CQWS 2026 Rules

CONTEST CQWS 2026 – RULES
Brazilian Scout Union
National Radio Scouting Team
National Coordinator of Radio Scouting
Ronan Augusto Reginatto – PY2RAR
Coordinator of CQWS 2026
Fabio Luis Guedes – PP5FZ
CQWS National Team
Nelson de Almeida – PS8NF
Israel Silva Santos – PU3AEL
Official Station: PY5UEB
Cassiano Dohms Merlin – PY5RKR
Rodrigo Caldas Ribeiro – PU5RCG
Marco Antonio de Oliveira – PU5MVO
CQWS Support Team
Mexican Scout Association
Official Station: 4A0ASM
Jose de Jesus Lopez Villalobos – XE2N/N5MEX
Jorge N. Archer – XE1JAV
Dora Luz Candanosa – XE2DLC
Quinatzin Gomez – XE3MCQ
Genaro Pool – XE1Q
Dora Luz Lopez – XE2DL
Luis Suarez – XE3LSM
Ruben Sanchez – XE2NI
Ruben Flores – XE2AJ
Support https://contestbr.org

CQWS Contest or CQ World Scout Contest is an annual amateur radio competition aimed at amateur radio operators and shortwave listeners from all over the world, promoted and organized by the Scouts of Brazil through the National Radio Scouting Team and supported by Scouts of Mexico and their national JOTA JOTI commission.
The objectives of this event are:
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To make as many contacts as possible between amateur radio stations;
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To promote Scouting within the worldwide amateur radio community ;
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To develop good operational practices among amateur radio operators;
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To create a friendly and ethical learning environment for the development of competitive amateur radio;
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To offer opportunities for young people and adults who are enthusiastic about radio listening to develop their skills in this field of communication.
1. Date
1.1. Second full weekend in April
Start date: April 11, 2026 – 6:00 PM UTC
End: 04/12/2026 – 20:00 UTC
2. Modes and Bands
2.1. CW, SSB, MIXED:
2.2. 10, 15, 20, 40, 80 and 160 meters (No WARC bands)
3. Powers
3.1. High Power: The total output power must not exceed 1500W in any band at any time.
3.2. Low Power : The total output power must not exceed 100W in any band at any time.
3.3. QRP: The total output power must not exceed 5W.
3.4. The output power must not exceed the maximum power allowed by local legislation.
4. Categories
4.1. (SOYL) Single Operator YL, by class, exclusively for female amateur radio operators, regardless of mode and power. All operation and registration work is performed by one person (the operator);
NOTE: Amateur radio operators are not required to compete as YL. If choosing another category, the Exchange submitted must be for the chosen category.
4.2. (SOSB) – Single Operator Single Band: 10, 15, 20, 40, 80 or 160 meters – regardless of mode and power. All operation and recording tasks are performed by one operator.
4.3. (SOAB QRP) – Single Operator QRP – more than one band, independent of mode (up to 5W): All operation and registration tasks are performed by one operator.
4.4. (SOAB) – Single Operator All Band – more than one band, regardless of mode. All operation and recording tasks are performed by one operator.
4.5. (SODB) – Single Operator Dual-Band, only 10m and 80m – regardless of mode, maximum 100 watts. All operation and recording tasks are performed by one operator.
4.6. Any competitor may operate on all bands and modes permitted for their category and choose to compete on a single band, provided they submit the complete log and indicate the band in the log cabrillo, correctly selecting these options when submitting the log on the LogCheck platform. They may also choose to compete in SODB, provided they have not used power above 100W on the 10m and 80m bands.
4.6.1. The submitted log containing only one band will compete in the respective band.
4.7. (SOAB – PT) – Single Operator, more than one band, independent of mode and power. Exclusive to Brazilian amateur radio operators. Patrolmen of the Always Alert to Serve Patrol BP. All operation and registration work is performed by one person (the operator). The call sign is licensed in the operator’s name. Indicate the patrolman number on the “SOAPBOX” line of the Cabrillo log;
4.8. (MULTI ONE) – Multi-Operator Single Transmitter, regardless of mode and band, more than one person can contribute to the final score during the official competition period. Only one transmitted signal is allowed at any given time. Mandatory category for stations (non-scouting) with their own callsign or teams with special callsigns.
4.8.1. Exchanges for the MULT ONE category must be CL or HQ.
4.9. (MULTI ONE GE) – Multi-Operator Single transmitter, independent of mode and band. For Scout Groups, Associations and Organizations with or without their own Call Signs (Legal Entity), more than one person may contribute to the final score during the official competition period. Only one transmitted signal is allowed at any given time.
