Recently confirmed 100 countries worked on 20m FT8, however getting them confirmed was a bit harder. On QRZ Logbook just managed to confirm 100 countries worked on 20m, getting a "gold star".
I still need a lot of countries in Africa and some in Asia.
For Amateur Radio China is divided into 30 Provinces. The province is determined by the Callsign region, BG0-BG9, and the suffix. Eg Shanghai (4AA~4HZZ). Log4OM does not have a pull down list for provinces, so I placed a 2 letter code in the QSO comments to indicate what province the callsign was in. Created an Award in Log4OM reading the comments. The 2 letter reference code is taken from an Awards program UltimateAAC.
They are
BG0 XZ Xizang (Tibet)
BG3 SX Shanxi province
BG9 NX Ningxia Hui province
BG9 SN Shaanxi province
Some will be tough, such as Tibet which has a sparse population and harsh climate.
Note 10m shows up as my most popular band. I have worked 2 provinces on 6m!
Map of Chinese provinces, from Wikipedia
Despite its size Australia only has 6 States, 2 Internal Territories, a part of Antarctica VK0 and some external island territories. I created an award in Log4OM to show worked. Lumped all the VK9 islands together.
There are 47 prefectures in Japan. Despite a large amateur population some prefectures are quite rare and not easy to work. I produced an Award in Log4OM to track them. Use the State field of QSOs, which is a number from 1 to 47. Some filled in for me by LOTW, others entered manually from a pull down list.
Prefectures 1 to 38
Prefectures 39 to 47
It's easy to contact Japan on 10m, in fact only need Fukui to complete all JA prefectures on 10m!
Even 6m have worked 31 JA prefectures. Japan is more of a country that chases you rather than you chasing it.
Map of Japanese Prefectures, from Wikipedia
After achieving US Worked All States thought I would look at other countries and check how I am doing getting all States/Provinces/Regions. The first one I will look at is Canadian provinces. In Log4OM created an Award in Award Manager, using the State field in QSOs to find the province code.
So missing Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nunavut provinces. Note some of the rare ones Manitoba, Prince Edward Island and Yukon, only worked on a single band. The easiest Canadian province from my QTH is British Columbia on the West Coast. 10m is the best band for me, having a 10m 5 element Yagi. Dipoles only on other bands.
A map of Canadian Provinces from Wikipedia.
Award for working 100 countries on 20m FT8, from the FT8 Digital Mode Club. Note I worked 100 countries on digital modes not that long ago, this included some countries on JT65 so needed a few more to get 100 on FT8. This means I have DXCC on FT8 on 30m, 20m, 17m and 10m. Not much hope of doing it on the other bands, my antennas are not good enough, just dipoles.
For working 5 different French Territories got this award
Stations worked
FG8OJ Guadeloupe
FK8DD New Caledonia
FM4LV Martinique
TX5EG French Polynesia
FY4BC French Guiana
Award for contacting 2 stations in the Maldives. This is a group of islands just South of India. Worked on 20m and 30m.
An award from the YB6DXC Awards group, 4 contacts into Saudi Arabia. All made on 20m.
After working some new countries on 20m recently managed to get DXCC on 20m Digital Modes. Award from the European Ros Club. Now to get them confirmed lol.
Award for working 150 New Zealand stations. From the European Ros Club.
Following a contact with French Guiana on 20m, had worked 10 South American countries. Does not seem to be an easy path from my QTH. Thanks for QSOs, award manager.
For activating a park during National Bird Week can claim an award. On 26th October activated 2 parks, Black Mountain NR and Gossan Hill NR. Award from Paul VK5PAS, thanks Paul.
Award for working 25 stations from Romania. From the FT8 Digital Mode Club.
Award for working 1500 Asian stations. Not too hard from Australia. Thanks for QSOs.
Award for working 1000 Japanese stations.
Just for interest I counted Japanese contacts per band and worked out percentage.
6m - 7%
10m - 51%
12m - 3%
15m - 1%
17m - 25%
20m - 3%
30m - 8%
40m - 1%
80m - 1%
10m accounts for over half of my contacts with Japan. 17m is pretty easy to work Japan on.
Yesterday there was a massive geomagnetic solar storm, knocking out the lower bands like 40m. However, the higher bands were enhanced, with 6m opening up in a big way. In the morning worked several US stations, including some new states such as Arizona and New Mexico. In the afternoon it opened up to Asia. As well as the usual hordes of Japanese stations managed to work some new ones, a couple of Chinese stations, a couple of South Korean stations and a surprise contact with Kazakhstan. PSK reporter map of stations that received me, although may not have been worked.
Picked up an award for working 2 stations in Korea on 6m.
Having worked a lot of VK1 WWFF parks lately, thought I would check which of the 50 ACT parks I have worked. I created an award in Log4OM, here is a screenshot of part of the result
VKFF-1774 Kinleyside Nature Reserve is a privately owned nature reserve with no public access, so unable to work it.
