CLUB QSO Party

A Club QSO party is an activity designed to work each other.   When the SJRA turned 100 years old, the club QSO party was created to celebrate the club’s 100th anniversary. All members of the SJRA signed their Call Signs / 100 for the entire year of 2016. The contest ran for 7 days so that it would include the official anniversary date of June 16th. During 2026 we will be celebrating 110 years.

Our members had so much fun with the Club QSO party that we are inviting all clubs to celebrate their age. We have created a special event station environment to coincide with the ARRL Year of the Club initiative. This provides an opportunity to share club information with other radio amateurs. 

Members of other clubs would sign their callsign with /## indicating the age of the club they are affiliated with. We also encourage clubs to put their club stations (club call sign) on the air as well making this large scale coordinated effort.

Please join us in celebrating your radio club’s age and history as we celebrate our own.

Questions? Email us at info@clubqsoparty.org 

Participating in a club QSO party offers a blend of camaraderie, skill development, and achievement chasing, making it a valuable activity for new and experienced amateur radio operators alike. 

Community & Social Aspects

Camaraderie and Networking: QSO parties, which are often organized by local radio clubs, provide an excellent opportunity to connect with fellow club members and the broader ham radio community, both over the air and at in-person operating events.

Local Club Engagement: Participation contributes to your club's overall score in the club competition category, fostering a sense of teamwork and collective achievement.

Mentorship: Clubs often use these events as a way to welcome and mentor newcomers, providing a supportive environment for new operators to gain experience with HF operations, logging software, and contesting strategies. 

Skill Development and Practice

Operating Practice: QSO parties are a great, low-stress way to practice operating techniques, get comfortable with radio equipment, and test new antennas or station setups in a friendly environment.

Contesting Skills: The shorter duration and more relaxed pace compared to major international contests make them an ideal entry point for learning the tactics and strategies of competitive operating.

Technical Knowledge: Setting up portable stations, dealing with varying propagation conditions, and optimizing your station for performance all help hone your technical skills.