Contest Period :
from July 24-2010 12.00 UTC to July 25-2010 12.00 UTC

Bands :
80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 m.

Modes :
CW, SSB, MIXED.

Category Time :
12 hours, 24 hours

Categories :
SWL, Single Operator, 12 hours, MIXED
SWL, Single Operator, 12 hours, SSB
SWL, Single Operator, 12 hours, CW
SWL, Single Operator, 24 hours, MIXED
SWL, Single Operator, 24 hours, SSB
SWL, Single Operator, 24 hours, CW

Exchanges :
RST + QSO number, starting with 001 + IOTA Reference number, if applicable.

QSO Points :
Three (3) points per non-island QSO heard, fifteen (15) points per island QSO heard. Same station can be heard once on each band and mode.

Multipliers :
Each IOTA reference on each band and on each mode.

Scoring :
Sum of QSO points x sum of multipliers = TOTAL SCORE.

Rule of Correspondents :
The callsign of correspondent may not appear more than three consecutive times. There must be at least one other QSO before a series of one to three callsigns is repeated.

Plaque / Awards / IOTA Credits:
The GEOFF WATTS SWL Plaque to the leader in the 12 hours mixed category. Certificates to the top three stations in each category.

Contest participants may claim "NO-QSL" credits (max 50) for IOTA awards.
More information in our article HERE.

Logs :
CABRILLO format is preferred.
To generate Cabrillo the user friendly program by SP7DQR is available at:
http://swl.veron.nl/SWL_Consoft.html

Logs in Excel or in TEXT (with columns separated by spaces) are acceptable.

Log must show: FREQUENCY, MODE, DATE, TIME(GMT), CALLSIGN OF STATION HRD, EXCHANGE MESSAGE SENT BY STATION HRD and CALLSIGN OF CORRESPONDENT.

Hand-written logs are not recommended but still acceptable. Official forms can be requested to the IOTA SWL Contest Manager.

Logs Deadline :
Logs must be received by September 1 to qualify.

E-mail logs to :
iotaswl@mdxc.org
or mail logs to :
IOTA SWL Contest Manager
Dan Rolla, I1-12387
Via N.Sauro 1
I-16018 GIOVI - GE
ITALY
or use the online log submission system:

Is the recording with Perseus allowed ?
No, the possibility to record a large portion of the RF Spectrum to disk for later analysis with Perseus or other softwares would mean a multi-multi-operation and it is not allowed.

Can I put in the log non-island stations in Contest ?
Yes. Also if the Contest title is IOTA, entrants can heard anyone in Contest, island or non-island. This can be strange but these are the rules of the IOTA Contest since the very first edition.

Can I participate without an SWL callsign ?
Yes. In the score there will be your name prefixed by the country prefix. Anyway, if you are interested, SWARL issues SWL calls for free. You have to go to http://swarl.org and click on "Get SWL Call Sign".

I am a Ham with regular callsign, can I participate in the SWL Category ?
Yes, you are welcome. But, of course you have to listen to the stations in Contest and not to work them. If you send a standard Ham log, only the first three QSO will count for points according to the rule of correspondents.

The RS(T) to put in the log is my report to the station heard ?
No, it is the RS(T) sent in Contest by the station heard.

In the 12-hour category, operation need to be for one continuous 12-hour period ?
No, but, once operation has commenced, off periods must be a minimum of 60 minutes.
Example 1: 1200 to 1600 GMT Saturday, 1900 to 2300 GMT Saturday and 0600 to 1000 GMT Sunday.
Example 2: 1200 GMT Saturday to 0000 GMT Sunday.

If I operated for less than 12 hours, can I declare 24-hour category instead of 12-hour ?
Yes. The checking software will check only the operating time of entries in 12-hour category and will mark with zero points all the QSOs heard over 12 hours of operation.

Is the use of DX Summit and DX Cluster allowed ?
Yes, it is allowed. There is no more distinction between “Assisted” or “Not assisted”, as in previous editions of the IOTA Contest, SWL category.

