Summer Contests
Get Ready: 12 Days of Parkmas & the Summer of Simplex
Two of our favorite statewide events are right around the corner, and this year we’re turning up the energy.
12 Days of Parkmas – Summer Edition (July 12–24)
Parkmas is back — and bigger than ever. Activators will be heading into Iowa’s parks, forests, and wildlife areas. Every QSO counts! We’ve built a custom site that will allow you to upload your logs and see the leaderboard throughout!
If you’ve never activated a park before, this is the perfect time to try it. If you’re a seasoned activator, you already know how addictive it is.
This summers 12 days of parkmas is dedicated to Scott KE0ZBB. He jumped in and got the POTA bug and loved every second of it. We will have a new comer award for the new individual who gets the POTA bug!
Summer of Simplex
All summer long, we’re celebrating the magic of simplex operating — the purest form of radio-to-radio communication. No repeaters. No infrastructure. Just antennas, ingenuity, and the open airwaves.
We’ll be hosting:
- Statewide simplex activity days
- Coverage-mapping challenges
- Friendly distance competitions
- Tips for improving your simplex reach with portable or home setups
It’s a great way to sharpen your skills, test your gear, and meet operators you might not normally hear.
Join the Fun
Both events are designed to get Iowa operators on the air, exploring, experimenting, and connecting. Whether you’re brand new or a long-time operator, there’s a place for you in the action.
Let’s make this a summer full of signals, stories, and statewide activity.
73 from Iowa Radio Operators.