The SSB and RTTY Club of COMO and the A.R.I. (Associazione Radioamatori Italiani) are pleased to announce the details of the 55th "Alessandro VOLTA RTTY DX CONTEST". This contest is organized to increase interest in RTTY mode as used by radio amateurs and to honor the Italian discoverer of electricity, ALESSANDRO VOLTA.

Test Period:  from 12:00 GMT Saturday May 8, 2021 until 12:00 GMT Sunday May 9, 2021. In the future this event will take place on the second full week-end in May.

Bands: 3,5 - 7 - 14 -21 - 28 MHz Amateur bands.

Classes:

• “SINGLE-OP ALL” - Single Operator, All Bands.
• “SINGLE-OP xxM” - Single Operator, Single Band (where xx=10, 15, 20, 40, 80) Single band entrants who also operate on other bands are encouraged to submit their logs to aid in  the log-checking process. QSOs on other bands are counted: 0 points, 0 multipliers, 0 QSOs and inserted as checklog. Mark clearly in the CABRILLO log’s header which band is to be counted as the single-band entry)
• “SINGLE-OP 6H” - Single Operator, All bands 6 hours one person (the operator)  performs all operating and logging  functions. May operate up to max 6 hours. Off-times must be greater than 60 minutes. SOAB6 contestant must enter a Log of their first six hours of operation. Any contacts made after these periods must be included in the contest LOG but they will be  treated as a CHECKLOG.
• “MULTI-OP” - Multi Operator Single or Multi Transmitter.

“CHECKLOG” - logs for QSO checking

All Categories: Single Band or All Band, Single Operator or Multi Operators, only one transmitting signal is allowed at any one time; the operator may change bands at any time. No power subcategories.  Use of DX spotting nets is allowed (self-spotting not allowed).

Scoring: All two-way RTTY contacts will score points in accordance with the exchange POINTS TABLE. Contacts between stations within the same DXCC Country or same call area (for Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and USA) will not be valid (count:  0 point, no multiplier, nor as callarea). (e.g.: a JA2 station can work JA1, JA3, JA4 etc, but not JA2). Hams whose callarea is different from that of the number in their callsign are invited to add to their callsign the suffix /x (/1, /2 … /9, /0) to allow others the exact identification of their callareas.

Contacts made outside one's own continent on 3.5 or 28 MHz are worth double points.

Contacts: Station can be worked only once for each band. Additional contacts may be made with the same station only if a different band is used. A contact with a station which would count as QSO points will only be valid if that station appears at least in 3 other logs, or if a contest log is received from that station.

Countries: ARRL DXCC Country list plus each call-area in Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the USA will be counted as a separate country. In those cases, the “main” Country multiplier (JA-VE-VK-W-ZL) DOES NOT COUNT and ONLY each worked call-area (JA1..0, VE1...0, VK1..8, W1...0, ZL1...ZL4) can be considered.

Multipliers: A multiplier of 1 (one) is given for each different DXCC Country and for each different CALL AREA worked. Same Country/CallArea may be claimed again if a different band is used. An additional multiplier is given for each INTERCONTINENTAL COUNTRY (DX) worked on at least in 4 bands. A contact with a station which would count as multiplier will only be valid if that station appears at least in 3 other logs, or if a contest log is received from that station.

Points: Total exchange points multiplied by the total number of multiplier multiplied by the total number of QSOs. [Points x Multipliers x QSOs = Final score].

Message: Must consist of: RST - QSO progressive number starting from 001 - Your CQ Zone number.  (es.: 599-001-15)

SWL: no longer expected due to low participation.

Award: The SOAB and MO categories will be divided by Continent. A special Plaque will be awarded to the top stations in each category.  Top Italian Ham in each category will receive a plaque. In addition, all contestants will be allowed to download a new electronic certificate (.jpg file) from our site.

Logs: ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION: you can use one of the following options (wait please at least 6  hours before re-sending/re-uploading the LOG):

• E-MAIL: send log (VOLTA CABRILLO file format) via e-mail to log2021(at)contestvolta.it. In the “Subject:” line of your e-mail message please include your callsign and the category you entered  (e.g., I2DMI SINGLE-OP 20M, I2DMI MULTI-OP, etc). Logs must be sent as an e-mail attachment, not as the text of the email.
• UPLOAD: use link in main page of our site and follow instructions.

The filename for the log should be yourcall.log (e.g., I2DMI.LOG, I2DMI.txt or I2DMI.CBR). Rename it before sending.

LOGS will be checked by a Robot that will send a feedback message automatically. If any error will be found by the ROBOT, you’ll receive an e-mail containing a diagnostic errors message. You can then correct your log and submit it again. Please check if your call is listed in the “received LOGs” link in our site. If doesn’t or you have file structure errors (FSA), send the log to I2DMI - E-mail: i2dmi(at)contestvolta.it, asking to convert it.

LOGS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 2021, MAY 31st TO QUALIFY.

Frank, I2DMI
Alessandro Volta RTTY Contest Manager
www.contestvolta.it