07/30/2026
August Amateur Radio Contests & On-The-Air Events: Time to Fill the Logbooks, TARC!
Whether you’re chasing rare European DX, racking up points across North America, activating or hunting lighthouses, or experimenting with VHF/UHF propagation right here in Brevard County, August 2026 is packed with fantastic operating opportunities!
Contesting and on-the-air events aren't just for heavy competition—they’re one of the best ways to test your station, sharpen your operating skills, and put new contacts in your logbook.
Real-Time Spotting on the TARC Repeater
Let’s work together this month! While you’re operating, keep a radio tuned to the TARC 146.970 MHz Repeater (- PL 107.2).
If you catch a sudden 10m opening into Europe, notice tropospheric ducting on VHF/UHF, or hear a rare lighthouse or multiplier popping up on 20m, call it out on the repeater! Reporting live band openings gives fellow club members a heads-up so everyone can jump on HF or VHF and snag those same contacts for their logbooks.
Major European Contests
1️⃣ European HF Championship
• Dates: August 1, 2026 (1200Z – 2359Z)
• Modes: CW & SSB
• Bands: 160m, 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, and 10m
• Florida Strategy: While this is a competition between European stations, it creates a dense, targeted window of transatlantic activity. Point your beam or wire antennas Northeast to grab easy European log entries.
• Details: https://www.contestcalendar.com/contestdetails.php?ref=82
2️⃣ Worked All Europe (WAE) DX Contest (CW)
• Dates: August 8 (0000Z) – August 9 (2359Z), 2026
• Modes: CW only (SSB leg follows in September)
• Rules: Non-European stations exclusively work European stations. Features a unique QTC-traffic exchange system where you can transfer blocks of previously logged contacts back to Europe for bonus points!
Florida Strategy for WAE CW:
• Afternoon Transatlantic Openings: Mid-to-late afternoon local time on 15m and 20m will be prime for crossing the Atlantic. Beam 40°–50° Northeast.
• Late-Night Low Bands: Don't let summer static scare you off 40m and 80m after midnight. European stations aggressively hunt low-band multipliers for big points.
• 10-Meter Surprises: Keep an ear on 10m during daylight hours. Brief, high-density openings offer rapid-fire contact rates.
• Master the QTC Advantage: European operators rely heavily on QTC traffic for their final score—they will be hunting for your Florida signal! Ensure N1MM, WriteLog, or your logger of choice is configured for QTC generation before launching.
• Mind the Non-Contest Windows: Adhere strictly to IARU Region 1 band plans (avoid running in non-contest segments like 14060–14350 kHz on 20m and 7040–7200 kHz on 40m).
• Details: https://www.darc.de/der-club/referate/conteste/wae-dx-contest/en/
United States & North American Events
3️⃣ North American QSO Party (NAQP)
• CW Date: August 1–2, 2026 (1800 UTC – 0559 UTC)
• SSB Date: August 15–16, 2026 (1800 UTC – 0559 UTC)
• Florida Strategy: From Space Coast positions, 20m and 40m offer strong propagation into dense populations up the East Coast and across the Midwest before propagation shifts at nightfall.
• Details: www.ncjweb.com
4️⃣ ARRL 222 MHz and Up Distance Contest
• Dates: August 1 (1800 UTC) – August 2 (1800 UTC)
• Scope: Encourages operation on 222 MHz and higher bands to test distance capabilities on VHF, UHF, and microwave frequencies.
• Florida Strategy: August humidity and coastal temperature inversions produce prime tropospheric ducting. Expect 222 MHz+ signals to slide far along the Florida coastline and across the Gulf of Mexico, bypassing normal line-of-sight limits!
• Details: www.arrl.org/222-mhz-andup-distance-contest
Special Event Highlight
5️⃣ International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend (ILLW)
• Dates: August 15, 2026 (0001 UTC) – August 16, 2026 (2400 UTC) (48 Hours)
• Scope: One of the most popular global events in amateur radio! Hundreds of stations activate from historic lighthouses and lightships in over 40 countries.
• Format: Relaxed and non-competitive (no high-pressure scoring or prizes)—just pure fun chasing lighthouse stations around the world or operating portable near maritime historical sites.
• Florida Strategy: Florida’s coastline is loaded with iconic lighthouse stations (like Cape Canaveral, Ponce Inlet, and Jupiter Inlet). Expect heavy activity on 20m, 40m, and 15m SSB/CW. It's a great opportunity for home stations to hunt unique DX/US lighthouse numbers or for local operators to plan portable outings!
• Details: https://illw.net/
Fire up the rigs, get your logging software ready, and let's put TARC on the map this month. See you on the air—and on the 146.970 repeater!
Happy Contesting,
73,
Greg Hand – KK4LWB
