The RSGB Transatlantic Centenary Tests

1st December 2022
 
The RSGB are hosting, The Transatlantic Centenary Tests, on the HF bands to commemorate the centenary of the achievement of Amateur Transatlantic communication, during the Transatlantic Tests that were held between 1921 and 1923.
The Tests will run from 1 December 2022 to 31 December 2022.
 
Why The Transatlantic Centenary Tests?
24 December 1922 was when the very first amateur signal from Europe was heard in North America; this was from the RSGB station (G)5WS which was established at Wandsworth in South London, as part of the Third Transatlantic Tests.
Unlike the tests of the 1920s, which mostly consisted of one-way communication, the 2022 tests will encourage world-wide two-way communication with UK & CD based stations. We want to showcase amateur radio in 2022 to celebrate this milestone in the history of the hobby.
 
Special stations will be activated from the UK by RSGB members and Clubs, using original RSGB call signs from the 1920s but using state-of-the-art modern radio equipment. The Club Log team have kindly agreed to provide the supporting infrastructure for the Tests.
 
In anticipation of this centenary celebration, with the assistance of Ofcom (the UK licensing authority), the RSGB have renewed five call signs which they held in the 1920s:
G5WS, used for the 1922 tests – “the first to get across”
G5AT, used for the 1923 tests
G6XX, used for the 1923 tests
G6ZZ, used for the first amateur tests on a moving railway train in 1924
G3DR, Scottish Highlands Call – GM3DR.
 
These historic call signs are being activated by RSGB members and Clubs, using G5WS, G5AT, G6XX, G6ZZ and G3DR (England), GM5WS (Scotland), GW5WS (Wales), GU5WS (Guernsey), GD5WS (Isle of Man), GJ5WS (Jersey) and GI5WS (Northern Ireland).

XT2AW Burkina Faso

30th November 2022
Harald XT2AW (DF2WO, 9X2AW, D44TWO) will be back in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
from the 4th to the 17th of December 2022.
 
He will be QRV on all bands including QO-100 Satellite by CW, SSB & FT4/FT8.
 
Harald says ”however, the main reason for the trip is to play Santa Claus and to bring happiness to the Children he visits.
 
Qsl via M0OXO
 

CQWW CW 2022

25th November 2022
The CQ WW is the largest Amateur Radio competition in the world. Over 35,000 participants take to the airwaves on the last weekend of October (SSB) and November (CW) with the goal of making as many contacts with as many different DXCC entities and CQ Zones as possible.
 
The best place to find the participants announced for this Contest is on Bill NG3K’s website.
 
Please see the link below and enjoy the Contest;

VK9C – Cocos Keeling

11th November 2022

G0VJG, Nobby, is waiting for a VK9C callsign for an operation between the 17th & 24th February 2023 from the Cocos Keeling islands (IOTA OC-003)

Nobby will be using an FT857 and a Juma PA1000 amplifier on the 40 through 10m Bands on SSB and a little FT8 if required. The antennas will be a Butternut HF6V vertical and dipoles on the beach.

QSL via M0OXO

3YØJ Bouvet 2023 Flexible BandPlan

10th November 2022
We have updated our bandplan https://www.3y0j.no/bandplan
 
This will be our initial setup.
We will work closely together with our pilots and if we see that something is not working, we will do adjustments. Be rest assured that we will do these changes if needed.
(i) We will always keep lowest 10 kHz on regular bands and lowest 5 kHz on WARC bands clear to allow regular DX traffic. So you will never hear us calling CQ in that portion of the band.
(ii) CW split will be limited to 15 kHz spectrum
(iii) Phone split will be limited to 30 kHz spectrum.
Thus operator will chose a frequency within the spectrum and limit the split to max 15 kHz and 30 kHz respectively.
To note that
– 160m will be CW only.
– 80m will be CW/SSB
So no FT8 on 160/80m.
 

Read More

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VP2MEI Montserrat

8th November 2022
The EIDX Group who brought you 9N7EI, 5V7EI & 7Q7EI are delighted to formally announce definite plans for their
2023 DXpedition to Montserrat.
 
Operating roughly between 23rd March to the 2nd Of April 2023 , the VP2MEI team plan to run several stations across all bands from
160m through 10m on SSB, CW and Digital modes.
 
Website and more information to follow…
 

Bureau Mailing October 2022

26th October 2022
QSL cards have been posted to 82 World Bureaus – Monday 24th October 2022
This mailing is a joint mailing between M0OXO Charles & M0URX Tim. (also thanks K3ZO Fred)
I would very much appreciate feedback from you when the QSL cards start arriving at World Bureaus or received by hams around the world? 

This mailing had been delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions. Also due to issues caused by the World Customs Organisation regulations.

The parcels are sent by Priority Business Mail to get to the Bureaus quickly.

Total amount of QSL cards dispatched: 16,607 
Via M0URX 9,476,  Via M0OXO 7,131. 
,Total Weight: 67.240 kgs
Total Shipping Cost: £355.59 – £5.29 per kg. (gross weight)

Average postage cost 2.14p per QSL card. Dispatch listed below in grams to each destination.

See more detailed information by clicking the link below

https://www.m0oxo.com/category/bureau-posting-news/

VK5TIL Troubridge Island, Australia

18th October 2022

Australian operators VK5PAS (Paul), VK5MAZ (Marija), VK5FR (Chris), VK2YK (Adam), VK5LA (Andy) and VK5HS (Ivan) have announced their plans to operate VK5TIL from Troubridge Island, South Australia. (OC-139) on February 7, 8 and 9 2023.

Please visit their website for more information.

https://www.troubridgeisland.com

QSL via M0OXO, LoTW and eQSL.