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Never Say “I Am Bored”: The Vast World of Amateur Radio Activities

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Never Say “I Am Bored”: The Vast World of Amateur Radio Activities

No radio amateur should ever utter the words “I am bored” or “there is nothing to do.”

One of the most incredible aspects of amateur radio is its endless variety. Whether you enjoy Morse Code (CW), digital modes like FT8 and FT4, high-speed contesting, low-power QRP operations, satellite tracking, microwave bands, or outdoor activations, there is always something happening on the airwaves every single day of the week.

To demonstrate just how action-packed the airwaves are, take a look at the event schedule below for a small 2-week period at the end of September. With dozens of contests, sprints, state QSO parties, and activity events spanning every band and operating mode, there is always a new challenge waiting on your dial!

🏆 Upcoming Operating Events & Contests (Late September)

📅 September 17

  • VHF-UHF FT8 Activity Contest-NA 📅
    Fast-paced digital FT8 contest on VHF and UHF bands focused on grid-square hunting across North America.
  • Walk for the Bacon QRP Contest 📅
    Fun low-power (QRP) CW contest encouraging operators to get on the air with minimal power.
  • NAQCC CW Sprint 📅
    Monthly North American QRP CW Club sprint celebrating low-power Morse Code operating skills.
  • CWops Test (CWT) 📅
    Weekly high-energy 1-hour Morse Code sprint sponsored by CWops to hone telegraphy speed.
  • BCC QSO Party 📅
    Bavarian Contest Club event bringing international CW and SSB operators together on HF bands.
  • NTC QSO Party 📅
    Novice Telegraphy Club QSO Party focused on friendly Morse Code exchanges for all skill levels.

📅 September 18

  • NCCC FT4 Sprint 📅
    Short, fast-action digital FT4 mode sprint organized by the Northern California Contest Club.
  • Weekly RTTY Test 📅
    Weekly radioteletype (RTTY) sprint for testing digital station setups and macro efficiency.
  • NCCC Sprint 📅
    Classic Northern California Contest Club high-speed CW sprint testing rapid exchange abilities.
  • K1USN Slow Speed Test 📅
    Friendly, welcoming CW event designed specifically to help operators practice slow-to-medium Morse Code.

📅 September 19

📅 September 20

📅 September 21

📅 September 22

📅 September 23

  • SKCC Sprint 📅
    Straight Key Century Club event celebrating classic manual keys, bug keys, and traditional CW.
  • Phone Weekly Test 📅
    Weekly SSB voice operating test for honing phone contesting techniques and audio setups.
  • A1Club AWT 📅
    Weekly Japanese A1 Club Morse Code activity test open to CW operators worldwide.
  • CWops Test (CWT) 📅
    Mid-week 60-minute CWops sprint featuring rapid-fire Morse Code exchanges.
  • Mini-Test 40 📅
    Short, intense 40-meter band CW mini-contest testing antenna and operator efficiency.
  • Mini-Test 80 📅
    Short 80-meter band CW mini-contest designed for nighttime low-band propagation operating.
  • CWops Test (CWT) 📅
    Evening session of the popular CWops sprint connecting operators across multiple continents.

📅 September 24

📅 September 25

  • NCCC FT4 Sprint 📅
    Rapid digital FT4 contest organized by Northern California Contest Club for fast logging.
  • Weekly RTTY Test 📅
    Weekly digital RTTY event allowing operators to test software macros and signal decoding.
  • NCCC Sprint 📅
    Action-packed Friday evening CW sprint renowned for high speed and quick band changes.
  • K1USN Slow Speed Test 📅
    Welcoming Morse Code session designed to build speed and accuracy in a friendly environment.

📅 September 26

📅 September 28

📅 September 29

📅 September 30

  • Phone Weekly Test 📅
    End-of-month phone (SSB) sprint for testing voice clarity and logging speed.
  • A1Club AWT 📅
    Japan A1 Club Morse Code activity event uniting international CW enthusiasts.
  • CWops Test (CWT) 📅
    Weekly 1-hour Morse Code sprint sponsored by CWops for continuous practice.
  • Mini-Test 40 📅
    Intense 40-meter band CW mini-sprint for quick contacts and propagation testing.
  • Mini-Test 80 📅
    Short 80-meter band CW mini-sprint focusing on nighttime regional propagation.
  • CWops Test (CWT) 📅
    Final Wednesday session of the CWops sprint for working worldwide CW stations.
  • UKEICC 80m Contest 📅
    UK & Ireland Emergency Amateur Radio Contest Club 80-meter high-speed contest.

So fire up your rig, tune your antenna, try out a new mode, and get on the airwaves. Whatever your operating style or skill level, there’s a station waiting to log your signal!

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4 Comments

  2. Jae W8JAE
    September 17, 2026,

    @WA5AZQ I merely copied from an ARRL email. Each event is published on our events calendar though. The great thing about our events calendar is that anyone can add events from our calendar directly to your personal Google, Yahoo, Android, Outlook or iOS systems. Great for personal reminders.

  4. Jim Vineyard
    September 20, 2026,

    Anyone who is ‘bored’ with Amateur Radio is not trying. I’ve been learning about Winlink – it’s both terrific and humbling. I now – ALSO – have to become an ‘instant expert’ on APRS – Automatic Packet Reporting System – because our hoped for expert has become too busy with other projects; and I’ve learned just enough to become ‘thirsty’ for more edu-ma-cation on it. So, go to the ‘google machine’ and learn, learn, learn.
    I’m looking at retirement soon enough – with all I have to do with Ham Radio, I may not have time left for work!

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