WQ6X Evaluates: CQP 2026: Rules Updates

You've heard me say - When in Doubt CHEAT! (But w/in the Rules)

To cheat within the rules means to say / do something that technically is not prohibited in a radiosport contest, altho next year, things may be different.  Technically, this is what happened as a result of the 2o25 CQP contest.  An operator who was CLEARLY running Single-OP (i.e. Solo) submitted his score as a Multi-OP and pushed the NX6T win into 2nd-place.  The CQP committee allowed the Single-OP's Multi-OP win to prevail while at the same time making it known that the loophole would be
sewn shut for CQP 2o26 - which indeed it has.

Being a part of the NX6T Multi-OP event, I certainly raised my concern over our drop to 2nd-place, as did team leader N6KI.  In other contests, I have submitted a Multi-OP log after first recruiting another person (licensed or not) to make a few QSOs under my supervision.  I send them on their way and continue the contest as a Multi-OP entry - this is cheating within the rules.

The CQP contest committee in all their wisdom came up with what I believe is a perfect
non-discriminatory solution.  To claim Multi-OP status, you must indeed have multiple operators running the transmitter(s).  No longer can a single operator be classified as multi-op simply because he operated for more than 24-hours.  As with other radiosport contests, now, if you operate for more than 24-hours, other stations will receive QSO credit, however you will not - it couldn't be simpler than that.

With the 3-point Ssb-QSO rule change, we can now look forward to more Ssb QSOs,
especially on Sunday afternoon when it is overly quiet on the bands.

To read the Frequently Asked Questions for CQP - [CLICK HERE].

The CQP 2o26 contest is shaping up to be one of the best yet.

Are YOU planning to operate in the CQP?

Look for WQ6X (QRP) and NX6T (RIVE) throughout the CQP weekend.

XYZZY