Last year, over 100,000 contacts were made overall, as Ken Meier W8MJ won his seventh straight victory among single operators outside of Florida. MORE

CONTEST GROUP UNVEILED AT VISALIA

The 61st Annual International DX Convention held in Visalia, California got off to a contest oriented start on Friday, as a group of heavyweight contest operators announced the formation of a new outside group designed to further amateur radio contesting, with a focus on contest funding and ethics. MORE

SWEEP STILL ELUSIVE IN MICHIGAN QSO

If you are looking for a different contest goal, then maybe contacting all 83 counties in this weekend's Michigan QSO Party would sound like an easy assignment for contesters - but be warned - no one has ever achieved the sweep in the MiQP. We'll see if anyone can get that done in 2010. MORE

RECORDS FALL IN ACTIVE WPX SSB 2010

With a more active sun spurring extra activity - even on 10 meters - the 2010 CQ WPX SSB Contest may have rewritten big chunks of the record book, with a second straight victory very likely for Jim Sullivan W7EJ, who may have also staked a claim to a new World SOAB HP record from CN2R in Morocco. MORE

GEORGIA & GAGARIN TOP CONTEST SKED

If you enjoy chasing counties in a state QSO Party, then in terms of pure numbers, the Peach State is for you this weekend, as the Georgia QSO Party starts a series of state contests in the USA. If you are in Europe, then the Yuri Gagarin International DX Contest may be your choice on the contest schedule on this second weekend of April. MORE

MORE ACTIVE SUN GREETS WPX SSB 2010

With band conditions slowly but surely improving, organizers are hoping for another record setting turnout for this year's CQ WPX SSB Contest, which in 2009 had an all time high of 4,087 logs submitted. "We are very excited about the future of the WPX Contest." MORE

MANY 160 VIOLATIONS FOUND IN REGION I

In the wake of public criticism of contesters by a top IARU official, a radio-sport.net review has found that hundreds of competitors in Europe, Africa and Northern Asia have violated the licensing rules of their country by operating on frequencies not allocated to them on the low end of the 160 meter band. MORE

RUSSIAN DX FOCUS OF BUSY WEEKEND

It's back to normal in 2010 for the Russian DX Contest, after three years in which it was a major qualifying contest for this year's World Radiosport Team Championships to be held outside Moscow. Not only can you chase Russian ops this weekend, but there are also three state QSO Parties in the US to choose from in Oklahoma, Virginia & North Dakota. MORE

ADMIRALS ADVENTURE IN ARRL DX SSB

It didn't matter that conditions in the 2010 ARRL DX SSB Contest weren't as good as two weeks earlier in the CW leg. It also didn't matter that one of the operators hadn't contested in years, as a pair of retired US Navy Admirals, K0DQ and N4OC, still found a winning Multi-Single formula at "Papa Forty Navy". MORE

IARU OFFICIAL REBUKES SSB CONTESTERS

In an unusually public criticism of contesters by a top IARU official, the President of IARU Region I blasted the conduct of some contesters in the recent 2010 CQ 160 SSB Contest, saying a number of stations from Europe and Africa were making contacts on frequencies not allocated to their countries, raising the specter of possible contest disqualifications. MORE

CQ BERU FOR 2010 COMMONWEALTH TEST

After a focus last weekend on Canada and the United States in the ARRL SSB test, this weekend CQ BERU will be the order, as the 2010 Commonwealth Contest arrives with its unique theme of contacts only between stations in the British Commonwealth and Territories. John Sluymer VE3EJ is the defending Single-Operator BERU champ. MORE

HIGH BANDS READY FOR 2010 ARRL SSB

Two weeks after an ARRL DX CW Contest that saw much more action on 15 meters than in recent years, the hope is that this weekend's ARRL DX SSB Contest will enjoy good propagation as well, as a Single Operator shootout seems to be brewing in the Carribean for this year's contest. MORE

AO8HQ V DA0HQ ON IARU 2009 RE-SCORE

The re-score of the 2009 IARU HF Contest has prompted an official protest, as the Unión de Radioaficionados Españoles has asked the ARRL to revisit its decision to add back certain "unique" contacts, which put DA0HQ of Germany in first place over AO8HQ. MORE

HIGH BANDS SHOW LIFE IN 2010 ARRL CW

It was a weekend that many contesters have been waiting several years for, as both high bands and low bands were active in the 2010 ARRL DX CW Contest, bringing smiles to many faces around the world. Among the early leaders are Team K3LR in Multi-Multi and Team P40L in Multi-Single, with a score that could earn them the DX M/S record. On the Single Op side, K3CR and ZF2AM are tops in SOAB HP. MORE

