Rádioamatérske súťaženie (contesting) je fascinujúca disciplína, ktorá spája technickú zdatnosť, strategické myslenie a vytrvalosť. Medzi najvýznamnejšie podujatia v kalendári každého rádioamatéra patrí už tradičneUBA DX contestThe year 2026 brings not only the continuation of this tradition but also an exceptional status, as the competition is held under the patronage of the European Commission for communication, information, and culture.
This article will provide you with a detailed look at the rules, categories, and specifics of the 2026 edition, which promises high activity and a chance to win prestigious awards.
In the article, you will read
Significance and prestige: Patronage of the European Union
UBA (Union Belge des Amateurs-Emetteurs) has the honor this year to announce that the competition is covered by the patronage of the European Commission.This recognition underscores the cultural and communicative significance of amateur radio within a united Europe.
This is also related to the awarding of 39th edition of the European Union Trophy.. This prestigious trophy will be awarded to stations from EU member states in categories Single Operator High PoweraSingle Operator Low Power, which achieve the highest combined score from both the CW and SSB parts of the competition. It is an additional motivation for all operators from the European Union to showcase their skills in both modes of operation.
Moral stance and restrictions (Russia and Belarus)
In the context of current global events, the UBA leadership has made an important decision regarding participation. In accordance with the measures of several sister associations IARU and sports organizations, amateur radio operators from the Russian Federation and Belarus are excluded from participation in competitive activities organized by UBA, until further notice.
UBA emphasizes that although IARU declares the apolitical nature of amateur radio, this decision is perceived as a moral, not a political issue.. In practice, this means:
Connections (QSO) with Russian and Belarusian stations are worth 0 points.
These stations do not count even as multipliers.
It is recommended not to log these connections, or to consider that they will be canceled upon inspection.
Dates and times of the competitions
UBA DX contest je rozdelený na dve samostatné časti podľa módu prevádzky. Obe časti trvajú 24 hodín, vždy od soboty 13:00 UTC do nedele 13:00 UTC.
SSB part (Phone)
Date: January 31 – February 1, 2026.
(Traditionally starts on the last Saturday of January).
CW part (Telegraphy)
Date: February 28 – March 1, 2026.
(Traditionally starts on the last Saturday of February).
Competition categories
The rules distinguish between stations located in Belgium and stations from the rest of the world.
For stations outside Belgium (DX stations):
Operators can choose from the following categories:
Single Band (10m, 15m, 20m, 40m, 80m): Divided into High Power (HP) and Low Power (LP). In these categories, a full 24 hours of operation is allowed.
All Band (CHP / CLP): All bands, High Power (>100W) or Low Power (max. 100W).
Multi Operator (D): Multiple operators, one radio (10-minute rule applies for band changes, except for multiplier stations).
QRP (E): Maximum power 5W (CW) or 10W (SSB). Max. 18 hours of operation.
SWL (F): Listeners (detailed rules in section 12).
For Belgian stations (QTH in Belgium):
Belgians have specific time limits (6, 12, or 24 hours) and categories tailored to their type of license (HAREC, ON2, or Basic License ON3).
Bands and frequency plan
Competition takes place in classic HF bands: 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.Note: It is essential to strictly adhere to the IARU frequency plan. Contestants should avoid frequencies reserved for digital modes (e.g. FT8 segments). Violating the band plan may lead to disqualification. Organizers appeal for consideration towards non-contesting radio amateurs.
Contest code (Exchange)
CW call: "TEST UBA"
SSB call:„CQ UBA"
Exchanged code:
Stations located in Belgium: RS(T) + serial number starting from 001 + abbreviation of the UBA section (e.g. 59 001 ACC). Stations that are not members of the UBA broadcast the abbreviation XXX. National stations (ON4UBA, ON4DIG, ON4YLC) use the abbreviation UBA.
Stations outside Belgium: RS(T) + serial number starting from 001 (e.g. 599 001).
Scoring and multipliers
The scoring system is designed to encourage connections with Belgian stations, which are the main target of the contest.
Scoring for stations outside Belgium:
Connection with a Belgian station (ON):10 points.
Connection with a country of the European Union (EU):3 points.
All other connections: 1 point.
