Ken EA5/G4VZV in Spain November 2025 April/May 2026

ACTIVATION

Wednesday November 26th 2025

Here is a report of my afternoon session on November 26th at the Salinas BonMati, 20kms south of Alicante city, Spain. A lovely day no breeze total blue sky and temp at 21c .

I concentrated on the 17/20mts bands and what a day it turned out to be.

17mts....contacts again with Dave VY2FU on Prince Edward Island, Canada. VO1 station in New Foundland, and N7ERM in Tennessee and a W7  station in Florida.  A short time later was called by KE4FVM in Alabama and KC2MK in New York, USA.

I thought the band had gone quiet on me but was then called by VK3OCD Anthony located near Melbourne, Australia.

Signals were a good 5/7 both ways .

Conditions appeared to be improving on recent days and VO1FOG called in to work my station he was again a station located in New Foundland, Canada.

As I finished the contact with Larry I was called by WB8OVQ located in Ohio, USA.

During the time I remained on the 17mts band Dave on PEI ( the first station of the day)  had continued to monitor my calling and stations worked and gave me regular updates on my signal. I have emailed him to thank him again for his continued interest. This was three days in succession having a contact with Dave.

A few UK stations called me one of which was our radio Club member G4IWO Nick who was audible but not the usual strong signal - I think the propagation not too good between us and more in favour of the USA. The path was sure opening up for North America.

Well I decided to change and give it a go on the 20mts band and had just set up on 14.205mhz when a mobile station in the United Arab Emirates called me. He was driving through the capital city with a 1.5 mts whip antenna on the car. Our signals were 5/9 very strong both ways. Mohammed and I had a 15 mins + contact explaining our two stations before HZ1LR called in from Saudi Arabia. Again signals were strong both ways.

Then called by 4X5IC in Netanya City, Israel.  Michael was a strong signal with his beam and 100 watts output.

I remained on the same frequency throughout and decided to put a CQ call out for European stations only to be met with a massive pile up where identifying any call signs was almost impossible. Not very often so many call in at once but i did manage to work into Malta Island, Portugal, Luxembourg, and many UK stations.

A really good day at the salinas before returning back to the house and out for my evening meal.

Thanks Dave G4AKC for the cluster entry. 

The pics are of the location and the station set up along that footpath into the lagoons.

Ken EA5/G4VZV/P

 ACTIVATION

Monday November 24th 2025

Worked ZL1DO near Auckland, NZ. Yes not the best of conditions but the VK9DX made my day. Cracked a massive pileup 1st call for 9K2KO...others were OD5, VY2, YB5, K1, 4L4.....

VK9DX  remained chatting with me for 15 minutes. Nick VK9DX said I was the only station coming out of Europe. He remained chatting with me for 15 minutes, and I tried to set up 2 other stations but neither could confirm the reports. VK9 said I was the only station coming out of Europe. 

 Report of activations 18/11/2025 to 20/11/2025

I had a radio session with the new assembled portable trolley in the Salinas (salt lagoons) close to Santa Pola, Alicante Spain.

It was dark when i set up the station approx 21.00 local time.

20mts band was quiet with little or indeed no noise. The S meter showing S0 perfect for radio !!!

I remained on 14.195mhz ( although monitored the band to check conditions)

Worked a number of USA stations mainly East coast to central USA.

Then with CQ calls I noticed the band was opening to Australia with 4 x VK stations worked the strongest being VK5KI on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Tony reached 59+15db  and I received 59.

The VK stations telling me I was the strongest station coming out of Europe !!!

My station is only at 60 watts but with these HF conditions thats all that was required.

Antenna was full sized 1/4 wave telescopic whip approx 16.5ft long. Battery was 50Ah Lithium.

Report of activation 19/11

I visited the Salinas of Santa Pola 20 Kms south of Alicante.

Positioned myself in the middle of the salinas and began on the 20mts band.

Wasn't too good initial contacts were into UA3 south of Moscow, then a guy in YB8 in Indonesia called in. Signals were down, and the band was strangely quiet with few signals. Band noise was infact very low, most stations I could hear were from Europe.

I shortened the antenna and set up for the 17mts band and it was obvious this was much better with strong signals being heard from the start.

Had several contacts into 4X4 and 4Z4 in Israel, followed by a number of UK stations.

G0OMK Dave from the HF group , G8DIR Ken who I usually talk with back home on VHF frequencies.

Further contacts were into South Carolina USA, followed by

Phil G4DCI from our 'Pennine Ham group' was booming in 59 with his 100 watts .