VKFF-0983 Bimberi Wilderness Area is a remote park in the far Southwest of the ACT. My only contacts were on 2m FM with SOTA stations on Bimberi Peak and Mt Gingera.
So have worked all 49 of the VK1 accessible parks.
Award for working 50 YB9 call area stations on digital mode. The YB9 call area of Indonesia are islands just North of Australia, including West Papua. Fairly easy to work from here.
Award for working 1744 different WWFF areas. This includes several overseas parks as well as VKFF parks. Thanks, award manager Hugo CT7AOV
A couple of new awards added by the European Ros Club for contacting stations in Vanuatu, YJ
For one station
For 2 stations
I have worked 3 stations, YJ0AG, YJ8RN and YJ0CA on FT8.
From the WWFF team some awards for activating and hunting parks in August 2025. For Activating parks over 220 QSOs basic award.
For hunting parks in August, for 22 parks the basic award
For hunting 44 parks a 1-star award
For the 2-star award needed 88 parks. I got to 63 parks in August so some way to go for the next level.
Award for hunting 1,700 different VKFF areas. Thanks, activators for QSOs
For activating a VKFF park on 7th September 2025 I could apply for the National Threatened Species Day Award. The park I activated was the Pinnacle Nature Reserve VKFF-0862. Just down the road from home. Managed 35 contacts and 2 P2Ps. Thought might have been more activity, but with also being Father's Day not many were on air. Award from VK5PAS, Paul. Thanks.
WWFF Award for activating 99 different parks. For each park need at least 44 contacts to qualify.
Award for working 1,675 different VKFF areas. Thanks, activators, for contacts.
Latest award for making 844 P2P (Park to Park) contacts. Thanks other park activators for the contacts, and thanks ON5SWA award manager.
After activating Beni Nature Reseve near Dubbo it was only a short drive to my next park, Wongarbon Nature Reserve VKFF-2025. Sign for the park.
There was a locked gate on the nearby road into the reserve, however a gap for walkers was there. Carried my gear in and set up using the sign for squid pole support
After staying overnight at Dubbo headed for a nearby park, Beni State Conservation Area VKFF-1277. Followed Beni Forest Road, turning off into the park. Sign
Along the track to the left of the sign, Pimilco Firetrail, could see some water crossings, with a couple of large 4WDs slowly crossing them. It didn't look good... Instead, I took the track on the right, Bullen Bullen Firetrail, turning off onto a track on the left, Quary Trail. Parked off this and set up in the scrub. No photos, here is a map of my operating spot from Openstreetmaps
Got on 40m. Worked
VK3GSV, VK3VIN, VK3SO/VK3SFG, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK3CEO, VK3SQ/VK3JT/VK2BD, VK2MOE/VK1MO
Park to park with VK3TDK in VKFF-2431 Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve
VK3CLD/VK5QA/VK2DBF, VK3SG/ VK3WSG, VK1AD/VK1NAM, VK3TBS
A new UTC day, worked
VK4HNS, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK3APJ, VK1CHW, VK3ZSC, VK3SG, VK3CEO, VK7DD, VK2ETI/VK2AIT/VK2AIQ, VK4LKA, VK4WC, VK2LEE, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK2VAR/VK2GOM
VK3TDK after rollover still in VKFF-2431 Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve
VK3MGM.
I had rain start up mid-way through the activation, only a few spots at first but got heavier, so quickly packed up. Anyway 48 contacts so qualified the park for WWFF. Headed for another park nearby, Wongarbon Nature Reserve VKFF-2025.
Arrived in Tenterfield, and as had still had some time before sunset, decided to activate Currys Gap State Conservation Area. Only a few munutes drive out of town, parked at a gate off Mount McKenzie Road.
Quickly set up the station, using a fence to the left of the sign. Sorry no photos as was in a hurry to get on air before dark. Location in park, map from Openstreetmaps
Got on 40m. As close to sunset the band was wide open, generated a huge pileup...
VK4EMP/VK4TI/VK4GKO, VK2VW/VK2HFI/VK2AKA/VK2BUG, VK5WU, VK4BWL, VK4FSC, VK1AO/VK2MET
A park to park with VK5DG/VK3TUN in VKFF-0873 Bullock Hill Conservation Park
VK5ANB, VK3BEL/VK3BEB, VK2IO/VK2GEZ, VK3SG, VK5DW, VK3PF/VK3KAI, VK2ZRD, VK5YX, VK2HEY, VK7DD, VK3TDK, VK4QRZ, VK3TDX, VK3DEM, VK4FODM, VK3ACZ, VK5AYL, VK4HOX, VK2JRO, VK5FANA
Packed up as getting cold and dark, didn't worry about the other bands. With my last activation made 50 QSOs in this park, so qualified.
After lunch in Stanthorpe drove South to Giraween National Park VKFF-0198. Had activated this park before but been defeated by poor conditions, and a lack of mobile coverage. Headed into the picnic area, views of some of the peaks in the park visible.
Set up the squid pole near one of the picnic table shelters. I used a water tap for support.