4.9.1. Exchanges for the MULTI ONE GE category must be DB or GE.
4.10. (FIELD DAY – FD) . Single transmitter, independent of mode, band, and power. To participate in this category, the station must be set up in an open area, such as squares, streets, avenues, fields, parks, etc., with free public access. More than one person can contribute to the final score during the official competition period. Only one transmitted signal is allowed at any given time. It can be used to additionally perform a Parks On The Air (POTA) or Summit On The Air (SOTA). It is mandatory to send photos of the station and antennas, showing and identifying the installation location, to the email: radioescotismo@escoteiros.org.br.
4.11 SWL (Individual or Group/Association Radio Listening)
4.11.1. The SWL log should contain: QRG, DATA, UTC, EXCHANGE sent and received by the stations listened to.
NOTE: Example of a line from the SWL log of PP5BT
QSO: 7100 PH 2025-06-28 1958 PY4BT 59 MG PP5HR 59 SC
4.11.2. The radio listener may use N1MM with the specific CQWSSWL.UDC file for SWL or another program that generates the Cabrillo file to be sent to LogCheck . To download the file, go to: https://contestbr.org/cqws/2026/CQWS.zip ;
NOTE: For those who do not wish to use N1MM, you can use the program to generate the Cabrillo SWL log. (Program for generating the Cabrillo SWL file)
https://contestbr.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/swl_dqr_log_210.zip
4.11.3. All bands may be used at any time;
4.11.4. Radio listeners, groups, associations, etc. that possess the SWARL callsign may use it to identify their station;
4.11.5. Amateur radio operators, Citizens Band (CB) operators, Scout Groups with call signs, Amateur radio or radio listening clubs and associations participating in this modality may use their call signs;
4.11.6. Anyone wishing to obtain the SWL callsign may register for free on the website https://swarl.org well in advance to obtain it;
4.11.7. Groups or members affiliated with the Scouts of Brazil who do not meet any of the previous conditions may identify their stations as follows: Ex – If it is a UEL radio listening station : GE69SC , or, if it is a station of a UEL member : JOÃO69SC
4.11.8. Regardless of how the radio listening station identifies itself, the identifier must be present in the log.
4.11.9. The use of WebSDR is permitted.
4.12. OVERLAY : ROOKIE and TEEN SUBCATEGORY
4.12.1. SINGLE OPERATOR OVERLAY: LP – Low Power (up to 100 watts); any Single Operator participant using BP, DX, PT, RA, RE, and YL as an Exchange and meeting the ROOKIE or TEEN requirements may choose to compete in one of the subcategories described below (ROOKIE or TEEN) and must include this option in the appropriate CATEGORY-OVERLAY line of the Cabrillo file. The OVERLAY category rankings will be listed separately in the results;
4.12.2. ROOKIE – (Novice) Single Operator, must have been licensed three (3) years or less from the date of the competition and have never participated in the CQWS Contest. Indicate the date of the first license and declare that you have never participated in the CQWS Contest, in the “SOAPBOX” line of the Cabrillo log;
4.12.3. TEEN – (Age up to 17 years on the date of the competition) Single Operator, must indicate the date of birth in the “SOAPBOX” line of the Cabrillo log.
5. Clubs
5.1. To validate the score for your club, the club name must be selected when submitting the log (end of the second page of the logcheck) where all related clubs are listed at https://contestbr.org/clubes/ (if necessary, request the registration or correction of your club’s name).
5.2. Club Ranking: (Total score of all members):
6. Exchange
6.1. Main Stations: PY5UEB and 4A0ASM
RST + WS (599 WS or 59 WS)
6.2. LABRE stations and amateur radio associations recognized by IARU.
RST + HQ (599 HQ or 59 HQ)
6.3. Single Operator Scout Stations (Brazil)
RST + RE (599 RE or 59 RE) – Indicate the Scout Unit represented, in the SOAPBOX line.
6.4. Single Operator Scout Stations from other countries
RST + BP (599 BP or 59 BP) – Indicate the Scout Unit represented, in the SOAPBOX line.
6.5. National and international Scout Associations and Groups
RST + GE (599 GE or 59 GE) – Indicate the Scout Group (GE) represented, in the SOAPBOX line.
6.6. Amateur radio associations or non-scouting groups
RST + CL (599 CL or 59 CL)
6.7. Stations representing Bandeirante, Pathfinder (DB) and similar Districts
RST + DB (599 DB or 59 DB) – Indicate the DB unit represented in the SOAPBOX line.
