Contest University© File
Click Here For Contest University© Textbooks:
Additional Files:
2026:
K1AR: Taking Care of our Contesting Sport
K2TR: Effective Antennas for Contesting
W3LPL: How the Short-Term Dynamic of HF Propagation Affects Contest Strategy
N4GG: Hardware Tips & Sage Advice for Average Contest Stations
W0YK: Inside W0YK and P49X RTTY Contesting
KN2P: Engaging Youth in Contesting; Strategies for Recruiting, Mentoring and Retaining Youth Ops
W3LPL: How to Get the Most out of your Contest Station
W9KKN: Adding In-Band Station(s) for Contesting
W0YK: Tips to Improve Your FT8-4 Contest Performance
K5ZD: Design Approach & Lessons Learned in Building my New Contest Station
W3LPL: How to Maintain and Take Care of Your Contest Station
N6TV: Efficient Operating Techniques, Tactics and Secrets
NK4O: The Art of Enjoying Both POTA and Contesting Together
K1AR: Operating a Contest – How to Have Fun – Why it Matters
W3YQ: Tower Safety
W3YQ: Antenna/Tower Reliability
NC0B: Latest Performance and Feature Differences Amongst Top Radios
Mini CTU Huntsville, ARRL National Convention August 2026
K4RO – Contest Operating Techniques & Strategies
NR4L & WV4P – Contest Station Design
AD4EB – Mobile Contesting
K4CNY – Organizing a Winning Field Day
NV4B – VHF & Rover Contesting
K3LR – Multi Operator Fun at K3LR
Northeast HamXposition, Marlborough, MA August 2026:
K1AR – Ethics and Our Radio Sport
NN1SS – Moderate station Contesting
N1PGA – Wire Antennas
K2TR/K1EP – Engineering a Fantastic Field Day
K1KP – Strategies for Maximizing Score and Fun
W1UE – Digital Contesting
KI2D – Portable Contesting
K3LR – Multiop Team Building & Youth in Contesting
2025:
K1DG – Contesting – What’s it all About
AB9YC – DXing and Contesting – The Dynamic Duo!
W3LPL – HF Propgation During the Next Year of Solar Cycle 25
W6SX – dB for Free – An Antenna Exercise for Little Pistols
W0YK – Tips to Improve Your RTTY Contest Performance
KE8LQR – Youth Radio Organizations that Promote Radio Sporting Activities
W3LPL – How to Improve the Competitive Performance of your Contest Station
W9KKN – Success Strategies for Remote & Hybrid Multiop Contesting
W0YK – Tips to Improve Your FT8/FT4 Contest Performance
AD4EB – Radiosport – Take it on the Road
W3LPL – How to Improve the Competitive Performance of your HF Antennas
N6TV – Everything You Need to Know About USB and Serial Interfaces
W5ZN – How to Maximize the Performance of Low Band Receiving Antennas
WX6SWW – Solar Cycle 25 – Lessons Learned for Amateur Radio
W3YQ – Tower Safety
W3YQ – Antenna/Tower Reliability
NC0B – Performance and Feature Differences Among Top Radios
Northeast HamXposition, Marlborough, MA 21 August 2025:
K1DG: Introduction
K1AR: Contesting Operating Basics, Getting Started in Contesting
NN1SS: Getting Started in Contesting with a Moderate Station
N1PGA: Effective and Competitive Contest Antennas Without Towers
K2TR: Effective Antennas for Contesting
K1RX: WRTC 2026 Update
K1KP: Strategies for Maximizing Your Contest Score and FUN
W1UE: Digital Mode Contesting
NC0B: Choosing the Best Radio for Contesting Part 1
NC0B: Choosing the Best Radio for Contesting Part 2
2024:
K5ZD – It’s our Radiosport Game – Let’s Play Fair
N6TV – Optimizing the Use of Waterfall Displays for Contesting
W3LPL – HF Propagation Tips to Improve your Competitiveness in Contests
N0AX – Feeding and Detuning Towers
W0YK – Contesting Fun on That “Other Mode”
KE8LQR & K8LG – How to Integrate Youth Operators in Multiop Contesting
W3LPL – Station Improvements to Improve your Competitiveness in Contests
W1VE – Success Strategies for Remote & Hybrid Multiop Contesting
W0YK – Contesting Fun on That ” Really Other Mode” FT8/FT4
K5ZD – Next Level Contesting; Making the Move to SO2R
W3LPL – Antenna Improvements to Improve your Competitiveness in Contests
N6TV – Using Automation in Your Contest Station – Techniques and Recommendations
K8ZT – Busting Contesting Myths to Get Started in RadioSport
M0DXR – The Road to WRTC 2026 in the United Kingdom
W3YQ – Tower Safety
W3YQ – Antenna/Tower Reliability
NC0B – Are you Considering a New Radio? Is My TX Clean?
