ARRL 10 Meter Contest: Exchange, Scoring and Strategy

Every December, the 28 MHz band becomes the centre of one of the friendliest contests on the calendar. The ARRL 10 Meter Contest is a single-band weekend where operators around the world work as many stations as possible on CW, on phone or on both. It suits beginners because it uses a simple exchange and a single band, and it rewards experienced operators who find good openings. This guide explains the dates, the categories, the exchange, the scoring and a practical approach for a first entry, based on the current rules published by the ARRL.

What the Contest Is

The objective, in the contest rules, is for amateurs worldwide to exchange information with as many stations as possible on the 10 metre band. Only the 28 MHz band is used, and both CW and phone are allowed. The contest is run by the ARRL and is open to everyone, including stations outside North America. You can make contacts with any station on both modes, and each station may be contacted once per mode, so one station can count twice if you work it on CW and on phone.

The contest period is the second full weekend in December. It begins at 0000 UTC on Saturday and runs through 2359 UTC on Sunday. For 2026, that is the weekend of 12 and 13 December by the usual counting, but always confirm the dates in the ARRL contest listing and the contest calendar, since dates are maintained there. Our guide to choosing your next contest helps you fit it into your schedule.

Why 10 Metres Is Special

The 10 metre band depends strongly on the solar cycle. When solar activity is high, it can carry signals across the world with modest power and simple antennas, and a contest weekend can feel like a global party. When solar activity is lower, the band can be quiet for hours, then suddenly produce a short opening that rewards the operator who is listening. Winter in the northern hemisphere often brings good daytime conditions in years around the solar maximum, as we explain in our 10 metre band guide. Because activity during a contest draws many stations to the band, it is also a good test of whether the band is truly open, since beacons and a few CQs may not tell the whole story.

Another feature of the band is that a small station can do well. A simple vertical, a dipole or a small beam can work many stations when the band is open, and low power is not a disadvantage when everyone is competing for the same openings. That is why the contest has a Limited Antennas overlay for stations that use only single-element antennas.

Categories and Rules at a Glance

Single-operator stations can enter as Mixed-Mode, CW-only or Phone-only. Multioperator stations may enter only as Mixed-Mode. Power categories follow the ARRL’s HF categories section. The overlay for limited antennas allows a single operator to enter with a single-element antenna, such as a vertical, an end-fed wire or a dipole, no more than 50 feet above ground at its highest point; it may cover several bands, as in the case of a multiband vertical or a fan dipole. Operators who are 25 years old or younger are invited to tick the youth box on the entry form.

All stations may operate for up to 36 hours of the 48-hour contest period, and off times must be at least 30 minutes long. That means you must plan rest and time away from the radio. If you are new to categories, our article on ham radio contest categories explains the usual terms. Read the full rules for the year you enter, because the ARRL updates them from time to time; the current version is available as a PDF rules document from the contest page.

The Exchange

The exchange is short. Every station sends a signal report. W and VE stations and Mexican stations also send their state or province, using the standard abbreviations, and stations in the District of Columbia send DC. Hawaii and Alaska operate as US stations and send their state, not as DX stations. DX stations send a serial number, starting at one, and maritime mobile stations send their ITU region, which is 1, 2 or 3. The ARRL publishes a list of multiplier abbreviations on the contest pages.

A contact on CW might sound like this: the CQing station sends CQ TEST followed by its call sign, an answering DX station gives its call sign, the CQing station sends the report 599 and its state, and the DX station answers 599 and its serial number. On phone the report is usually 59. After the exchange, the CQing station thanks the other and moves on. As the answering station you do not need to repeat the other station’s call sign unless there might be confusion about which station you are answering.

Scoring and Multipliers

Scoring is simple, but you must understand the mode weights. Each phone contact is worth two QSO points and each CW contact is worth four. To calculate the final score, you multiply the total QSO points by the number of multipliers worked. The multipliers are US states and the District of Columbia, Canadian provinces and territories, Mexican states, DXCC entities and ITU regions for maritime mobile stations. Each multiplier counts once on phone and once on CW. The ARRL’s own scoring example shows 6,330 QSO points multiplied by 140 multipliers for a score of 886,200 points.

The CW weighting is a strong incentive. A CW contact is worth twice as many points as a phone contact, and a station that works a new multiplier on both modes gets credit twice. Even if you are mainly a phone operator, learning to make a few contacts on CW can raise your score considerably. If you are building your CW skills, see our guide to learning Morse code.

Station Preparation

Preparation starts well before the weekend. Check your antenna and cable on 28 MHz with an analyzer or a power meter, and fix any problems. On 10 metres, even a small improvement in height or a clean connection is audible, and a good ground system for a vertical antenna makes a difference. Set up your logging software, including the contest template, the exchange fields and the multiplier lists. Test the CW or voice keyer, test your audio level and make sure that the computer clock is accurate.

