The UKSMG Contest Page
UKSMG Contests
The UKSMG organises three contests throughout the year, primarily to increase activity on Six Metres and to demonstrate the propagation possibilities of the "Magic Band".
Contests can also be great fun and can help improve station performance and operating skills. Entry to all three UKSMG contests is open to everyone — and it is completely free! We encourage you to submit a log; you may be surprised at the propagation possibilities even during the depths of the Solar Cycle.
Certificates are awarded for these contests, and Marathon winners receive 12 months' free Internet membership of the UKSMG.
A Word About Operating Courtesy
We ask all entrants in the UKSMG Annual Table and Marathon events to be considerate of other operators when working DX. If you need a rare DX station for the current year but you have already worked it in previous years, please consider holding back if there are others calling. It may be an all-time new country for them.
For further information on any of the UKSMG contests, please email contest@uksmg.org.
A. UKSMG Summer Contest
The UKSMG organises a 24-hour Summer Contest each year. The aim is to work as many stations as possible during the 24-hour period.
The contest is an ideal opportunity to put a Six Metre station on the air and join in the Summer Contest, giving operators experience of the Magic Band.
The full contest rules are available here:
Please send your contest pictures to the Six News Editor. We would be happy to include them in Six News magazine.
B. UKSMG Marathon Events
The UKSMG organises Summer and Winter Marathon events to promote activity on the Six Metre band. The aim of these events is to work as many grid squares as possible.
These events are easy to enter and only require an ADIF file export from your logging program to be uploaded to the UKSMG website.
UKSMG Summer Marathon Event
The 2026 Summer Marathon ran from Sunday 3rd May 2026 at 00:00 UTC through to Sunday 2nd August 2026 at 23:59 UTC on the Six Metre band.
Further information can be found on the UKSMG Summer Marathon page.
UKSMG Winter Marathon Event
The Winter Marathon runs from 1st December 2026 at 00:00 UTC through to 31st January 2027 at 23:59 UTC on the Six Metre band.
The Winter Marathon provides an opportunity to remain active on Six Metres outside the main Sporadic-E season and to make the most of whatever propagation is available.
Further information can be found on the UKSMG Winter Marathon page.
RSGB Contests
The RSGB run a number of contests on 50MHz throughout the year, notably the 50MHz Trophy during the summer, together with the 50MHz contests in spring and autumn.
They also have a 50MHz UK Activity Contest which takes place on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 2000 to 2230 UTC.