My SOTA VHF/UHF Dx Distance Records

How far can your VHF/UHF signal travel from a mountain top?

SOTA Operations – Yaesu FT-857D 6m to 70cm

Type	Frequency	Date	Radio	Power Output	My Antenna	VK Summit	My Grid	Callsign worked	Callsign Grid	Distance (km)	Distance (miles)
SOTA Activator	50 MHz SSB Dx	9-Jan-16	FT-857D	25 watts	Flower Pot	VK1/AC-039	QF44KP	ZL1SSW	RF73KD	2373	1474
SOTA Activator	50 MHz SSB	13-Dec-15	FT-857D	25 watts	Flower Pot	VK1/AC-026	QF44LK	VK4FNQ	QG39EX	1746	1085
SOTA S2S	52 MHz SSB	31-Dec-14	FT-857D	20 watts	Linked Dipole	VK2/SM-049	QF44RG	VK2IO/P	QF56QO	315	195
SOTA Activator	144 MHz SSB	28-Mar-16	FT-857D	90 watts*	4el 2m Yagi	VK2/ST-053	QF45ME	VK3AXH	QF12WI	560	347
SOTA S2S	144 MHz SSB	3-Mar-13	FT-857D	40 watts	4el 2m Yagi	VK1/AC-008	QF44JI	VK3HRA/P	QF12UQ	495	307
SOTA Activator	432 MHz SSB	10-Apr-16	FT-857D	18 watts	7el 70cm Yagi	VK2/ST-044	QF45HI	VK2DO	QF54CH	190	118
SOTA S2S	432 MHz SSB	10-Apr-16	FT-857D	18 watts	7el 70cm Yagi	VK2/ST-044	QF45HI	VK1RX/2	QF44XM	158	98
SOTA S2S	432 MHz SSB	23-Apr-16	FT-857D	20 watts	7el 70cm Yagi	VK1/AC-023	QF44JQ	VK1ATP/3	QF43AL	154	95

S2S = SOTA Summit to Summit Contact
* Using a 144 MHz 90 watt amplifier

SOTA Operations – Yaesu FT-817ND QRP 6m to 70cm

Type	Frequency	Date	Radio	Power Output	My Antenna	VK Summit	My Grid	Callsign worked	Callsign Grid	Distance (km)	Distance (miles)
SOTA S2S	52 MHz SSB	15-Mar-15	FT-817	5 watts	Linked Dipole	VK1/AC-043	QF44MQ	VK2IO/P	QF56AI	208	129
SOTA Activator	50 MHz DX	12-Jan-17	FT-817	5 watts	Coaxial Vert 1/2 wave	VK2/ST-015	QF44XM	ZL1AKW	RF82CG	2340	1454
SOTA Activator	50 MHz DX	12-Jan-17	FT-817	5 watts	Coaxial Vert 1/2 wave	VK2/ST-015	QF44XM	ZL1AIX	RF72NS	2245	1400
SOTA Activator	144MHz SSB	20-Mar-16	FT-817	5 watts	3el 2m Yagi	VK2/SM-007	QF43EO	VK2COW	QF44OX	173	107
SOTA Activator	144MHz SSB	26-Dec-16	FT-817	5 watts	2m SlimJim	VK3/VC-003	QF22VI	VK3IL/P	QF21PM Phillip Island	105	66
SOTA Activator	432 MHz SSB	20-Mar-16	FT-817	5 watts	7el 70cm Yagi	VK2/SM-007	QF43EO	VK2COW	QF44OX	173	107

First published: 18 March 2016
Last update: 12 January 2017 – 6m QRP, 5 watt contacts with ZL1AKW and ZL1AIX

SOTA 23 cm Distance Records

FM Mode

Type	Frequency	Date	Radio	Power Output	My Antenna	VK Summit	My Grid	Callsign worked	Callsign Grid	Distance (km)	Distance (miles)
SOTA Activator	1294 MHz FM	11-Jun-17	ICOM IC-1200	10 watts	23cm 3el PCB Yagi	VK2/SW-034	QF44FR	VK1KW	QF44MT	53	32
SOTA Activator	1294 MHz FM	11-Jun-17	ICOM IC-1200	10 watts	23cm 3el PCB Yagi	VK2/SW-026	QF44GR	VK2UH	QF45LD	57	34

SSB Mode

Type	Frequency	Date	Radio	Power Output	My Antenna	VK Summit	My Grid	Callsign worked	Callsign Grid	Distance (km)	Distance (miles)
SOTA Activator	1296 MHz SSB	18-Jun-17	FT-817 & SG-Lab 23cm transverter	2.5 watts	23cm 2el PCB Yagi	VK1/AC-037	QF44MP	VK2TWR	QF43PL	131	81
SOTA Activator	1296 MHz SSB	7-Jul-17	FT-817 & SG-Lab 23cm transverter	2.5 watts	23cm 12el Yagi	VK2/SM-052	QF44SB	VK1KW	QF44MT	94	58
SOTA Activator	1296 MHz SSB	8-Jul-17	FT-817 & SG-Lab 23cm transverter	2.5 watts	23cm 12el Yagi	VK2/SM-059	QF43SX	VK2JDS	QF46PV	322	200
SOTA Activator	1296 MHz SSB	28-Jul-17	FT-817 & SG-Lab 23cm transverter	2.5 watts	23cm 12el Yagi	VK2/ST-042	QF45JF	VK2TWR	QF43PL	200	124
SOTA Activator	1296 MHz SSB	21-Jan-18	FT-817 & SG-Lab 23cm transverter	2.5 watts	23cm Bi-Quad	VK1/AC-023	QF44JQ	VK2FLR	QF56OD	268	166

Summit to Summit contacts

Type	Frequency	Date	Radio	Power Output	My Antenna	VK Summit	My Grid	Callsign worked	Callsign Grid	Distance (km)	Distance (miles)
SOTA S2S	1294 MHz FM	10-Jun-17	ICOM IC-1200	10 watts	23cm 3el PCB Yagi	VK2/SW-034	QF44	VK2HRX/P	QF44JL	44	27
SOTA S2S	1296 MHz SSB	18-Jun-17	FT-817 & SG-Lab 23cm transverter	2.5 watts	23cm 2el PCB Yagi	VK1/AC-037	QF44MP	VK1DA/2	QF45ME	60	37
SOTA S2S	1296 MHz SSB	23-Jul-17	FT-817 & SG-Lab 23cm transverter	2.5 watts	23cm 12el Yagi	VK2/SM-093	QF44NG	VK1RX/2	QF43NN	78	48
SOTA S2S	1296 MHz SSB	28-Jul-17	FT-817 & SG-Lab 23cm transverter	2.5 watts	23cm 12el Yagi	VK2/ST-042	QF45JF	VK1RX/2	QF44NG	110	68
SOTA S2S	1296 MHz SSB	28-Jul-17	FT-817 & SG-Lab 23cm transverter	2.5 watts	23cm 12el Yagi	VK2/ST-042	QF45JF	VK1DA/2	QF44QK	100	60
SOTA S2S	1296 MHz SSB	6-Oct-17	FT-817 & SG-Lab 23cm transverter	2.5 watts	23cm 12el Yagi	VK1/AC-002	QF44JK	VK2HRX/P	QF55DQ	193	119

First Published: 11 June 2017
Last Update: 21 January 2018