[CQ-Contest] Top 10 Contests???

[Pete Smith]

At 09:13 AM 3/13/02 +0000, WB0WAO wrote:
>I have a question that I am sure that many of you veteran contest ops can 
>answer to a "beginner".  What are the top 10 most "popular" contests to 
>operate in.  In checking the contest calendars, there are a LOT of 'em to 
>chose from!  I am sure that CQ WW, CQ WPX, ARRL DX, and ARRL SS are probably 
>the "top 4", but what are the others that have the most participation?  ARRL 
>10m, IOTA, ??????

I believe the ARRL 10 Meter test gets the most entries of any ARRL contest,
but that's almost over for this decade because of the impending decline of
the sunspot cycle.  I like the IARU because it is shorter and you can go
mixed mode if you like, plus this year it is combined with the World Radio
Team Championship.  The CW Sprints (4 hours each, twice a year) are frantic
but lots of fun. WAE has lots of activity and the QTC feature adds a unique
dimension.  The NA QSO Parties (twice a year in each mode) are also brief
and give you a chance to call your contesting compatriots by name, which I
find good fun, especially on phone.

73, Pete N4ZR

Check out the World HF
Contest Station Database at
www.pvrc.org