Whether you are an experienced contest operator, or a beginner experiencing your first contest, you are encouraged to participate in this laid back fun event!  For South Dakota Hams, the contest offers an opportunity to build your logged contacts quickly and to have fun promoting the Mount Rushmore State.  For those from everywhere else around the globe, this contest gives you an opportunity to work South Dakota stations from around the state.

The South Dakota QSO Party is a participant in the State QSO Party Challenge. If you are an in-state operator please spot yourself at: http://qsopartyhub.com/sdqp-spots.php

OBJECT:  Stations outside South Dakota work as many South Dakota stations and counties as possible. Stations inside South Dakota work everyone.

EXCHANGE: Stations outside South Dakota send signal report and state, province or DXCC country. South Dakota stations send signal report and county.

MODE: Modes are phone, CW, and mixed.   Stations may be worked only once per mode per band – 160m thru 70cm (no WARC bands). Repeater contacts do not qualify.

QSO POINTS: Phone contacts are worth 1 point. CW contacts are worth 2 points.

BONUS: Stations that work the Sponsoring Club (WØOJY) station during the event may claim an extra 100 points. The extra points shall be added to the total. The sponsoring station 100 point bonus may only be used once. Additional contacts with that station count as regular contacts.  Only W0OJY will operate as Multi-Multi and will not be eligible for the In-State Log Drawing.

MULTIPLIERS: Stations outside South Dakota multiply QSO points by total South Dakota counties worked. Stations inside South Dakota multiply QSO points by the total of the South Dakota counties worked, US States, Provinces and DXCC countries. South Dakota counties may only be used ONCE as a multiplier.

FINAL SCORE CALCULATION: QSO Points x Multipliers = Total + Bonus = Grand Total (Example 50 contacts SSB x 20 counties = 1,000 points + 100 bonus = 1,100 points grand total).

NO DIGITAL MODES: The South Dakota QSO Party does not include digital modes.

CLASSES: In-State Multi-Op Fixed (CW/Phone/Mixed), (QRP/Low/High) In-State Single-Op Fixed (CW/Phone/Mixed) (QRP/Low/High), In-State Multi-Op Rover/Portable (CW/Phone/Mixed) (QRP/Low/High),
In-State Single-Op Rover/Portable (CW/Phone/Mixed) (QRP/Low/High),
Out of State Single-Op Fixed (CW/Phone/Mixed) (QRP/Low/High)
DX – Single-Op Any Mode (CW/Phone) and Power

SPOTTING: In-State Operators please spot yourself at http://qsopartyhub.com/sdqp-spots.php for those participating in the State Party QSO Challenge.

MAXIMUM POWER: High power (greater than 150 watts), Low power (150 watts or less) and QRP (5 watts or less).

MOBILES: South Dakota Mobile (Rover/Portable) stations are considered a new contact each time they change counties. County line contacts will count as multiple contacts for both, but must be logged separately.

MULTI-OP:  When two or more operators use the same callsign at any time during
the QSO Party contest period, regardless of category. Logs must be combined into a single entry. The “Call Used” should be the callsign used by all operators. The call signs of each operator should be included in the “Operator(s) Call” to receive proper credit.

SOUTH DAKOTA QSO PARTY SUGGESTED FREQUENCIES:
Band    CW                         PH/SSB    PH/FM
160m    1.830                      1.855
80m      3.540                      3.840
40m      7.040 or 7.100        7.210
20m      14.040 or 14.100    14.285
15m      21.040                     21.330
10m      28.040                     28.415
6m        50.040                     50.150     52.550
2m        144.060                  144.250    146.550
1.25m                                  222.150    223.450
70cm     432.105                 432.150    446.550

Certificates will be mailed to the high scorer in each off the following categories:

In-State SD Multi-op Phone Fixed High Power
In-State SD Multi-op Phone Fixed Low Power
In-State SD Multi-op Phone Fixed QRP Power

In-State SD Multi-op CW Fixed High Power
In-State SD Multi-op CW Fixed Low Power
In-State SD Multi-op CW Fixed QRP Power

In-State SD Multi-op Mixed Fixed High Power
In-State SD Multi-op Mixed Fixed Low Power
In-State SD Multi-op Mixed Fixed QRP Power

