CQ World Wide 160-Meter Contest
CQ World Wide 160-Meter Contest
Download the 2025 CQ World Wide 160 Meter Contest rules in PDF format
CW: 2200Z January 24 to 2200Z January 26
SSB: 2200Z February 21 to 2200Z February 23
DEADLINES FOR LOG SUBMISSIONS ARE 5 DAYS!
I. OBJECTIVE:
For amateurs around the world to contact other amateurs in as many U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and countries as possible utilizing the 160 meter band.
II. BAND USE:
1810–2000 kHz in ITU Region 1. 1800–2000 kHz in ITU Regions 2 and 3. All entrants are encouraged to spread out as much as possible, obeying frequency restrictions and power limits for their own country. Any violations of the ITU band use may result in disqualification.
Please be aware and considerate of other users of data modes such as FT8 in the contest band segments.
III. CATEGORIES:
For Single Operator Assisted Only: The use of one and only one remote receiver located within 100 kilometers of the main transmitter site is permitted, in addition to the receiver at the transmitter site. WebSDRs are OK, but must be located within the 100-KM limit. The rule is designed to accommodate new technology, and for those who experience high noise levels at the transmitting site. Anyone found using a remote receiver outside the limit will be subject to disqualification.
For all categories: The main site is defined as all transmitters, receivers, and antennas must be located on the same contiguous property. If the property is not contiguous, then all equipment must fall within a 1500-meter radius. All antennas must be connected by wires to the main station. This rule applies to all entrants.
There is only ONE CQ Running frequency allowed for each station. “Flip Flopping” between 2 frequencies during the same time period (thus taking up 2 frequencies) is unsportsmanlike and will result in disqualification.
The use of any so-called “Chat Rooms” via the internet or similar means for communication between stations or operators during the contest period is strictly prohibited. Do not arrange or confirm QSOs by any other means than the use of the 160-meter band and the same mode as used in the contest. Any such use may result in disqualification at the discretion of the committee. The use of self-spotting is not allowed in any category.
Remote operation for UNASSISTED entries is permitted under the following conditions:
Operating time: Each contest is 48 hours long and starts at 2200Z. Single operator stations may only operate 30 out of the 48 hours. Multi-Operator stations may operate 40 hours. Off times must be a minimum of 30 minutes in length for all categories.
(A) Single Operator: One person performs all of the operating, logging, and spotting functions. Maximum operating time is 30 hours. QSO finding assistance is NOT allowed* (See definition below). Only one transmitted signal is allowed at any moment in time. Maximum power is 1500 watts total output.
(B) Single Operator/Low Power: Same as (A) with the exception that the output power shall not exceed 100 watts. Stations in this category compete with other Low Power stations only.
(C) QRP: Same as (A) with the exception that the output power shall not exceed 5 watts. Stations in this category compete with other QRP stations only. Note: All QRP stations may use QSO finding assistance.
(D) Single Operator Assisted/High Power: Same as (A) with the following exceptions: The use of QSO finding assistance IS allowed. The use of one and only one remote receiver within 100 kilometers of the transmitter site is allowed.
(E) Single Operator Assisted/Low Power: Same as (D) with the following exceptions: Output power shall not exceed 100 watts.
(F) Multi-Operator: HIGH POWER ONLY. All rules apply as in Single Op Assisted (except remote receivers ARE NOT allowed); however, more than one operator (person) is involved in the operation. Maximum operating time is 40 hours. Only one transmitted signal is allowed at any moment in time. Maximum power is 1500 watts total or the output power allowed by your country, whichever is less.
*QSO FINDING ASSISTANCE:The use of any technology or other source that provides call sign or multiplier identification of a signal to the operator. This includes, but is not limited to, use of a CW decoder, DX cluster, DX spotting web sites (e.g., DX Summit), local or remote call sign and frequency decoding technology (e.g., CW Skimmer or Reverse Beacon Network), or operating arrangements involving other individuals.
IV. EXCHANGE:
RS(T) and state for U.S., province for Canada, and CQ Zone for DX. Note: Zones are location indicators only and do not count for multipliers.
V. MULTIPLIER:
U.S. States: (48 contiguous states); U.S. District of Columbia (DC) (1)
Canadian Provinces: (14) VO1, VO2, NB, NS, PEI (VY2), VE2, VE3, VE4, VE5, VE6, VE7, VE8 (NT), VY1 (YT), VY0 (NU). Note VO1 and VO2 are separate due to tradition.
