The ARRL Rookie Roundup Contest is next Sunday, April 21, 2024, from 2:00 pm until 8:00 pm. We will open the clubhouse at 2:00 pm for the contest and would especially like to invite all new hams to try out the HF bands and learn about contesting. This is great preparation for the upcoming Field Day in June.
In the Rookie Roundup, a Rookie is defined as having been first licensed in the current calendar year or the previous three calendar years, regardless of license class.
If you were licensed before the referenced period, you can also be a Rookie if you haven’t made any contest contacts on the contest mode (SSB, CW, or RTTY) before the Rookie Roundup contest (if you qualify as such, send the current year in your exchange). Either of these reasons qualify you as a Rookie for just one year.
Mission: To encourage newly-licensed operators (“Rookies”) in North America (including territories and possessions) to operate on the HF bands and experience competitive Amateur Radio operating. Experienced operators (“Non-Rookies”) are strongly encouraged to participate and help new operators – either on the air or in person.
Objective: Rookies exchange information with as many other stations as possible on the 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meter HF bands. Rookie entrants are encouraged to read “HF Contesting – Good Practices, Interpretations and Suggestions.”