External & Special Events
A curated list of on-air events from the wider amateur radio community.
For Informational Purposes Only
The events listed on this page are not hosted or managed by W3ACH. This is a resource provided for our members' convenience. Please consult the official event websites for the most accurate rules, dates, and details.
Must-Experience Events
These are the crown jewels of amateur radio - perfect for new contesters and DX chasers!
CQ Worldwide DX Contest
The world's largest amateur radio competition! Easy to participate, incredible DX opportunities.
Perfect for New Contesters!
Contest WebsiteWinter Field Day
Test your emergency preparedness in winter conditions. Great practice for portable operations and backup power systems.
ARRL Field Day
North America's largest amateur radio event! Perfect mix of emergency preparedness, public outreach, and pure fun.
Upcoming Worldwide Contests
Major international competitions drawing global participation from every continent.
CQ Worldwide DX Contest, CW
High-speed Morse code action from around the globe. The CW weekend of the world's biggest contest.
Contest InfoARRL 10-Meter Contest
Perfect for beginners! Work the world on 10 meters when solar conditions are favorable.
Contest InfoARRL DX Contest, CW
US/VE stations work DX worldwide on CW. Great for earning DX awards and rare countries.
Contest InfoARRL DX Contest, Phone
The SSB version of the popular ARRL DX Contest. US/VE work the world on phone.
Contest InfoCQ WPX Contest, Phone
Work as many prefixes as possible on SSB. Great for collecting unique call sign prefixes.
Contest InfoMajor North American Events
Popular domestic contests and operating events within North America.
ARRL Sweepstakes, CW
The CW weekend of amateur radio's oldest contest. Work all 83 ARRL/RAC sections using Morse code.
Contest InfoARRL VHF Contest
Explore VHF/UHF bands with weak signal modes and work rare grid squares above 50 MHz.
Contest InfoIARU HF Championship
The International Amateur Radio Union's premier HF contest. Bonus points for IARU society stations.
Contest InfoState QSO Parties
Work stations in specific U.S. states. Perfect for chasing the "Worked All States" award and exploring local geography.
Pennsylvania QSO Party
Work stations from Pennsylvania! PA stations contact the world while others chase the state's 67 counties. Great for WAS and county awards.
Event DetailsCalifornia QSO Party
The biggest state QSO party! Work California's 58 counties and numerous club stations. High activity and great propagation.
Event DetailsMichigan QSO Party
Work the Great Lakes State! Michigan stations activate counties while others pursue WAS credits and enjoy spring conditions.
Event DetailsWorked All States (WAS) Award
State QSO parties are excellent opportunities to work toward the prestigious ARRL Worked All States award. Each contact helps you get closer to working all 50 U.S. states!
DXpeditions & Special Activations
Chase rare DX! These expeditions activate remote locations that are seldom heard on the air.
What is a DXpedition?
A DXpedition is an expedition to a remote or rare location, often a secluded island or a country with very few active amateur radio operators. The goal is to set up a temporary station and allow thousands of hams worldwide to make contact with a place they otherwise couldn't.
🏆 These operations help operators earn coveted DX awards and work towards "Worked All DXCC" achievements!
E51MWA
North Cook Islands - Manihiki Atoll team activation. Remote Pacific pearl farming island, 1,160km from Rarotonga. Operations on 160-6m, CW/SSB/Digital modes.
PJ6Y
Saba Island, IOTA NA-145. 12-14 young operators from worldwide amateur radio youth program. Features NexGen2 Remote in the Box (RiB) technology for remote operation.
F5RAV/YT3PL
Gambia, West Africa - Three-week activation by F5RAV and YT3PL operators. Extended operations covering multiple contests including CQ WW SSB and CQ WW CW weekends.
VP2VRX
British Virgin Islands, IOTA NA-023. Youth team focusing on CQ WW SSB Contest weekend plus holiday operations. Features experienced young operators from the global amateur radio community.
C5Y
Gambia, West Africa. Multi-operator expedition with comprehensive HF coverage during CQ WW SSB Contest weekend. Professional-grade equipment setup for maximum pileup handling.
PJ5C
Sint Eustatius (Statia), Netherlands Antilles. PA4O and PE6Q operating with focus on CQ WW CW Contest weekend plus extended 160m-10m operations before and after contest.
TX7N
Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia. Major DXpedition with 14-operator international team from Hiva Oa Island (IOTA OC-027). Multiple simultaneous stations covering 160m-6m.
CY0S
Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. Remote sand bar 300km southeast of Halifax. Popular IOTA location with excellent propagation to all continents. CQ WPX SSB Contest participation.
Top 15 DXCC Entities
Based on Club Log data
Data Source Disclaimer
This list is based on Club Log's most wanted DXCC entities as of September 2025. Rankings reflect the rarity of confirmed QSOs and may change as new data is processed. Visit clublog.org for current rankings.
Special Event Stations
Unique commemorative stations and special events throughout the year.
WWV 106th Anniversary
WW0WWV from Fort Collins, CO. Celebrating one of the longest operating stations in the world.
WWV ARCContinental Navy Birthday
WM3PEN from Philadelphia, PA. Commemorating the founding of the Continental Navy.
WM3PENCoast Guard Auxiliary
N2S from Cape May, NJ. 86 years of Coast Guard Auxiliary service to America.
CGAUXColumbus Day
NJ2KC from New Jersey. 234th anniversary celebration by Knights of Columbus Amateur Radio Club.
NJ2KCWar of the Worlds
W0W from Grovers Mill, NJ. Commemorating Orson Welles' infamous 1938 Halloween broadcast.
DVRAVeteran Honor Guard Vigil
W9TAL from Ottawa, IL. 96 veterans standing guard at the War Memorial.
ContactOperation Able Archer '83
K9NBH from Salem, WI. Commemorating the 1983 Cold War exercise.
QRZ InfoSS Edmund Fitzgerald
W8F from Michigan. 50th anniversary memorial of the Great Lakes shipping tragedy.
LARCYOTA Month
Youngsters On The Air featuring YOTA-suffix stations worldwide (ages 0-25).
YOTA WebsiteStraight Key Night
New Year's Day CW tradition using only straight keys and vintage equipment.
ARRL SKNWinter Field Day
Annual winter emergency communications exercise testing backup power systems.
Winter Field Day