Apríl 2026: Veľký sprievodca rádioamatérskymi contestami

April is a breakthrough month in the radio amateur's calendar. The winter sleep is finally ending, the snow has (hopefully) disappeared from the antennas and the spring promotion is starting to work its magic on the higher bands. 2026 promises that solar cycle 25 will still give us interesting conditions, and the April racing calendar is so packed that your transceiver probably won't even have time to cool down.

Whether you're a CW die-hard, a mouth-to-microphone (SSB) hookup lover, or a modern digital operator grinding FT8 a RTTY, apríl 2026 vám ponúka všetko – od bleskových polhodinových šprintov až po náročné 24-hodinové maratóny.

In this article, we will take a closer look at what lies ahead, with a special focus on our home československú scénu, ktorá v apríli doslova prekvitá.

Home scene: Hearts performed by OM and OK

For Slovak and Czech radio amateurs, April is a month of traditions. Local races have a unique atmosphere - you know the brands, you know the operators by their voice or keying style, and you fight for every point in the year-round rankings.

1. SSB Liga (April 4, 05:00 - 07:00 UTC)

Saturday morning at the very beginning of the month belongs to fans of phonic operation. SSB League is a classic on the 80-meter band. It is an ideal way to check your technique before more demanding international races. Two hours on a Saturday morning will fly by and are great training for novice contestants.

2. KV Operational assets (April 5, 05:00 – 06:00 UTC)

Sunday morning belongs to the Czech KV provoznímu aktivu. Ide o hodinovku na CW, kde je tempo vysoké a disciplína operátorov príkladná. Ak chcete vidieť, ako vyzerá efektívna telegrafná prevádzka v strednej Európe, toto je to pravé miesto.

3. OK1WC Memorial (Every Monday - April 6, 13, 20, 27)

This race is already a legend. It is held in memory OK1 WC, and is a mainstay of Monday evenings (16:30-17:29 UTC). It's a race in CW fashion. It is a great opportunity for regular improvement and honoring the memory of an important radio amateur.

4. CUC (Every Monday - April 6, 13, 20, 27)

Hneď po Memoriáli OK1WC nasleduje CUC (17:30-18:00 UTC). These short CW sprints are notorious for their speed. If you want to learn how to react quickly in pile-ups and train your ears, CUC is a must ride.

5. OM Activity Contest (11. apríl, 04:00 - 06:00 UTC)

Najvýznamnejší mesačný slovenský contest na krátkych vlnách. Každú druhú sobotu v mesiaci sa na pásme 80 metrov stretáva celá Slovak and Czech KV komunita. Súťaží sa v kategóriách CW, SSB aj Mixed. Aprílové kolo býva vďaka stabilnejším podmienkam na 80m veľmi zaujímavé.

6. VKV Operational asset / VKV Operational asset (April 19, 08:00 – 11:00 UTC)

For lovers of "very short waves", the third Sunday of the month is a holiday. From 144 MHz to 76 GHz - antennas and portable workstations are appearing on the hills of Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The April weather can be treacherous, but that's what gives this race the right "outdoor" flair. It is the ideal preparation for big summer field days.

7. Holick Cup (April 25, 04:00 - 06:00 UTC)

This race bears the name of the city associated with the largest radio amateur meeting in our region. The Holick Cup is a prestigious event on the 80m band (CW/SSB). Points from the April round could be decisive in the overall standings, so expect heavy traffic.

8. Other local snacks

• Nedělní závod (CW): Every Sunday early evening (17:30-18:00 UTC), a short and punchy half hour.

• Aktivita 160 (SSB/CW): Monday evenings (19:30-20:30 UTC) belong to the "top band". At the 160 in April, atmospheric noise from approaching storms is already starting to increase, which makes this race more technically demanding.

• MOON Contest: For VHF/UHF band enthusiasts. Divided by day: 144 MHz (1.4.), 432 MHz (8.4.), 50 MHz (15.4.) and 1296 MHz (22.4.). Always from 18:00 to 20:00 UTC.

International events: When the world is small

If local fighting is not enough for you, April 2026 offers several world-class giants.

SP DX contest (4. – 5. apríl)

The Polish national race is extremely popular in our region. We have excellent signal propagation conditions with our neighbors to the north, so the diary will be filled at breakneck speed. The race lasts 24 hours (from Saturday 15:00 UTC) and is a great test of endurance.

EA RTTY contest (4. – 5. apríl)

For those enchanted by the classic RTTY teletype sound, there is a Spanish race. Although modern modes such as FT8 dominate the normal operation, in contests RTTY still has its unmistakable place due to the speed of information transfer.

Yuri Gagarin International DX contest (11. – 12. apríl)

A race reminiscent of the first man in space. They have a specific atmosphere and are often joined by stations from all over the world, including those from "space" locations (near cosmodromes, etc.).

Helvetia contest (25. – 26. apríl)

The Swiss plant is known for its precision. The aim is to establish connections with the cantons of Switzerland. HB stations are known for their great equipment and discipline. For us it's almost a "local" race on the lower bands and interesting DX on the upper bands.

Podrobný kalendár svetových contestov na Apríl 2026

For better orientation, we present an overview of important international events (all times are in UTC):

VHF and microwaves: April's "awakening"

Slovak and Czech VHF the community belongs to the world's top. The April VKV calendar is built on three pillars:

1. MOON contest

This unique race series is great for testing technique during the work week. Since it only takes two hours, it doesn't require an extreme investment of time, but it does force you to have your technique ready at all times.

2. Nordic Activity contest (NAC)

Although it is a Nordic race, thanks to good signal propagation in our area, stations from Scandinavia (especially southern Sweden and Denmark) are normally reachable on 2m and 70cm for OM/OK stations. It is a challenge - to establish a connection over 1000 km using reflections from the aurora borealis or thanks to tropo conditions.

3. IARU R1 50 MHz MGM c'test (April 18-19)

April is the time when the first signs of the sporadic E (Es) layer begin to appear on the "magic band" of 6 meters. This race can either be a boring local points scratcher or an incredible drive across Europe if the 'heavens open'.

Why join? (A little motivation)

You might be asking yourself, "Why should I spend a nice April weekend at a hamshack?"

1. Improving skills: Žiadna iná aktivita vás nenaučí počúvať v šume a reagovať pod tlakom tak, ako contesting.

2. Testovanie techniky: Only at the factory will you find out if your transceiver is not overheating, if the filter is working correctly and if the antenna is really shining where it should.

3. Komunita: Even if you're alone in the room, you're with thousands of friends on the bands. The short "TU" (Thank You) or "599" is a form of greeting that connects people across continents.

4. Diplomy a trofeje: Who wouldn't be happy with a nice PDF diploma or (in case of top performance) a plaque on the wall?

Tabular overview of domestic KV races - April 2026

For your hamshack board:

Conclusion: April, the month of radio amateur joy

Apríl 2026 sľubuje byť pre rádioamatérov nezabudnuteľným. Od bleskových pondelkových podvečerov s Memoriálom OK1WC až po veľké výzvy v SP DX Conteste. Či už ste „drvič kľúča“ s rýchlosťou 40 WPM alebo začínajúci operátor, ktorý sa ešte len učí rozoznávať volacie Brands v spleti signálov, apríl vám podá pomocnú ruku.

Nezabudnite, že contesting nie je len o bodoch. Je to o radosti z nadviazaného spojenia, o Ham Spirite a o tom úžasnom pocite, keď sa váš signál vráti z druhého konca planéty.

Takže, nabrúste si ceruzky (alebo aktualizujte loggery), skontrolujte antény a v apríli 2026 sa dopočutia na pásmach! GL & 73!