Contest history

The historic Oceania DX (“OCDX”) Contest is one of the longest-running contests in the amateur radio calendar, on a par with classics such as the RGSB Commonwealth Contest (formerly BERU) and CQ World Wide DX Contest (CQ WW).

It is an annual competition between radio amateurs to make contacts on the HF (shortwave) bands, specifically DX (long distance) contacts with stations in Oceania.

From the mid-1930s until the end of the millennium, the contest was known variously as the “VK DX Contest” and “VK/ZL Contest”.  It was renamed the “Oceania DX Contest” in 2000 in recognition of increased participation from the entire Oceania region.

Aside from VK, ZL, YB and KH6 hams, contestants from many of the rarer Pacific islands get on the air for the contest, making this an excellent opportunity for DXing. Some intrepid contesters plan trips to the islands to coincide with OCDX because they know DXers will be beaming this way.

In the latter half of the twentieth Century, WIA and NZART took turns to manage the contest each year.  Concerns such as frequent rule changes and limited promotion led in 2000 to the establishment of a combined Oceania DX Contest Committee comprising VK and ZL contesters.  The joint management committee, coupled with more stable rules and increased global promotion of the event, has led to a year-on-year growth in participation from both Oceania and DX entrants.

Steady improvements in the South Pacific region’s infrastructure make it easier than ever before to visit and operate from many of the Pacific islands.

There are daily, direct air links from the rest of the world to major hubs such as Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Indonesia, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, of course.

The growing network of regional flights is opening up tourism to more exotic places such as Tahiti, Rarotonga and the South Cooks, Papua New Guinea, French Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Chatham Island, Solomon Islands, Bora Bora and Kiribati among others, making the Pacific an increasingly popular destination for both DXpeditioners and holidaymakers.  October’s fabulous Spring-time weather and outstanding natural beauty, coupled with the traditional Pacific hospitality, a very warm and friendly welcome (starting at the airport arrivals hall – or the airport hut in some places!), and endless pileups make for memorable trips either way.

Looking forward, the Committee plans to continue automating the checking and analysis of logs, speeding up the process while at the same time reducing the painstaking and tedious manual work.  We have renewed our efforts to promote the contest globally, with a perennial year-round OCDX marketing plan and a press officer.

Help us exploit the legacy of this historic content by spreading the word among the DX and contest communities, through your local clubs, and most of all getting on the air during the first two full weekends of October – the more the merrier.

VKCC Lunch Ipswich Jets – Who you missed

David VK4UC, constructor of many competitive high gain antenna from the G0KSC stable

Bernd VK2IA, Member of the CQWW Committee and WRTC 2018 Official

Kevin VK4UH member of Redcliffe Radio club , one of the VK9NA team, co-manager of the Harry Angel Contest

Roger VK2ZRH VHF UHF Contest manager for the WIA Field Days

John VK4EMM or VK4CT QLD based cw contester, record holder in CQWPX CW

Ken VK4QH owner of one of the top VK Single operator stations. record holder Oceania DX Contest SSB

Alan VK4SN Contest manager of the WIA RD Contest

Col VK4MIL long term enthusiast on 6M bands and up

lots of awesome information shared

FACEBOOK – Groups that may interest you

https://www.facebook.com/groups/vkcc73/

The VKCC own FB page

https://www.facebook.com/groups/ARVKZL/

Amateur Radio Australasia

Both groups are open – that means all posts are visible – this tends to stop the keyboard warriors and the trolls – at the same time promoting our activities.

Regards to all and have an awesome New Year 2019

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/vkcc-amateur-radio-lunch-tickets-53772602301?utm_term=eventurl_text

Please RSVP to help organising

The VK Contest Club VK4 chapter are hosting an annual get together at Ipswich Jets – For all radio amateurs to enjoy an afternoon of camaraderie.

VK Contest Club (VK1CC) is a national organisation for all contest minded hams in Australia with objectives:

• To promote contesting in Australia;
• To provide an Australian platform for contest-related discussions, information exchange, topics etc;
• To encourage and co-ordinate participation in domestic and international contests;
• To raise contest operating standards;
• To represent Australian contesters internationally and domestically;
• To lobby the interest of Australian contesters with the Australian Communications and Media Authority, the Wireless Institute of Australia and other national and local government institutions;
• To archive and manage Australian contest records and sponsor awards for Australian top-scorers

Membership of the VKCC is Free to licenced amateurs.

Ipswich Jets 2018 VK Contest Club Lunch 29^th December

Open to all Amateurs

Oceania Dx Contest Committee Forwarded 08/05/2018

Please add your weight to the move.

Dear Sirs,

Next two weekends the Oceania DX Contests are about to happen

Given the sunspots it will be a tough gig – Keep those ears tunes for the rare dx –

This is a test post for Groups IO integration 

Groups IO

Many yahoo groups have moved over to the Groups IO format. We have setup a groups.io account.

The advantage of Groups IO is listed as: Continue reading →

Greetings RD Contestor.

How do you send in your RD Log?

Your log needs to be in Cabrillo Format