The 160-meter band, familiarly called the "top band" by radio amateurs, is among the most demanding segments of short waves. It requires not only powerful end stages and large antenna systems, but above all patience, experience and feeling for wave propagation. This year's CQ World Wide 160-Meter Contest v móde SSB opäť preveril pripravenosť operátorov z celého sveta. Medzi tisíckami staníc sa nestratili ani zástupcovia zo Slovenska a Českej republiky, ktorí napriek náročným podmienkam a vysokému šumu dosiahli vynikajúce výsledky.
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Analysis of Slovak results
Slovakia's top radio amateurs confirmed their qualities, especially in categories with assistance. The team achieved the absolute highest score among Slovak stations OM7M. S počtom 731 spojení a ziskom takmer 300-tisíc bodov dominovali v kategórii Assisted High Power. Za týmto výsledkom stojí precízna práca operátora UR5AS a špičkové technické zázemie klubu, ktoré dokázalo vyťažiť maximum z 62 získaných krajín a 15 násobičov zo zóny W/VE.
He performed brilliantly in the Single-Op High category OM7K (op. OM7RU), ktorý prekonal hranicu 80-tisíc bodov. Tesne za ním sa umiestnil OM6AL, ktorého 309 spojení svedčí o vysokej efektivite počas 13 hodín prevádzky. V kategórii Low Power (nízky výkon do 100W) si najlepšie počínal OM5R (op. OM5WW), ktorý dokázal aj s obmedzeným výkonom nadviazať takmer 200 spojení.
A look at the Czech amateur radio scene
The Czech Republic had a larger representation in the race, which was also reflected in the diversity of the occupied categories. The team excelled in the royal Multi-Op category OL1R, ktorý v zložení OK1NY, OK1MV, OK1HGM a OK2MTW dosiahol úctyhodných 218 394 bodov pri 654 spojeniach. Ich aktivita trvajúca takmer 27 hodín ukazuje na perfektnú tímovú súhru a vytrvalosť.
He achieved a remarkable result in the Assisted Low Power category OK6RP pod značkou OK4R. Získať viac ako 81-tisíc bodov so 100 wattmi na 160 metroch si vyžaduje nielen skvelú anténu, ale aj výborný sluch. V kategórii High Power bez asistencie zviedli tesný súboj OK4U a OK1LRD, pričom obaja prekročili hranicu 70-tisíc bodov.
Table of Slovak stations (OM)
| Order | Brand | Category | The score | QSOs | W/VE | Countries | Hours | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OM7M | ASSISTED HIGH | 297 374 | 731 | 15 | 62 | 26.6 | UR5AS |
| 2 | OM7K | SINGLE-OP HIGH | 80,740 | 359 | 4 | 49 | 3.0 | OM7RU |
| 3 | OM6AL | SINGLE-OP HIGH | 68,288 | 309 | 1 | 43 | 13.1 | – |
| 4 | OM2VL | ASSISTED HIGH | 41,990 | 219 | 3 | 38 | 4.7 | – |
| 5 | OM5R | SINGLE-OP LOW | 32,742 | 192 | 3 | 47 | 6.0 | OM5WW |
| 6 | OM6DT | SINGLE-OP LOW | 18,258 | 106 | 3 | 45 | 5.2 | – |
| 7 | OM6MW | ASSISTED LOW | 15 148 | 110 | 2 | 28 | 3.6 | – |
| 8 | OM1ALT | SINGLE-OP LOW | 8,932 | 82 | 2 | 22 | 1.4 | – |
| 9 | OM7A | SINGLE-OP LOW | 1 749 | 33 | 1 | 13 | 3.1 | – |
Table of Czech stations (OK)
| Order | Brand | Category | The score | QSOs | W/VE | Countries | Hours | Operators / Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | OL1R | MULTI-OP | 218 394 | 654 | 10 | 56 | 26.7 | OK1NY, OK1MV, OK1HGM, OK2MTW |
| 2 | OK4R | ASSISTED LOW | 81 303 | 411 | 4 | 12 | 1.3 | OK6RP |
