Ham Radio - How Do I Enter a Contest?

3-Minute Video: Anyone can enter (normally) I show you how and where to get the rules. Callum.
More videos:

[RichardDePas]

I started my HF 'life' contesting because I had mic freight and it helped me to know exactly what to listen for and what to say.

[kdopi]

Also, there are contests that aren’t really contests. For example, you can do Parks On The Air (POTA). Either as a “hunter“ or as an “activator“. All you do is try to get QSO’s either from people that are broadcasting from state or national parks, or you go to a state or national park and try to make as many contacts as you can. There are awards (like dozens of them) and it’s a lot of fun. It’s more of a competition with yourself than a real contest, and it’s challenging because a lot of the operators are QRP. That’s a nice gentle way to get into contrasting and winning awards.

[oldfartonabmx]

Ah, so it’s the numbers given used to confirm the contest log 👍. Thanks for your lesson !

[jamesjames]

I enjoy listening to your videos very informative....I answered a call for CQ on 10 meters. He asked me for a number and had no idea what it was....lol. Was like omg

[Thomas-ZET]

I just like making contacts and rag chewing, may have to try a contest some day

[Testalan]

Radio automatically turns off when I hear CQ Contest.

[auto]

I don't have a working computer and every contest I've heard (rightfully) will only accept digital logs. So, I only call people who are doing POTA at the same time. We both get credit for the POTA contact and I don't mess up his/her contest log.

[DonzLockz]

Once I get started, I think I'll stress out too much to do contests. Still waiting on radios and foundation test results. I might enter a rag-chew time contest though!😄👍

[bobskimaxx]

All you need to do is shout 5 and 9 as loud as you can at everyone.

[kdopi]

Easy contests to enter in the US are state QSO parties. Nearly all states have them at different times of the year. They include voice and CW/digital modes, all kinds of power levels, team versus individual entries, and finally awards for all different categories including folks living outside of the state trying to get as many cases within a particular state during their QSO party. They typically run through the spring and the fall. Most of these have reasonable hours (like from 12 till 10 PM) and just take place either over the course of one day or two days.

[edwinpdsot]

Kiss mode, very nice & fast.. well done!

[jenni.merfynjonesmhzt]

I had problems trying to submit my husbands log for the CQWW contest, when I went to create a cabrilo file, i had the messge come up that it was malformed element help please...

[driverfilmsshortwavechannel]

Give everyone a 59, but only after asking to repeat their callsign at least 5 times!

[hubercats]

Hi Callum - I hope all is well. I’m a bit confused as to the protocol of contesting. For instance, yesterday I responded to a cq ssb call with my call sign. The contest host, for lack of a better term, responded that he received me 5/9 and provided a number (which I expected). I then replied that I was receiving him with a 4/7 from Seattle. He then responded with a “I need your number.” Before I could answer the SNR dropped to the point we could no longer talk. Was I supposed to just pick the number “1” since his call was the first one I responded to (in my life) and then increment to the number “2” for the next contest I respond to? Also, is it the case that I should enter the contest via the internet before responding to a contest cq call? Thank you! - Jim (Seattle. KK7CSC)

[smttz]

Often hopeless to get a QSO when the bands are full of contest. Everyone shouting with kW and I only have 100W and wire antenna, Im not heard by anyone.

[chrisgveo]

in one of the contests you had to give a signal report and your age

[dougheisenberch]

haha same happened last year to me, what s your number ... just answered 001, which contest is it ? then i had to look up the rules for the contest 🤣

[thomasclancy]

I use WA7BNM's contest calendar. I try to make at least 50 qsos in every major cw and ssb contest. If I'm "IN THE CONTEST", I try to make 500 qsos or more. I only have wire antennas and 600 watts but I get in there with all the big guns and make as much noise as possible! 73--Tom, NC3Y

[DKONV]

Oh shit...I fried up my RG213, golf delta son of a gun. This would have never happened with ECOFlex, LMR400 or something similiar.

[acestudioscouk-Ace-GACE]

So if I said 73, they wouldn't know if I was sending good wishes or giving my age! LOL.... I've got a few years before I have that 73 problem, fortunately.