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The Caribbean region is one of the most attractive destinations for radio amateurs from Europe. Races such as CQ WW WPX CW are an ideal opportunity when these rare entities can be logged much easier thanks to the enormous concentration of stations. One of the more anticipated signals will be the expedition of operator WW6W from the island of St. Kitts.
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Why is the V4/WW6W tag interesting in the CQ WW WPX CW contest?
The CQ WPX contest has a specific character. Unlike the classic CQ WW, where multipliers in the form of DXCC countries and zones play the main role, in the WPX contest every unique prefix is fought for. That is why stations broadcasting from the Caribbean with non-standard prefixes are extremely popular.
The V4/WW6W brand combines two huge advantages:
- Attractiveness of the prefix: The prefix V4/WW is quite rare in the logs of European stations. Any station that makes a QSO with this operator immediately gains a valuable multiplier to its overall score.
- Connection Point Value: For stations outside of North America, connections to this geographic area have a high point value. For European competitors, capturing a V4/WW6W signal means a significant point gain in the overall rating, which motivates them to direct their yagi or quad antenna systems to this area.
- Pile-up competition: As this is a single-operator contest, the pile-ups will be massive. This will test every ham's ability to fight through the wall of European interference and QRM.
When will V4/WW6W be active in 2026?
WW6W's entire presence on St. Kitts will not be limited to the competition days themselves. The operator plans a wider time window to allow radio amateurs who do not prefer the demanding contest pace to establish connections.
The activity schedule is divided as follows:
| Activity period | Operation type | Main focus |
|---|---|---|
| May 24 – May 29, 2026 | Regular shipping operation (Out of competition) | Initial antenna tests, checking conditions on HF bands, meeting the needs of DXCC hunters. |
| May 30 – May 31, 2026 | CQ WW WPX CW Contest | Full contest deployment, focusing on maximum number of QSOs and distribution of the V4 prefix. |
| June 1, 2026 | Final operation | End of expedition, packing technology in hamshack. |
Successful operation reminder
The currently planned activation follows a successful expedition that took place in the previous period. Operator WW6W operated from the island of St. Kitts from April 28 to May 5, 2025.
About Saint Kitts and Nevis (St. Kitts and Nevis)
Geographically and politically, Saint Kitts and Nevis (Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis) is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea, part of the Lesser Antilles archipelago. To the amateur radio community, this area is known by the prefix V4.
The island of St. Kitts, from which the operator will be transmitting, is of volcanic origin with a prominent central mountain range. This topography can cause shadows to be cast at certain azimuths depending on the exact location of the hamshack. However, it is the seaside portable sites that provide excellent sea water gain, which greatly helps the vertically polarized low-band antennas to achieve the low beam angles essential for successful transatlantic connections.
QSL information V4/WW6W
What are the options for obtaining a QSL card?
- Elektronické logovanie (LoTW): Operátor úspešne získal and overil všetky potrebné certifikáty pre Logbook of the World (LotW). Všetky nadviazané spojenia z minulej úspešnej expedície v roku 2025 už boli kompletne nahrané do systému. Rovnaký rýchly postup nahrávania dát sa predpokladá aj po skončení tohtoročného contestu.
- Classic paper route (Direct): If you require a paper QSL card for the purposes of physical diplomas, you must send your QSL card directly to the operator's home call sign - i.e. direct via WW6W. When making a direct request, do not forget to include sufficient postage (SAE + return postage).
Get your transceivers ready, check your keyers and tune your directionals during the last weekend of May towards the Caribbean. The V4/WW6W tag will be ready to hand out valuable points and multipliers in the band.