In-State SD Multi-op Mobile (Rover)/Portable High Power
In-State SD Multi-op Mobile (Rover)/Portable Low Power
In-State SD Multi-op Mobile (Rover)/Portable QRP Power

In-State SD Single-op Phone Fixed High Power
In-State SD Single-op Phone Fixed Low Power
In-State SD Single-op Phone Fixed QRP Power

In-State SD Single-op CW Fixed High Power
In-State SD Single-op CW Fixed Low Power
In-State SD Single-op CW Fixed QRP Power

In-State SD Single-op Mixed Fixed High Power
In-State SD Single-op Mixed Fixed Low Power
In-State SD Single-op Mixed Fixed QRP Power

In-State SD Single-op Mobile (Rover)/Portable High Power
In-State SD Single-op Mobile (Rover)/Portable Low Power
In-State SD Single-op Mobile (Rover)/Portable QRP Power

Out of State Single-op Phone Fixed High Power
Out of State Single-op Phone Fixed Low Power
Out of State Single-op Phone Fixed QRO Power

Out of State Single-op CW Fixed High Power
Out of State Single-op CW Fixed Low Power
Out of State Single-op CW Fixed QRP Power

Out of State Single-op Mixed Fixed High Power
Out of State Single-op Mixed Fixed Low Power
Out of State Single-op Mixed Fixed QRP Power

DX High Score – Any Power & Mode (CW/Phone)

Contest results will be posted on this website.  

The Prairie Dog Amateur Radio Club sponsors an in-state incentive award with the goal of increasing in-state participation. Whether a “big-gun”, a QRP’r or a very casual operator, you have the same opportunity to win the drawing if you turn in a qualifying log.

The prize for SDQP In-State Incentive Drawing will be a $100 gift certificate from DX Engineering,  Gigaparts, Ham Radio Outlet, or Main Trading Company .   

Rules:

1. SDQP rules as posted on SDQP website apply.
2. Any entry class may be used as defined by SDQP rules. The callsign used for Multi-Op will only be eligible for one chance for the In-State Log drawing. Should a Multi-Op station win the In-State Log Drawing, only one prize would be issued to that team.
3. Operators may be licensed and reside anywhere but must operate and log QSOs within the state of South Dakota, no closer than 100 feet to the state boundaries, borders.
4. All operators that submit an in-state log with no less than 100 valid QSOs will be entered. Their name/call will be assigned a serial number and go into the drawing pool list which will be maintained by SDQP coordinator.

The drawing:

1. Prize TBD year-by-year and posted on SDQP website during the calendar year leading up to SDQP.
2. Drawing is to be held during first PDARC meeting after log receipt deadline date for that calendar year SDQP.
3. A copy of the serial numbers/ calls list will be given to the presiding Officer at the meeting where the drawing is held.
4. A random person in attendance at the meeting will choose a number from the total serial numbers assigned. i.e., If 138 log serial numbers are assigned, the person must choose a number from 1-138 inclusive.
5. The presiding Officer and coordinator will reference the serial number list to identify the winning recipient.
6. Recipient will be posted on SDQP website, notified by email using the email address the log was submitted with or QRZ.com/db. information if necessary. If the recipient cannot be contacted within 14 days, a new drawing will be held.

N3FJP has built a program for the SD QSO Party both in and out of state!  Please visit www.n3fjp.com for more info and to download.

N1MM Logger+ also has a contest setup file available for the SD QSO Party which is listed as QSOP SD!  Please visit https://n1mmwp.hamdocs.com/  for more info.

LOG SUBMISSION

Please submit logs in Cabrillo format and Include your callsign and claimed score.

Logs are to be sent via email to Bill Nixon at w0ej@arrl.net.

While highly discouraged, paper logs may be submitted to the address below but must be received by 08:00 hours Central Daylight Time – 13:00z hours GMT on October 24, 2026.  Please include your callsign and claimed score.

QSL requests may be sent to WØEJ at the following address:

W0EJ

WILLIAM R NIXON
30902 Niles School RD
Springfield, SD 57062
USA

Questions:  Contact Bill Nixon email at w0ej@goldenwest.net or if necessary by telephone at 605-369-2100.

The annual State QSO Party Challenge recognizes all radio amateurs’ participation in the U.S. State and Canadian Province QSO parties.  Check it out at StateQSOParty.com.