ARRL 10-Meter Contest 2025

Keď sa dni v decembri skracujú a vonkajšie teploty klesajú, rádioamatérske pásma sa naopak začínajú zahrievať jednou z najobľúbenejších súťaží roka. 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?

Súťaž sa koná každoročne počas the second full weekend in December, for the year 2025 it is December 13-14.

• Štart: Saturday 00:00 UTC

• Koniec: Sunday 23:59 UTC

Súťaží sa výhradne v pásme 10 metrov (28 MHz). Povolené módy sú len CW (telegrafia) a Phone (SSB). It is important to note that, unlike some other ARRL contests, here you can make a connection každý s každým. Nie je to teda len o spojeniach s USA, hoci stanice z W/VE/XE hrajú kľúčovú úlohu pri násobičoch.

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:

1. Stations from the USA (W), Canada (VE), and Mexico (XE): Tieto stanice posielajú report RS(T) + skratku štátu alebo provincie.

   • Príklad: Station from Texas sends: 59 TX (Phone) or 599 TX (CW).

   • Príklad: Station from Ontario sends: 59 ON.

2. DX stations (everyone else including us) My posielame report RS(T) + poradové číslo spojenia začínajúce od 001.

   • Príklad: Your first contact: 59 001 (Phone) or 599 001 (CW).

Existuje ešte špecifická kategória pre námorné mobilné stanice (Maritime Mobile - /MM), ktoré posielajú RS(T) + číslo ITU regiónu (napr. R1, R2, R3). Tieto stanice platia ako násobiče, ale sú pomerne vzácne.

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

Jeden človek obsluhuje rádio, loguje a robí všetku prácu. V tejto kategórii je zakázané používať spotting siete (DX cluster), ak sa prihlásite do „neassistovanej“ kategórie.

• QRP: Výkon do 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

Platia rovnaké pravidlá ako vyššie, ale je povolené používať DX Cluster, 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

V tomto závode existuje len kategória 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 body.

• CW contact: 4 body.

This implies a clear strategy: if you master CW, definitely participate in the category Mixed Mode. Jedno CW spojenie má hodnotu dvoch SSB spojení!

Násobiče (Multipliers): Celkové skóre je súčinom bodov za QSO and total number of multipliers. Each new multiplier is:

1. Zem DXCC (except USA, Canada, and Mexico).

2. Štát USA (including District of Columbia - DC).

3. Canadian Province.

4. Mexican State.

5. ITU Región (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. Sledujte podmienky šírenia 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. Neignorujte segment pre Technician triedu V USA majú držitelia licencie triedy Technician (začiatočníci) povolený prístup na SSB v segmente 28.300 až 28.500 MHz. Práve tu často nájdete množstvo staníc, ktoré volajú CQ and have weaker equipment. If you have a good antenna, you will collect many multipliers of American states here.

3. Mixed Mode stratégia 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. Technika a antény Hoci sa hovorí, že na 10 m stačí „kus drôtu“, smerová anténa (yagi, quad, Moxon) je obrovskou výhodou. Pásmo je náchylné na 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

Po skončení preteku máte 7 dní na odoslanie denníka. Denník sa odosiela vo formáte 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.