Congratulations to all the winners
in the 2023 Oceania DX Contest
and thanks to everyone who participated to
help make it another fantastic Oceania DX party!
Thanks to some of the best solar conditions since the peak of solar cycle 23, most of the activity and fun was on the high bands. The numbers of QSOs for the 15M and 10M bands were the highest we’ve ever seen and many new records were set on each of these bands. On the other hand, conditions were only average on 20M and generally poor to very poor on the lower bands. Only a handful of QSOs were made on 160M and almost all of these were between Oceania stations although VK2IG did manage a CW QSO with RJ4P and VK4KW managed a Phone QSO with JQ2SIX.
Logs Received
We received a total of 1825 logs this year, consisting of
- 1076 Phone logs
- 749 CW logs.
This is slightly down on the previous two years but still a great turnout.
It was encouraging to again see many first-time entrants having a go in the contest. Gregory WB8WUA says “I had much fun on my first Oceania Contest event here. I was very successful getting New Zealand. Unfortunately I did hear Australia but could not make any QSO contact.” and Yudi YF7RDM says “My first time participating this year. I had fun throughout the contest when the DX stations picked me out of the crowd.”
Most of the Oceania activity was from the more common countries, i.e. Australia, East Malaysia, Hawaii, Indonesia, New Zealand, and the Philippines. Indonesia had the highest number of entries in both the Phone and CW sections. It was pleasing to see 32 New Zealand entries which also sets a new record for the number of logs from New Zealand. Logs were also received from Fiji, the Marshall Islands, New Caledonia and Samoa but there were less entries than usual from the rarer Oceania DX entities. We’ll be seeking to promote more activity from these entities in 2024 as they are important for attracting interest in the contest.
Outside Oceania, the continent with the most entries in the Phone section was Europe and in the CW section it was Asia. It was great to see a total of 38 logs from South America stations – the highest number ever received from that continent. The country with the highest number of entries was Japan, including a new record of 107 logs in the CW section. It was also great to see a huge turnout form German stations – 82 logs were received which is a new record for the number of entries from Germany.
See the 2023 Oceania DX contest charts for more analysis of the activity in the 2023 event and the trends over time.
LINE SCORES, WINNERS, AND NEW RECORDS
The detailed line scores for each of the entrants in the 2023 contest, including soapbox comments and information about the equipment and antennas used, are presented here:
- Phone line scores (Click here)
- CW line scores (click here)
There were many impressive efforts and scores achieved. Summaries of all the winning entries, and those which also set new records, are presented here:
- 2023 Oceania DX Phone winners and new records (Click here)
- 2023 Oceania DX CW winners and new records (Click Here)
The following entrants deserve special mention for their outstanding achievement in setting new Continent and World (i.e. outside Oceania) records in the 2023 contest:
New CW records
19 new records were set in the CW contest – an amazing outcome! Congratulations go to the following:
JA6GCE | CW Single Op ALL Band QRP | World record |
JA7OWD | CW Single Op 10M High Power | World record |
JJ1RJR | CW Single Op 15M Low Power | World record |
RT0F | CW Multi-Op Single Tx | World record |
OK1XC | CW Single Op 10M QRP | Europe record |
SM6F | CW Single Op 15M Low Power | Europe record |
SP7M | CW Single Op ALL Band QRP | Europe record |
UA4FCO | CW Single Op 15M QRP | Europe record |
UC4L | CW Single Op 10M High Power | Europe record |
K6JS | CW Single Op ALL Band QRP | North America record |
K7SS | CW Single Op 10M High Power | North America record |
N7IR | CW Single Op ALL Band Low Power | North America record |
VK4DX | CW Single Op 15M High Power | Oceania record |
VL6T | CW Single Op 10M QRP | Oceania record |
PU2TES | CW Single Op 10M Low Power | South America record |
PY2QT | CW Single Op 15M High Power | South America record |
PY2UDB | CW Single Op ALL Band Low Power | South America record |
PY2XL | CW Single Op 15M Low Power | South America record |
PY3TD | CW Single Op 20M High Power | South America record |
New Phone records
JA7OWD | Phone Single Op 10M High Power | World record |
JH4UTP | Phone Single Op ALL Band High Power | World record |
RT0F | Phone Multi Op Single Tx | World record |
EB1DJ | Phone Single Op 10M High Power | Europe record |
IZ2FOS | Phone Single Op 15M High Power | Europe record |
SP7M | Phone Single Op ALL Band QRP | Europe record |
K7SS | Phone Single Op 10M High Power | North America record |
FK8GM | Phone Single Op 15M Low Power | Oceania record |
YC0SJA | Phone Single Op 80M QRP | Oceania record |
LU9MDH | Phone Single Op 10M High Power | South America record |
PU1JSV | Phone Single Op 10M Low Power | South America record |
PY2BN | Phone Single Op 10M QRP | South America record |
PY2BRA | Phone Single Op ALL Low Power | South America record |
PY2QT | Phone Single Op 15M Low Power | South America record |
PY2KJ | Phone Single Op 15M High Power | South America record |
Historical Records
The history of all the Oceania DX contest scores and records since 2001 can be searched here:
- Oceania DX Phone searchable scores and records (Click Here)
- Oceania DX CW searchable scores and records (Click Here)
2023 PLAQUES AND TROPHIES
Congratulations to all the winners of the plaques and trophies in the 2023 contest. The winners of the plaques are listed (here).
