Subj : ARRL International Digital Contest Presents Fun Despite Active Sun
To   : QST
From : ARRL de WD1CKS
Date : Fri Jun 06 2025 02:25 pm

06/06/2025

As Solar Cycle 25 peaks, the sun has been busy. A coronal mass ejections has
thrown HF propagation for a roller coaster ride this week. While the medium and
lower HF bands suffer, there's still hope for successful operating during times
of solar storms. The 6-meter band has been quite active. Reports of phone
contacts to Europe from East Coast hams and great digital activity on 6 meters
from elsewhere have filled the ham radio social media space.�

All of this is just in time for the ARRL International Digital Contest this
weekend. It is a great opportunity for stations capable of operating using
digital modes (except for RTTY) to join in on the contest fun! You don't need
to have a big contest station to participate, as even stations with simple wire
antennas can work some exciting DX. Power categories are QRP (5 watts PEP
transmitter output or less) and low power (100 watts PEP transmitter output).

There is no high-power category for this event, so even modest stations are on
an even playing field with other participants.

The 160-, 80-, 20-, 15-, 10- and 6-meter bands are allowed in this event, which
makes it possible for Technician class licensees to participate, as they have
operating privileges in the digital portion of the 10-meter band, as well as 6
meters. If you're a newly licensed Technician, and want to get a taste of
contesting, this may be the event for you to get your feet wet.

ARRL Education and Learning Support Specialist Max Freedman, N4ML, is an active
contester. He's looking forward to the contest and sees it as a great hedge
against an active sun. "The ARRL Digital Contest is always a ton of fun, and
it's especially a great opportunity to practice SO2R. Plus, thanks to digital
mode performance, the contest will still be fun even if the bands are not,"
said Freedman. If you're not familiar with the term, SO2R is short for Single
Operator, 2 Radios.

With the band conditions being unpredictable right now, the weak signal digital
modes are useable even when the bands aren't that great. The most popular modes
in this event are FT4 and FT8, but any digital mode - except RTTY - that
supports a 4-digit grid square exchange can be used. Stations may work each
other once per band, regardless of digital mode.

Visit www.arrl.org/arrl-digital-contest[1] for full rules and details.


[1] https://arrl.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0zMzU0MzkxJnA9MSZ1PTUyNTgxODI4NCZsaT0zODMyMTIyNw/index.html

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