diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index 1aa5830..da9073c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -590,7 +590,7 @@ export default function App() {
   // Contest session: load once, then persist on every change (merge + save).
   useEffect(() => {
     GetUIPref('opslog.contest').then((s) => {
-      if (s) { try { setContest({ ...CONTEST_DEFAULT, ...JSON.parse(s) }); } catch {} }
+      if (s) { try { const c = { ...CONTEST_DEFAULT, ...JSON.parse(s) }; setContest(c); if (c.active) setContestTabEnabled(true); } catch {} }
     }).catch(() => {});
   }, []);
   const updateContest = (patch: Partial<ContestSession>) => {
@@ -774,6 +774,9 @@ export default function App() {
   // NET Control tab — enabled from Tools (persisted; once on it's a tab like Cluster).
   const [netEnabled, setNetEnabled] = useState(() => localStorage.getItem('opslog.netEnabled') === '1');
   useEffect(() => { localStorage.setItem('opslog.netEnabled', netEnabled ? '1' : '0'); }, [netEnabled]);
+  // Contest tab is hidden until enabled from Tools → Contest mode.
+  const [contestTabEnabled, setContestTabEnabled] = useState(() => localStorage.getItem('opslog.contestTab') === '1');
+  useEffect(() => { localStorage.setItem('opslog.contestTab', contestTabEnabled ? '1' : '0'); }, [contestTabEnabled]);
 
   const [dvkEnabled, setDvkEnabled] = useState(false);
   const [dvkMsgs, setDvkMsgs] = useState<DVKMsg[]>([]);
@@ -2325,6 +2328,7 @@ export default function App() {
       { type: 'item', label: (cwEnabled ? '✓ ' : '') + t('tools.cwDecoder'), action: 'tools.cwdecoder' },
       { type: 'separator' },
       { type: 'item', label: (netEnabled ? '✓ ' : '') + t('tools.net'), action: 'tools.net' },
+      { type: 'item', label: (contestTabEnabled ? '✓ ' : '') + t('tools.contest'), action: 'tools.contest' },
       { type: 'item', label: t('tools.alerts'), action: 'tools.alerts' },
       { type: 'separator' },
       { type: 'item', label: t('tools.duplicates'), action: 'tools.duplicates', disabled: total === 0 },
@@ -2337,7 +2341,7 @@ export default function App() {
     { name: 'help', label: t('menu.help'), items: [
       { type: 'item', label: t('help.about'), action: 'help.about' },
     ]},
-  ], [total, selectedId, selectedIds, ctyRefreshing, refsDownloading, exporting, wkEnabled, dvkEnabled, cwEnabled, netEnabled, t]);
+  ], [total, selectedId, selectedIds, ctyRefreshing, refsDownloading, exporting, wkEnabled, dvkEnabled, cwEnabled, netEnabled, contestTabEnabled, t]);
 
   function handleMenu(action: string) {
     switch (action) {
@@ -2357,6 +2361,7 @@ export default function App() {
       case 'tools.dvk':         setDvkEnabled((v) => !v); break;
       case 'tools.cwdecoder':   toggleCwDecoder(); break;
       case 'tools.net':         setNetEnabled((v) => { const nv = !v; if (nv) setActiveTab('net'); return nv; }); break;
+      case 'tools.contest':     setContestTabEnabled((v) => { const nv = !v; if (nv) setActiveTab('contest'); else setActiveTab((tb) => (tb === 'contest' ? 'recent' : tb)); return nv; }); break;
       case 'tools.alerts':      setAlertsOpen(true); break;
       case 'tools.duplicates':  setShowDuplicates(true); break;
       case 'tools.refreshCty':  refreshCtyDat(); break;
@@ -2470,14 +2475,37 @@ export default function App() {
     <div className="flex flex-col w-44">
       <Label className="flex items-center gap-2 h-3.5" style={{ marginBottom: 6 }}>
