WQ6X Meanders thru another Marconi Memorial Contest

After a 5-mile walk/run in the annual Alameda 4th of July parade (the longest small-town parade
in the USA), I welcomed the opportunity to just "lay out" on the bed in the radio room, resting up for the upcoming Marconi Memorial Contest (MMC).  Somehow, I got the idea that the MMC GiG started at 12:00z (5am) and chided myself for sleeping until 5:51.

After the Hawaiian coffee infusion took effect, it was discovered the start-up time was actually 14:00z (7am) offering plenty of the time to setup the N1MM+ function key macros and validate all of the different analog and DSP filters used to "shape" contest audio.

From the 7am start band propagation SUCKED in the USA (but sucked LESS on the E. Coast).  Looking at the enTwente (Dutch) SDR, bands were FLOODED with stations, which makes sense
in an ARI-sponsored (Italian) contest.  Looking at the 3830 score listings and reading SOAPBOX comments confirmed that 10-meters was DOA and 15-meters not much better.

Hoping for a reprieve on 40-meters in the evening found the band wide open, but very little MMC activity could be heard - Bummer Dewd.  After some sleep, I turned the radio back on to 40-meters
at 13:00z looking for some JA action, finding none to be had.  I called CQ with no takers. 
Understand that throughout this contest, WQ6X's CQ calls were producing DOZENS of RBN entries - unfortunately, no humanoid OPs were behind the radios at those locations.  Switching to 20-meters,
as the E. Coast was now in daylight, 3 -QSOs made it to the log.

I often hear OPs say, "we were n the air".  In Cw / RTTY contests, my question becomes: Wassup that I saw no RBN spots?  EU callsigns readily appeared on the [RBN-populated] bandmap, yet less than a handful of USA/VE stations ever made it into those listings.  Calling "CQ MMC" on 80-meters netted 1 California Station ~200 miles NE of Ramona.

Checking the Online Scoreboard found WQ6X to be the #1 QRP station from North America (NA).  Submitting the score to the 3830 Scores website confirmed this standing.

When it was all over, a whopping 26 QSOs actually made it to the log.  W/several stations being repeats from other bands, the entire contest, EU stations were truly enjoying an EU continent Field Day.  The only thing REAL positive I can say about this contest is that being the ONLY QRP submission, WQ6X wins the QRP category by default.

The final question I have on all of this concerns where we will be in Solar Cycle 25 at this time in 2026.  Check this Blog next year and find out.

DiD YOU work the Marconi Memorial Contest?

Is WQ6X in YOUR LoG?