What is Amateur radio contesting? – Often called ‘radiosport’, it is a competitive activity fostering community interaction where operators aim to contact as many other stations (operators) as possible within a set timeframe and exchange specific information. It tests (and develops) operator skill, station performance and equipment efficiency under, at times, difficult conditions.
To participate in a contest, you do not need a ‘big gun’ station – you simply need ‘a station’. Start small – dream big. Contesting is a great way to improve your ‘on air’ operating skills and station setup (whether it is your ‘home’ station or your ‘portable’ setup). In this sense, contesting is less about the competition with others and more about the competition with yourself and your station. It is an opportunity to learn about and study propagation – what works and what doesn’t. It may introduce you to new modes (e.g. RTTY or CW). It is a great opportunity to experiment with antennas. Operating can be as simple or as complex, serious or relaxed, as you wish to make it.
For most contests – the exchanges are simple – Callsigns, Signal reports (RS(T)) and a serial number (e.g. 001, 002, 003 counting upwards on each contact) or some other piece of information. In some contests you may need to be able to provide your Maidenhead Grid square (location). What you need to exchange will be covered in the rules. Typically, no long conversations are necessary and you don’t need to think too much about what to say.
For some contests – SGARS will operate a ‘club station’. Individuals interested in joining in (whether with their own equipment or using someone else’s) should make their interest known – best at the monthly gatherings and/or via the SGARS WhatsApp chat group.
So, what are you waiting for?
The SGARS sponsors several contests each year as follows:
- 2m Summer contest (SGARS members only) – Dec-Feb
- The Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse Contest – May, and
- 80m Contest – July
We also present a trophy/plaque and certificate to the SGARS member who scores highest in the WIA Remembrance Day contest.
Rules for the SGARS sponsored contests are available on the website and may be updated from time to time. For any contest (including those sponsored by SGARS) always ensure you are working to the ‘current’ rules at the time of the contest.
| File | Description | File size |
|---|---|---|
 SGARS 2026 80 Metre Contest Rules Rev 2.pdf | 109 kB | |
| SGARS 2026-2027 2m Summer Contest Rules Rev 2.pdf | 294 kB | |
| The Don Edwards Memorial Slow Morse 2026 Contest Rules Rev 3.pdf | 152 kB |
In addition, the WIA and other entities also sponsor several other contests throughout the year including:
- WIA VHF/UHF Field Days (Summer, Spring and Winter)
- WIA Ross Hull Memorial VHF/UHF Contest
- WIA Australia Day Contest
- WIA (with RSGB et al) Commonwealth Contest
- WIA John Moyle Field Day
- WIA Harry Angel Contest
- WIA VK Shires Contest
- WIA Trans-Tasman Low-Band
- WIA Remembrance Day Contest
- WIA Oceania DX Contest
Rules for the above WIA contests can be found at: https://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/about/
World-wide, there are also plenty of other contests (too many to actually compile and count) - each with their own specific intent, rules and logging requirements.