QO-100 North America Challenge

The QO-100 North American Challenge is an initiative aimed at encouraging amateur radio operators in North America to establish contacts via the QO-100 satellite. This satellite, also known as Es’hail-2, has been primarily accessible to operators in Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia. Due to its geostationary position, making contacts from North America is particularly challenging, but recent successful attempts from Newfoundland have demonstrated its feasibility under the right conditions​.

The challenge includes three main objectives: achieving the first two-way QSO (contact) via the narrowband transponder, surpassing 100 QSOs, and accomplishing the first two-way DATV (Digital Amateur Television) QSO via the wideband transponder. Operators who succeed in these tasks will be awarded special trophies and certificates. Subsequent successful operations will also be eligible for certificates, celebrating the breakthrough in transatlantic satellite communication from North America​.

Participants are encouraged to use the Signal Hill site in St. John’s, Newfoundland, as this location has proven suitable for making QO-100 contacts due to its elevation and geographic position. Operators planning to participate should prepare for technical challenges, including the need for high-power transmissions and possibly larger dishes, and should monitor favorable weather and atmospheric conditions.