ARRL RTTY Roundup: Exchange, Scoring and Off-Time Rules

The first full weekend of January brings one of the friendliest events for anyone who enjoys keyboard modes: the ARRL RTTY Roundup. It is a 30-hour contest in which every contact is made on Radioteletype, the stations are spread across five HF bands, and the exchange is short enough to learn in a minute. This guide covers the dates, the rules about modes and bands, the exchange for W/VE and DX stations, the way the score is calculated, the unusual 24-hour off-time rule, the categories and the log submission steps. The rules described here come from the official ARRL contest page and the rules document published by the ARRL, so check the current version before the contest, because rules are revised from time to time.

What the ARRL RTTY Roundup Is

The ARRL contest page describes the event as one in which amateurs worldwide contact and exchange QSO information with other amateurs using only the RTTY mode on the 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meter bands. Any station may work any other station, so unlike some ARRL events there is no split between domestic and DX stations. The event is popular because it invites newcomers to digital contesting: the signals are narrow, the software is mature, and a modest station with a good computer can make a lot of contacts.

Two rules set the tone. First, only RTTY counts. The ARRL created a separate International Digital Contest for people who want to use other digital modes, and the RTTY Roundup page makes the distinction clear. Second, automated operation is not permitted. The ARRL states that each claimed contact must include contemporaneous direct initiation by the operator on both sides of the contact, so unattended robots do not count.

Dates and Times

The contest runs on the first full weekend of January, but never on January 1. It begins at 1800 UTC on Saturday and ends at 2359 UTC on Sunday, which makes a 30-hour contest period. In 2027, January 1 falls on a Friday, so the first full weekend is 2 and 3 January. The official dates are maintained in the ARRL contest calendar, and you can also compare them with the independent contest calendar before you plan the weekend.

The timing is useful. The Saturday start at 1800 UTC gives European stations the evening and North American stations the afternoon. By the time darkness reaches the middle of North America, the lower bands open, and the second half of the contest moves into the Sunday daytime when 20, 15 and sometimes 10 meters are busy.

Bands, Mode and Contact Rules

The rules limit the bands to 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz. Use only RTTY, and log your contacts with the RY mode abbreviation in the Cabrillo file. You may contact each station once per band, regardless of mode, so you can work the same station again on another band. The 160, 30, 17 and 12 meter bands are not used, which concentrates the activity on the five allowed bands.

The ARRL RTTY Roundup is not the only RTTY event of the year, and the operating practice has much in common with other contests. If you are new to the mode, our RTTY contesting guide describes the software and tuning basics, and our Fldigi setup guide shows how to set up a sound card interface and macros if you prefer that program.

The Exchange

The exchange has two parts, and what you send depends on where you are.

• W/VE stations, meaning stations in the United States and Canada, send a signal report and their US state or Canadian province.
• DX stations send a signal report and a serial number that begins with 1.

In RTTY contests the signal report is 599. A typical contact shown in the ARRL rules goes like this: W1PY calls CQ RU, K9CT answers, W1PY sends K9CT 599 CT, K9CT replies 599 IL, and W1PY closes with TU. A DX station would send a serial number in place of the state, for example 599 428. The rules point out that the answering station does not need to send the CQing station’s call sign before the exchange unless there is confusion.

A tip for DX stations: the serial number must start at 1 and increase with each contact. Your logging software normally does this automatically, but check the setting before the contest, because a serial number that does not increase is easy to get wrong when you restart the program.

Scoring

The scoring is simple. Each contact counts for one QSO point. To calculate the final score, multiply the total QSO points by the number of multipliers. The multipliers are the DXCC entities, not including the US and Canada, plus the US states and the District of Columbia, plus the Canadian provinces and territories, including Labrador. Each multiplier counts once, not once per band. Hawaii and Alaska count as DXCC entities. The ARRL provides a contest multipliers list with the abbreviations.

Because every contact is worth only one point, the multipliers drive the score more than the QSO count does. The multiplier is counted once and not per band, so the first contact with a new state is a bonus on any band. The second contact with that state on another band adds a QSO point but not another multiplier. This is different from contests where multipliers are counted on each band, and it changes how you spend your time. Look for new multipliers first, then add contacts on the band you are already using.

The 24-Hour Off-Time Rule

The rule that surprises newcomers is the off-time requirement. Single-operator stations may operate up to 24 hours of the 30-hour period. Multioperator stations may operate the entire 30 hours. After your first contact, you may take up to six hours of off time in one or two breaks, and each break must be at least 30 minutes long. The log checking software counts the two longest breaks in your log and treats those as your two off times. Additional breaks and breaks shorter than 30 minutes are ignored. The time before your first contact and after your last one does not count as off time.

The ARRL page gives examples that satisfy the rules. You could start at 1800 on Saturday and operate 24 hours straight. You could start an hour late at 1900, take two two-hour breaks, and end at 2300, an hour early. Or you could start at 1800, operate 12 hours, sleep 5.5 hours and finish at 2330. If you take several 30-minute breaks, only the first two are counted toward the required six hours.

