Slow CW QSO Party Rules

Organized by the Marconi Club and managed by the ARI Loano Section (SV), the “Slow CW QSO Party” aims to support beginners, “Novice” operators, and CW enthusiasts by introducing them to Morse code in a relaxed and enjoyable competition. It helps them gain experience and have fun, while also allowing more experienced operators to revisit the thrill of their first QSOs and act as mentors for newcomers.

Novice CW operators have the opportunity to practice their skills, improve them, stay motivated, and keep their enthusiasm alive. More experienced operators can relive the excitement of their first CW QSOs by patiently adjusting their speed to match that of the novice operators.

The contest will take place on the 20, 40, and 80-meter bands within the following frequency ranges:

• 3540-3550 kHz
• 7028-7038 kHz
• 14040-14050 kHz

Using different frequencies for the three bands, provided they respect the IARU Region 1 band plan, does not affect scoring nor lead to disqualification or penalties. However, the Marconi Club A.R.I. Loano committee strongly recommends using the above-listed ranges to avoid saturating the entire CW bandwidth and to leave space for non-participating stations.

The following participation categories will be established, with separate classifications:

• N – Novice (beginners) and all those unable to operate above 15 WPM;
• OH – Old Hand (experienced CW operators) who, by regulation, must operate in QRS (slow mode) with a maximum of 15 WPM and adapt to the speed of Novice operators.

Participants must specify their category on the log.

All stations will exchange reports as follows:

• MARCONI CLUB members will transmit: RST + MC + club membership number (e.g., RST 599 MC123)
• Non-members (independent stations) will transmit: RST + sequential number (e.g., RST 599 001)

Each station can be contacted only once per band. Points per QSO:

• 1 point for each contact with independent OM (not in MARCONI CLUB)
• 5 points for each contact with MARCONI CLUB members

The final score will be obtained by multiplying the Total QSO Points by the total connected multipliers.

Independent stations can connect to anyone.

It is recommended to use the latest version of QARTest; participants may use other software, provided it allows entry of the required data in the specified order and supports CABRILLO format.

1. Only CABRILLO format logs will be accepted.
2. Logs must be submitted ONLY through the upload page on the Marconi Club website: www.marconiclub.it.
3. Logs must be received within 5 days after the contest, by 23:59 UTC on February 12, 2027. If there are issues submitting logs on time, contact the Contest Manager at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
4. The web uploader will send a confirmation upon successful upload.
5. A list of received logs will be visible on the website immediately.
6. Logs will be made publicly accessible; by submitting a log, participants agree to its publication.

1. Separate rankings will be established for each category.
2. Prizes will be awarded to the top scorers in each category.
3. All participants can download a participation certificate in PDF format online.

1. All logs will be carefully checked; errors may lead to point deductions.
2. The Marconi Club Committee will assess the eligibility of Novice category claims.
3. Unsportsmanlike behavior may result in disqualification. Such behavior can be identified from logs or other data sources available to the Committee. Examples include:
   • Auto-spotting;
   • QSO speed exceeding 15 WPM;
   • Multiple signals during a single operation;
   • Declaring Novice status with demonstrated or verifiable higher skills.