I received the letter below from the Chief Aeronautical Communications Supervisor at the Civil Aviation Department in Hong Kong for my reception of Hong Kong VOLMET on 13282 kHz on 31st July 2025.

Received the really nice letter and QSL card below from Radio Educación México.

They also enclosed a station sticker.

Yesterday, I received the QSL card below from CFRX in Canada for my reception of their station on 6070 kHz on 11th August 2025.

I would like to thank Steve VA3SC, the station QSL Manager.

A few days ago, I received the QSL card below via email from Radio Nacional da Amazonia in Brazil, for my reception of their station on 6180 kHz on 19th August 2025.

Last night I spoke with Marko 4O9VIP who was maritime mobile in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Marko was on a container ship and was running just 10 watts and had a great signal.

Yesterday (Tuesday, 1st September 2025) was National Wattle Day. Each VKFF activator would be sent a special certificate for National Wattle Day, so I was keen to get out into the field. However, I had several other commitments, including grandpa duties and assisting in the running of the ANZA DX Net. It was also a terrible day, with continual drizzling rain.

Following the conclusion of the ANZA DX Net, I headed down the road to the Cox Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-0824. Fortunately, the weather had cleared. The park is located about 65 km south of Adelaide.

Above: Map showing the location of the Cox Scrub Conservation Park. Map c/o Google Maps.

I have previously activated the Cox Scrub Conservation Park several times. The last time was in 2024.

Access to the park is either via Bull Creek Road on the eastern side of the park or via Ridge Road on the western side of the park.

Above: An aerial view of the park showing its boundaries. Image c/o Google Earth.

Cox Scrub Conservation Park is about 563 hectares in size, making it one of the larger parks on the Fleurieu Peninsula. The park was established on the 5th day of March 1970, with further additions made in 1977 (30 hectares), 1982 (2 hectares), 1984 (8 hectares) and 2018 (19 hectares). (Birds SA 2016) (National Parks n.d.)

Above: Aerial view of the Cox Scrub CP. Image c/o Google Maps.

The majority of the park was previously owned by the late Mr. V. Cox of Ashbourne. He preserved the park in its natural state for the overwintering of his honey bees. In 1969, the land was purchased from Mr. Cox on the condition that he was still allowed to keep bees in the park. (National Parks n.d.)

The park was originally known as Cox’s Scrub National Park. On the 27th day of April 1972, it was reconstituted as Cox Scrub Conservation Park. (Wikipedia 2021)

Above: SA Govt Gazette, 5 March 1970.

The park’s principal vegetation is low Eucalyptus naxteri open forest over banksia scrub. Other native plants include Hakea, Casuarina, Grevillia, Acacia and Calytrix. (Wikipedia 2021)

The Southern Brown Bandicoot, Australian swamp rat, and Western Grey kangaroos are just a few of the native mammals that call the park home. (Wikipedia 2021)

Birds SA have recorded 152 native bird species in the park, including Superb Fairywren, Red-browed Finch, Galah, New Holland Honeyeater, White-browed Scrubwren, Red Wattlebird, and Diamond Firetail. (Birds SA 2016)

Most of the park was completely burnt out during the devastating Ash Wednesday bushfires in 1983.

I ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation. I logged a total of 81 stations on 20m SSB & 40m SSB in about an hour & 20 minutes.

DXCC worked:

• Australia
• England
• Finland
• Japan
• Lord Howe Island
• New Zealand
• Slovenia

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

1. VK1AO
2. VK2MET
3. VK4FOX
4. KG5CIK
5. VK2IO/P (VKFF-2784)
6. VK2GEZ/P (VKFF-2784)
7. VK2XOR
8. VK6XL
9. VK2QO/M
10. VK7AAE
11. VK2MG
12. ZL1PSH
13. VK5AYL
14. M7CBI
15. JF7RJM
16. VK4SMA
17. OH1MM
18. S58AL