W9DXCC miniCTU 2024:
K9LA: Solar Weather & Propagation Tools
AB9YC: DXing, Contesting: Pick Two
W0VTT: ARRL DXCC Card Checker Program
K9WX: Digital Contesting with RTTY & FT8
K9EL: Introduction to Clublog
No textbook
Northeast HamXposition, Marlborough, MA 23 August 2024:
K1DG/K3LR – Introduction
K5ZD – Getting Started in Contesting
K1XM – Station Setup
K1RX – Antennas for Contesters
K1AR – Contest Operating Strategy
W1UE – FT8/FT4 Contesting
W0YK – FT8 Contesting
W1VE – Remote Contesting 101
K1DG – Fixed Radio Ad
NC0B – Choosing a Transceiver
No textbook
2023:
K1DG – Radiosport – Read the Rules Follow the Rules & Have Fun
N6TV – Basic Station Automation Techniques & Recommendations
W3LPL – Optimizing Low Band Receiving Antenna Performance
W1VE – Understanding Remote Contesting
W0YK – RTTY – FT4/FT8 Digital Contesting
N0AX – Small Stations – Getting to the Next Level
W3LPL – Competitive Transmitting Antennas for Solar Maximum
K8ZT – Year Long Contest! State QSO Party Challenge & CQ DX Marathon
W0YK – How to Maximize Your Digital Contest Station & Operation
DK6SP – How You Can Become Involved With Youth on the Air
W3LPL – How the Strongest Solar Maximum in 20 Years Affects Contest Planning and Execution
W5ZN – Simple & Effective Low Band Antennas for Contesting
K8ZT – QRP & Low Power Contesting – Tips & Strategies
W2NAF – Contesting for Ionospheric Science During the 2023 & 2024 North American Solar Eclipse
W3YQ – Tower Climbing & Tower Safety
W5ZN – VHF Contest – Updates and Questions
NC0B – Transceiver Performance & Selection of a New Radio
2022:
K5GN – Inside vs. Outside – How to Enjoy Contesting
W3LPL – Easy to Build Low Band Receiving antennas for Small & Large Lots
K1DG – Contesting 101 Operating
N6TV – The Advantages of Waterfall Displays for Contesting and DXing
W0YK – Digital Contesting – RTTY and FT8/FT4
W3LPL – How to Improve your Transmitting Antennas for Solar Cycle 25
N0AX – Grounding and Bonding for Your HF Contest Station
N9RV – Operating Mechanics: The X factor in Contesting Success
W0YK – Upping your Digital Contesting Game
W3LPL – Preparing Your Station for Competition
W5ZN – Field Measurements and Comparison of Low Band Receive Arrays
N6TV – Everything you Want to Know about USB & Serial Interfaces
N9RV – Perspectives on 45 Years of Contest Station Building
N6WIN – Teamwork and Multi-Operator Innovations
W3YQ – Tower Climbing and Tower Safety
NC0B – Transceiver Performance for the HF Contest and DX Operator
2021:
WW2DX – “Cloud Contesting – Live Demonstration”
W3LPL – “Preparing Your Station for Competition”
M0DXR – “Contest Categories – Make the Most of Your Entry”
DK6SP – “Youth – the Future of Contesters”
UA9BA – “Contesting from Russia”
CT1BOH – “There is Nothing Magic About Propagation”
NC0B – “Transceiver Performance for the HF Contest and DX Operator”
No textbook
2021 Propagation Summit:
W2NAF: “Update on the Personal Space Weather Station Project & HamSCI activities for 2021”
K9LA: “Solar Cycle 25 Predictions & Progress”
WA3FET: “Maximizing Performance of HF Antennas with Irregular Terrain”
W3LPL: “HF Propagation: what to expect during the rising years of solar cycle 25”
No textbook
2020:
W3LPL: Effective Low Band Receiving Antennas
W2NAF: 2020 Solar Cycle Update and the HF Response to Ionospheric Storms and Traveling Ionospheric Disturbances
N6TV: Everything You Need to Know About USB and Serial Interfaces
NN1C: Exuberance and Youth Contesting – Update on What is Going On
W0YK: Digital Contesting Hints & Kinks
K1DG: Optimizing your Station for Contest Operations
N0AX: Grounding & Bonding for Contest Stations
NC0B: Contest & DX Performance A Complex Subject Today: Great RX Performance – TX Limitations
NC0B: RF Sampler Options
W3LPL: 60 Years of Competitive Contesting – The W3LPL Story
No textbook
2019:
K5ZD: Contesting with Integrity
K1DG: How to Recruit New Contesters
N6MJ: 2BSIQ and SO3R: Riding the Edge of Human Capabilities
N6TV: Everything You Need to Know About USB and Serial Interfaces
W5ZN: FT8 and the WSJT-X 2.0 Software Suite for 6 Meter Contesting
N0AX: All Together Now, Grounding and Bonding
KL9A: No Compromise Remote Contesting
K5ZD: Preparation and Practice for Better Contest Scores
W0YK: Digital Contesting is Fun!