Bonus for non-Belgian stations: UBA introduced an interesting bonus system. A percentage bonus based on the ratio of Belgian stations in the log will be added to the total points for connections. Example: If you have 50 connections with Belgium (500 points) out of a total of 320 connections, your share of ON stations is 15.6%. An extra bonus of 78 points (15.6% of 500) will be added to the total score. This calculation will be performed automatically by the software when checking logs.
Multipliers for stations outside Belgium:
Multipliers are calculated separately for each band:
Each UBA section (e.g. ACC, LGE, etc.). Note: XXX is not counted as a multiplier.
Every Belgian prefix (ON, OO, OP, OQ, OR, OS, OT).
Each Member state of the European Union (from the list DXCC).
Note: One connection with a Belgian station can bring you up to two multipliers (section and prefix) on that band.
List of European Union multipliers
For better orientation during the contest, we provide a list of DXCC entities that are considered EU multipliers in 2026: 5B, 9A, 9H, CT, CT3, CU, DL, EA, EA6, EA8, EI, ES, F, FG, FM, FR, FY, HA, I, IS, LX, LY, LZ, OE, OH, OH0, OJ0, OK, OM, OZ, PA, S5, SM, SP, SV, SV5, SV9, SV/A, TK, YL and YO.
Technical conditions and Remote stations
DX Cluster: Using the cluster is allowed for all categories. However, 'decent' use is recommended - that is, spotting DX stations and new multipliers. 'Friendly spotting' (agreed spotting of friends for the purpose of advantage) is prohibited and harms the operator's reputation.
Remote stations: All transmitting and receiving equipment must be at one location. Remote receivers (Remote RX) are only allowed up to 500 meters from the transmitter.
Logs and software support
UBA DX contest akceptuje už len elektronické denníky vo formáteCabrillo. Paper logs are not accepted.
Submission deadline: By 7 days after the end of the contest.
For SSB: February 8, 2026, 23:59 UTC.
For CW: March 8, 2026, 23:59 UTC.
Submission: Exclusively via web upload: https://contestupload.UBA.be/.
Recommended software:Väčšina moderných súťažných denníkov podporuje UBA DX contest. Medzi najpopulárnejšie patria:
N1MM Logger+ (free, the latest version is recommended).
DXLog.net (excellent support for UBA rules).
UCXLog or SD from EI5DI.
Before submitting, check the header of the Cabrillo file, especially the category and power, to avoid being mistakenly classified into a higher category (e.g., Multi-Operator).
Rules for listeners (SWL)
SWL stations are welcome in this contest. The log records: time (UTC), the call sign of the station heard, the complete code that this station sent, and the call sign of the station it worked with. A station can be logged as 'heard' only once on a band. In the 'worked with' column, the same call sign can appear a maximum of 10 times on the band. Software is recommended. SWL_dqr_Log from SP7DQR.
Awards and certificates
Certificates: Each participant will be able to download a certificate in electronic form.
Trophy: Belgian winners (UBA members) can receive physical trophies upon achieving a sufficient number of QSOs.
EU Trophies: The most prestigious awards for HP and LP stations from EU member states.
Penalties and ethics
UBA cares about the integrity of the contest. Connections with incomplete or incorrect codes will be canceled (0 points), but without additional penalties. Disqualification is threatened for:
Podvádzanie a vymýšľanie spojení (imaginary logging).
Repeated and intentional violations of the IARU rules or band plan.
Unsportsmanlike behavior.
By submitting the log, the operator confirms that they understood the rules, adhered to the conditions of their license, and accepts the decisions of the contest committee as final.
Conclusion: Why participate?
UBA DX contest 2026 nie je len ďalším víkendom stráveným pri rádiu. Je to príležitosť zapojiť sa do podujatia s vysokou diplomatickou a spoločenskou hodnotou. Pre slovenské a české stanice je to vynikajúca šanca na „ulovenie“ vzácnych belgických sekcií a prefixov, ktoré sú potrebné do viacerých diplomov.
Thanks to the scoring advantage for Belgian stations, the band is full during the contest. Whether you are experienced contestman attacking on European Union Trophy, alebo začínajúci operátor s výkonom 100W a dipólom, UBA DX contest vám ponúka férové podmienky a skvelú rádioamatérsku zábavu.
Don't forget to update your contest software and check antennas before the contest. See you on the band in January and February 2026!
73 a veľa úspechov v UBA DX conteste 2026!