         {t('field.callsign')}
-        {lookupBusy && <Badge variant="secondary" className="text-[9px] py-0 px-1.5 normal-case font-medium tracking-wider"><Loader2 className="size-2.5 mr-1 animate-spin" />Looking up…</Badge>}
-        {!lookupBusy && lookupResult && (
-          <Badge className="bg-emerald-100 text-emerald-700 hover:bg-emerald-100 text-[9px] py-0 px-1.5 normal-case font-medium tracking-wider" variant="outline">
-            <CheckCircle2 className="size-2.5 mr-1" />{lookupResult.source}
-          </Badge>
+        {lookupBusy && (
+          <span className="inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full bg-muted/70 px-1.5 py-[1px] text-[9px] font-medium text-muted-foreground ring-1 ring-inset ring-border/60">
+            <Loader2 className="size-2.5 animate-spin" />…
+          </span>
         )}
+        {!lookupBusy && lookupResult && (() => {
+          const src = (lookupResult.source || '').toLowerCase();
+          const tone = src.includes('cache') ? 'amber' : src.includes('qrz') ? 'emerald' : src.includes('ham') ? 'sky' : 'slate';
+          const ring = { amber: 'bg-amber-500/12 text-amber-600 ring-amber-500/30', emerald: 'bg-emerald-500/12 text-emerald-600 ring-emerald-500/30', sky: 'bg-sky-500/12 text-sky-600 ring-sky-500/30', slate: 'bg-slate-500/12 text-slate-500 ring-slate-500/30' }[tone];
+          const dot = { amber: 'bg-amber-500', emerald: 'bg-emerald-500', sky: 'bg-sky-500', slate: 'bg-slate-400' }[tone];
+          return (
+            <span className={cn('inline-flex items-center gap-1 rounded-full px-1.5 py-[1px] text-[9px] font-semibold uppercase tracking-wide ring-1 ring-inset', ring)}>
+              <span className={cn('size-1.5 rounded-full', dot)} />{lookupResult.source}
+            </span>
+          );
+        })()}
         {!lookupBusy && !lookupResult && lookupError && (
-          <Badge variant="destructive" className="text-[9px] py-0 px-1.5 normal-case font-medium tracking-wider">{lookupError}</Badge>
+          <span className="inline-flex items-center rounded-full bg-rose-500/12 px-1.5 py-[1px] text-[9px] font-semibold text-rose-600 ring-1 ring-inset ring-rose-500/30">{lookupError}</span>
+        )}
+        {callsign.trim() && (
+          <button
+            type="button"
+            title={t('qrz.openTitle', { call: callsign.trim().toUpperCase() })}
+            onClick={() => {
+              const c = callsign.trim().toUpperCase().split('/').map(encodeURIComponent).join('/');
+              if (c) OpenExternalURL(`https://www.qrz.com/db/${c}`).catch((e) => setError(String(e?.message ?? e)));
+            }}
+            className="ml-auto shrink-0 inline-flex items-center gap-0.5 text-[9px] font-semibold normal-case tracking-wider text-primary hover:underline"
+          >
+            QRZ ↗
+          </button>
         )}
       </Label>
       <div className="relative">
@@ -3733,10 +3761,22 @@ export default function App() {
               </TabsTrigger>
               <TabsTrigger value="awards">{t('tab.awards')}</TabsTrigger>
               <TabsTrigger value="bandmap">{t('tab.bandmap')}</TabsTrigger>
-              <TabsTrigger value="contest" className={cn('gap-1.5', contest.active && 'text-amber-600 data-[state=active]:text-amber-600')}>
-                {t('tab.contest')}
-                {contest.active && <span className="inline-block size-1.5 rounded-full bg-amber-500 animate-pulse" />}
