KY QSO Party > Rules 2026

Rules 2026

Kentucky QSO Party Operating Rules – 2026 Proposed
Work KY Stations Once per band, per mode, per county.  QSOs between non-KY stations do not count for credit.
Date/Time
  • 9AM – 9PM EDT –> Saturday, June 6
  • 8AM – 8PM CDT –> Saturday, June 6
  • 7AM – 7PM MDT –> Saturday, June 6
  • 6AM – 6PM PDT –> Saturday, June 6
  • 1300Z UTC June 76  –> 0100Z UTC June 7
Modes
  • CW
  • Phone (SSB/FM)

All simplex QSOs, no repeaters.
Bands 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2
Categories
  • Fixed Station – Single Op (non-club)
  • Fixed Station – Multi-Op (more than one person contributing to the score with only one transmitted signal allowed on-air at any time at any power level, includes club stations, EOC stations, school stations, or any ad hoc group using a non-club call sign)
  • KY Mobile – Single-Op Unassisted (single operator also drives)
  • KY Mobile – Single-Op Assisted (single operator has a driver)
  • KY Mobile – Mullti-Op (two or more operators that drive and operate)
  • Expedition – Single-County (portable stations in KY operating in a single county, with larger antennas that cannot be used mobile)
  • Expedition – Multi-County (portable stations in KY operating in two or more counties, with larger antennas that cannot be used mobile)

(Mobiles and Expeditions see County Line Operations below)
Power Multiplier
  • High Power: More than 100 watts,  Power Multiplier = 1.
  • Low Power: 100 watts or less, Power Multiplier = 2.
  • QRP: 5 watts or less, Power Multiplier = 3.
Exchange
QSO Points
  • 1 point per completed Phone QSO
  • 2 points per completed CW QSO
Bonus Station K4KCG K4KCG may be worked once per BAND and MODE for 100 bonus points per QSO.  For example, a station working K4KCG on 20M CW and SSB would earn 200 bonus points.  Logging programs need not track earned bonus points — after your Cabrillo log is submitted, the KYQP committee will add bonus points to your posted score.  Bonus stations may change each year, without needing logging program updates.

NOTE: The K4KCG Bonus will be added to your score total automatically.
Suggested Frequencies CW: 3.540, 7.040, 14.040, 21.040, 28.040, 50.095 and 144.060
SSB: 3,810, 7.190, 14.250, 21.300, 28.450, 50.135 and 144.250
QSO Multipliers Kentucky Station operators (including Mobiles and Expeditions):

  • Each unique Kentucky-based station is a multiplier when worked in each of the 120 counties.
  • When logging Kentucky stations, enter the KY County as the exchange (not KY).
  • KY stations log USA state (not ARRL section), including DC, and Canadian Provincees.
  • KY stations log DX contacts for QSO points only, and enter “DX” for the exchange.

Non-Kentucky Station operators (USA, Canada, and DX):

  • Each Kentucky-based station is a multiplier based on their county.
  • When logging Kentucky stations, enter the KY County as the exchange (not KY).

ALL operators:

  • KY Mobiles or Expeditions traveling to a new KY county may be contacted again for QSO Point and County Multiplier credit.
Score Calculation
  • Total score = QSO Points x QSO Multipliers x Power Multiplier + Bonus Station points.
  • An additional 100 points is added to your final score as a bonus for submitting a Cabrillo log file.
County Line Operations
  • KY Fixed stations that are on a county line must choose a KY county, and exchange that county during the QSO Party.  No multiple county exchanges.
  • KY Mobiles and Expeditions that move to a new county are considered to be a new station, and may be contacted again for QSO point credit.
  • KY Mobile and Expedition stations may setup on a county line, and each QSO and Multiplier gets credit:  For example, N4TY sets on McCreary and Whitley county line & exchanges multiple counties at once:
    • Spot yourself and enter MCY/WHI in the comments.
    • Call CQ like this:  CQ KYQP de N4TY/MCY/WHI
    • And send the exchange as:  599 MCY/WHI
    • Operators must log you twice, but some logger programs like N1MM will log 2 QSOs for you.
Miscellaneous
  • There are no Assisted (spotting) vs Unassisted classes.
  • Spotting Assistance is always allowed and encouraged!
  • N1MM has no Expedition or Mobile category, so KY stations that operate in multiple counties should configure N1MM as Rover, but submit their log as either Mobile or Expedition.
Awards To be eligible for awards, all operators must use their individual call sign.   An entry using a Club call which is assigned by the FCC is not be eligible for awards in any category.

Plaques are awarded for the highest score in these categories based on merit:

  • Kentucky (high score):
    • Fixed Station Single-Op – CW, Phone, Mixed (High & Low power)
    • Fixed Station QRP – any modes, 5 watts or less
    • Fixed Station Multi-Op – any modes, any power
    • Expedition – Single-County and Multi-County (any mode, any power)
    • Mobile:  single-op unassisted, single-op assisted driver, and multi-op
    • Unbridled Spirit – for exceptional effort
    • Goin’ Mobile – for exceptional mobile effort
      • Total of 15 possible plaques to be earned.
  • USA (non-KY), Canada, DX (high score):
    • Mode: Mixed, CW, Phone (all non-KY stations)
    • There are no separate power categories for Non-KY stations.
      • Total of 9 possible plaques to be earned.
Log Submission Deadline Visit the Log Submission page to upload your Cabrillo log file.

Deadline for submissions: June 30th, 2359Z