Can I have an example on how is calculated the total score ?
The score is the total of multipliers multiplied by the total of points for each band added together.
Example:

(*) These QSO will not count for the final score

If the correspondent's call il clearly wrong, I have to correct it?
In general no, you should put in the log the same data of the log sent by the station heard, no matter if right or wrong. If you heard G3XTT sending "9M6B, 59 003 EU-005" and you know that the correspondent's right call is 9M6A and not 9M6B, you should put in the log 9M6B as correspondent's call. In fact the SWL cross-checking software doesn't compare the log of G3XTT with the log of 9M6A but only your SWL log with the log of G3XTT. This is correct, in fact if a station mangles a callsign, that station must be penalized not the SWL. But note that this is true only if the station heard didn't correct his log in a second time and if all stations sent the logs.

Why do you recommend the Cabrillo format ?
Because the cross-checking software works only on Cabrillo format and the Ham logs are also in Cabrillo format. To generate Cabrillo a splendid computer program is "SWL DQR Log", made by our friend Marek, SP7DQR with the help of Ruud NL290. This program is freeware and is downloadable from http://sp7dqr.waw.pl/eng/index_en.html . A useful Manual for SWL DQR Log is also available at the site of Ruud: http://swl.veron.nl/SWL_Consoft.html

Before logging read carefully the help pages which include a very useful logging example for the IOTA SWL Contest.

Can I use SWL DQR Log not in real time but after the Contest?
Yes, for sure. You have to set the Off-Line Logging by clicking with the right button of the mouse on the date field. Note that in this configuration you can easily change the time with the page-up and page-down keys.

I have to delete the dupes from the log?
It is not necessary. Duplicates can be leaved in the log. The log checking software will find the dupes. In general it will mark them with zero points, but if the first QSO logged is invalid, the second QSO could be valid for points.

Is another format (not Cabrillo) acceptable?
Yes, but if you use a text format please use plain text with colums separated by spaces (not tabs). Another acceptable format can be Excel (see Appendix 2).

Can I send my log pasted into the e-mail?
Yes, but we do prefer the log as an attachment, not zipped.

Is it necessary to calculate the claimed score?
No, it is not necessary to calculate the claimed score. Your final score will be calculated by the log check software.

I have to write a summary sheet with a declaration?
No, if you use Cabrillo it is not necessary anymore.

I have to write something in the subject of the e-mail with my log?
Yes, your SWL callsign.

How I have to name my log file?
With your call (e.g. I1-12387.cbr). Please do not name your log IOTA CONTEST or similar.

How I will be sure that you received my log via e-mail?
You will receive an acknowledgement within 48 hours. A list of logs received with a provisional score will also be published at http://www.mdxc.org/swl .

What I have to do if my e-mail sent to iotaswl@mdxc.org bounces back?
You can try to send the log to iw1qla@tin.it

When will the online results be available?
The SWL logs will be cross-checked against the Ham logs to get the final score. So, the SWL results will be available a bit later than the Ham results of the IOTA Contest. The Contest results will be published in the MDXC/SWL web site http://www.mdxc.org/swl.

Where can I find other information on the IOTA Programme?
Copies of the IOTA Directory with all the information on the IOTA Programme can be purchased from RSGB at www.rsgbshop.org. A full list of IOTA islands, the annual SWL Listings and other useful information can be found in the RSGB IOTA Web Page at www.rsgbiota.org and in the G3KMA, IOTA Manager’s Website at www.g3kma.dsl.pipex.com.

APPENDIX 1 - Example of Cabrillo log

Header section:
START-OF-LOG: 2.0
CONTEST: RSGB-IOTA
CALLSIGN: I1-12387
CATEGORY: SWL MIXED
CATEGORY-TIME: 12-HOUR
IOTA-REFERENCE-NUMBER:
CLUB: MDXC/SWL
CLAIMED-SCORE: 186381
NAME: DAN ROLLA
ADDRESS: VIA SAURO 1
ADDRESS: 16018 GIOVI-GE
ADDRESS: ITALY
ADDRESS:
OPERATORS:
SOAPBOX: EMAIL: iw1qla@tin.it
SOAPBOX: GREAT CONTEST AND GREAT PROPAGATION

Cabrillo SWL QSO template:

Note: If you use SWL DQR Log, to have the correct SWL Cabrillo, you have to set the fields configuration as follows:

APPENDIX 2 - Example of log in EXCEL
(Note: the file must include an header section with all the informations shown in Cabrillo header)