-              </TabsTrigger>
+              {contestTabEnabled && (
+                <TabsTrigger value="contest" className={cn('gap-1.5', contest.active && 'text-amber-600 data-[state=active]:text-amber-600')}>
+                  {t('tab.contest')}
+                  {contest.active && <span className="inline-block size-1.5 rounded-full bg-amber-500 animate-pulse" />}
+                  <span
+                    role="button"
+                    aria-label="Close Contest"
+                    title={t('dup.close')}
+                    className="inline-flex items-center justify-center size-4 rounded hover:bg-foreground/10 text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground"
+                    onPointerDown={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); }}
+                    onClick={(e) => { e.stopPropagation(); setContestTabEnabled(false); setActiveTab((tb) => (tb === 'contest' ? 'recent' : tb)); }}
+                  >
+                    <X className="size-3" />
+                  </span>
+                </TabsTrigger>
+              )}
               {netEnabled && (
                 <TabsTrigger value="net" className="gap-1.5">
                   {t('tab.net')}
@@ -3754,20 +3794,6 @@ export default function App() {
               )}
               {catState.backend === 'flex' && <TabsTrigger value="flex">FlexRadio</TabsTrigger>}
               {catState.backend === 'icom' && <TabsTrigger value="icom">Icom</TabsTrigger>}
-              {/* Not a tab — QRZ blocks embedding, so this opens the call's
-                  QRZ.com page in the system browser. Styled like a trigger. */}
-              <button
-                type="button"
-                disabled={!callsign.trim()}
-                title={callsign.trim() ? `Open ${callsign.trim().toUpperCase()} on QRZ.com` : 'Enter a callsign first'}
-                onClick={() => {
-                  const c = callsign.trim().toUpperCase().split('/').map(encodeURIComponent).join('/');
-                  if (c) OpenExternalURL(`https://www.qrz.com/db/${c}`).catch((e) => setError(String(e?.message ?? e)));
-                }}
-                className="inline-flex items-center justify-center gap-1 whitespace-nowrap px-3 py-1.5 text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground border-b-2 border-transparent transition-all hover:text-foreground disabled:pointer-events-none disabled:opacity-50 -mb-px"
-              >
-                QRZ.com ↗
-              </button>
               {qslTabOpen && (
                 <TabsTrigger value="qsl" className="gap-1.5">
                   QSL Manager
@@ -4062,9 +4088,11 @@ export default function App() {
               <AwardsPanel onEditQSO={openEdit} />
             </TabsContent>
 
-            <TabsContent value="contest" className="flex-1 min-h-0 p-0">
-              <ContestPanel session={contest} onChange={updateContest} />
-            </TabsContent>
+            {contestTabEnabled && (
+              <TabsContent value="contest" className="flex-1 min-h-0 p-0">
+                <ContestPanel session={contest} onChange={updateContest} />
+              </TabsContent>
+            )}
 
             {/* FlexRadio SmartSDR-style control panel — only present when the CAT
                 backend is a FlexRadio. */}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/i18n.tsx b/frontend/src/lib/i18n.tsx
