USKA VHF Contests

USKA VHF/UHF/Microwave Competitions — Rules, results and champion standings.

  • Early spring portable VHF UHF contest station on a Swiss hilltop

VHF/UHF/Microwaves Contest in March

The March VHF/UHF/Microwaves Contest forms part of the annual Swiss VHF Contest Series. Contacts are made under portable conditions on the 144 MHz, 432 MHz and 1.3 GHz and above bands; the results are included in the USKA VHF Champion standings.

  • Spring portable VHF/UHF contest station in Switzerland

VHF/UHF/Microwaves Contest, May

The May VHF/UHF/Microwaves Contest is the second round of the Swiss VHF Contest Series. Contacts are made under portable conditions on the 144 MHz, 432 MHz and 1.3 GHz bands and above; the results count towards the USKA VHF Champion standings.

  • An amateur radio operator running a 50 MHz contest station

IARU 50 MHz Contest

The IARU Region 1 50 MHz Contest is the major SSB/CW contest for Region 1 on the 6-metre band. Over a 24-hour period, contacts are made with stations from all over Europe and beyond; the Swiss results are included in the USKA’s VHF Champion rankings.

  • An amateur radio operator aligns a microwave antenna during a contest

Microwaves Contest June

The Microwaves Contest in June is the Swiss microwave competition on bands above 1.3 GHz. Contacts are made under portable conditions on 2.3 GHz, 5.7 GHz, 10 GHz, 24 GHz, 47 GHz and above; the results count towards the USKA VHF Champion standings.

  • Summer Swiss mountain VHF, UHF and microwave contest station

Helvetia VHF/UHF/Microwaves Contest H26

The Helvetia Contest H26 on the VHF, UHF and microwave bands is the Swiss summer edition of the Helvetia Contest. Connections are made over a 24-hour period on 144 MHz, 432 MHz and 1.3 GHz and above; the results count towards the USKA VHF Champion standings.

  • Summer Swiss VHF/UHF mini contest station with a radio operator

USKA Mini Contest, August

The USKA Mini Contest August is a two-day Swiss VHF activity contest on 144 MHz, 432 MHz and above. It provides an opportunity for activity during the summer break between the major IARU contests and awards points towards the VHF Champion standings.

  • Autumn Swiss hilltop 144 MHz VHF contest station

IARU VHF Contest in September

The IARU Region 1 VHF Contest in September is the major autumn VHF contest on 144 MHz. Over the course of 33 hours, contacts are made with stations from across Europe and beyond; the results count towards both the international IARU Region 1 ranking and the USKA VHF Champion ranking.

  • Autumn UHF microwave contest station with antennas and operators

IARU UHF-Microwaves Contest, October

The IARU Region 1 UHF-Microwaves Contest in October is the major autumn contest on the bands above 432 MHz. Over a 24-hour period, contacts are made with stations from across Europe; the results count towards both the international IARU Region 1 ranking and the USKA VHF Champion ranking.

  • Radio operator using a Morse key during a 144 MHz CW contest

Marconi Memorial Contest 144 MHz

The Marconi Memorial Contest is the traditional international telegraphy contest on 144 MHz held in November and one of the most important VHF contests in IARU Region 1. For 24 hours, contacts are made exclusively in CW. The results are included in the international IARU Region 1 ranking and in the USKA VHF Champion ranking.

  • Amateur television contest station with video and microwave equipment

IARU ATV Contest

The IARU Region 1 ATV Contest is the international competition for amateur television (ATV) on the VHF and microwave bands. Video links with defined image content are exchanged between stations; the reception quality and distance are scored. The contest takes place every June and forms part of the Swiss VHF Contest Series.

  • VHF UHF contest operator reviewing champion results at an amateur radio station

VHF Contest Champion

The VHF Contest Champion is the annual overall ranking across all USKA VHF/UHF/Microwaves contests. The results are compiled from the March, May, June, September and October contests, as well as the Marconi Memorial Contest and the ATV Contest. The rules and annual results are linked below. For the individual VHF contests, see the relevant subpages under ‘USKA VHF Contests’.