The CQWW VHF contest occurs each mid-July. The contest uses the 6 Meter and 2 Meter VHF Amateur bands. Since it only uses those two bands, operators can focus their time there and not be distracted with other VHF and above bands (like in the ARRL VHF contests). The mid-July timing is just at the end of the E-skip season. Many years, 6 Meter conditions are quite good with high activity levels on account of this contest. If the conditions are not particularly good, digital modes are allowing operators to dig deep into the noise and successfully work weak signals. Activity in this contest has been trending up with 2019 having the most submitted logs so far.
The CQWW VHF Contest OFFICIAL site is at: https://cqww-vhf.com/ You can take a good look at the rules for this year's contest.
You can explore the CQWW VHF scores database at: https://cqww-vhf.com/scores.htm
You can examine by year, category, by state, or just by a specific callsign.
As the 2020 CQWW VHF Contest approaches, I thought it would be interesting to look at activity in each of the following states or provinces: Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Manitoba (VE4). It is interesting to see participation categories that have had very few participants. As you prepare for the contest coming up on July 18 and 19, take a look at the records for your state and the rules concerning categories and consider trying something new.
The CQ database has data from 2000 through 2019. As the years go by, I will attempt to update this page and the accompanying .pdf documents. I pulled extracts, based on state, from the CQWW VHF database of scores mentioned above. I moved them to Excel where I could sort and format the data. I noticed that the CQ database had "state" designated for Rovers in just the past few years. I don't believe the rules require rovers to declare a state but the scorers have been designating a state for most rover entries in recent years. Many times a rover operates in more than one state so my making rover records by state is rally an arbitrary effort. I reached out to as many upper midwest rovers as I could by email. I wanted to learn in which state they thought they made the most contacts for a given year where the CQ database is mute on this data. I received some great emails recalling some interesting roves over the past 20 years. So, when you look at the Rover category in each state, understand that it is just an approximation. Rovers don't confine themselves to a state--they go for grids and action.
You can view these .pdfs in a browser or print them out
Wisconsin and Illinois records
MN/IA/SD/ND/MB(VE4) records
| Wisconsin | Illinois | Minnesota | Iowa | South Dakota | North Dakota | Manitoba (VE4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WI records | IL records | MN records | IA records | SD records | ND records | MB records |
| WI Prtcpatn | IL Prtcpatn | MN Prtcpatnn | IA Prtcpatn | SD Prtcpatn | ND Prtcpatn | MB Prtcpatn |
There is a Club Competition aspect to the CQWW VHF contest. If you designate a club on your Cabrillo log, your score will be combined with other club-member scores to make a "club" score. This club score and combined effort brings attention to your club or region and can lead to friendly rivalry with other clubs. Listing a club does NOT limit, hinder, or impact your individual score entry in whatever category you enter. Unlike the ARRL contests, there is no "club circle" to worry about for this contest. If you are in a club, you can list your club on your Cabrillo log header. You must spell out the club name in your Cabrillo header.
In this region, there are at least four contest clubs that come to mind:
Northern Lights Radio Society (focus on MN and surrounding states)
Badger Contesters (focus on WI and northern IL)
Minnesota Wireless Association
Society of Midwest Contesters
The first two clubs focus on VHF and Above activity. Since this is a VHF contest, either club would certainly be glad to have you as a participant. Reach out to either the Northern Lights Radio Society or Badger Contesters and you'll be welcomed aboard. Each club has an email reflector that focusses on local VHF+ activity and equipment.
The records listed on this webpage or in the linked documents are not OFFICAL--they are just my work pulling them together in this format. If you find errors, please let me know and I will fix the webpage and documents. I can be reached at w9fz (ayt) w9fz (daht) com . 73, Bruce Richardson W9FZ
Post your plans for this contest on the W0UC Upper Midwest planning spreadheet
Look at both the fixed station and rover tabs.