09/18/2026
🌽📡 The 2026 Iowa QSO Party is TOMORROW — Let's Fill All 99 Counties!
Iowa hams, one of the best events on the state calendar is almost here and we need YOU on the air!
The 2026 Iowa QSO Party, proudly sponsored by the Story County Amateur Radio Club (SCARC), takes place this Saturday, September 19th from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Central Time (1400Z–0200Z) — and this year we're swinging for the fences with an ambitious goal: all 99 Iowa counties on the air! 🏆
📋 The basics:
🔹 12 hours of operating — 9 AM to 9 PM Saturday
🔹 CW, Phone, AND Digital — something for every operator
🔹 All major HF/VHF bands (excluding 60m, 30m, 17m, and 12m WARC bands)
🔹 Operate from home, with your club, or go mobile as a county rover!
🗺️ The big challenge — 99 counties, all active:
Whether you're in Adair or Winneshiek, your signal matters. Every county that goes unrepresented is a gap in Iowa's map. Don't let your county go silent — fire up the rig and put it on the air! If you have a mobile or portable setup, consider going rover and activating multiple counties throughout the day!
👋 New hams — this means YOU too!
You don't have to be a seasoned contester to participate. If you've got a radio and a license, you've got what it takes. Jump in, make some contacts, and be part of putting Iowa on the map for the global amateur radio community!
For complete rules, exchange information, entry categories, and Cabrillo log submission:
👉 Visit the W0YL Iowa QSO Party Official Page:
Handy Resources: - Here is a Cabrillo template and sample log file - Here is the Iowa counties and abbreviations list - Here is the US states and Canadian provinces list - Here is a map of Iowa counties - Check here for spotting info during the contest: *** http://qsopartyhub.com/iaqp-spots.php ***....
