We hope your shack is well-equipped with reliable AC as the weather heats up and Contesting Season looms on the horizon. August offers plenty of opportunities to warm up your on-air skills for the year’s signature events. We’ve listed a few here, including the ARRL EME Contest, a handful of State QSO Parties, the annual arrival of the Perseid Meteor Shower, fun for newbies, and some RTTY action. Enjoy!
ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest: August 6, 1800Z to August 7, 1800Z. Work as many stations as possible on the 222 MHz through 241 GHz bands using any allowable mode. A station in a specific grid locator may be contacted from the same location only once on each band, regardless of mode.
MMMonVHF/DUBUS 144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest: August 12, 1500Z to August 14, 1459Z. MMMonVHF, in cooperation with the magazines DUBUS and Funk-Telegramm, invites you to take part in the 15th edition of the “144 MHz Meteorscatter Sprint Contest” during the maximum of the Perseid meteor shower.
This is a great chance to take a crack at one of the coolest aspects of the hobby. Better yet, it’s an activity that’s open to Technician license holders. For other ideas on getting the most from punching your ticket, check out this article by OnAllBands blogger Sean Kutzko, KX9X, on 15 Things to Do with a Technician License.
Here’s another way to get involved in the excitement. Founded in 1988, the International Meteor Organization is a collection of 250 meteor observers from around the world who ensure “the comprehensive study of meteor showers and their relation to comets and interplanetary dust,” per the group’s website. Check out how to become a member.
Kentucky State Parks on the Air: August 13, 1400Z to 2200Z. The Murray State University Amateur Radio Club (MSUARC) is sponsoring its annual Kentucky State Parks on the Air event. Activators will have an opportunity to operate from the Bluegrass State’s 50 parks and nine national sites, while chasers can make CW, SSB, and Digital QSOs with hams enjoying the diversity of the state’s outdoor areas.
Keymen’s Club of Japan Contest: August 13, 1200Z to August 14, 1200Z. Formed in 1976, the Keymen’s Club of Japan is devoted to promoting CW operation on the amateur bands. Find club history and contest rules at the KCJ website.
SARTG WW RTTY Contest: August 20, 0000Z to 0800Z and 1600Z to 2400Z; August 21, 0800Z to 1600Z. This annual RTTY-only event is sponsored by the Scandinavian Amateur Radio Teleprinter Group.
ARRL 10 GHz and Up Contest: August 20, 0600 Local to August 21, 2400 Local. If you’re a fan of operating on the Super High Frequency (microwave) spectrum, this is your chance to shine. North American amateurs will attempt to contact as many stations in as many different locations as possible in North America on bands from 10 GHz (3-centimeter) through Light. Amateurs are encouraged to operate from more than one location during this event. Contesters may enter in either “10 GHz only” or “10 GHz and Up” categories. The second weekend of the contest will be September 17-18.
North American QSO Party, SSB: August 20, 1800Z to August 21, 0559Z. All amateur licensees are eligible to work as many North American stations as possible during the 12-hour contest period.
ARRL Rookie Roundup, RTTY: August 21, 1800Z to 2359Z. From the ARRL, the Rookie Roundups “encourage newly-licensed operators (“Rookies”) in North America (including territories and possessions) to operate on the HF bands and experience competitive Amateur Radio operating. Experienced operators (“Non-Rookies”) are strongly encouraged to participate and help new operators—either on the air or in person.”
W/VE Islands QSO Party: August 27, 1200Z to August 28, 0300Z. The W/VE Islands QSO Party invites operators worldwide to contact stations on islands in the United States and Canada during the 15-hour event. The objective of the contest is to “promote the U.S. and Canadian islands programs to amateurs worldwide.” Choose from two classes: QRP (5 watts or less) or QRO (greater than 5 watts).
The U.S. Islands Awards Program centers around activating and chasing U.S. river, lake, and shore islands. Per its website, “The W/VE Islands QSO Party is our once a year ‘contest’ that has a class for just about any individual or group. Operate from a friend’s island ‘Fixed’ QTH, take your club on a single island ‘Expedition,’ or go on a mobile or waterborne ‘Rover’ adventure.”
Thinking about activating an island? Here’s a state-by-state U.S. island directory.
ARRL EME Contest: August 27, 0000Z to August 28, 2359Z. The object of this annual event is to work as many amateur stations as possible via the earth-moon-earth path on any authorized amateur frequency above 50 MHz: August 27-28 and September 17-18 are designated for 2.3 GHz and up.
Also check out these state QSO parties:
- Maryland-DC: August 13, 1400Z to August 14, 0400Z)
- Hawaii: August 27, 0400Z to August 29, 0400Z)
- Ohio: August 27, 1600Z to August 28, 0400Z
- Kansas: August 27, 1400Z to August 28, 0200Z; August 28, 1400Z to 2000Z)