Australia Club Plaque
The Australia Club plaque is awarded to the local club from Australia with the greatest number of member stations making at least 50 valid QSOs in the Phone or CW sections in the contest. The Geelong Amateur Radio Club has again won this plaque with 13 eligible entries from VK3DL (CW+PH), VK3TU (CW+PH), VK3WK (CW+PH), VK3ZL (CW+PH), VK3DQW (PH), VK3PK (PH), VK3PY (PH), VK3SM (PH) and VK8AA (PH). The Eastern Mountain and District Radio Club (EMDRC) is runner up with 8 entries.
New Zealand Club Competition Plaque
The New Zealand Club Competition plaque is awarded to the local New Zealand NZART Branch, DX club, or contest group with the greatest number of members making at least 50 valid QSOs as a single operator in the Phone or CW sections of the contest. Christchurch Branch 05 is again the winner of this plaque with 7 eligible entries from ZL4FZ (CW), ZL3AWB (PH), ZL3PIE (PH), ZL3TAO (PH), ZL3WF (PH), ZL3YB (PH) and ZL4TJE (PH). No other club had enough eligible entries.
North America Club Plaque
The North America Club plaque is awarded to the club from North America with the greatest number of member stations (within a 400 km radius) making at least 25 valid QSOs in the Phone or CW sections in the contest. The Yankee Clipper Contest Club is again the winner of this plaque with 5 eligible entries from K1ZZ (CW), K1KI (CW), K1JB (CW+PH) and W1KM (PH).
Newcomer Plaques
The Newcomer plaques are awarded to the highest scoring new entrants from Oceania in the Phone and CW sections. The rules define a newcomer as an entrant who has not previously entered the relevant section (in any category) more than twice since the 2001 contest. Eligibility is limited to entrants who have not won any other plaques or trophies in the same section (either in a previous year or the current year).
Congratulations to Santosa Eric Esposito FK8GM for winning the Phone newcomer plaque and Bob Li VK3GF for winning the CW newcomer plaque.
YL Plaques
Three plaques are offered to recognise the achievements of high scoring YL “young lady” entrants – the Florence McKenzie (Mrs Mac) plaque for the YL Single Operator entrant from Oceania with the highest combined Phone and CW score, the Austine Henry plaque for the YL Single Operator entrant from outside Oceania (i.e. rest of the world) with the highest combined Phone and CW score, and a plaque for the highest scoring YL Single Operator Phone entrant from Australia.
Congratulations to Misae Soma JF1UOX for winning the Austine Henry plaque, and to Catherine VK7C for winning both the Florence McKenzie (Mrs Mac) and the Australia YL Phone plaques!
There are 20 Oceania entrants and 20 non-Oceania entrants who claimed they are YLs. However, as usual some of these entrants are actually OMs who mistakenly ticked the YL identification check box when submitting their log.
Youth Plaques
Two youth plaques are offered to encourage participation by younger entrants. The World Youth Phone plaque is awarded to the highest scoring youth entrant (no older than 25 years age) from outside Oceania in any of the Phone Single Operator categories and the Australia Youth Phone plaque to the highest scoring youth entrant (no older than 25 years age) from Australia in any of the Phone Single Operator categories.
