When the days in December shorten and the outdoor temperatures drop, amateur radio bands, on the other hand, start to heat up with one of the most popular contests of the year. ARRL 10-Meter Contest is a phenomenon. It is a contest that can be frustrating when solar activity is low, but absolutely euphoric when the Sun is on our side. And given the course of the 25th solar cycle, we can expect conditions this year that do not often repeat.
The ten-meter band (28 MHz) is called 'magical' by radio amateurs. It can open up to global distances with minimal power, but an hour later it can be completely silent. It is this unpredictability and potential for huge pile-ups that make the ARRL 10m Contest a unique event.
When and where?
The competition takes place annually during the second full weekend in December, for the year 2025 it is December 13-14.
Start: Saturday 00:00 UTC
End: Sunday 23:59 UTC
The competition is exclusively in the band 10 meters (28 MHz). Only allowed modes are CW (telegraphy)aPhone (SSB). It is important to note that, unlike some other ARRL contests, here you can make a connection everyone with everyone. So it's not just about US connections, although stations from W/VE/XE play a key role in the multipliers.
Competition goal
The aim is to make as many connections as possible with amateur radio stations around the world and collect as many different multipliers. For stations from Europe (including OM), this contest is attractive in that American stations are 'hungry' for DX connections and the ten-meter band, with good opening, allows connections across the ocean even with simple wire antennas.
Contest exchange code
This is the part where newcomers often hesitate because the exchanged code depends on where the other station is located. The rules distinguish two main groups:
Stations from the USA (W), Canada (VE), and Mexico (XE): These stations send a report RS(T) + state or province abbreviation.
Example: Station from Texas sends:
59 TX(Phone) or599 TX(CW).Example: Station from Ontario sends:
59 ON.
DX stations (everyone else including us) We are sending a report RS(T) + sequence number of the contact starting from 001.
Example: Your first contact:
59 001(Phone) or599 001(CW).
There is also a specific category for maritime mobile stations (Maritime Mobile - /MM), which send RS(T) + ITU region number (e.g. R1, R2, R3). These stations count as multipliers, but are relatively rare.
Categories: Where to fit in?
ARRL 10m Contest offers a wide range of categories, so everyone will find their place. The basic division is as follows:
1. Single Operator
One person operates the radio, logs, and does all the work. Using spotting networks (DX cluster) is prohibited in this category if you sign up for the 'unassisted' category.
QRP: Power up to 5 W (CW) / 10 W (Phone) - Note, rules may change, standard QRP in ARRL is 5W.
Low Power: Power up to 100 W (most popular category).
High Power: Power up to 1500 W.
You also choose the mode:
Mixed Mode: You can make contacts in both CW and SSB (recommended for maximum point gain).
Phone Only: SSB only.
CW Only: CW only.
2. Single Operator Unlimited
The same rules apply as above, but using DX Cluster is allowed,RBN (Reverse Beacon Network) and other assistance tools for station search. This is the ideal category for those who want to see a 'bandmap' full of markers.
3. Multi-Operator
In this contest, there is only one category Single Transmitter (one transmitter). The team of people takes turns on one radio. Only one transmitted signal at a time is allowed. This is an excellent category for radio clubs that want to train newcomers.
Scoring: Why is it worth dusting off the telegraph key?
The scoring system is set up to favor knowledge of telegraphy, which is often crucial for weak signals at 28 MHz.
Phone (SSB) contact: 2 points.
CW contact: 4 points.
This implies a clear strategy: if you master CW, definitely participate in the category Mixed Mode. One CW contact is worth two SSB contacts!
Multipliers: Total score is the product of points for QSO and total number of multipliers. Each new multiplier is:
Country DXCC (except USA, Canada, and Mexico).
US State (including District of Columbia - DC).
Canadian Province.
Mexican State.
ITU Region (only from /MM stations).
It is important to note that W/VE/XE stations do not count as DXCC multipliers, but their states/provinces count. This means that if you make a contact with New York (NY) and California (CA), you have two multipliers. If you work 10 stations from Germany (DL), you only have one multiplier (DXCC Germany).
Tips for a successful contest
1. Watch propagation conditions The 10m band is fickle. In the morning, it usually opens towards the east (Asia, Oceania), around noon and afternoon there is strong propagation towards the USA and South America. In the evening, the band may close, but during solar maximum, it can stay open to North and South America well into the night.
2. Do not ignore the segment for Technician class In the USA, holders of Technician class licenses (beginners) have access to SSB in the segment 28.300 to 28.500 MHz. Here you will often find a lot of stations calling CQ and have weaker equipment. If you have a good antenna, you will collect many multipliers of American states here.
3. Mixed Mode strategy If you are aiming for the result, start with CW. Points accumulate faster (4 points/QSO). When the pile-ups on CW diminish or the band starts to get noisy, switch to SSB. Don't forget to regularly check both band segments.
4. Techniques and antennas Although it is said that a "piece of wire" is enough for 10m, a directional antenna (Yagi,quad, Moxon) is a huge advantage. The band is prone to QSB (signal fading) and antenna gain will help you maintain the connection. If you don't have a directional antenna, a vertical antenna (e.g. CB half-wave modified for 28 MHz) will work surprisingly well due to its low radiation angle.
Logs and evaluation
After the contest ends, you have 7 days to submit the log. The log is sent in the format Cabrillo through the web interface on the ARRL website. Don't forget to check the header of the log to be placed in the correct category.
The ARRL 10-Meter Contest is more than just a competition. It is a celebration of solar activity. It is an opportunity to hear stations that fade into noise on other bands. Whether you are a "Big Gun" with a kilowatt and monobanders, or a "Little Pistol" with a dipole on the balcony, this is the weekend when you will definitely have a blast.
Good luck on the band! 73.