6.8. Patrol Stations
RST + PT (599 PT or 59 PT) – Indicate the Patrolman Number (PT) on the SOAPBOX line.
6.9. Single Operator Stations – Amateur radio operators not belonging to the Scout Movement (Brazil)
RST + RA (599 RA or 59 RA)
6.10 – Single Operator Stations – Amateur radio operators from other countries not belonging to the Scout Movement
RST + DX (599 DX or 59 DX)
6.11. QRP Stations
RST + QRP (599 QRP or 59 QRP)
6.12. YL Stations
RST + YL (599 YL or 59 YL)
6.13. Field Day Stations (Demonstration)
RST + FD (599 FD or 59 FD)
7. General Call:
7.1. CW: CQ WS
7.2. PHONE: CQ WORLD SCOUT or CQ WS
8. Score:
All confirmed QSOs will be valid, with each station worked once per band.
CQWS Main Station: (PY5UEB and A40ASM) = 10 points. ( Hors Competition
FD Stations = 7 points.
PT, BP, RE, GE or DB stations = 5 points.
Stations CL, YL, HQ, QRP, RA, DX = 3 points.
9. Multipliers:
Two types of multipliers will be used:
M1) A multiplier for each different Brazilian state contacted per band.
Example: PY1CJ logged in at 28,000 kHz and 14,000 kHz add up to 2 (two) multipliers.
M2) One multiplier per different country, only once.
Example: K2MM logged at 28,000 kHz and 14,000 kHz adds 1 (one) multiplier.
9.1. Attention: In the N1MM log window, stations with messages or Exchange, “RA, BP, RE, PT, GE, CL, DB, DX, YL, FD, WS, QRP, HQ” are not being counted as UF multipliers, but in the CQWS calculation program, they will be counted as multipliers normally.
Brazilian States: Acre B.C Alagoas AL Amapá AP Amazon AM Bahia BA Ceará CE Federal District DF Holy Spirit ES Goiás GO Maranhão BAD Mato Grosso MT Mato Grosso do Sul MS Minas Gerais MG To SHOVEL Paraíba PB Paraná PR Pernambuco FOOT Piauí PI Rio de Janeiro RJ Rio G Sul RS Rondônia RO Rio Grande do Norte RN Roraima RR Santa Catarina SC São Paulo SP Sergipe IF Tocantins TO
10. Final Score
10.1. The final score is obtained using the following formula:
Total QSO points multiplied by the total number of multipliers.
11. Awards
11.1 – The station with the highest score in the SSB, CW, and MIXED modes will be awarded a commemorative plaque;
11.2 – The station with the highest score in the TEEN subcategory will be awarded a commemorative plaque;
11.3. The station with the highest score in the Multi-One GE and RE categories will receive a commemorative plaque;
12. Penalties
12.1. Incorrect Call Sign: Loss of QSO for the person who wrote it down incorrectly;
12.2. Incorrect Exchange notation: loss of QSO for the person who made the incorrect notation;
12.3. Duplicate QSO: there is no penalty, however, only one QSO will be validated;
12.4. Band divergence: loss of QSO for both parties;
12.5. QTR divergence, greater than 5 minutes: loss of QSO for both parties;
12.6. Submissions of logs on paper or in formats other than Cabrillo 3.0 will not be accepted by the scoring system;
12.7. All transmitters, receivers, and antennas of the station must be located within a circle of 500 meters in diameter, hereinafter referred to as the “station site”. All antennas must be
physically connected to the transmitters and receivers. The use of receiving equipment outside the “station site” is considered unsportsmanlike conduct, and violation of this rule subjects the participant to disqualification.
12.8. Any station that complies with item 12.7 may be operated remotely via network connection. A remotely operated station must comply with the station’s license limits, the operator’s license limits, and the limitations of its class. The call sign used must be the licensed call sign for the station to be operated remotely. Remote receivers, outside the station’s premises, are not permitted;
12.9. It is forbidden for individuals without ham permit to operate (for scoring purposes): Disqualification.
12.10. Operation (for scoring purposes) is prohibited in QRG not authorized in their individual license and power not authorized for their class: Disqualification.
12.11 – OUT OF COMPETITION – With the aim of promoting and encouraging amateur radio, stations that define themselves as such may operate under the terms of Article 37 of the Brazilian Amateur Radio Service Regulations or local laws equivalent. This category does not compete, but all its QSOs will be used in the scoring and will be entitled to a certificate of participation.
