ZD8GB September 2026 activity

Ascension Island, South Atlantic. Report generated 10 September 2026.

The September ZD8GB logbook already shows a busy return to the air from Ascension Island. By 8th September at 7pm there were 6,499 QSOs in the log, with 2,728 unique callsigns and contacts into 88 countries. The tally includes 47 new DXCC entities and 692 new gridsquares., not that I collect those

6,499QSOs
2,728unique callsigns
88countries worked
692new gridsquares

The strongest new-band spread has been on the higher HF bands. Fifteen metres leads the count, closely followed by 17 metres, with plenty of FT8 activity and a little SSB and AM mixed in. Notable new countries include Australia, Japan, China, Korea, Alaska, Singapore, Kuwait, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Belize, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Martin, Puerto Rico and Trinidad & Tobago.

New countries by band

Band	New countries	Examples
15m	76	Australia, Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, UAE, Kuwait, Jordan, Argentina, Chile
17m	74	Australia, Alaska, Singapore, Japan, China, Korea, Kuwait, Argentina, Chile
12m	57	Australia, Japan, China, Korea, Saint Martin, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Uruguay
20m	57	Japan, China, Korea, Kuwait, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Chile
10m	49	Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, Kuwait, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Puerto Rico
30m	45	Japan, China, Korea, Thailand, Argentina, Brazil, Puerto Rico

As usual this is not a formal contest-style expedition, more radio fitted around work and travel. Even so, the log shows how quickly a South Atlantic station can light up the maps when the bands are open.

ATAS 120 field setup

ZD8GB. So there I was stuck behind that hill on Ascension Island with a metal shed behind me, so against my better judgement I mounted my ATAS 120 on the clothes line. Normally I put it on the ground, where it tunes 40m as well. I cannot fly with the long Wimo radials, so compromised with three threaded 1 ft steel bolts that normally act as a stand, then with thin wire tail radials.

Despite this the ATAS 120, as usual, performs tops. Ascension is a good location. This map is made up from just three days part-time operating. It is the only antenna to travel with. I was running my 857D at 25 watts in FT8 SuperFox and 80 watts when doing a little SSB.

World map showing ZD8GB contacts from Ascension Island in September 2026 — Three days of part-time ZD8GB operating plotted on the world map.

Close view of the ATAS 120 antenna mounted by the shelter with Ascension Island hill behind — ATAS 120 mounted on the clothes line, with wire radials improvised for travel.

Wide view of the Ascension Island operating location with the ATAS 120 antenna and hill beyond — The wider operating spot: hill, shelter, metal shed nearby, and the temporary antenna setup.

73, Gerry G3WIP / ZD8GB