Last night (Saturday 18th July 2020) I took part in the 2020 Trans Tasman Low Band Contest.  The aim of the contest is to encourage Low Band activity Trans-Tasman that is between VK and ZL.  Only contest bands 160, 80, and 40M are allowed with
SSB, CW and Digital (RTTY OR PSK).

More information can be found on the WIA website at……

https://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/transtasman/?fbclid=IwAR3G7_y8ink3qm2EgquA7Tc1TOX4Ad11TGDjRi4NwEVyqo1Bwa8d7av31YM

I made a total of 166 contacts with a claimed score of 1,712 points.

The contest kicked off at 0800 UTC (5.30 p.m. South Australian local time).  I started off on the 40m band, with my first contact being with Jess VK6JES.  Unfortunately, the 40m band had closed to a lot of VK by this time of the day.  I made a total of 17 contacts on 40m into VK2, VK4, VK6 and New Zealand.

I then moved to 80m and this is where I remained for the majority of the evening, except for one other quick look on 40m.  The 80m band was in quite good condition, except for the Over the Horizon Radar which took up a good portion of the band and was strength 8.

I was running just 30 watts from my Yaesu FT-857d, with my antenna being a 20/40/80m linked dipole which is inverted vee, just 7 metres at the apex.  I have absolutely no man-made noise at my new QTH at Ashbourne, but my signal was not making it through the noise at the homes of some amateurs.  They were very clear to me, but I just wasn’t making it.

The map below shows my contacts during the contest.  I was very pleased to make a number of contacts into New Zealand on 80m (also 40m).

All up I was quite happy with the 166 contacts.  I cannot wait for my shack to be completed, and some substantial antennas to go up into the air.

The graph below shows my contacts on the 40m & 80m bands.

THANKS to everyone who called and GOOD LUCK to all those who took part.