Stuie VK8NSB gives us a run down on the DX over the month. Thanks Stuie!

It’s great to see Phil VK8MC jump back into the editor’s chair for the clubs Groundwave magazine. Well as most of

your know, I am a DX addict, and my main passion is chasing Islands on the Air (IOTA), but I love working any DX where ever it is around the world.

So to kick of the DX news I will just give you a summary of what has been around the bands that I have heard over the last couple of months. Starting on 80m, where I work 95% digital modes on this band, I did have a very nice surprise on the 29 July when I was in COVID lockdown in the shack working a few EU stations on CW at 0230 in the morning. Most evenings you will here the JA’s and a few NA’s on 80m but now and then something new will pop up on the band.

Moving on to 40m, which to be honest is a band I only have an antenna up for in the case of a rare IOTA coming up on it. Most nights you will catch Stan KE5EE up on 7163 working the DX net and many VK’s join in. Have a look at Stan’s qrz.com page, awesome set up. Note to self, need to be more active on 40m.

I must admit last couple of months I have been very active on 20m and it’s a band that I have never really been very keen on, but lately its produced some great DX. On 27 July I worked a new IOTA NA-070, K7K on Kiska Island, and also have worked a lot of long path to South America in the mornings. Conditions have been very good, even making SSB contacts into LU, PY and even a ZP. NA and EU are always open in the evenings, some better then others, but there is always something happening on 20m. Also 14230 is the place to listen for those SSTV signals. I worked W1QC and three other NA stations one evening, great pictures and great fun.

15m, I honestly think this band never closees. Even when you think its dead there are signals out there. The VE8AT beacon (NCDXF Beacon System) has been heard in the afternoons and many others are heard most days, you just have to sit the radio on 21150 CW and listen. Do a search for NCDXF Beacons, it’s great fun chasing them. Most days NA and Pacific are open during the day and EU and AF of a night.

I love the 10m band and have been very active on it over the last couple of weeks, working a lot of NA in the mornings, and EU during the evenings, and you can still pick up some rare DX when you at least expect it. I worked 7Q7EMH a couple of days ago, and many other AF stations appear most afternoons. During the day is the best time to chase the VK/ZL and some mornings NA opens up very nicely with many contacts being made on SSB, CW and digital modes.

Well that’s a very small run down of some DX that’s been heard / worked round the bands from the Top End for you. It’s all about having fun in the hobby, enjoy yourself what ever you do in amateur radio. See you next month,

73 from Stuie VK8NSB.