I worked the following stations on 15m SSB:-

1. VK5AYL
2. ZL3MR

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3GJG
2. VK1AO
3. VK2MET
4. VK2HAK
5. ZL3MR
6. VK3PF/M
7. VK3KAI/M
8. VK3SQ
9. VK3JT
10. VK2BD
11. VK3APJ
12. VK5WU
13. VK3CEO
14. VK4FOX
15. VK3TDK/P (VKFF-3631)
16. VK3NYC/P (VKFF-3631)
17. VK5AYL
18. VK2ZR
19. ZL2GBX
20. VK2MCH
21. VK2PKT
22. VK2KFT
23. VK5EDY
24. VK5OG
25. VK2EXA
26. VK5MAZ
27. VK4PDX
28. VK7EV
29. VK3MAP
30. VK4FODM
31. VK3ZPF/P (VKFF-5033)
32. VK3JW/P (VKFF-5033)
33. VK3PJF/P (VKFF-5033)
34. VK4EMP
35. VK4TI
36. VK4GKO
37. VK5NFT
38. VK7PJM
39. VK5AC
40. VK7MAT
41. VK4FNQ
42. VK5DOC
43. VK4BEW
44. VK3UZI
45. ZL1YX
46. VK5WY/6
47. VK4YQS
48. VK2IO
49. VK2GEZ
50. VK3WSG
51. VK3DAU
52. VK5DW
53. VK5NJ
54. VK4FAAF
55. VK2XZ/M
56. VK5DMO
57. VK7AAE
58. VK3JDO
59. VK4SMA
60. VK5OG
61. VK4QRZ

References.

1. Birdssa.au. (2016). Cox Scrub Conservation Park – Birds SA Resources. [online] Available at: https://resources.birdssa.au/location/cox-scrub-conservation-park/ [Accessed 1 Sep. 2025].
2. ‌National Parks and Wildlife Service South Australia. (n.d.). Cox Scrub Conservation Park. [online] Available at: https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/cox-scrub-conservation-park [Accessed 2 Sep. 2025]‌
3. Wikipedia Contributors (2021). Cox Scrub Conservation Park. Wikipedia.‌

About a week ago, I received the QSL card below via email for my reception of Radio Prague International on 5th August 2025.

At about 0640 UTC on Friday, the 29th day of August 2025, I tuned in to the Star Star Broadcasting Station, transmitting on 20025 kHz.

The Star Star Broadcasting Station is a shortwave numbers station broadcasting from Taiwan, and is believed to be operated by Taiwan’s Military Intelligence Bureau of the Ministry of Defence for Taiwanese Intelligence agents operating in China. Star Star is xīng xīng guǎngbò diàntái in Chinese, and is also known as Xing Xing. (Wikipedia 2025)

The station commences transmission with a pipe flute, however, I have not heard that as of this time.  The transmission features an automated female voice in Mandarin.  (Number Stations 2016)

Below is a video of my reception.

References.

1. Number Stations Research – Numbers Stations Research and Information Center. (2016). V13 – New Star Broadcasting Taiwan Number Station. [online] Available at: https://www.numbers-stations.com/various/v13-new-star-broadcasting/ [Accessed 31 Aug. 2025].
2. Wikipedia Contributors (2025). Star Star Broadcasting Station. Wikipedia.‌

At about 1142 UTC on Sun day, the 24th day of August 2025, I tuned in to Guangzhou VOLMET, China, transmitting on 5673 kHz.

VOLMET is derived from the French words ‘vol’, meaning flight and ‘météo’, meaning weather. The purpose of a VOLMET transmission is to provide weather information to aircraft in flight. (skylbrary.aero 20250)

Guangzhou VOLMET is in the SEA2 South East Asia region. (Dxinfocentre.com 2025)

Below is a video of my reception.

References.

1. Dxinfocentre.com. (2025). VOLMET. [online] Available at: https://dxinfocentre.com/volmet-wx.htm [Accessed 31 Aug. 2025].‌
2. skybrary.aero. (n.d.). VOLMET | SKYbrary Aviation Safety. [online] Available at: https://skybrary.aero/articles/volmet [Accessed 31 Aug. 2025]‌

At about 0249 UTC on Sunday, the 24th day of August 2025, I tuned in to Madgascar World Voice (MWV) Madagascar, broadcasting on 13760 kHz in the English language.

Madagascar World Voice (MWV) is located in Mahajanga, Madagascar, and is a sister station of KNLS in Alaska, USA.  It is operated by World Christian Broadcasting.  (Wikipedia 2021)

MWV commenced transmissions in 2016 as KNLS sought a second transmission site in the southern hemisphere.  (Wikipedia 2021)

The broadcast was coming from the 100 kW transmitter in Mahajanga, Madagascar. The target audience was India.

Above:- Map showing the location of Mahajanga. Image c/o Wikipedia.

The overall reception of MWV was poor.

My equipment:-

• Yaesu FTdx101MP
• dipole antenna

Below is a short video showing my reception of MWV.

References.

1. World Radio TV Handbook 2025
2. Shortwaveschedule.com. (2024). ShortwaveSchedule.com. [online] Available at: https://shortwaveschedule.com/‌ [Accessed 24 Aug. 2025].‌
3. Short-wave.info. (2023). Short-Wave Radio Frequency Schedule. [online] Available at: http://www.short-wave.info/index.php [Accessed 24 Aug. 2025].
4. Wikipedia Contributors (2021). Madagascar World Voice. Wikipedia.