A1 Contest / Marconi Memorial Contest 2024

A1 Contest, also known as the Marconi Memorial Contest, belongs to the important international competitions in telegraphy on very short waves (VHF) and is dedicated to the memory of the brilliant Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi. Marconi, which in the year 1895 made the first wireless signal transmission, fundamentally influenced the development of modern radio broadcasting and communication. A1 Contest, named after his morse code "A1", was established to promote and develop skills in telegraphic communication.

Since its inception, the competition has been held every year during the first weekend of November and requires speed from the participants, accuracy and experience. The competition takes place on the strip 144 MHz, where participants try to make as many connections as possible in CW mode (telegraphy) and get points for distances covered. Among telegraphy enthusiasts, this competition is not only an opportunity for improvement, but also as a tribute to the technical heritage, left behind by Marconi.

The first weekend of November from Saturday 14:00 UTC until Sunday 14:00 UTC, specifically 2. a 3. November 2024. Contest takes place on the band 144 MHz, in categories Single a Multi, while being used exclusively CW (telegraphic) mode. Competitors exchange the standard RS code with each other(T), sequence number of the connection starting from 001 the WW locator, which identifies their exact location.

The scoring system is simple and motivating: is awarded for every kilometer traveled 1 that, while connections with a station in the same locator small square are evaluated 1 bodom. Competitors get a total result by adding up all the points for the individual connections. They are valid general conditions of VKV races, which supplement the rules of this particular competition.