NOTE : Brazilian Amateur Radio Service Regulations – Article 37. “An amateur radio station may only be used by third parties or operated by another amateur radio operator in the presence of the station owner or responsible party, and respecting the ethics of the service and the provisions of current legislation and regulations.”
12.12. Violation of contest rules or amateur radio legislation, or unsportsmanlike conduct, may lead to disqualification or reclassification to the Checklog category.
13. Resources/Complaints
13.1. Appeals and complaints will be accepted at any time and up to 72 hours after the announcement of the provisional results, via email to radioescotismo@escoteiros.org.br
13.2. All complaints received will be investigated under total confidentiality, to protect both the accused and the accuser. Responding to requests from the accused will be at the discretion of the CQWS Organization.
13.3. During the investigation process, failure to respond to questions posed by the CQWS Organization, based on a complaint received, which is essential for the defendant’s defense and its analysis, will result in a judgment “in absentia,” and the complaints may be judged as true.
13.4. Appealing to any instance not foreseen in these regulations or taking legal action against decisions of the CQWS Organization will be considered a very serious infraction, subjecting the appellant to permanent banning from the CQWS Contest. The highest appeals body for the CQWS is the National Radio Scouting Coordination of the Union of Scouts of Brazil.
14. Declaration:
14.1. By submitting your CQWS participation log , you declare that you have read and agree to the contest rules and that you will operate in accordance with Brazilian amateur radio legislation and agree that your log may be made public and,
14.2. Unconditionally accepts that the decisions of the CQWS Organization are sovereign and final.
15. Logs and Results:
15.1. No log will be accepted that does not contain the sender’s email address in the cabrillo file header .
15.2. Original logs will only be accepted via https://contestbr.org/enviar-logs/ until 11:59 PM on the 7th day after the Contest. Any log submitted by other means or after this date will not be considered. The file name must be “indicative.log”, for example: PS7AA.log, PU2874SWL.log, GE69SC.log, etc.
15.3. All logs received by the LogCheck platform will be received by the bot, which will automatically respond with an email. If you do not receive it, check your spam folder. To replace a log, simply resend it through the same LogCheck page.
15.4 Logs received that do not comply with the regulations or contain errors that prevent their correct analysis are the sole responsibility of the competitor and will be automatically reclassified as Checklogs .
15.5. The entire data entry process into the scoring system is manual (human), therefore it is strongly recommended to monitor the process in your log at https://contestbr.org/logs-recebidos.htm until the end of the submission period. The log will only be included in the ranking when it is marked as “OK” by the system. If the log contains errors and is not corrected within the aforementioned period, it may be reverted to Checklog and will not participate in the contest ranking.
Operators ) line of the Cabrillo file, only the operator call indicator should be included, and when there is more than one, they should be separated by commas.
15.7. After the provisional results are released, no request for log correction that could alter the ranking of the competitor or their club will be accepted, unless it is proven that there was a failure on the part of the Judging Committee.
15.8. The provisional results will be released up to the 20th day after the contest, and the official results up to the 30th day after the contest on the website contestbr.org .
15.9. The recommended software for log recording is N1MM, https://n1mm.hamdocs.com
15.10. CQWS participation certificates will be available for download and will include the total score and overall ranking, including by country. Participation certificates can be downloaded at: https://contestbr.org/certificados-digitais/
15.11. Checklogs will not be published. These records are submitted to assist the competition committee and their scores will not be included in the results.
15.12. The published logs will have the Address and EMAIL fields removed.
15.13. We recommend not putting email addresses in the SOAPBOX line.
15.14. Only the logs made public were used in the CQWS investigation process.
15.15. All published logs will be in Cabrillo 3.0 format. You will be able to read them using any text editor or viewer.
15.16. For information on configuring and using the contest UDC file in N1MM, visit the website: https://www.contestbr.org, go to the CQWS tab, and search for the cqws.zip file.
16. Arbitration committee:
16.1. The CQWS Contest Committee is responsible for reviewing and arbitrating the competition entries (logs). Participants are expected to follow the rules and best practices of amateur radio. Violation of competition rules or unsportsmanlike conduct may result in disciplinary action by the Committee.
16.2. For Brazilian stations, arbitration decisions will use Brazilian communications law. For DX stations, local communications law will be considerate.
16.3. Throughout the entire evaluation phase, the competitor must pay close attention to their email, as, should the organization require additional information, the competitor will have up to 5 consecutive days from the date the email was sent to formalize their defense or submit additional information. Failure to comply or to respond will be considered a default and will be subject to the Committee’s decisions.