DARC XMAS contest is one of the most popular and also the most specific short amateur radio competitions in Europe. The organizer is Deutscher Amateur-Radio-Club (DARC)a tento pretek má v nEMEckej contestovej sezóne výnimočné postavenie – je totižthe last competition that counts towards the German club championship.. That is why the bands face extremely strong competition from all over Germany, but also from abroad.
Although it lasts only 2.5 hours, it is extremely intense. sprint contest, kde každá sekunda rozhoduje. Žiadne dlhé hľadanie staníc, žiadne pohodové „runovanie“ jednej frekvencie – XMAS contest je o rýchlosti, disciplíne, skúsenostiach a čistom logu.
Čím je XMAS contest jedinečný?
The most distinctive feature of this competition is the so-called QSY rule.. After the connection is complete, the calling station must CQ,leave the frequency and relinquish it to the calling station.. To je presný opak väčšiny veľkých contestov, kde silné stanice s vysokým výkonom „okupujú“ jednu freHFenciu po celý pretek.
V XMAS conteste tedaIt does not depend on power and large antennas,, but the operator's ability:
to quickly find a free frequency,
to respond immediately,
to manage an accurate exchange,
and right after QSO change QRG.
That is why it often happens that the ranking according to claimed scores changes significantly after checking the logs. Incorrect QSOs, bad exchanges, or inaccurate entries can cost even top operators a leading position.
Competitive atmosphere and holiday spirit
XMAS contest však nie je len o tvrdých bodoch. Pre mnohých rádioamatérov je tothe last meeting with friends on the band in the given year.. Often after a QSO there will be a "Merry Fest!" or in CW abbreviated as "FF". This is also the charm of this competition - it combines competitive tension with a pleasant holiday atmosphere.
Date and time
In the year 2025sa DARC XMAS contest uskutoční:
December 26, 2025
08:30 – 10:59 UTC
Deadline for submitting the log: 7 days after the competition, that is by January 2, 2026
The short time frame places high demands on preparation - having a well-thought-out strategy in advance is absolutely crucial.
Bands and modes
Competitions are held exclusively in two traditional winter bands:
| Band | CW | SSB |
|---|---|---|
| 80 m | 3510–3560 kHz | 3610–3650 / 3700–3775 kHz |
| 40 m | 7010–7040 kHz | 7060–7100 / 7130–7200 kHz |
Each station can be worked once on 80 m and once on 40 m.
New for the MIXED category: the station can be worked on each band once in CW and once in SSB.
Allowed is maximum of 20 band or mode changes, which further emphasizes the sprint character of the contest.
Categories
DARC XMAS Contest ponúka prehľadné Categories:
Single Operator MIXED (Low / High Power)
Single Operator CW (Low / High Power)
Single Operator SSB (Low / High Power)
Trainee (only for German stations)
checklog
Power limits:
Low Power: up to 100 W
High Power: over 100 W
Exchange and multipliers
Exchange
German stations (DL): RS(T) + DOK
(non-DARC members send 'NM', which however does not count as a multiplier)Foreign stations: RS(T) + serial number
Multipliers
DOK (for DL stations)
Prefixes
In the MIXED category, multipliers are counted separately for each mode and band
Scoring
Each valid QSO = 1 point
Final score:
(sum of QSO points) × (sum of multipliers)
Invalid QSOs are simply removed, which further emphasizes the need for a clean and accurate log.
Propagation and strategy
Zaujímavým aspektom XMAS contestu jepropagation on the 40 m band. At the beginning of the contest, the skip zone is often too large for short connections within Germany, but precisely 40 m multipliers are essential for a good result. Experience, correct timing, and patience are often more important than power amplifiers.
Foreign stations often have an advantage due to propagation on 40 m over DL stations, and therefore are very welcome in the contest.
Logs, results, and diplomas
Logs are submitted exclusively electronically in the format Cabrillo via the DARC web interface. Each participant receives:
automatic confirmation of log receipt,
access to UBN report,
and after evaluation PDF diploma for personal printing.
Conclusion
DARC XMAS contest je dokonalým príkladom toho, žekrátky contest môže Byť extrémne intenzívny a zábavný. The QSY rule puts everyone on the same starting line and highlights what is most important in amateur radio – operating skills.
If you are looking for a festive contest where not only points are contested but also 'Frohes Fest' is wished, then it DARC XMAS contest should definitely not be missing from your December calendar.