KY QSO Party > Rules

Rules

2026 Kentucky QSO Party Operating Rules
Work KY Stations Once per band, per mode, per county.  QSOs between non-KY stations do not count for credit.
Date/Time
  • Saturday, June 6:
    • EDT: 9AM – 9PM
    • CDT: 8AM – 8PM
    • MDT: 7AM – 7PM
    • PDT: 6AM – 6PM
    • UTC: 13Z – 01Z June 7
Modes
  • CW
  • Phone (SSB/FM)

All simplex QSOs, no repeaters, NO digital QSOs.
Bands / Suggested Frequencies 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2

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
Exchange Sent
Categories
  • KY Fixed Station
    • Single Op (CW, Phone, Mixed – High and Low power, 6 total categories)
    • QRP (5w or less, any/all modes)
    • Multi-Op (more than one person contributing to the score with only one transmitted signal allowed on-air at any time, any power level, any/all modes.  Includes club stations, EOC stations, school stations, or any ad hoc group)
  • KY Mobile
    • Single-Op Unassisted (single operator also drives)
    • Single-Op Assisted (single operator has a driver)
    • Multi-Op (two or more operators that drive and operate)
      • Mobile stations have antennas that are usable while in motion.
  • KY Expedition
    • Single-Op, Single-County (operating in a single county)
    • Single-Op, Multi-County (operating in two or more counties)
    • Multi-Op, Single-County (operating in a single county)
    • Multi-Op, Multi-County (operating in two or more counties)
      • Expedition stations operate in a KY county.
      • They use larger antennas that cannot be used mobile.
      • Only one transmitted signal allowed on-air at any time, any power, any mode.
  • 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.
QSO Points
  • 1 point per completed Phone QSO
  • 2 points per completed CW QSO
QSO Multipliers Kentucky Station operators (including Mobiles and Expeditions):

  • Each Kentucky station is a multiplier when worked in each of the 120 counties.
  • When logging Kentucky stations, enter the County as the exchange (not KY).
  • KY stations log USA state (not ARRL section), including DC, and Canadian Provinces.
  • 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 station is a multiplier based on their county.
  • When logging Kentucky stations, enter the County as the exchange (not KY).

ALL operators:

  • KY Mobiles or Expeditions traveling to a new 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 your Cabrillo log file online.
County Line Operations
  • KY Fixed stations 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 a new station, and can 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 the Scott and Fayette county line & exchanges multiple counties at once:
    • Spot yourself and enter SCO/FAY in the comments.
    • Call CQ like this:  CQ KYQP de N4TY/SCO/FAY
    • And send the exchange as:  599 SCO/FAY
    • Operators must log you twice, but some logger programs like N1MM will log 2 QSOs at once.
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.
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 operating in multiple counties configure N1MM as Rover, but submit their log as either Mobile or Expedition (there are 4 Expedition categories).
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 (High & Low power)
    • Fixed Station Single-Op Phone (High & Low power)
    • Fixed Station Single-Op Mixed (High & Low power)
    • Fixed Station QRP 
    • Fixed Station Multi-Op
    • Expedition: Single-Op, Single-County
    • Expedition: Single-Op, Multi-County
    • Expedition: Multi-Op, Single-County
    • Expedition:  Multi-Op, Multi-County
    • Mobile: Single-op unassisted
    • Mobile: Single-op assisted driver
    • Mobile: Multi-op
    • Unbridled Spirit – for exceptional effort
    • Goin’ Mobile – for exceptional mobile effort
      • Total of 17 possible plaques to be awarded.
  • USA (non-KY), Canada, DX (high score):
    • Modes: Mixed, CW, Phone (all non-KY stations)
    • There are no separate power categories for Non-KY stations.
      • Total of 9 possible plaques to be awarded.
Log Submission Deadline Visit the Log Submission page to upload your Cabrillo log file.

Deadline for submissions: June 30th, 2359Z