Ken EA5/G4VZV in Spain November 2025

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