DXCC countries and including WAE countries: WAE: 1AØ, 3A, 4O, 4U1I, 4U1V, 9A, 9H, C3, CT, CU, DL, E7, EA, EA6, EI, ER, ES, EU, F, G, GD, GI, GJ, GM, GM/s, GU, GW, HA, HB, HBØ, HV, I, IS, IT (without IG9/IH9 Zone 33 which are listed in Africa), JW, JW/b, JX, LA, LX, LY, LZ, OE, OH, OHØ, OJØ, OK, OM, ON, OY, OZ, PA, R1F, RA, RA2, S5, SM, SP, SV, SV/A, SV5, SV9, T7, TA1, TF, TK, UR, YL, YO, YU, Z6, Z3, ZA, ZB.
VI. POINTS:
Contacts with stations in own country: 2 points.
Contacts with other countries on same continent: 5 points.
Contacts with other continents: 10 points
Maritime mobile contacts count 5 points. There is no multiplier value for a maritime mobile contact.
VII. SCORING:
All stations—the final score is the result of the total QSO points multiplied by the sum of all multipliers (states, VE provinces, DX countries).
VIII. AWARDS:
Certificates will be awarded to all entries. They are downloadable and located here: <https://cq160.com/scores.htm>
Trophies will be awarded for top scorers in many categories. The trophies and donors for all categories can be found here: https://cq160.com/plaques.htm>
If you are interested in sponsoring a plaque, please contact us at: <questions@CQ160.com>.
IX. CLUB COMPETITION:
Any club that submits at least three logs may enter the Club Competition. The name of the club must be clearly identified under club competition on the summary sheet, or summary portion of the Cabrillo log. Please make sure all entrants from your club use the same club name (spelled the same) in the Cabrillo entry. Most club names can be found here: <https://cq160.com/clubnames.htm>
The club score is the total aggregate score from logs submitted by members.
A. USA Clubs: Participation is limited to club members residing within a 250 mile radius circle from the center of club area.
B. DX Clubs: Participation is limited to club members residing within EITHER the DXCC country where the club is located OR within a 400 km radius circle from the center of the club.
C. General Club Rules:
X. LOG INSTRUCTIONS:
The deadline for log submissions is 5 days from the end of the contest.
For CW this is 2200z January 31, 2025.
For SSB this is 2200z February 28, 2025.
The submission of Cabrillo logs is required. Please submit CQ WW 160 Meter Contest logs via the web upload tool found at: https://cq160.com/logcheck/
A. The log MUST show the following for each contact: correct date and time in UTC, call sign of the station worked, exchange sent, and exchange received. A log without all required information may be reclassified to Checklog. Contacts should be logged immediately as they are completed. Stations competing for World, Zone, Continent and USA awards must provide accurate frequencies for all contacts in the log.
B. Instructions for NON-CABRILLO electronic logs: If you are not able to submit a CABRILLO format log, please contact the Contest Director for assistance with submitting another format.
C. Entry Confirmation: All logs received will be confirmed via e-mail. A listing of logs received can be found at <www.cq160.com>.
D. Log withdrawal: An entrant may withdraw the submitted log for any reason within 30 days of the log deadline. Contact the Contest Director for instructions.
XI. PENALTIES AND DISQUALIFICATION:
Logs will be cross-checked and penalties will be applied at the committee’s discretion for contacts determined to be bad or busted. The bad QSO is removed and a penalty of two more equivalent QSOs is applied to the points only. No penalty should be applied for unique QSOs unless they are deemed excessive. A log may be disqualified for violation of amateur radio regulations, unsportsmanlike conduct, or claiming excessive unverified contacts.
Report file outputs showing final score calculations will be available for all entrants after the results are published. The decisions of the CQ WW 160 Contest Committee are final.
XII. DECLARATION:
By submitting a CQ 160 Meter Contest log, and in consideration of the efforts of the CQ WW 160 Contest Committee to review and evaluate that log, an entrant unconditionally and irrevocably agrees that he/she has: 1) read and understood the rules of the contest and agrees to be bound by them, 2) operated according to all rules and regulations that pertain to amateur radio for the station location, 3) agreed the log entry may be made open to the public, and 4) accepted that the issuing of disqualifications and other decisions of the Committee are official and final. If an entrant is unwilling or unable to agree to all of the foregoing, the entrant should not submit the entry or submit the entry as a Checklog only.