CW BotBattle

The CW BotBattle Contest is a unique amateur radio competition designed specifically for automated CW systems, created in response to the emergence of publicly available automated contest software and AI-powered amateur radio tools.

The Challenge

As automation and artificial intelligence increasingly integrate with amateur radio, we face an exciting opportunity—and a responsibility. While these technologies offer fascinating possibilities for high-speed telegraphy and signal decoding, allowing them to flood traditional human-focused contests would fundamentally change the nature of competitive amateur radio. The CW BotBattle provides a dedicated space where automation belongs: a technical proving ground separate from human-operated events.

What Makes This Different

This contest celebrates the technology itself. Participants are encouraged to push the boundaries of:

High-speed CW decoding at 100+ WPM
Signal processing algorithms in challenging RF environments
Automated contact protocols and error correction
AI-driven decision making for band selection and contact optimization

Unlike traditional contests, success here is measured not by operator skill, but by engineering excellence—how well your system can decode weak signals, adapt to propagation changes, and maintain accuracy at extreme speeds.

Keeping the Human Element

While contacts are fully automated, human supervision is mandatory. A licensed control operator must be physically present at all times, ensuring regulatory compliance and maintaining the ethical foundation of amateur radio. This isn't about removing operators from the hobby—it's about creating a sandbox where we can experiment with automation without impacting traditional contests.

The Goal

By channeling automated systems into a dedicated event, we preserve the integrity of human-focused contests while fostering innovation in amateur radio technology. The CW BotBattle encourages experimentation, collaboration, and technical achievement in a space designed for it—where your software can compete at full speed without controversy.

Come test your code. Push the limits. Let the bots battle.

Official Rules

OBJECTIVE

The CW BotBattle is designed to advance the state of automated CW decoding, encourage development of high-speed telegraphy systems, and explore AI applications in amateur radio while maintaining separation from traditional amateur radio contests.

CONTEST PERIOD

Start: 0000 UTC 2nd February, 2026
End: 2359 UTC 2nd February, 2026
Duration: 24 hours

ELIGIBILITY

Open to all licensed amateur radio operators worldwide. All operations must comply with local amateur radio regulations.

OPERATING REQUIREMENTS

Automation Requirements

All CW transmission and reception must be fully automated
Human operators may not manually send or receive during logged contacts
Human operators may not manually adjust logs or exchange details
Software/hardware automation of all aspects is required

Human Supervision Requirements

A licensed control operator must be physically present at the station location at all times during operation
Remote operation is NOT permitted
Unattended operation is NOT permitted (no operating while sleeping, away from station, etc.)
The control operator is responsible for ensuring compliance with all applicable regulations

Station Identification

Stations participating in this contest shall call: CQ CQ CWBOT DE <CALLSIGN> This identifies your station as an automated participant
Non-contest contacts using this format may be logged but won't be counted

BANDS AND MODES

Eligible Bands

80 meters
40 meters
20 meters
10 meters
6 meters
2 meters
70 centimeters (440 MHz)

Mode

CW (Morse code) only
All contacts must use International Morse Code

Propagation

Direct contacts and skip propagation permitted
Satellite contacts encouraged
Earth-Moon-Earth (EME) contacts encouraged
Land-based repeaters are NOT permitted
Internet linking (IRLP, Echolink, etc.) is NOT permitted

EXCHANGE REQUIREMENTS

Each station must exchange the following information:

Callsign (both stations)
Sending speed in WPM
Serial number (base 10, sequential starting at 001)

Example exchange:

CQ CQ CWBOT DE N1CCK N1CCK K
N1CCK DE K0HRV 120 001 K
K0HRV DE N1CCK R 105 013 TU

POWER CLASSES

Participants must operate in one of the following classes for the entire contest:

QRP: 1-5 watts output power
Low Power: 6-100 watts output power
QRO: Over 100 watts output power

SCORING

Valid Contacts

Each unique callsign/band combination = 1 contact

Example

Working N1CCK on 40m and twice on 20m = 2 contacts
Working N1CCK and K0HRV on 40m = 2 contacts

Score Calculation

Formula: Total Score = (Number of Valid Contacts) × (Average Received Speed)

Steps:

Count all unique callsign/band combinations
Sum the received speeds (in WPM) from all valid contacts
Divide by the number of valid contacts to get average received speed
Multiply total contacts by average received speed

Example:

Band	Eligible Contacts
40m	10
20m	5
6m	7
Total	22

Received speeds sum to 2,266 WPM
Average: 2,266 ÷ 22 = 103 WPM
Final Score: 22 × 103 = 2,266 points

Duplicate Contacts

Only the first valid contact with each callsign on each band counts for points. Duplicate contacts may be logged but marked as duplicates. Duplicates do NOT count toward scoring

Invalid Contacts

Contacts with human-operated (non-automated) stations do NOT count
Contacts via land-based repeaters do NOT count
Contacts missing required exchange information do NOT count

LOG SUBMISSION

Deadline

Logs must be submitted within 24 hours of contest end (2359 UTC 3rd February, 2026).

Submission Method

Submit logs online at https://hamvillage.org/rf/cw-botbattle-2026-log-submission (preferred)
Email logs to: n1cck@hamvillage.org

Required Log Information

Callsign
Power class (QRP/Low/QRO)
Date/Time (UTC) of each contact
Band
Station worked
Sent exchange (speed, serial number)
Received exchange (speed, serial number)
Software/hardware configuration description
Declaration of human supervision compliance

Suggested Log Format

Cabrillo format preferred. CSV acceptable with columns:

Date,Time(UTC),Band,Call,Sent_Speed,Sent_Serial,Rcvd_Speed,Rcvd_Serial,Duplicate

LOG CHECKING

Logs will be cross-checked against other submitted logs, and unverified contacts (not in other station's log) will be removed. Contacts with discrepancies in exchange data may be removed.

Final scores will be published after log checking is complete

AWARDS

Per category

The station with the highest point total in each category will be sent a lovely winner's certificate as a long-lasting PDF file

Special awards

Fastest confirmed QSO: Awarded to the 2 stations with the highest combined speed as submitted in logged exchange. Winning stations will receive an assortment of Ham Radio Village swag.

DISQUALIFICATION

Grounds for disqualification include (but are not limited to):

Violation of amateur radio regulations
Unattended or remote operation
Use of land-based repeaters
Manual CW operation during logged contacts
Log manipulation or falsification
Unsportsmanlike conduct

SPIRIT OF THE CONTEST

This contest is intended to encourage development and testing of high-speed, low SNR CW decoders, innovation in automated amateur radio systems, and pushing technical boundaries (100+ WPM encouraged!) through good engineering practice and documentation. We would love to see sharing of technical approaches after the contest

QUESTIONS AND CLARIFICATIONS

For rules questions or clarifications, contact: n1cck@hamvillage.org

LIABILITY

Participants operate at their own risk. Contest organizers assume no liability for equipment damage, interference, or other issues arising from contest participation.

Good luck and 73!