index 9d41115..f10f7c0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/i18n.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/i18n.tsx
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ const en: Dict = {
   'view.refresh': 'Refresh', 'view.clearFilters': 'Clear filters',
   'tools.qslManager': 'QSL Manager…', 'tools.qslDesigner': 'QSL Card Designer…',
   'tools.winkeyer': 'WinKeyer CW keyer', 'tools.dvk': 'Digital Voice Keyer', 'tools.cwDecoder': 'CW decoder (RX audio)',
-  'tools.net': 'NET Control', 'tools.alerts': 'Alert management…',
+  'tools.net': 'NET Control', 'tools.alerts': 'Alert management…', 'tools.contest': 'Contest mode',
   'menu.help': 'Help', 'help.about': 'About OpsLog', 'tools.duplicates': 'Find duplicates…',
   // Duplicates modal
   'dup.title': 'Find duplicates', 'dup.scanning': 'Scanning the log…', 'dup.none': 'No duplicates found. 🎉',
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ const en: Dict = {
   'flxp.receiveActive': 'Receive (active slice)', 'flxp.muted': 'Muted — click to unmute', 'flxp.mute': 'Mute RX audio', 'flxp.filter': 'Filter', 'flxp.amplifier': 'Amplifier', 'flxp.ampInLine': 'Amplifier is in line (transmitting through PA).', 'flxp.ampBypassed': 'Amplifier bypassed (standby).', 'flxp.pgConnected': 'PowerGenius connected', 'flxp.pgOffline': 'PowerGenius offline', 'flxp.fan': 'Fan', 'flxp.fanStandard': 'Standard', 'flxp.fanContest': 'Contest', 'flxp.fanBroadcast': 'Broadcast', 'flxp.fault': 'FAULT', 'flxp.meters': 'Meters', 'flxp.noMeters': "No meters yet — waiting for the radio's UDP stream…", 'flxp.amplifierHdr': 'AMPLIFIER',
   'icmp.spectrum': 'Spectrum', 'icmp.scopeFixed': 'Fixed — double-click / wheel to tune', 'icmp.scopeCenter': 'Center — follows VFO', 'icmp.scopeOff': 'Scope off', 'icmp.notConnected': "Icom not connected. Enable the Icom CI-V backend in Settings → CAT and connect the radio's USB port.", 'icmp.refresh': 'Refresh', 'icmp.meters': 'Meters', 'icmp.transmit': 'Transmit', 'icmp.power': 'Power', 'icmp.mic': 'Mic', 'icmp.receive': 'Receive', 'icmp.preamp': 'Preamp', 'icmp.filter': 'Filter', 'icmp.noiseNotch': 'Noise / Notch', 'icmp.autoNotch': 'Auto notch filter',
   'rst.clickToFill': 'Click to set RST tx from the signal',
+  'qrz.openTitle': 'Open {call} on QRZ.com',
   // Misc panels/modals (alerts / send-spot / net / udp / filter / details)
   'altm.filterPh': 'Filter…', 'altm.noMatch': 'no match', 'altm.noneAll': 'none selected = ALL', 'altm.nSelected': '{n} selected', 'altm.giveName': 'Give the rule a name', 'altm.deleteConfirm': 'Delete alert "{name}"?', 'altm.title': 'Alert management', 'altm.desc': 'Alert when a spot matches a rule. Empty filters = ANY; the filters you set are ANDed (e.g. France + 20m = French stations on 20m).', 'altm.rules': 'Rules', 'altm.noRules': 'No rules yet — click +', 'altm.emailTo': 'Alert e-mail to', 'altm.selectOrCreate': 'Select or create a rule.', 'altm.tabDef': 'Definition', 'altm.tabCall': 'Call / DXCC', 'altm.tabBandMode': 'Band / Mode', 'altm.tabOrigin': 'Origin', 'altm.ruleName': 'Rule name', 'altm.alertEnabled': 'Alert enabled', 'altm.againAfter': 'Alert again after (min)', 'altm.againHint': '0 = once/session · -1 = always', 'altm.actions': 'Actions', 'altm.visual': 'Visual', 'altm.sound': 'Sound', 'altm.email': 'E-mail', 'altm.skipWorked': 'Skip calls already worked (same band + mode)', 'altm.callsigns': 'Callsigns (one per line, wildcards: IW3*, */P)', 'altm.countries': 'Countries (DXCC)', 'altm.continents': 'Continents', 'altm.bands': 'Bands', 'altm.modes': 'Modes', 'altm.spotterCall': 'Spotter callsign (wildcard)', 'altm.spotterCallPh': 'e.g. F* or DL1ABC', 'altm.spotterContinents': 'Spotter continents', 'altm.spotterCountries': 'Spotter countries', 'altm.delete': 'Delete', 'altm.saveRule': 'Save rule', 'altm.close': 'Close',