This year we received 3 youth entries from Oceania and 4 youth entries from the rest of the world. Congratulations to Piotr Wilkon SQ8L who has again won the World Youth Phone plaque.
No eligible entries were received for the Australia Youth Phone plaque so we clearly need to do more to encourage participation from younger contesters in Australia.
Continental Plaques – Oceania
We are very pleased to award the following operators plaques for their wins in the continental division for Oceania.
VL2A – Winner Oceania Phone Single-Op ALL Band (Ron Wills ZL2TT Memorial Award)
YB8UF – Winner Oceania Phone Single Op 40m
VK4A – Winner Oceania Phone Multi Op Single Tx (Neil Penfold VK6NE Memorial Award)
VK4KW – Winner Oceania Phone Multi-Op 2 Transmitters
9M8J Winner Oceania Phone Multi Operator Multi Transmitter
It was also great to see more stations taking part in the Multi-Multi category in Oceania. While this award was dominated by Australian stations for several years, it is great to see other parts of the region extending their skills and taking out this prestigious plaque, sponsored by DX Systems.
VK2BJ – Oceania CW Single-Op ALL Band
YC2VOC – WInner Oceania CW Single-Op All Band Low Power
VK4DX Winner – Oceania CW Single-Op 15M (Ken Jewell VK3AKK Memorial Award)
YB1IQE – Winner Oceania CW Single Op 40m
Continental Plaques – Asia
It was great to see the team from 9M2M win the Asia Phone Multi-Two category. Well done team!
Congratulations also to JH4UTP for his win in the ASIA Phone Single Op ALL Band category
Congratulations also to the team at BD1KV who are the winner of the Asia CW Multi-Two category, with operators BD1KV and BD1IIJ
Continental Plaques – North America
For our North American participants, we are pleased to announce the following category plaque winners:
KA6BIM – Winner NORTH AMERICA Phone Single-Op ALL Band
N7IR – NORTH AMERICA CW Single-Op ALL Band
Continental Plaques – Europe
For our European participants, we are pleased to announce the following category plaque winners:
HA3NU – Winner EUROPE Phone Single-Op ALL Band
OM8CW – Winner EUROPE CW Single-Op ALL Band (Mirek Rozbicki VK6DXI Memorial Award)
Regional Plaques – Indonesia
As always the regional plaques within Oceania are hotly contested. We are pleased to be able to award the following Indonesian plaques
YB9YSS – Winner INDONESIA Phone Single-Op ALL Band
YD1CMZ – Winner – INDONESIA General Licence Phone Single-Op
YF8RDM – Runner Up INDONESIA Advanced/Extra Licence Phone Single-Op 40M – winner was YB8UF (Rule 12b)
7B9K – INDONESIA Phone Multi-1Tx club station
YB9/RN1B – INDONESIA CW Single-Op ALL Band HIGH Power
YC9FAR – INDONESIA CW Single-Op ALL Band Low Power (Runner Up) – winner was YC2VOC (Rule 12b)
Regional Plaques – Oceania: South East Asia Phone Plaque
One of the unique plaques in this competition is the special award for stations entering from the Philippines, East Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam or East Timor, sponsored by Karsono Suyanto YB0NDT. This year we are pleased to announce that the winner is 4F1EBD
Oceania Plaques – Australia & New Zealand
As always the Australian and New Zealand contingent are very active in this contest. The following are the winners of the various sections open to amateurs in these countries. Congratulations all!
VL2G Runner Up AUSTRALIA CW Single-Op ALL Band (Frank Hine VK2QL Memorial Award) (Category winner was VK2BJ (Rule 12b))
VK5PAS – Winner – AUSTRALIA Phone Single-Op ALL Band LOW Power
VK4M (Runner Up) AUSTRALIA Phone Single-Op ALL Band HIGH power – (Category winner was VL2A (Rule 12b))
VK7C – Winner AUSTRALIA Phone YL Single-Op ALL Band
ZL1Y – Winner NEW ZEALAND Phone Single-Op ALL Band HIGH Power Plaque
VK2CCC – AUSTRALIA CW Single-Op ALL Band QRP
ZL1IF – NEW ZEALAND CW Single-Op ALL Band HIGH Power
Rule 12b
Note that plaques are distributed in accordance with Rule 12b, i.e. if an entrant is eligible to receive multiple plaques in a hierarchy, they only receive the plaque for the highest level that they win. The plaque inscription will include the details of any lower-level plaque categories that they have won. The lower-level plaques are awarded to the runner-up entrants in those categories and the inscription on those plaques will state that they are being awarded to the runner-up.
