This is the biggest contest in the world. At one time, I used to be very keen on this as a way of working some new DXCC countries. I have never submitted a score. These days I just take a peek, and give it a miss. It is on all weekend.
28 Oct 2023
24 Oct 2023
CQWW SSB contest this weekend
This is this weekend (October 28/29th). It is the biggest contest on the planet with 35000 people taking part over the SSB and CW contests.
Exchanges are just report and CQ zone. For example, in the UK, this might be "5914". There is no need to submit an entry, Just come on to work a few more countries. The contest runs all weekend. Exchanges usually take a few seconds only.
At one time (when my voice was OK!) I used to enjoy this contest and have pages filled in the logbook even with 2.5W. I even worked the USA on SSB handheld with the FT817 whip indoors on the bed!
These days, I often forget.
24 Sept 2023
CQWW contests
Today is the CQWW RTTY contest. The SSB contest (the biggest in the world) is at the end of October and the CW contest at the end of November.
As my voice is poor, I do not get the same pleasure I used to get in the SSB contest. Also, I frequently forget!
Even if you are not a great contest fan (I am not!), it is a great opportunity to work some more countries. Exchange is, I think, report and CQ zone if you are outside of the USA. For example, if in the UK, 5914. Of course, there is no need to submit a contest entry. I have never submitted an entry to CQWW.
26 Nov 2022
CQWW CW contest
This weekend is the CW leg of the CQWW contest. This is all weekend and we can expect the HF bands to be very busy.
30 Oct 2022
CQWW SSB contest
The CW leg is at the end of November. These are 48 hour contests and a good chance to work new stations and countries.
One good thing was this showed my 10m coax plug as intermittent. I have now fixed this and gone on 10m WSPR TX with 500mW from the W5OLF TX WSPR beacon.
The photo shows activity on 10m SSB - busy!! With my poor voice, I find this much harder these days.
See https://www.cqww.com/ .
31 Oct 2021
CQWW SSB contest
I had a peep on 10m SSB and there was plenty of activity as the photo shows. Without trying I worked VP9I which may be a new country with my 10W SSB on 10m. It is certainly a new country in the 21st century. After 5 minutes I had had enough!!
30 Oct 2021
CQWW contest and 10m
This afternoon I went on 10m SSB expecting it to be filled with CQWW contest stations. I copied none, so I QSYed to 20m. There were plenty. This morning I tried 10m SSB and there were a few stations on. It was not exactly busy.
Today on 10m FT8 RX I have spotted 310 stations from all over including 3 USA stations in the last 30 minutes. OK, it may just be conditions and the band may be very busy later. I hope this isn't a sign of the times in the hobby with stations coming on FT8 just to work DX and then going to sleep again until their software alerts them to a new country!
29 Oct 2021
Reminder: CQWW SSB contest this weekend
All weekend is the CQWW SSB contest. Activity is usually very high. I have never submitted a log, but enjoy going on for a while to work a few new countries and states. Because of my voice, I shall be unable to be on for long.
See www.cqww.com
26 Oct 2021
CQ WW DX SSB contest
This weekend is the CQWW DX contest SSB leg. In years gone by, I filled pages in my logbook with QSOs, but since my stroke it has been far harder. This year, 10m should be pretty good after poor conditions for several years. I hope to pop on to work a few stations, although I never submit a contest log. Many times I forget it is on! It runs all weekend and usually the HF bands are buzzing.
See https://www.cqww.com/ .
26 Sept 2021
10m in the months ahead
When conditions are good, I have worked USA SSB stations with 2.5W from indoors with just a whip!
10m (28MHz) remains one of my favourite bands. At dead of night and in the quiet solar years, it acts more like a VHF band. In the Es season it is good for DX up to 1500km often, and occasionally much further. In the better years there is worldwide DX via F layer. Antennas can be small and simple. Often QRP only is needed.
See https://www.cqww.com/ .
See also https://sites.google.com/view/g3xbm4/home/hf-mf-and-lf/10m-operation .
6 Dec 2020
Missed again! - CQWW SSB
Many years ago, I used to really enjoy this contest. Working on 10m SSB it was possible to work many stations. Since my voice was adversely affected by my stroke, it has been harder. It is even harder still if you do as I did and totally forgot it was on!
The last weekend in October should have been in my diary. Mind you, on 10m with an indoor loop at this part of the solar cycle it would have been hard work. Maybe next year?
The rules for the 2020 contests (SSB and CW) are attached, even though these have passed.
29 Oct 2019
CQWW SSB contest - doh!
In past CQWW SSB contests it is often possible to fill pages in the log with 10m QRP SSB QSOs.
29 Oct 2017
CQWW SSB contest
28 Oct 2017
CQWW Contest and 10m FT8
Sorry, but I have no interest in contest exchanges on 20m SSB. In the meantime, I have gone back to 10m FT8 RX. Perhaps all the keen 10m operators have moved to FT8?
UPDATE 1534z: So, most think 10m is dead and have moved to lower bands for the CQWW SSB contest. Meanwhile, plenty of DX on 10m FT8 as the photo shows.
UPDATE 1558z: More South Americans and best 10m FT8 DX (currently) LU7DAF (11197km).
27 Oct 2017
CQWW SSB
24 Oct 2017
CQWW SSB Contest
Best days for QRP tends to be Sunday as most "big guns" have worked lots by then and are scraping around for points.
See https://www.cqww.com/
29 Oct 2016
CQWW SSB - too hard these days
10m was not as busy as the last few years: I heard several EA8s working stings of Europeans, but I was just too slow.
Looking back on the blog, I see I gave up on CQWW last year because of my poor voice.
27 Oct 2016
CQWW DX contest this weekend (SSB)
See http://www.cqww.com/rules.htm .
27 Nov 2015
CQWW CW this weekend
25 Oct 2015
CQWW SSB contest
Currently I am on 10m and 6m WSPR.