BACK TO TOPBAND FOR 2010 CQ 160 SSB

After an active ARRL DX CW contest weekend that saw life in the high bands, the focus for contesters shifts back to Topband and 160 meters for the 2010 CQ 160 SSB Contest. The goal for this year is certainly to hang onto some of the special propagation that boosted scores in the 2009 SSB test. VE3EY is the defending Single Operator High Power champ. MORE

SECOND STRAIGHT RE-SCORE FOR IARU

For a second straight year, the ARRL has been forced to rescore the final numbers in the IARU HF Contest, again shuffling the Top Ten boxes of a number of categories, after the results had already been finalized and printed in the March edition QST Magazine. The culpirt this time was log checking software that tossed out any unique calls in a log entry. MORE

N5KO, N9CK, KA9FOX WIN NA SPRINT CW

The results are out for the 2010 North American Sprint CW Contest, as N5KO won his first Sprint, while N9CK and KA9FOX kept their winning streaks alive in the Sprint speciality, as radio-sport.net Special Correspondent Jim George N3BB runs down the first Sprint of 2010. Also, check out the results of the 2009 Stew Perry 160 Meter Contest. MORE

HIGH BANDS SHOW LIFE FOR ARRL DX CW

So far, 2010 has seen only two days without sunspots, and while sunspot numbers have not been especially high, HF propagation has been showing some signs of life, pumping up expectations for this year's ARRL DX CW Contest. Defending overall single operator champ Scott Redd K0DQ will be back on the air this year from a snowy, but different QTH. MORE

CQ WW TO REVIEW OBSERVER FUNDING

The CQ WW Contest Committee will change how it pays for its new contest observer program in the wake of a public falling out with the ham radio contester who paid almost $4,000 US to fund three observer trips during the 2009 CQ WW CW contest. Also, the focus of log checks in that contest is again on EF8M and Valery Komarov RD3AF, who was disqualified in the 2008 CW test. MORE

P49X AIMS AT REPEAT IN CQ WPX RTTY

After a record-setting event last year in which seventy percent of the worldwide records were broken, organizers of the CQ WPX RTTY Contest are hoping for another strong turnout in 2010, with the defending champ hoping that Aruba will again be a lucky charm, as Ed Muns W0YK/P49X tries for another major RTTY title. MORE

CN2R LEADS CQ 160 CW, K1LZ US MULTIS

Two years after winning the CQ 160 CW Contest from his Moroccan QTH, Jim Sullivan W7EJ seems headed for another Single Operator High Power victory, as he owns an over half million point lead over defending champ Valery Komarov RD3AF. Meanwhile in the US, Team K1LZ overcame big time weather troubles to post a record breaking Multi-Op score. NEW

BIG ISLAND WIN FOR KH7XS IN 2009 SS SSB

After finishing third in 2008, Bill Kollenbaum K4XS ran his KH7XS station on the Big Island to victory from Hawaii in the ARRL SSB Sweepstakes. While Kollenbaum won in high power, Mitch Mason K7RL captured his fourth straight Unlimited title. Meanwhile Team W6YI not only won again in the Multi section, but set both the CW and SSB records for Multi ops in the 2009 Sweepstakes contsts. MORE

MINNESOTA QSO TOPS ACTIVE WEEKEND

While there are no major contests on this first weekend of February 2010, there is no reason to keep your radio off, as the Minnesota QSO Party leads a wide range of offerings that can occupy any CW, SBB or RTTY contest buff. There are five QSO Parties, the XE RTTY, and the North American Sprint CW contest. MORE

BIG JANUARY 2010 SWITCH FOR SUNSPOTS

A year ago, it was almost impossible to find a day with sunspots in January of 2009. Fast forward to January 2010, and it was almost impossible to find a day without sunspots, as a steady stream of action is now visible on the Sun. It gives hope to those ham radio contesters and DX'ers who have been waiting for years for 10 and 15 meters to finally return on a regular basis. MORE

N2IC WINS THIRD STRAIGHT SS CW TEST

The 2009 ARRL Sweepstakes CW Contest was a record setting event, as Steve London N2IC set a new high power mark while winning his third straight Single Operator High Power title, and Team W6YI took a third consecutive Multi-op win, breaking a 14 year old record in the process. Also, the ARRL reports a record number of logs were submitted for both the CW and SSB Sweepstakes events. MORE

