"MARCONI SUPPORTERS" AWARD 2026

International Amateur Radio Award

”MARCONI SUPPORTERS”  is an international amateur radio award organised by A.R.I. Fidenza Radio Club, (www.arifidenza.it) , affiliated to the Italian Radio Amateurs Association (A.R.I.) with the patronage and historical supervision of the Guglielmo Marconi Foundation www.fgm.it The purpose of this award is to provide historical and biographical insights into some of the key figures who, although perhaps not well known today to the general public interested in the life and works of the great scientist and inventor Guglielmo Marconi, nevertheless played a fundamental role in his personal and emotional, educational and cultural, academic, scientific and, finally, entrepreneurial development. These figures contributed significantly to the construction of the context of relationships and opportunities that so greatly favoured the development and success of Marconi's great genius throughout his life. As summarized by Dr. Barbara Valotti (Guglielmo Marconi Foundation), curator of the initiative with regard to historical aspects: “..Inventor and entrepreneur, Italian and British, conservative and innovator, nationalist and cosmopolitan...Marconi's forty-year career: from when, as an anonymous twenty-year-old, he inaugurated the era of long-distance wireless communications, to when, as a public figure with significant diplomatic responsibilities, he passed away without ever having abandoned experimentation and research.” (from the afterword of the book "Marconi, il ragazzo del Wireless" by Barbara Valotti and G. Dalle Donne - Hoepli ed.). The award dedicates each month of the year 2026 to the name of a specific “supporter” of Marconi, and the special name of the commemorative station associated with each month incorporates an acronym of that person's name.

Note: Marconian special calls with the prefix IY4 are active only on specific days and exclusively by transmitting from Guglielmo Marconi Foundation (Bologna, ITALY).

Click on the callsigns in the table to check your presence at LOG and award statistics

International Annual Marconi Award 2026 "MARCONI SUPPORTERS" Award Rules OBJECTIVE To perform as many QSOs as possible with the special commemorative stations listed above. “JOLLY” STATION In addition to the listed monthly special callsigns, during the whole year 2026 the “Jolly station” IQ4FE will be also on air. The contacts with this station will allow to recover up to a maximum of two not contacted monthly callsigns, according to the following rule: - To recover 1 monthly special callsign: at least 3 QSOs with IQ4FE during the year are required; - To recover 2 monthly special callsigns: at least 6 QSOs with IQ4FE during the year are required. SPECIAL CALLSIGNS WITH "IY” PREFIX During the whole year, some A.R.I. Fidenza special call signs with prefix IY will be also randomly active on the air. Prior to their activation these special call signs will be timely announced on the official website www.arifidenza.it and, at the end of the award, they will account for getting a special award certificate, according to the rule specified in this document. PERIOD OF OPERATION From 00.01 UTC of January 1 st, 2026 to 23.59 UTC of December 31st, 2026 PARTICIPANTS The award is worldwide, open to all licensed Radio Amateurs all over the world. SWLs can compete to obtain the participation award. EMISSION MODES CW, SSB and all admitted digital modes, e.g.: RTTY, FT8, JT65, JT9, PSK BANDS 1) HF (WARC bands included): 1.8, 3.5, 5, 7, 10, 14, 18, 21, 24, 28, 50 MHz 2) VHF (144 MHz) 3) UHF (430 MHz) 4) Satellite band OSCAR 100, using all emission modes permitted for this band and in compliance with the relevant Band Plan. Digital OSCAR 100 admitted modes include both narrow band modes and broad band DATV over trasponder. REPORTS Only the RS(T) report is required. LIMITATIONS AND DUPE QSOs Each commemorative station, as well as the “Jolly station” IQ4FE, can be contacted by the same station (callsign) only one time per day on the same band and using the same emission mode. Any additional contact with the same station on the same day, on the same band and using the same emission mode will be considered as a DUPE QSO, and its score will be set to zero points. SINGLE QSO SCORE Each valid (e.g. not dupe) QSO accounts for: - 1 point for NON QRP stations (emission power > 5 W) - 2 points for QRP stations (emission power ≤ 5 W) FINAL ANNUAL SCORE The final score is the sum of all QSO scores obtained during the year. LOG No log is required to be sent by the participating stations. The logs of the special commemorative stations will be published monthly on the official website www.arifidenza.it . As a general rule, each monthly log will be uploaded within the 10th of the following month. SWL SWLs interested in receiving the participation award must send their electronic log, only in ADIF format, by 31 January 2027 to the address marconiaward <at> arifidenza.it. SWL paper logs, as well as electronic logs in a format different from adif, will not be accepted. PARTICIPATION CATEGORIES AND AWARD’s RANKING There is only one participation category: ranking is assigned according to the absolute obtained score. AWARD CERTIFICATES - There are three different award’s certificates: 1) Participation Certificate: will be awarded to every station having contacted at least one time each of the twelwe award’s monthly special callsigns; 2) Exclusive Certificate: will be awarded to every station having contacted at least one time each of the twelwe award’s monthly special callsigns and all special A.R.I Fidenza IY call signs activated during the year 2026; 3) Special Certificate (Gold, Silver, Bronze): will be awarded to the first, second and third best scored participants respectively, based on the overall annual score. AVAILABILITY OF AWARD'S CERTIFICATE The award certificates will be made available for viewing and download in PDF format on the website www.arifidenza.it starting from January 2027. OFFICIAL REFERENCE WEBSITE The official reference website for any info related to this award is: www.arifidenza.it Reference email for further informations: marconiaward <at> arifidenza.it JUDGING RESPONSIBILITY TThe A.R.I. Fidenza Award Committee is responsible for any evaluation or decision on aspects related to the award, including any judgement about compliance with (or infringement of) the rules stated in this document during the activity On Air and any related litigation. All participants are expected to follow a respectful behavior, according to the general fair play principles and “HAM Spirit”. In case of any documented evidence of violation of the rules stated in this document, as well as in case of unfair, unsportsmanlike behavior, the A.R.I. Fidenza Award Committee is empowered to take adequate disciplinary actions, including score cut back or disqualification. The decisions taken by the A.R.I. Fidenza Award Committee will be irrevocable and unappellable. QSL ONLY DIRECT (NO BUREAU !) please no IRC - no stamps ! For Italy : SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope) For Europe : 2 US $ + SAE (Self Addressed Envelope) For Pacific Area : 4$ + SAE Others countries : 3$ + SAE For any insufficient money contribution, the QSL will NOT be sent. Send to: A.R.I. Fidenza P.O. box 66 43036 Fidenza (PR) - ITALY LOTW QSL service IS ALSO ACTIVE As a general rule, each monthly log will be uploaded within the 10th of the following month.