Good morning from Fish River with this week’s edition of HF Update.
Carina and I wish you and yours a Blessed Christmas.
Mali, TZ. “Active on all bands 40m to 6m so far at high power”, says Jeff, TZ4AM. “Solar system is behaving nicely and power cuts occur less often, so I will be operating at higher power when called for. Mostly CW and some SSB”. Operations are expected to continue until February 2026. However, Mali is currently experiencing a severe, multifaceted crisis. If the situation deteriorates further, Jeff will evacuate.
Central African Republic, TL8. Joao, CR7BNW will be active as TL8BNW from Bangui, Central African Republic for six months. During his stay he will be active on 40, 20, 15, and 10 metres SSB and digital modes. He has already conducted some preliminary tests in preparation for his first activity, which is scheduled for 20 to 25 December. QSL via LoTW, QRZ, and via the Portuguese QSL bureau.
South Shetland Islands, VP8_ssh. Ivo, LZ1AAW is heading to the Bulgarian Antarctic Base St Kliment Ohridski on Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands (AN-010). He plans to be active as LZ0A in his spare time between approximately 27 December and 16 February 2026. He will operate SSB and digital modes on 20 metres and possibly other bands. QSL via the bureau, or direct to LZ1KDP; QSOs will be uploaded to LoTW after the end of the activity.
Mariana Islands, KH0. Ken, JO1VRK expects to be active as KH0/AJ6VJ from Saipan (OC-086), Mariana Islands from 29 December to 3 January. He will be active on 40 to 10 metres using CW and digital modes. QSOs will be uploaded to LOTW, eQSL, and Club Log.
Cambodia, XU. Tom, DL7BO will be active again as XU7GNY from Cambodia between 22 December and 18 January. He will operate CW, SSB and digital modes with a focus on the low bands. QSL via DL4WK, Club Log’s OQRS, LoTW.
Israel, 4X. A Christmas 2025 operation will be conducted from Israel between 25 and 31 December. Four groups of operators capable of providing QSOs on CW, SSB, digital modes and via satellite will be active as 4X25X, 4X25M, 4X25A and 4X25S. More information at https://www.iarc.org/xmas-2025/. QSL via 4X6ZM, bureau or direct.
Bulgaria, LZ. LZ2025ZONE and LZ2026EURO are two special call signs celebrating Bulgaria’s admission into the Eurozone and adoption of the euro as of 1 January 2026. QSLs via LZ2VP. Also look for LZ1EURO to be active between 1 and 6 January (QSL via LZ3SCO)
Poland, SP. The Dobrzycki Amateur Radio Club (SP3PDO) will use twelve special call signs during 2026 to honour as many different Polish saints. The first call sign in the series, SP1894MMK (1 to 31 January), is for St Maximilian Maria Kolbe (SP3RN), born on 8 January 1894 and killed at Auschwitz in 1941. It will be followed by SP1440SL (February), SP1040SSZ (March), SP1865JML (April), SP1920KW (May), SP1373JA (June), SP1183JO (July), SP1905MFK (August), SP1373AB (September), SP1550SK (October), SP1234KK (November) and SP1835JK (December). QSLs via SP3PDO. See https://radioawards.club/ses/155 for the certificates.
Monaco, 3A. Col, MM0NDX and Steve, MM0SAJ will be active again as 3A/MM0NDX and 3A/MM0SAJ from Monte Carlo, Monaco from 30 December to 3 January. Their main focus will be on the low bands using SSB, RTTY and other digital modes. QSL both calls via EB7DX and LoTW.
DL – The special call sign DB100FT will be active throughout 2026 to celebrate the centenary of the Berlin Radio Tower (Funkturm), one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. The 150-metre-high steel lattice tower occupies a prominent place in the history of radio broadcasting in Germany, as it was used to broadcast transmissions starting in 1926. QSL via the bureau, or direct to DO2PZ.
DL – DARC Team SES will be active as DL25WIKI throughout 2026. The special call sign celebrates the 25th anniversary of Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopaedia, founded in January 2001: “the station reflects the spirit of free knowledge and international collaboration within the amateur radio community. Wikipedia and amateur radio share common values: openness, education, technical enthusiasm, and world-wide networking”. QSL cards will be sent automatically via the bureau; QSOs will also be uploaded to LoTW and the DCL (DARC Community Logbook).
Portugal, CT. CS25XMAS is the special call sign for members of the National Association of Portuguese Radio Operators and Radio Amateurs (CS5RP) to celebrate Christmas between 19 and 25 December. QSL via e-mail.
Portugal, CT. To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Rede dos Emissores Portugueses (REP), Portugal’s IARU member society, around fifty operators scattered all around the country will use three special call signs – CS26REP, CR26REP and CR3REP – between 1 and 7 January. Look for activity on various bands and modes, and via QO-100. Certificates and eQSLs will be available on https://hamaward.cloud/awards.
USA, W. N3V is a special call sign for members of the Charles County Amateur Radio Club to commemorate the anniversary of the first wireless voice transmission, achieved by Reginald Fessenden 125 years ago. Look for activity between 19 and 26 December, and especially on the actual anniversary day (23 December). QSL direct to Michelle Sack, PO Box 1182, Waldorf, Maryland 20604-1182, USA.