CQ WW OBSERVERS FIND NO VIOLATIONS

Three observers sent by the CQ WW Contest Committee to check for cheating by top Single Operators in the 2009 CQ WW CW Contest found no rules violations in their checks three top stations in that test, the first use of contest monitors under new rules developed last year to address cheating concerns. MORE

CQ 160 CW: DREAMS OF A 2009 REPEAT

As the CQ 160 CW Contest returns for 2010, don't worry if you find yourself dreaming about last year, because it might be hard to imagine better conditions on Topband than the 2009 CQ 160 CW test, when the band lit up almost like it was 20 meters. Defending champ Valery Komarov RD3AF will be back this year as EF8M from the Canary Islands. MORE

CQ WW SAYS 'NO' TO SO/SOA CATEGORY

A day after a radio-sport.net story and hours after a stinging public rebuke by a six time CQ WW contest winner, the CQ WW Contest Committee announced it would not combine the Single Operator and Single Operator Assisted categories because of concerns over cheating. "We continue to totally support SO and SOA being separate," said CQ WW Director Bob Cox K3EST. MORE

HI3TEJ STILL radio-sport.net WORLD #1

Along with qualifying for the World Radiosport Team Championships, Teddy Jiminez HI3TEJ has again kept himself at the top of the latest radio-sport.net World Single Operator Standings. Chasing Jiminez in second is Yuri Kurinyi UA9AM.

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

HIGH BANDS STILL SLUGGISH IN NAQP

Despite a flurry of sunspots so far in 2010, it was the same ole story for the North American QSO Party's first contest of this year, as band openings were again limited on 10 and 15 meters, while the action was heated on 80 and 160. The NAQP CW leader is Chris Hurlbut KL9A, who is on course for a repeat January win thanks to a big score from the NK7U station in Oregon. MORE

2009 YASME AWARD TO radio-sport.net

The amateur radio based YASME foundation has honored the radio-sport.net website for its groundbreaking coverage of ham radio contesting by awarding this site's creator with a YASME Excellence Award. MORE

SOLAR ACTIVITY GIVES HOPE FOR 2010

Even after the second worst year in the Space Age in terms of sunspot numbers, there are encouraging signs for ham radio contesters when it comes to sunspots and better propagation on the HF contest bands. Except for Christmas, sunspots were visible every day since December 9 and the first few days of the New Year. MORE

NAQP TESTS LOOK FOR SOLAR BOOST

After starting off the year with the ARRL RTTY Roundup, hams in North America get to test their CW skills this weekend in the North American QSO Party, one of many contests that has seen reduced scores on the high bands in recent years because of lackluster solar conditions. MORE

SHIFT TO 2010 WITH ARRL RTTY ROUNDUP

The theme of the last few ARRL RTTY Roundup contests has been four straight wins for Ed Muns W0YK/P49X and lackluster propagation which has limited action on the high bands for RTTY contesters worldwide. But this year's band conditions have a chance to be a little different thanks to recent action on the sun. MORE

FEW SUNSPOTS GREET 2009 ARRL 10 TEST

After a first half of November that saw some hopeful signs of activity on the Sun, the last few weeks have been quiet, leaving contesters with a familiar lament for the 2009 ARRL 10 Meter Contest: "Where are the sunspots?" See what might be in store on 10 meters this year. MORE

RD3AF TOP SINGLE IN CQ WW CW 2009

The top Single Operator claimed scores all seem to be out in the 2009 CQ WW CW Contest, with Valery Komarov RD3AF on top for the second straight year after an 11.8 million point effort from EF8M in the Canary Islands. In second is Andy Blank N2NT, who had 11.2 million from V47NT. Last year Komarov also had the highest score, but he was disqualified. Check out the latest from radio-sport.net MORE

THREE GET CQ WW CHEATING CHECKS

With little fanfare from the CQ WW Contest Committee, three top single operators in the 2009 CQ WW CW contest had observers on hand during their operations, all part of a new rule designed to crack down on cheating. One big question left unanswered was who paid for the trips to three far off holiday destinations. MORE

HOPE FOR OPEN BANDS IN CQ WW CW 09

After several years of depressed conditions, the sun has been a bit more active since the CQ WW SSB Contest, giving some hope to contesters that the CW of CQ WW leg will be even more productive on 10 and 15 meters. See what radio-sport.net found as we continue our preview of CQ WW CW 2009! MORE

