These are radio amateur competitions during which the participants contact as many other amateur stations as possible within a limited time. Some contests are national and only count contacts with other stations in ones’ own country. Others are international. These usually take up a whole weekend and count both national and international stations. Diplomas are given to the top three stations in each country by the biggest of these competitions. Sometimes prizes are given too.

Germany, The United States and Italy have special IPA competitions which are also open to non IPARC members.