#CQWW DX SSB 2025 review

Contest: CQWW DX SSB 2025

Category: SO AB LP

TRX: IC-7300 100W

Antennas: 4 el 10m LFA, Inv-V 2x22m, 3-band Halo.
 

Well, I'm still recovering of this weekend. The CQWW contest was a blast. I could not be on the radio the whole weekend due to other obligations. But still I managed to make 900 QSOs in total. I stopped early Sunday evening because I was very tired, otherwise I could certainly make 1K QSOs. However, what is the benefit of an extra few QSOs against some rest before the new work week?

This was also the first time I used my contestcall PA6G. I really liked it. No mix up with EA4BAS anymore, the short callsign is easy to call after every exchange. When calling S&P I noticed that calling Papa Alfa Six Germany instead of Golf in the end helps a lot. In short: it was a very good choice to have a contestcall, it has a lot of benefits. I still have to get used to it in CW though.

Propagation was very good this weekend. On 10m I managed a few small pile-ups with Japan in the morning and USA/Canada in the afternoon, rate about 80 QS/hr. On 80m I was spotted several times, rate was about 120 Qs/hr. I think that is not bad for a modest station with only 100W. As a matter of fact, I think if I would be able to be on for the whole weekend I could get a score like a high powered station. It is all a matter of get the right (free) spot on the band to run and get spotted by others. You need to a little bit lucky as well, but it is also operating practice. Some think it is just a matter of being the strongest but I disagree. You can't beat propagation, even not with large antennas and a lot of power. Although a good station helps of course.

Still can't find a reasonable mapper. This map is made with Global Overlay Mapping by EI8IC. I wanted to make a map at the worldradioleague site I previously noted but it seems those 900 QSOs are just too much and the map is not showing. But below are at least some statistics from that site.

I really miss the adventureradio site for this. It was a really good site but the creator had to stop because of map issues. The site is still online but is not loading the map. 

Anyway, I had great fun. I didn't do as well as last year due to other obligations. But there will always be a next one. It was a nice experience to work with my new contestcall for the first time. I'm certainly very happy with it. Till next year. 73 and good DX.

#60m Angola worked

 

I guess D2A has a lot of static on his side. I got the idea his receive is being disturbed. This one took me 1,5 hours of calling. It was also difficult at times to receive D2A due to nearby signals from Europe. But in the end I made the QSO.

Superstation - A new VarAC game

 

Not yet out! But currently in progress. I'm on the beta team. I think this will be a nice addition to VarAC. VarAC is a great way to communicate but it needs something like this to get more populair. People want to play games, compete and collect things. All people are collectors in some way.

What is Superstation?

Superstation is Global VarAC Game that is played over an extended time frame. Everyone in the world participates on an equal footing.

The purpose of the SUPERSTATION game is to increase the number of VarAC QSOs and to encourage more DX activity. A typical game will run over multiple weeks although a game can be run at any length.

SUPERSTATION is different from any other amateur radio “contest.” There is an element of a card & dice game, promoting QSOs that are more than simple exchanges, and demonstrating the DX capabilities of the mode. All amateurs around the world are invited to participate.

https://www.varacwednesday.net/superstation

I can't go in more detail is the game is not yet there. But I'm excited!

Update 29-Oktober-2025: After I discovered on social media the beta is already been out I asked why I didn't get the software to test as beta tester. Now one of the developers told me that he never saw my application as betatester. But I have an e-mail with all the documentation and a welcome from the same person? It seems they just forgot me. I'm really disappointed. But at least we will soon get the public beta software.