| 3 | OK4U | SINGLE-OP HIGH | 74 347 | 355 | 4 | 31 | 3.9 | OK1TP |
| 4 | OK1LRD | SINGLE-OP LOW | 72 120 | 370 | 2 | 38 | 19.0 | – |
| 5 | OK2BFN | ASSISTED LOW | 46,240 | 235 | 4 | 0 | 9.9 | – |
| 6 | OK1RDO | SINGLE-OP LOW | 29,925 | 174 | 3 | 56 | .7 | OK1HRD |
| 7 | OK6AB | SINGLE-OP LOW | 23,200 | 150 | 3 | 27 | .8 | – |
| 8 | OK1RSV | MULTI-OP | 21,669 | 142 | 3 | 16 | .2 | OK2IPW, OK2MTV, OK2CN |
| 9 | OK1BM | SINGLE-OP HIGH | 21 384 | 133 | 3 | 31 | 0.2 | – |
| 10 | OK1OA | SINGLE-OP HIGH | 17,429 | 124 | 2 | 9 | 2.3 | – |
| 11 | OK2AK | SINGLE-OP LOW | 17 136 | 127 | 2 | 8 | 6.6 | – |
| 12 | OK1HB | SINGLE-OP LOW | 15,236 | 123 | 2 | 6 | 6.2 | – |
| 13 | OK1DOWN | ASSISTED HIGH | 14,911 | 100 | 3 | 10 | .6 | – |
| 14 | OK2TS | SINGLE-OP LOW | 13,050 | 94 | 2 | 9 | 6.4 | – |
| 15 | OK2BRQ | SINGLE-OP LOW | 11,064 | 97 | 2 | 4 | 5.9 | – |
| 16 | OK4A | ASSISTED HIGH | 7,992 | 68 | 2 | 4 | 1.5 | OK1DXR |
| 17 | OL26WRTC | ASSISTED HIGH | 5,840 | 62 | 2 | 0 | 0.7 | OL5Y |
| 18 | OK2HF | SINGLE-OP LOW | 4,624 | 61 | 1 | 6 | 1.2 | – |
| 19 | OL0A | SINGLE-OP LOW | 4 305 | 61 | 1 | 5 | 1.8 | OK1CZ |
| 20 | OK6TW | SINGLE-OP LOW | 4 180 | 46 | 1 | 9 | 1.4 | – |
| 21 | OL1Y | SINGLE-OP LOW | 2,265 | 32 | 1 | 5 | 1.1 | OK1DXW |
| 22 | OK1MDK | SINGLE-OP LOW | 1 456 | 23 | 1 | 3 | 0.7 | – |
| 23 | OK5ET | SINGLE-OP LOW | 1,350 | 18 | 1 | 5 | 0.6 | – |
| 24 | OK1IBW | SINGLE-OP LOW | 45 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0.1 | – |
| 25 | OK1OZE | SINGLE-OP LOW | 5 | 1 | – | – | – | – |
Summary of competition rules and conditions
Pre tých, ktorí by chceli skúsiť šťastie v budúcich ročníkoch, prinášame stručný preklad a výklad hlavných podmienok CQ 160m Contestu.
1. Goal of the competition:
Nadviazať čo najviac spojení so stanicami v štátoch USA (W), provinciách Kanady (VE) a ostatných krajinách sveta (DXCC entities).
2. Date of procedure:
The SSB part is held regularly during the last full weekend of February. It starts on Friday at 22:00 UTC and ends on Sunday at 22:00 UTC.
3. Competition code:
Stations from the US and Canada transmit the RS and the abbreviation of their state or province. Other stations (including OM and OK) transmit the RS and DXCC country code.
4. Scoring:
- Connection with own country: 2 points.
- Connection with another country on the same continent: 5 points.
- Connection with another continent: 10 points.
- Maritime Mobile Stations (/MM): 5 points (no multiplier).
5. Multipliers:
Multipliers are individual US states (max 48), Canadian provinces (VO1, VO2, VE1-VE9, VY0-VY2) and DXCC countries. Attention, own country counts as a multiplier as well.
6. Categories:
- Single Operator: One person performs all functions. High Power (more than 100W) or Low Power (up to 100W) and category QRP (do 5W).
- Assisted: Použitie DX Clusteru, RBN or other station identification systems is permitted.
- Multi-Operator: Multiple operators, one transmitter at a time.
Conclusion
CQ WW 160m contest SSB 2026 opäť ukázal, že pásmo 160 metrov nie je mŕtve ani v ére digitálnych módov. Úspechy OM a OK operátorov sú dôkazom, že technický progres a operátorský kumšt v našich končinách stále prekvitajú. Všetkým zúčastneným gratulujeme k dosiahnutým výsledkom! Kompletné výsledky nájdete na https://cq160.com/scores.htm