The checking process calculates your score over the first 24 hours of operating time. You are encouraged to keep operating after that, because there is no penalty and the stations you contact still get credit for the contact. Do not delete those contacts from your log. The ARRL explains that the intent is to add an element of strategy: you cannot simply take many short breaks, so you must decide when to sleep based on propagation and your own stamina. For more on planning rest, see our article on rest and time management in 24 and 48-hour contests.

Categories and Power Levels

The rules list Single Operator in all power categories and Single Operator Unlimited in all power categories. Multioperator entries can be Single Transmitter, with low and high power, Two Transmitter with high power, or Multitransmitter with high power. The power sub-categories are the standard ARRL definitions: QRP is 5 watts PEP output or less, low power is 100 watts or less, and high power is 1500 watts or the limit set by your national licensing authority, whichever is less. For more detail on what categories mean in practice, see our guide to contest categories explained.

The rules include a Limited Antennas Overlay. Any Single Operator or Single Operator Unlimited entrant can enter with it if they use only single-element antennas, such as a single vertical, an end-fed wire or a single dipole, no more than 50 feet above ground at its highest point. Multiband verticals and dipoles with fan or trap constructions are acceptable. The overlay is a good option for stations with a simple wire antenna that want a fair comparison.

Operating Tips for RTTY

RTTY contesting has its own habits. The ARRL does not tell you how to tune, but the practices below are widely used by contesters and fit the rules.

Set Up the Software Before the Contest

Choose your decoding program and test it with the radio, the sound card interface and your logging program. Amateur RTTY normally uses 45.45 baud with a shift of 170 Hz, and most contest software is preconfigured for that. Create macros for CQ, the exchange and the thank-you message, and confirm that the exchange fields are correct for your location. A mistake in a macro is repeated hundreds of times.

Keep the Signal Narrow and Clean

RTTY is a constant-carrier mode, so the transmitter works hard for the entire transmission. Reduce the drive level so that the amplifier and the radio stay within their duty cycle, and avoid overdriving the audio, which creates extra products that disturb neighbouring stations. Our article on keeping your signal clean includes the general principles.

Chase Multipliers Early

Since multipliers count only once, early in the contest every new state is valuable. A common approach is to run a frequency while the rate is good and tune the band for new multipliers when it slows. When the multipliers run out, stay on the band that gives the best rate.

Use Time Zones to Your Advantage

If you are in Europe, expect strong openings toward North America in the late afternoon and evening, and use the earlier hours on 20 and 15 meters for Asia and the Pacific. In North America, the lower bands offer long-path and European openings in the evening and at night. Plan your off time during the slowest period at your location.

Logs and Awards

Logs are due within seven days after the contest ends at 2359 UTC. Electronic Cabrillo logs are the preferred method and must be uploaded through the ARRL web application. Paper logs can be mailed, but the ARRL recommends a delivery method with a tracking number. If you need to convert a log to Cabrillo, the ARRL page points to a conversion tool. The ARRL notes that for all ARRL and IARU HF contests beginning 30 September 2026, only online log submission will be accepted, so plan to upload your file. Our Cabrillo and UBN guide explains the file format and the log checking process.

Certificates are awarded to the top high power, low power and QRP single-operator scorers, and to the top high power and low power multioperator scorers, in each ARRL or RAC section and DXCC entity other than W/VE. If plaques are sponsored, they go to the top low and high power entrants in each category overall, in each ARRL division and in Canada. The RTTY Roundup is also one of the ten ARRL events designated as an Affiliated Club Competition, so you can contribute your score to your club by selecting the club name when you upload the log. The detailed conditions are in the official RTTY Roundup rules document.

The Bottom Line

The ARRL RTTY Roundup is a short, well-defined contest: RTTY only, five HF bands, 599 plus a state, province or serial number, one point per contact and a multiplier for every state, province and DXCC entity. The unusual part is the 24-hour limit for single operators, which turns your sleep schedule into strategy. Prepare your software and macros, learn the off-time rule, chase multipliers early, and upload a Cabrillo log within seven days.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the ARRL RTTY Roundup?

It is held on the first full weekend of January, but never on January 1. It starts at 1800 UTC on Saturday and ends at 2359 UTC on Sunday.

Which bands and modes are allowed?

Only the 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz bands and only the RTTY mode. Contacts are logged with the RY mode code in the Cabrillo file, and automated operation is not permitted.

What do I send in the exchange?

W/VE stations send a signal report and their state or province. DX stations send a signal report and a serial number that starts at 1.

How is the score calculated?

Each contact is worth one point. The total is multiplied by the number of multipliers, which are DXCC entities other than the US and Canada, US states and DC, and Canadian provinces and territories. Each multiplier counts once, not once per band.

Can a single operator work all 30 hours?

You can keep operating, but only 24 hours count toward your score. Off time must be taken in one or two breaks of at least 30 minutes each, and the log checker uses the two longest breaks.

How do I submit my log?

Upload a Cabrillo log through the ARRL web application within seven days after the contest. The ARRL notes that from 30 September 2026 only online log submission is accepted for ARRL and IARU HF contests.