Organized by the Marconi Club, as always in the "short contest" format, the QSO Party Day is now in its 8th edition. This year, the event is scheduled for Saturday, January 3, 2026. The purpose of the event is to introduce our club to the younger generations and bring together all those who truly love and believe in telegraphy, promoting the MARCONI CLUB ARI LOANO, founded on May 8, 1988, by the late Libero Meriggi I1YXN and the renowned DX-peditioner Baldur Drobnica DJ6SI.
The event will involve all members of the historic club, which has nearly 1000 members from all over the world, and all enthusiasts of this wonderful and magnificent art of CW.
For this edition too, the BEGALI company, an undisputed world leader in the production of high-quality telegraph keys, has agreed to support our Contest by donating one of their own keys, which will be raffled off among the top five finishers in the Marconi Club Members category.
To further encourage participants, this special prize cannot be awarded to those who have already received it in a previous edition.
The awards ceremony and the drawing for the special prize will take place at the Marconi Club stand at the Ham-Radio Exhibition Center in Montichiari (BS) on Saturday, March 14, 2026.
This year, it will also be possible to upload logs online. Please note that logs must be uploaded exclusively in Cabrillo format. Logs can be uploaded via the Marconi Club ARI Loano page at www.marconiclub.it
- RULES -
Date: 03/01/2026
Time: from 07:00 UTC – 21:00 UTC.
Band: 20m - 40m - 80m
Mode: CW
Exchange: All stations will call “CQ MCD”
- Members of the MARCONI CLUB A.R.I. Loano will send RST followed by their membership number in 3-digit format (599 MC123).
- Non-members (independent stations) will send RST + serial number (599 001). Independent stations can also work each other.
Points: 5 points for each QSO with members of the MARCONI CLUB
1 point for each QSO with non-member (independent) stations
Each station can be worked once per band. The total score is the total QSO points multiplied by the total multipliers.
Independent stations can work anybody.
Multipliers: Members of the MARCONI CLUB A.R.I. LOANO count as multipliers on each band.
Logs: The log must contain date, UTC time, call, band, mode and the Marconista number received; if any of this information is missing, the log will be
classified as CHECKLOG. Logs must be in CABRILLO format only: other formats will NOT be accepted.
Logs must be uploaded at www.marconiclub.it or sent by email to
will be on 09/01/2026
Software: the use of the following logging software is strongly recommended: QARTest, N1MM, SD, UcxLog and DXLOG;
all of them support the MCD Contest and generate a log compliant with the required standard.
Ranking: a points ranking will be drawn up; in case of a tie, the station with more
QSOs in the log will rank higher. An excessive number of unverified QSOs will result in exclusion from the ranking.
All decisions of the Secretary and of the Contest Manager of the MARCONI CLUB, organizer of the event, are final.
Prizes: Member MC Marconi Club Category:
- 1st - 2nd - 3rd Place - personalized chrome plaques
Independent Category:
- 1st Place – personalized metal plaque sponsored by Giu IT9VDQ
- 2nd - 3rd Place - personalized chrome plaques
Special Prize: a Begali CW key kindly offered by BEGALI, raffled among the top five finishers in the MC category.
If a previous winner of the special prize is drawn, a new draw will be held.
Award: All participants will be able to download the participation certificate in PDF format.
Permanent Award: all contacts with member stations of the MARCONI CLUB ARI Loano are valid for the "MARCONISTA AWARD".
The rules and the updated membership list are on the website: www.marconiclub.it
Contact example:
calling station: CQ CQ MCD de IK1QBT
replying station: IK1QBT de IU1XXX
calling station: IU1XXX de IK1QBT 599 MC260
replying station: IK1QBT de IU1XXX 599 001
We hope to hear you soon!
(Contest Committee Marconi Club A.R.I. Loano)