What Is the ARRL November SSB Sweepstakes?

The ARRL November Sweepstakes is a long-running North American amateur radio competition that began in 1930. The Phone event, commonly called the SSB Sweepstakes, challenges operators to contact as many eligible stations in the United States and Canada, including territories and possessions, as possible. There is a separate CW contest earlier in November.

During each contact, both stations exchange specific information rather than holding a long conversation. Each valid contact counts for two points, and the number of different ARRL/RAC sections you work becomes your score multiplier. There are 85 sections in the 2026 event. Work them all and you’ve earned a Clean Sweep.

The eligible HF bands are 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters. Operators may be on the air for a maximum of 24 hours during the 30-hour contest; qualifying off-times must last at least 30 consecutive minutes. Listening counts as operating time.

Can Technician-Class Operators Enter the ARRL SSB Sweepstakes?

Yes. A U.S. Technician-class licensee can make contest contacts using 10-meter phone privileges from 28.300 to 28.500 MHz. A capable HF transceiver, microphone and suitable 10-meter antenna are enough to get started when propagation is favorable. Set your radio to USB (upper sideband) on 10 meters, and ensure your entire transmitted signal stays within your authorized frequencies.

Technicians may use up to 200 watts PEP in that segment, but Sweepstakes Low Power is capped at 100 watts PEP. If you transmit above 100 watts, you belong in the appropriate High Power category. General, Advanced and Amateur Extra operators may also use their other authorized HF phone frequencies.

You do not need to operate all weekend or own an amplifier. A few properly logged contacts are a legitimate individual entry and may help our club’s total if you meet ARRL club eligibility rules.

What Is the ARRL Sweepstakes Exchange?

Every completed QSO requires five pieces of information. Memorize these before your first contact:

Precedence cheat sheet: Q = Single Operator QRP (5 W or less); A = Single Operator Low Power (over 5 W, up to 100 W); B = Single Operator High Power (over 100 W); U = Single Operator Unlimited (permitted spotting assistance, any power subcategory); M = Multioperator; S = School Club.

For example, imagine fictional station W7ABC is operating alone at 100 watts without spotting assistance, was first licensed in 2024, is in Nevada, and is making contact number 27:

Say it aloud as: “Twenty-seven Alpha, Whiskey Seven Alpha Bravo Charlie, two four, Nevada.” Your Check stays the same for the whole contest. It is not your age or your current license renewal year.

How Do You Make Your First SSB Sweepstakes Contact?

Start with Search and Pounce: tune around an authorized phone segment and listen for someone calling “CQ Sweepstakes.” Listen to one or two QSOs to learn the rhythm, then answer with your call sign.

That’s one completed contact. Log the other station’s 112 A K7XYZ 19 AZ, advance your own serial number to 28, and find another station. If you missed anything, ask for a repeat rather than guessing. You do not need to send a signal report.

How Is the ARRL SSB Sweepstakes Score Calculated?

Each valid contact earns two QSO points. Multiply your total contact points by the number of different sections worked:

If you log 100 valid contacts in 40 different sections, your claimed score is 8,000 points. Each section counts as a multiplier once, even if you work several stations there. The maximum possible section multiplier is 85.

How Do You Log and Submit an ARRL Sweepstakes Entry?

Use a contest logger so you can capture the time in UTC, band, other station’s call sign, sent and received exchanges, and duplicates. N1MM Logger+ is a free option commonly used on Windows. For its November Phone Sweepstakes setup, choose:

For the received example above, enter K7XYZ as the call and 112A 19 AZ as the exchange; verify the program parses it correctly. N1MM manages the sent serial number separately. Consult the official N1MM Sweepstakes SSB setup instructions before the event.

How to Submit Your Log, Step by Step

1. Review your contacts after the contest, paying attention to call signs and exchanges.
2. Export a Cabrillo log from your logging software. If you logged on paper, convert it using the WA7BNM Cabrillo form generator.
3. Open the ARRL Contest Log Submission Portal and choose November Sweepstakes Phone/SSB.
4. Enter your station and category details, including your six-character grid square, Check and any spotting assistance used.
5. Select “Sin City Repeater Group” as your affiliated contest club if you qualify for its club score.
6. Upload or paste your Cabrillo log and confirm the system accepted the submission. Correct any reported errors.

How Does Your Sweepstakes Score Help Sin City Repeater Group?

Sin City Repeater Group, Inc. (W7RPT) is listed in the ARRL contest-club directory. Under the ARRL Affiliated Club Competition, individual qualifying scores can be combined for the club. Technician contacts on 10 meters count just as much as any other valid Phone Sweepstakes contacts.

To receive club credit, an operator must be an eligible member in good standing, satisfy the applicable club territory requirements, be on the club’s official eligibility list, and identify the club by its exact name in the contest entry. ARRL requires at least three eligible entries for an affiliated club competition entry.

Crucial distinction: Club leadership must submit its eligibility list by the contest start on November 21 at 1:00 PM PST. The list is not automatically created from the ordinary membership roster. Operators should contact the club before the contest to confirm their eligibility, while club leadership uses ARRL’s Contest Club Tools to manage the list.

You may enter under your own amateur radio call sign. You do not need to use W7RPT to earn eligible club credit. If five qualified operators submit scores of 20,000, 15,000, 10,000, 5,000 and 2,000 points, their combined total would be 52,000 points.

ARRL November SSB Sweepstakes FAQs

Do I need a General or Extra license?

No. A Technician can use the authorized 10-meter SSB segment, 28.300–28.500 MHz, subject to the applicable power limit.

Do I need an expensive station or 24 hours of free time?

No. Any suitable HF SSB station can participate, and there is no minimum individual QSO count or operating time for submitting an entry.

Can I use a DX cluster or online spots?

Yes, in an appropriate Single Operator Unlimited category (or another category permitting assistance). If you operate alone without assistance, choose the correct unassisted category. Contacts may not be arranged through non-amateur communications.

Can I work the same call on 10 meters and 20 meters?

You may make the contact, but only one contact with that station counts for Sweepstakes credit, regardless of band.

When is the 2026 SSB Sweepstakes log due?

November 29, 2026, at 6:59 PM Pacific Standard Time. Use the official ARRL online submission portal.