TOP SLOTS OPEN IN 2009 CQ WW CW

There will be fresh faces in the winner's circle this year for the 2009 running of the CQ WW DX CW Contest, as the defending champs in the Single Operator High Power, Low Power and QRP categories won't be making a repeat effort, along with the 2008 Multi-Two category. Join radio-sport.net as we kick off our CQ WW CW coverage this week! MORE

NO REPEAT WINNER IN CQ WW CW LP

Like the battle for supremacy in the Single Operator High Power category, the Low Power title also won't have a repeat champion this year in the CQ WW CW Contest, which could make the Joseph "Bud" Trench AA3B/V26K the low power favorite once more. Check out the latest from our CQ WW CW coverage at radio-sport.net! MORE

W7WA TRIES FOR SWEEPS SSB REPEAT

This weekend brings one more tuneup for contesters in the US and Canada before CQ WW CW, as the ARRL November Sweepstakes SSB test grabs the bands in North America. Dan Handa W7WA is the defending champ in this very popular 30 hour contest, which is also a test of an operator's ability to avoid log mistakes. MORE

MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT WRTC TEAMS

45 teams are now complete for the 2010 World Radiosport Team Championships in Russia, as the team leaders who qualified for next year's contest have selected their teammates. One of those picks was RA3CO, who had his log rejected in the 2008 CQ WW SSB Contest, after the government of Colombia found that he had operated illegally in that country. MORE

N6KT CLAIMS 9th CQ WW SSB VICTORY

Already the most prolific single operator in the history of the CQ WW SSB Contest, Rich Smith N6KT is on his way to a second straight win in 2009, a record ninth overall, as he claimed just over 16 million points from HC8A in the Galapagos Islands. That gives Smith an almost insurmountable lead over his closest pursuers, 8P5A (W2SC), CR2X (OH2UA) and 4O3A (ES5TV). MORE

N2IC AIMS AT 3 STRAIGHT SS CW WINS

After watching KE3Q (at WP3R) dominate for eight straight years, now it's the turn of Steven London N2IC to see if he can extend his own two year winning streak in the 2009 running of the ARRL's November Sweepstakes CW contest. But hot on his tail will be a number of top ops, just waiting to pounce if N2IC stumbles. MORE

N6KT FAVORED IN 2009 CQ WW SSB TEST

It has been 26 years since Rich Smith N6KT nabbed his first CQ WW SSB victory, a feat that he has achieved eight times, most recently in 2008. And again in 2009, Smith is the man to beat, as he looks for a record ninth SSB win from HC8A in the Galapagos Islands. A number of big time operators will be laying in wait to challenge for this year's SOAB HP title. MORE

CQ WW CHIEF SENDS INSPECTION NOTICES

Following through on a major rules change for the 2009 CQ WW DX Contests, the head of the CQ WW Contest Committee has sent emails to certain contesters requesting the right to have an official observer visit their stations during the 48 hour contest period of this year's CQ WW CW test. The email names at least four operators: CT1BOH, YT1AD, W2SC and RD3AF. MORE

EAST COAST BATTLE EXPECTED IN CQWW

After two straight USA Single Operator High Power victories, Randy Thompson K5ZD will not be going for three in a row in 2009, making the 2009 CQ WW SSB Contest in the US a likely shootout of top stations in New England and along the East Coast. Thompson instead will host W1UE, as W1UE, K1DG, K1LZ, NN3W, K3CR and others battle for top SOAB HP honors in the US. MORE

OH2UA BIDS FOR EUROPE CQ WW REPEAT

Sporting a new call sign of CR2X in the Azores, Toni Linden OH2UA will try to post the best CQ WW SSB score in Europe for the fourth straight year, with designs on another sweep of the SSB & CW titles. Among those trying to stop him will be Tonno Vahk ES5TV, who will head from his home in Estonia to the QTH of 4O3A in Montenegro for this contest. MORE

BUILDING A BETTER CQ WW STATION

As the 2009 CQ WW DX SSB Contest arrives, it seems safe to say that if your antenna system and shack are about the same as a year ago at this time, then others might well have been gaining on you in the race for ham radio contest supremacy. Check out some photos from top operations in the US & Europe. MORE

CQ WW SSB: HIGH BANDS STILL DOWN

For the third straight year, the CQ WW SSB Contest arrives with propagation depressed on the HF bands, which will again force contesters to scramble for QSO's and multipliers, all courtesy of a still quiet Sun. It means another contest where you can expect crowded conditions on 20 and 40 meters and good low band conditions. MORE