KG5HVO: New Blood: Drafting the Next Generation
WX6SWW: Solar Cycle Impacts on Radio Propagation: Forecasting Cycle 25
N6TV: The Advantages of Waterfall Displays for Contesting and DXing
W0YK: Taking Digital Contesting to the Limit
K3LR: Contesting and Station Optimization
W3YQ: Tower Safety
NC0B: 2018/2019 Rig Contest Comparisons and Hybrid Architecture Explained
2018:
K1DG: Radio Contesting – Having Fun is Easy
W3LPL: How to Improve your Transmitting Antennas for Low Solar Activity
N0AX: RadioSport Contesting Hints and Kinks
N0AX: Hints and Kinks – Technique and Station
N6TV: CW and RTTY Skimmers and the Reverse Beacon Network
W5ZN: Utilizing Digital modes FT8 and MSK144 for Competitive Advantage in VHF Contests
W3LPL: Easy to Build Low Band Receiving Antennas for Small and Large Lots
N0AX: Grounding and Bonding for the Little Pistol and Medium Gun
K1DG: How to Read and Learn from your Log-Checking Report
W0YK: Having Fun with RTTY Contesting
W3LPL: How to Adapt your DX Contest Strategies for Low Solar Activity
K2YWE: Contest Operating Best Practices
N6TV: The Advantages of Waterfall Displays for Contesting and DXing
W0YK: Pursuing RTTY Contesting to the Limit
K3LR: Some Thoughts About Contesting & Optimization
W3YQ: Antenna/Tower Reliability
NC0B: 2018 Contest Radio Review
2018 Six Meter BBQ:
K5TR: VHF Contest From an HF Contesters Perspective
K5TR: Strategies for Setting Up and Operating Your VHF Station for Contesting
W5ZN: The JT Modes
KG5FBT & AB5ED: The Latest on SDR Technology and User Interfaces at Flex
K9LA: Interesting Propagation for 6 Meters
WA5VJB: Advanced Yagi Basics and Construction
K3LR: Grounding and Bonding
W5OV: Enhancing Your 6 Meter Shack Experience
2017:
W5ZN: It’s a Fun Game – Let’s Operate the Right Way
W3LPL: How to Improve your Transmitting Antennas for Low Solar Activity
N0AX: Introduction to Introduction to Contesting
N6TV: CW and RTTY Skimmer and the Reverse Beacon Network
W5ZN: Optimizing 6 Meter Contest Scores Utilizing JT Digital Modes
W3LPL: Easy to Build Low Band Receiving Antennas for Small and Large Lots
W8WWV: A Deep Dive Into Stacking Yagis
N0AX: Grounding and Bonding for the Little Pistol and Medium Gun
W0YK: RTTY Contesting, A to Z
W3LPL: How to Adapt your DX Contest Strategies for Low Solar Activity
K2YWE: Little Pistols, Bigger Scores
N6TV: The Advantages of Waterfall Displays for Contesting and DXing
W0YK: Advanced Topics in RTTY Contesting
Dr. Tamitha Skov: The Wonderful World of Space Weather
W3YQ: Antenna/Tower Reliability
NC0B: Disruptive Technologies, How they Change our Hobby
2017 Six Meter BBQ:
K3LR: A Review of the New Low Noise 6 meter LFA Yagis Designed by Justin Johnson, G0KSC
NC0B: A Review of Current Radio Technology Concerning Six Meter Performance
N0JK: The Evolution of the FT8 and JT65 and Their Impact on 6 meters (Part 1)
N0JK: The Evolution of the FT8 and JT65 and Their Impact on 6 meters (Part 2)
