Good Turnout and Good Conditions for the 2026 Trans-Tasman Low-Band Contest

The results are in for the 2026 WIA Trans-Tasman Low-Band Contest, and this year’s event delivered good propagation, low noise and plenty of activity across the 160, 80 and 40 metre bands.

Contest Manager Alan Shannon VK4SN reports that approximately 370 operators were heard on air, with 70 logs submitted containing 6,355 QSOs. That represents a 19 per cent log submission rate and a 12 per cent increase in submitted logs compared with last year. The six-hour contest is designed to encourage low-band activity between Australian and New Zealand amateurs, with contacts made on 160, 80 and 40 metres using SSB, CW and permitted digital modes. It has been an official WIA contest since 2018 and contributes towards the Peter Brown Contest Champion Awards.

A special congratulations goes to Izaac VK4IKZ, winner of the Youth Award. Izaac turned in an impressive performance in the Single Operator Low Power category, scoring 2,184 points and finishing eighth overall out of 39 entrants in that category. The Youth overlay is designed to encourage operators aged 25 and under to get involved in contesting and build their operating skills.

The 2026 category winners were VL4R in Multi-Operator Multi-Transmitter, VK3KK in Multi-Operator Single-Transmitter, VK3TUN in Single Operator QRP, VK2EZF in Single Operator Low Power and VK4SN in Single Operator High Power.

Full results, statistics and the always entertaining soapbox comments are available through VK Log Checker Link, while the complete contest report, including results and certificates for VK and ZL operators, can be downloaded from the Trans-Tasman page on the WIA website. The contest itself is built around three two-hour operating blocks, with points awarded for contacts and multipliers for the different VK and ZL prefixes worked on each band.

Full Trans-Tasman information is available at the WIA contest page:
Link

The Wireless Institute of Australia is Australia's national amateur radio peak body, powered by volunteers who contribute their time, expertise and passion to advance amateur radio for the benefit of the entire community.

Page Last Updated: Sunday, 09 Aug 2026 at 07:57 hours by Justin Giles-clark

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