Chasing the Horizon: WIA VHF-UHF Distance Records

For many amateur radio operators, making a contact is only part of the challenge. For those active on the VHF, UHF and microwave bands, pushing the limits of distance has become a tradition spanning decades. The Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA) maintains an extensive database of Australian VHF-UHF distance records, recognising outstanding achievements across bands from 50 MHz through to the microwave spectrum. These records showcase the technical skill, operating expertise and experimentation that have always been hallmarks of amateur radio. Recent years have seen remarkable achievements, including a 50 MHz digital short-path contact of 18,602 km between Australia and the Azores, a 144 MHz national digital record of 5,636 km between VK8 and Japan, and new records being established on microwave bands as high as 241 GHz.

The WIA distance records program recognises both national and state records and provides a permanent historical record of achievements, even after a record has been surpassed. Successful claimants receive an official WIA certificate and have their achievement published in the WIA records database. The records continue to demonstrate that Australian amateurs are among the world's most innovative experimenters, regularly extending the boundaries of what is possible on VHF, UHF and microwave frequencies.

Making a Distance Record Claim

Making a record claim involves more than simply working a long-distance contact. The WIA requires a complete exchange and acknowledgement of callsigns and signal reports, together with information that could not have been predicted by either station. This information must be exchanged entirely over the air and cannot be supplemented by telephone, internet chat, messaging applications or lower amateur bands. The WIA verifies all claimed distances using latitude and longitude information supplied by the claimants, and the decision of the records manager is considered final.

Operators wishing to claim a new record should review the record claim conditions and complete the official claim form available from the WIA records website. Claims are currently managed by the WIA VHF-UHF Records Manager, Kevin Johnston VK4UH, and may be submitted via email. Whether your interest lies in tropo, meteor scatter, EME, digital weak-signal modes or microwave experimentation, the distance records program provides an excellent opportunity to have your achievements formally recognised.

Further Information

WIA VHF-UHF Distance Records Information Link

WIA VHF-UHF Record Claim Forms Link

Record claims email: distancerecords@wia.org.au

Page Last Updated: Friday, 19 Jun 2026 at 07:36 hours by Justin Giles-clark

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