VY2 called in from Prince Edward Island with a very strong signal followed by a pile up of stations calling me from the UK.

The next station calling in was VP9NT from Bermuda Island  and last of the day was S79VU from the Seychelles islands in the Indian Ocean.

Not a bad list however the bands are still not lending themselves to good propagation at the present time following the CME last week..

Pic shows the set up in the salt lagoons.

Report of activation 20/11

Late this afternoon I took the 2 wheeled radio trolley out to the southern side of the local salinas (salt lagoons)

About 23c blue sky bur cooling wind coming down from the north of Europe.

20mts band heard many strong European stations and then after just a few CQ calls netted ZL2BEJ in New Zealand 58 to my 56 report. Could hear some USA coming in by now.

Other stations worked 3 x Israeli stations and then other European from Germany, Poland, UK, Malta .

The power was 65 watts and 5mts telescopic whip

PHOTOS FROM KEN's ACTIVATIONS and meet up with other radio hams in the Costa Blanca

 ACTIVATIONS APRIL/MAY 2026

Ken EA5/G4VZV pedestrian station ...21st April 2026

Ken reports back on DX working Apr/May 2026 from Spain

First session in the salinas (salt lagoons) yesterday early afternoon CET.

Location was BonMati IM98QE. WX was really good with total blue skies sun and 24-26C

I hadn't checked propagation before going out and soon realised conditions were not favourable.

As i send this report to you I see conditions are getting worse with the Index at A 24 and K 4 is not good for the long distance communications.

It was not easy going but results from yesterday are as follows:

20mts band: contacts to: UK, USA, Turkey, Canary Islands, and Tunisia,

15mts band : into Guadeloupe.

10mts band: into Brazil , and Bahrain.

I heard stations in Indonesia , Australia, and also the Falklands islands but all were to weak either in or just above my noise level.

The pic is of the station on the home made trolley in the salt lagoons

28 April 2026 EA5/G4VZV

Well ladies and gents yesterday I took the home made radio trolley device out to the salinas but due to the strong but warm south easterly wind could not deploy the 5mts high telescopic antenna. Instead I found a secluded spot to put the sun chair out and sit in the sun.

Some 3 hours later as the wind eased off I set up the station and put some calls out. Strangely no answers but everything was working correctly. I moved about the band and few stations were heard and those I could hear were talking about poor propagation and radio conditions.

Ah then I did some checks myself ( the wonders of the internet) and realised there had been a strong solar flare only 12 hours earlier which had affected radio conditions.

I persisted for about 45 minutes and sure did manage to work a few stations all in Europe.

The most interesting were

TF4WD located in Iceland, and OZ1CT the only licensed station on Bornholm Island in the Baltic Sea. Also EA8TL in the Canary Islands - nearer to the West African coast than Europe.

A local guy had also set up his station on the opposite side of the lagoons and set up his new antenna an Atas 120A a motorised vertical whip antenna. We had some fun with a direct comparison of signals and on all stations worked the 5mts whip station of mine out performed the Atas antenna by 1 to 2 signal strength points. My 70 watts against his100 watts sure held its own !!

Well that was it for the day - not the usual long distance stations but none the less an interesting session.

2 May 2026 report

Ken EA5/G4VZV/ m portable station of the Costa Blanca

This morning was up early to do an airport and on the way back I pulled over at the salinas to put a few calls out. on the 20mts band.

I remained there for an hour or so and worked the following

NA5C in Texas USA, VK3EY Rob, VK4EEC Ritchie, VK2EIR Paul, VK4ATM/p Terry , and ZL1LET Chris near Auckland, North Is, New Zealand. The VK stations were all in Australia.

All strong signals I caught the tail end of propagation towards the Pacific before returning to the house for breakfast.

That was quite a good short session by the salinas

Ken EA5/G4VZV /p voice of the Salt lagoons...4 May 2026

This morning was about to leave for the salinas and it started to rain quite heavy.

Uncoupled the radio from the pedestrian station and put it in the car with the batteries and headed for the salinas

Set up with the rain moderating a little. Temp was 20/21C.

It would take some time to list who and where I made contact with so here's a summary.

8 x stations in New Zealand (both North + South Island)

6 x stations in Australia (Queensland, NSW, Tasmania, Victoria)

1 station in Texas USA

1 x station in Bishop, South Africa.

A good number of UK stations including G4DCI from our radio Club, 2E0ZDX /m Phil, G0UJK Colin from near London and GM0GMN James in Scotland - always strong signals and M0EBJ Steve big signal this morning.

A recording of my signal from G5TML in the North East of the UK