   'spm.callRequired': 'Callsign required', 'spm.freqRequired': 'Frequency (kHz) required', 'spm.title': 'Send DX Spot', 'spm.callsign': 'Callsign', 'spm.callPh': 'DX call', 'spm.frequency': 'Frequency (kHz)', 'spm.message': 'Message', 'spm.messagePh': 'e.g. CW · TNX QSO', 'spm.latestQsos': 'Latest QSOs', 'spm.spotSent': 'Spot sent ✓', 'spm.masterCluster': 'Master cluster', 'spm.cancel': 'Cancel', 'spm.sending': 'Sending…', 'spm.sendSpot': 'Send spot',
@@ -216,7 +217,7 @@ const fr: Dict = {
   'view.refresh': 'Rafraîchir', 'view.clearFilters': 'Effacer les filtres',
   'tools.qslManager': 'Gestionnaire QSL…', 'tools.qslDesigner': 'Créateur de carte QSL…',
   'tools.winkeyer': 'Manipulateur CW WinKeyer', 'tools.dvk': 'Manipulateur vocal numérique', 'tools.cwDecoder': 'Décodeur CW (audio RX)',
-  'tools.net': 'Contrôle de NET', 'tools.alerts': 'Gestion des alertes…',
+  'tools.net': 'Contrôle de NET', 'tools.alerts': 'Gestion des alertes…', 'tools.contest': 'Mode contest',
   'menu.help': 'Aide', 'help.about': 'À propos d\'OpsLog', 'tools.duplicates': 'Trouver les doublons…',
   'dup.title': 'Trouver les doublons', 'dup.scanning': 'Analyse du journal…', 'dup.none': 'Aucun doublon trouvé. 🎉',
   'dup.hint': 'Chaque groupe est le même contact enregistré plusieurs fois (indicatif + bande + mode). Le premier (le plus ancien) est laissé décoché ; coche ceux à supprimer.',
@@ -360,6 +361,7 @@ const fr: Dict = {
   'flxp.receiveActive': 'Réception (slice active)', 'flxp.muted': 'Coupé — clic pour rétablir', 'flxp.mute': "Couper l'audio RX", 'flxp.filter': 'Filtre', 'flxp.amplifier': 'Amplificateur', 'flxp.ampInLine': 'Amplificateur en ligne (émission via le PA).', 'flxp.ampBypassed': 'Amplificateur en bypass (standby).', 'flxp.pgConnected': 'PowerGenius connecté', 'flxp.pgOffline': 'PowerGenius hors ligne', 'flxp.fan': 'Ventilo', 'flxp.fanStandard': 'Standard', 'flxp.fanContest': 'Contest', 'flxp.fanBroadcast': 'Diffusion', 'flxp.fault': 'DÉFAUT', 'flxp.meters': 'Mesures', 'flxp.noMeters': 'Aucune mesure — en attente du flux UDP de la radio…', 'flxp.amplifierHdr': 'AMPLIFICATEUR',
   'icmp.spectrum': 'Spectre', 'icmp.scopeFixed': 'Fixe — double-clic / molette pour accorder', 'icmp.scopeCenter': 'Centré — suit le VFO', 'icmp.scopeOff': 'Scope éteint', 'icmp.notConnected': 'Icom non connecté. Active le backend CI-V Icom dans Réglages → CAT et connecte le port USB de la radio.', 'icmp.refresh': 'Rafraîchir', 'icmp.meters': 'Mesures', 'icmp.transmit': 'Émission', 'icmp.power': 'Puissance', 'icmp.mic': 'Micro', 'icmp.receive': 'Réception', 'icmp.preamp': 'Préampli', 'icmp.filter': 'Filtre', 'icmp.noiseNotch': 'Bruit / Notch', 'icmp.autoNotch': 'Filtre notch auto',
   'rst.clickToFill': 'Clic pour remplir le RST tx depuis le signal',
+  'qrz.openTitle': 'Ouvrir {call} sur QRZ.com',