Plan the shack as well. Place a cold drink and a snack within reach and arrange a comfortable chair and good lighting. Decide your operating plan, including the periods during which you will rest, because the 36-hour limit means you must choose your off times. Many operators take their longest break in the local night, when 10 metres is closed for most paths, and then focus on the daytime hours. Our article on rest time management in 24 and 48 hour contests offers a plan.

Operating Strategy

The first decision is whether to run or to search and pounce. Running means calling CQ on a frequency and letting stations come to you, which gives the best rate when the band is open and you have a good signal. Searching means tuning across the band and calling stations that are already on the air, which is the better choice for a small station or a quiet band. Most operators combine both, as we describe in the article about running versus search and pounce.

The second decision is how to use the two modes. On CW and phone the same station can be worked twice, so move between the modes during the day. Often the CW portion of the band is quieter, and a call on CW can bring answers when the phone part is crowded. Keep an eye on multipliers. Early in the contest, any new state or country is valuable, while later you can spend time hunting the missing ones, using the spotting network to find them. A map or a list of the states you still need helps you focus. Note the time of day too: the band tends to open first toward the east in the morning and later toward the west in the afternoon.

Using Spots and Skimmers

Most operators use spotting information to find stations and multipliers. If you enter in an assisted category, you may use spots; in an unassisted category you may not. Check the category definitions before you open a cluster window. In the unassisted case, you find stations by tuning, and the beacon stations and your own listening are your guides. If you are not familiar with spotting tools, our guide to DX cluster spotting etiquette explains them, and the article on the reverse beacon network shows how automated CW spots work.

Logging and Submitting Your Entry

Use a contest logging program that handles the exchange and the duplicates for you. After the contest, export your log in the standard Cabrillo format and check it. The ARRL requires logs to be submitted within seven days after the end of the contest at 2359 UTC. According to the contest page, from 30 September 2026 the ARRL accepts only online log submission for all of its HF contests, uploaded through the ARRL’s contest log submission web application. If you need help with the format, the ARRL points to community tools for Cabrillo files, and our article on Cabrillo logs and the UBN process explains how to avoid errors that cost points.

You can also contribute your score to an ARRL-affiliated club by choosing the club when you upload your log, and there is a space for feedback and photographs on the contest’s Soapbox page. A submitted log, even from a small station, helps the organisers verify the results of others. Do not worry about a small score; a log with a few dozen contacts is still welcome.

Common Mistakes

A few errors appear every year. The first is sending the wrong exchange: DX stations must send a serial number, while W, VE and Mexican stations send a state or province. The second is forgetting that the same station can be worked on both modes and so logging it only once. The third is operating more than 36 hours or failing to take a proper 30 minute break, which puts the entry outside the rules. The fourth is missing the log deadline. The fifth is a poorly set clock, which causes mismatched times and lost contacts. Spend a few minutes before the contest to avoid all five.

The Bottom Line

The ARRL 10 Meter Contest is a simple, friendly and rewarding contest. You work as many stations as you can on the 28 MHz band during a weekend in December, send a signal report plus state, province or serial number, score two points for phone and four for CW and multiply by the multipliers worked on each mode. Prepare your station, plan your 36 hours of operating time, use both modes and submit your log online within seven days. Check the ARRL’s current rules before the weekend, and enjoy the band.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the ARRL 10 Meter Contest?

It takes place on the second full weekend in December, from 0000 UTC Saturday to 2359 UTC Sunday. Confirm the exact dates on the ARRL contest pages, because the calendar is maintained there and can change.

What do I send in the exchange?

Send a signal report. W, VE and Mexican stations also send their state or province, and DC stations send DC. DX stations send a serial number, and maritime mobile stations send their ITU region.

How are points calculated?

Each phone contact is worth two QSO points and each CW contact four. The total is multiplied by the number of multipliers, which are states, DC, provinces, Mexican states, DXCC entities and ITU regions, counted once on phone and once on CW.

Can I work the same station twice?

Yes, once on phone and once on CW. Each station counts once per mode, so a station that is active on both modes can give you two contacts and, if it is a new multiplier, a multiplier on each mode.

How many hours can I operate?

You can operate up to 36 hours of the 48-hour period, and your off times must be at least 30 minutes long. Plan the breaks in advance so that you do not run out of operating time at the end of the weekend.

How do I submit my log?

Upload a Cabrillo file through the ARRL’s online log submission within seven days of the end of the contest. According to the contest page, from 30 September 2026 only online submission is accepted for the ARRL’s HF contests, so check the page for the current instructions.