Sponsorship
The ongoing sponsorship of plaques is important for maintaining and growing interest in the contest. New sponsorship offers are always welcome and anyone who is interested in becoming a sponsor should contact the Contest Committee. The cost of sponsoring a plaque is AUD 55.00 per annum to cover the expenses assOceaniaiated with the manufacture and delivery of each plaque.
2023 CERTIFICATES
Certificates are awarded to the top scoring station in each category for each continent and country. Additionally, each station that took part in the contest and made one or more valid QSOs, is awarded a participation certificate showing the number of valid QSOs made. The certificates are available online for downloading and printing from the Certificates page.
LOG CHECKING REPORTS
A log checking report is produced for each entry in the contest (except SWL entries). This report provides details about the calculation of the final score including identifying any QSOs that are duplicates (no penalty), calls that are copied incorrectly, exchanges that are copied incorrectly, QSOs that are not in the other log, and calls that are unique and not in other logs (no penalty).
Entrants can obtain their reports from the OceaniaDX log checking reports page. Any entrant can enter their call-sign on this page to have a copy of the relevant report sent to the email address used to submit their log. Anyone having difficulty downloading the report (e.g. due to a change in their email address) should contact the contest committee at info@Oceaniadxcontest.com .
2024 CONTEST
The 2024 Oceania DX contest will be held over the first two full weekends of October at the following dates and times:
- Phone Section:
- 06:00 UTC Saturday 5 October to 06:00 UTC Sunday 6 October 2024
- CW Section:
- 06:00 UTC Saturday 12 October to 06:00 UTC Sunday 13 October 2024
The 2024 Oceania DX Contest rules will be published on the Oceania DX Contest web site closer to the contest.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The successful running of the Oceania DX contest is a large team effort involving contributions from around the world. The log uploading, log checking and certificate production processes are now largely automated, but committee members and others still contribute many days of effort each year to manage these processes along with writing up and publishing of the annual results, administering the sponsorship and distribution of plaques, and promoting the contest.
The support of the following individuals and organisations is acknowledged and greatly appreciated:
- Ken K1EA for supplying and supporting our log checking software.
- Mike ZL1AXG for hosting the Oceania DX Contest domain name and email server.
- The Amateur Radio Experimenters Group (AREG) for hosting our web site.
- Bruce WA7BNM for providing and managing the web portal for the uploading of logs, delivering certificates and log checking reports, and the provision of his on-line web form for converting non-Cabrillo logs to Cabrillo format.
- All the plaque sponsors.
Finally, and most importantly, thank you again to everyone who took part in the 78th contest and made it such a success. We look forward to seeing you all again, along with more new entrants, in the 2024 pileups!
73 from
Oceania DX Contest Committee (Lee VK3GK, Phil VK4FH, Brian VK3MI/ZL1AZE, Tony VK3TZ, Diane VK4DI, Grant VK5GR, Karsono YB0NDT, Mike ZL1AXG, Holger ZL3IO)
ABBREVIATIONS used in this report
The following abbreviations are used in the description of the entry categories for the Oceania DX results:
- 160M = 160M band
- 80M = 80M band
- 40M = 40M band
- 20M = 20M band
- 15M = 15M band
- 10M = 10M band
- ALL = all bands
- CK = check log
- Low Power = low power (total output power no more than 100 Watts)
- High Power = high power (total output power no more than 1500 Watts, or the maximum permitted output power for the station licence, whichever is less.)
- QRP = reduced power (total output power no more than 5W)
- M1 = multiple operators and single transmitter
- M2 = multiple operators and two transmitters
- MM = multiple operators and multiple transmitters
- MS = multi-single
- SO = single operator
- SWL = shortwave listener.
Note: the M1 and M2 categories replaced the MS category in 2010, the Low Power and High Power categories were introduced in 2010, and the QRP categories were introduced in 2014.