   'altm.filterPh': 'Filtrer…', 'altm.noMatch': 'aucun résultat', 'altm.noneAll': 'aucune sélection = TOUT', 'altm.nSelected': '{n} sélectionné(s)', 'altm.giveName': 'Donne un nom à la règle', 'altm.deleteConfirm': "Supprimer l'alerte « {name} » ?", 'altm.title': 'Gestion des alertes', 'altm.desc': 'Alerte quand un spot correspond à une règle. Filtres vides = TOUT ; les filtres définis sont combinés par ET (ex. France + 20m = stations françaises sur 20m).', 'altm.rules': 'Règles', 'altm.noRules': 'Aucune règle — clique sur +', 'altm.emailTo': "E-mail d'alerte à", 'altm.selectOrCreate': 'Sélectionne ou crée une règle.', 'altm.tabDef': 'Définition', 'altm.tabCall': 'Indicatif / DXCC', 'altm.tabBandMode': 'Bande / Mode', 'altm.tabOrigin': 'Origine', 'altm.ruleName': 'Nom de la règle', 'altm.alertEnabled': 'Alerte activée', 'altm.againAfter': 'Réalerter après (min)', 'altm.againHint': '0 = une fois/session · -1 = toujours', 'altm.actions': 'Actions', 'altm.visual': 'Visuel', 'altm.sound': 'Son', 'altm.email': 'E-mail', 'altm.skipWorked': 'Ignorer les indicatifs déjà contactés (même bande + mode)', 'altm.callsigns': 'Indicatifs (un par ligne, jokers : IW3*, */P)', 'altm.countries': 'Pays (DXCC)', 'altm.continents': 'Continents', 'altm.bands': 'Bandes', 'altm.modes': 'Modes', 'altm.spotterCall': 'Indicatif du spotteur (joker)', 'altm.spotterCallPh': 'ex. F* ou DL1ABC', 'altm.spotterContinents': 'Continents du spotteur', 'altm.spotterCountries': 'Pays du spotteur', 'altm.delete': 'Supprimer', 'altm.saveRule': 'Enregistrer la règle', 'altm.close': 'Fermer',
   'spm.callRequired': 'Indicatif requis', 'spm.freqRequired': 'Fréquence (kHz) requise', 'spm.title': 'Envoyer un spot DX', 'spm.callsign': 'Indicatif', 'spm.callPh': 'Indicatif DX', 'spm.frequency': 'Fréquence (kHz)', 'spm.message': 'Message', 'spm.messagePh': 'ex. CW · TNX QSO', 'spm.latestQsos': 'Derniers QSO', 'spm.spotSent': 'Spot envoyé ✓', 'spm.masterCluster': 'Cluster maître', 'spm.cancel': 'Annuler', 'spm.sending': 'Envoi…', 'spm.sendSpot': 'Envoyer le spot',
   'ncp.newNetPrompt': 'Nom du nouveau NET :', 'ncp.renamePrompt': 'Renommer le NET :', 'ncp.deleteConfirm': 'Supprimer le NET « {name} » et son répertoire ? Cette action est irréversible.', 'ncp.closeConfirm': "{n} station(s) encore en l'air seront retirées SANS être enregistrées. Fermer quand même ?", 'ncp.removeConfirm': 'Retirer {n} station(s) du répertoire de ce NET ?', 'ncp.colCallsign': 'Indicatif', 'ncp.colName': 'Nom', 'ncp.colTimeOn': 'Heure début', 'ncp.colBand': 'Bande', 'ncp.colMode': 'Mode', 'ncp.colComment': 'Commentaire', 'ncp.colCountry': 'Pays', 'ncp.newNet': 'Nouveau NET', 'ncp.closeToSwitch': 'Ferme le NET pour changer', 'ncp.selectNetTitle': 'Sélectionne un NET', 'ncp.selectNetOption': '— sélectionner un NET —', 'ncp.closeNet': 'Fermer le NET', 'ncp.openNet': 'Ouvrir le NET', 'ncp.rename': 'Renommer', 'ncp.delete': 'Supprimer', 'ncp.netOpenBadge': 'NET OUVERT', 'ncp.onAir': "En l'air :", 'ncp.roster': 'Répertoire :', 'ncp.onAirActive': "En l'air — QSO actifs", 'ncp.activeHint': 'double-clic → éditer tous les champs · « Logger & terminer » pour enregistrer', 'ncp.logEndSelected': 'Logger & terminer la sélection', 'ncp.netUsersRoster': 'Membres du NET — répertoire', 'ncp.rosterHint': "double-clic → mettre en l'air", 'ncp.addContact': 'Ajouter un contact', 'ncp.remove': 'Retirer', 'ncp.putOnAir': "Mettre la sélection en l'air", 'ncp.addContactTitle': 'Ajouter un contact au NET', 'ncp.addContactDesc': 'Enregistré dans le répertoire de ce NET (réutilisé à la prochaine ouverture).', 'ncp.callsign': 'Indicatif', 'ncp.search': 'Rechercher', 'ncp.name': 'Nom', 'ncp.country': 'Pays', 'ncp.cancel': 'Annuler', 'ncp.saveInNet': 'Enregistrer dans le NET',