DARC FT4 Contest

Quarterly ninety-minute FT4 sprint on 80 and 40 metres, with an annual standing split between low power and QRP. Fox mode is barred.

Rules at darc.deThe rules are the sponsor's. This page holds the dates and the facts.

When it runs

Second Tuesday of February, May, August and November

1900Z → 2029Z Tuesday

Times are UTC, as the sponsor states them.

Next runnings

1900Z Tue 10 Nov → 2029Z Tue 10 Nov · 1h 29m2026
in 40 days
Logs due 2029Z Tue 17 Nov
1900Z Tue 9 Feb → 2029Z Tue 9 Feb · 1h 29m2027
in 131 days
Logs due 2029Z Tue 16 Feb
1900Z Tue 11 May → 2029Z Tue 11 May · 1h 29m2027
in 222 days
Logs due 2029Z Tue 18 May
1900Z Tue 10 Aug → 2029Z Tue 10 Aug · 1h 29m2027
in 313 days
Logs due 2029Z Tue 17 Aug
1900Z Tue 9 Nov → 2029Z Tue 9 Nov · 1h 29m2027
in 404 days
Logs due 2029Z Tue 16 Nov
1900Z Tue 8 Feb → 2029Z Tue 8 Feb · 1h 29m2028
in 495 days
Logs due 2029Z Tue 15 Feb

Operating

Modes: FT8/FT4 FT4
Bands: 80m40m
80m 3576, 3579 and 3582 kHz USB; 40m 7047.5 kHz USB
Exchange: Signal report + four-character grid square (for example JN49, JO61).
Power categories: Low Power 100 WQRP 5 W
Logs: Cabrillo · due 7 days after the end · dxhf2.darc.de
Who can enter: Anyone, anywhere.
'zu arbeitende Stationen: alle, jede Station einmal pro Band'; 'Getrennte Wertung für DL- und Non-DL-Stationen' -- everyone may be worked, once per band, and German and non-German entries are scored separately.

Where this comes from

Checked against the sponsor: Yes. The rule on this page was read off DARC's own published rules. Link last confirmed 2026-08-18.
What the source says: darc.de/der-club/referate/conteste/ft4-contest/ft4-rules/: 'Veranstalter: DARC Referat Conteste. Termin: Jeweils 2. Monat im Quartal, Am 2. Dienstag im Monat' -- 'organiser: DARC contest department. Date: the second month of each quarter, on the second Tuesday of the month.' The dates DARC lists beside it are 10.02.2026, 12.05.2026, 11.08.2026 and 10.11.2026, all 19:00-20:29 UTC. 'Bänder: 80m (3576, 3579 und 3582 kHz USB), 40m (7047.5 kHz USB). Betriebsarten: FT4.' 'Austausch: Signal Report und Locator-Großfeld (z. Bsp.: JN49, JO61).' 'Betrieb im Fox-Modus ist nicht erlaubt.' -- fox mode operation is not permitted. 'Einsendeschluss: jeweils 7 Tage.' Verified 2026-08-18.
Recorded caveats: Four legs a year, one record. DARC heads its 2026 date list 'Termine 2025:' -- the heading is a year out, the dates under it are 2026 and match DARC's KW contest calendar, so the typo is in the heading only.

Something wrong? How to report it — a link to the sponsor's own page is all it takes.

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