Earlier this month, the RSGB quietly announced something that has got the contesting community talking. From 1 January 2027, eligibility to enter RSGB contests will be open to all appropriately licensed radio amateurs, regardless of nationality or location. It’s a significant moment for the hobby, and one that got me thinking: if you hold a Foundation licence and haven’t yet tried contesting, there’s never been a better time to have a go.

What Is the RSGB Contest Policy Change?

On 7 August 2026, the RSGB Board approved an updated contest entry policy that removes nationality restrictions from RSGB contest eligibility. Previously, some contest categories were limited to UK-based or RSGB-member entrants. From the start of the 2027 contest season, any appropriately licensed operator anywhere in the world can enter, subject only to the relevant contest rules and any applicable RSGB membership requirements.

The Board described the move as reflecting “the long-established principles of amateur radio, including friendship, cooperation and goodwill between individual operators across national boundaries.” It’s a sentiment that resonates: amateur radio has always been an international pursuit, and contests are one of the clearest expressions of that global community.

For Foundation licence holders here in the UK, the practical impact is modest — you were already eligible for most RSGB contests. But the announcement is a useful nudge to ask: do you actually know how to enter one?

What Is Contesting, and Why Would I Bother?

Contesting (also called radio sport) involves making as many contacts as possible within a set time period, usually exchanging callsigns, a signal report, and sometimes a serial number or locator square. Contests run from just two hours to 24 hours or more, and they cover everything from 80 metres HF through to microwave bands.

If that sounds dry, here is the reality: contests are one of the most effective ways to rapidly improve your operating skills. The pace is brisk, the band conditions are unpredictable, and you quickly learn to copy callsigns cleanly, adjust your audio levels, and work a pile-up. Many experienced operators say contests taught them more in a weekend than months of casual operation. For a Foundation licence holder with a 25W limit, there is a genuine thrill in being heard across the country, or even into Europe, on a good evening on 40 metres.

Can a Foundation Licence Holder Actually Compete?

Yes, absolutely. Your Foundation licence (typically carrying an M7 prefix in England, or similar regional variants) allows you to enter RSGB contests in the same way as any other licensed operator. You can operate on all the bands your licence permits, at your maximum power level.

RSGB contests include low-power and QRP categories in many events, which level the playing field considerably. A well-located station running 25W into a simple dipole can make a respectable score, and the contest committees judge entries within their category, so you are not directly competing against someone running a kilowatt into a beam.

Good starting points for beginners include the RSGB 80m Club Championships, which run monthly on Tuesday evenings and last just 90 minutes. They are sociable, low-pressure, and the 80 metre band is forgiving of modest antenna setups. The RSGB AFS (Affiliated Societies) contests are another friendly option, where you enter as part of a club team.

Practical Steps to Enter Your First Contest

Getting started is simpler than it might seem. Here is what I would suggest:

• Check the RSGB contest calendar for upcoming events and pick something short, like the 80m Club Championship.
• Download free logging software such as N1MM Logger+ or FLDIGI — these handle duplicate checking and scoring automatically, so you can focus on operating.
• Listen to a contest before you enter one. Tune across 80 metres on a Tuesday evening when one is running and get a feel for the rhythm of exchanges.
• When you are ready, call CQ Contest, send your callsign, and give it a go. Your first contact will feel memorable.
• Submit your log after the event, even if it is a modest score. Submitted logs count towards adjudication for everyone else, and it is considered good practice.

An Aspirational Goal: The G5RP Trophy

While you are at it, keep an eye on the G5RP Trophy, for which nominations are open until 11 September 2026. It is awarded to someone who has recently discovered and made significant progress in HF DXing, the art of making long-distance contacts on the high-frequency bands. It is a lovely recognition of what a new licence holder can achieve, and it is a reminder that getting into HF operating, whether via contests or casual DXing, can open up the hobby in ways that a handheld on a local repeater simply cannot match.

The new contest policy coming in 2027 is a small but meaningful step towards a more open amateur radio community. If it has prompted you to look up the contest calendar for the first time, then it has already done its job. Find a short event, fire up the logging software, and make some contacts. You might be surprised how quickly you get hooked.

73 de M0LGI