CQ WW SSB ARRIVES WITH MORE RULES

After several months of public controversy over the judging of the 2008 CQ WW DX Contests, the 2009 CQ WW SSB test arrives with some re-formulated rules from the CQ WW Contest Committee, one of which could lead to an in-person, on site visit from an official observer during the 48 hour contest period to check for cheating. MORE

MORE DQ RULES FOR 2009 CQ WW TESTS

With less than two weeks until the 2009 CQ WW SSB Contest, the disqualification rules for the CQ Worldwide Contests has been revised, making it into a process that involves "Yellow" and "Red" cards for contesting rule violations, akin to the rules for misconduct in international football. Check out the new language and tell radio-sport.net what you think of the changes. MORE

CONTROVERSY OVER SOME WRTC PICKS

After going through 76 entries from around the world, the organizers of the 2010 World Radiosport Team Championships announced on Sunday the 44 winners of team leader positions for what is essentially the World Cup of ham radio contesting. Left out of those selections was one leader from Europe and a top finisher from Asia as well, even though they submitted their applications. MORE

NO SIGNS FROM CQ WW ON PRIVATE DQs

With fresh evidence in the CQ WW DX contests of possible "private" disqualifications being handed out by the CQ WW Contest Committee, there are voices in the ham radio contest community urging a halt to that practice, calling for more public declarations of DQ decisions. "Naming and shaming is the only way to deal with premeditated and calculated cheaters," said one ham. MORE

DQ FOR EF8M, TOP CQ WW CW SCORE

In a record setting year for public DQ's in the CQ WW DX Contests, a Russian contester who had the top CW single operator claimed score was disqualified, as the CQ WW Contest Committee continued its crackdown on cheating in the 2008 DX contests. Check out why CQ tossed out RD3AF's score from EF8M, but okayed YT1AD's winning effort from 3V8BB. MORE

TOP CQ WW CW M/S SCORE DISAPPEARS

The final numbers from the 2008 CQ WW CW contest do not include any mention of the top world claimed score in the Multi-Single category, as a radio-sport.net review of the latest results from CQ Magazine show that Team 4L0A's score simply "disappeared" from the final 2008 CQ WW CW results. Also missing, several top 40 meter scores that were evidently "privately" DQ'd. MORE

CQ WW CHIEF FIRES BACK ON CHEATS

With the CQ WW Contest Committee under fire over its handling of possible cheaters in 2008, Contest Director Bob Cox K3EST fired back this past week, arguing the committee has done its best to ferret out those who are breaking the rules in CQ WW DX. Also on the sidebar, check out the story on how the ARRL re-scored the 2008 IARU Contest, which led to a different single op winner in one high power category. MORE

CQ WW EXPANDS IN-TEST CHECK RULE

With no public comment from the CQ WW Contest Committee, a controversial new rule dealing with third party contest visits for the 2009 CQ WW DX Contests was quietly changed and drastically expanded in recent days. The move softens the new rule and also reduces the penalties originally associated with it, but also shifts the emphasis from specific stations to all possible high contest scorers. MORE

CQ WW GIVES CHEATS ONE YEAR BAN

Grappling with how best to deal in the future with high profile disqualifications in the 2008 CQ WW DX Contests, the CQ WW Contest Committee has decided to toughen the punishments for all of those who are DQ'd, by broadening the penalties into other tests run by CQ Magazine. All of that comes as contesters await the results of the 2008 CQ WW CW test, which is also expected to include at least one high profile DQ. MORE

MORE CQ WW RULE ON IN TEST CHECKS

After a series of high profile disqualifications in the 2008 CQ WW DX Contests, a new rule being instituted for the 2009 CQ WW DX tests would require certain operators who are under scrutiny for possible rules violations to have a third party visit during the contest, a sweeping change designed to crack down on cheating. MORE

MORE DQ'S LIKELY IN 2008 CQ WW CW

With the ham radio contest community still digesting the blockbuster disqualifications of five multi op teams from the 2008 CQ WW DX SSB Contest, radio-sport.net has been told that the 2008 CQ WW DX CW results will also include major DQ news, which is expected to determine the Single Op winner of that contest. MORE

FIVE DQ'S IN 2008 CQ WW DX SSB TEST

In one of the most sweeping series of DQ decisions ever issued for a CQ WW DX contest, five multi-ops were disqualified from the 2008 CQ WW DX SSB Contest according to published results released last week. The DQ's included D4C, E7DX, 9A1P, 9A7A and UU7J, all for violations of the 10 minute band change rule in Multi-Single. 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