KG6IRW: High Performance 6 meter DXing, Contesting, and Even Mountain Topping
N5AC: Noise Figures, Gain and Loss: How to Get the Most Out of Your 6 meter Station
W1SMS: Six Meter Complete Station Remote Control & Monitoring
K5VH: A Rugged Center-Mount Halo for 6 Meter
W5ZN: MSK144 for 6 meters Utilizing Digital Modes
2016:
K4RO: Fair Play – How to Earn and Keep Respect
W3LPL: Adapting Your contesting Strategies to the Rapidly Declining Solar Cycle 24
N6TV: The Advantages of Waterfall Displays for Contesting and DXing
N0AX: Small Station Bang for the Buck
W5ZN: Techniques to Optimize 6 Meter Contest Performance
W3LPL: Improving Your 160 and 80 Meter Antennas for the Declining Solar Cycle
W8WWV: Coax Connectors, A Deep Look At What Can Go Wrong
N2NT: Improving Single Operator 2 Radio (SO2R) Techniques
W0YK: Getting Started in RTTY Contesting – 2016
W3LPL: Improving Your 40 through 10 meter Antennas for the Declining Solar Cycle
NV9L: Improving Your Contest Scores Through Log Analysis
N6TV: How to Record an Entire Contest and Learn From Your Mistakes
W0YK: Advanced RTTY Contesting – 2016
K3LR: How Contesting Contributes to Ham Radio
W3YQ: Basic Tower Design and Climbing Safety
NC0B: Contest Radio Performance
2015:
N0AX: Play by the Rules
W3LPL: Practical Upgrades for your 40 through 10 Meter Antennas
N6TV: CW and RTTY Skimmers and the Reverse Beacon Network
K5ZD: Why Cabrillo is Important to You
W5ZN: Getting the Most out of Your VHF Contest Experience
W3LPL: Practical Upgrades for your 160 and 80 Meter Transmit/Receive Antennas
K1DG: Ten Ways to Increase your Contest Score
K5ZD: Strategies on Improving Your USA Contest Scores
W0YK: RTTY Contesting Essentials
W3LPL: Propagation Trends
K9EID: Enhancing Contest Station Audio
N6TV: How to use Waterfall Displays While Contesting and DXing
W0YK: Advanced RTTY Topics
K3LR: Radio Contesting’s Future
W3YQ: Towers and Antennas
N6TR: USA Contest Tips
NC0B: Contest Radio Performance
2014:
K5ZD: Contesting The Right Way
N0AX: Contest Hints & Kinks
W3LPL: Receiving Antennas
N6TV: CW Skimmer Update
W5ZN: VHF Contesting
K5ZD: Contesting 201
W3LPL: Propagation Trends for 2014-2015
VE3EJ: All Coaxial Cables Are Not Created Equal
W0YK: The Essentials of RTTY Contesting
K2YWE: Contest Tips for Little Pistols
W3LPL: Multi-op Preparations for Contests & Field Day
N6TV: Using Waterfall Displays
W0YK: Advanced RTTY Contesting
K1DG: WRTC 2014 for the Rest of Us
K3LR: Radio Contesting’s Future
W3LPL: Tower Antenna & Feedline Maintenance and Improvements
NC0B: Rig Contest Results 2013-2014 + Test Data Means What?
CTU Textbook pdf (Books Still Available)
ARRL 100th Anniversary CTU in Hartford textbook (No longer in print)
2012: D-Star Day
K3LA: D-Star Basics/K3AWS System Overview
AB3ER: D-Star for Emergency, ARES and RACES
WB4QDX: D-Star/D-Rats
N9JA & Icom America: D-Star from the Beginning
AA4RC: The DV Dongle/The DV Access Point Dongle
K8MNJ, K3MNJ, N8AMY, N2LQH & DL1QQ
