The amateur radio community will find its way again in the spring of 2026. Call sign Z66SP will represent on the air the Polish DX expedition heading to Kosovo, specifically to Graštica near Pristina. The activity is planned for the period from April 23 to 28, 2026 and already arouses considerable interest among hunters in advance DXCC.
The project is supported by an experienced team of operators associated with the Polish SPDXC group, who have had several successful activations. Z66SP is not just another expedition on the calendar, but a well-thought-out project with an emphasis on operational efficiency, high-quality technical setup and availability for the widest possible spectrum of radio amateurs.
You will read in the article
The location and significance of Kosovo for the DX community
Kosovo is among the relatively less activated entities within the DXCC program, which automatically increases the attractiveness of any larger expedition. Operation under the Z6 prefix has been more frequent in recent years than in the past, but it is still a desired destination, especially for stations from non-European regions.
QTH expedície je situované v oblasti Graštica. Blízkosť hlavného mesta Priština zároveň zabezpečuje logistickú dostupnosť a zázemie pre The team .
Preparations and technical background of the Z66SP expedition
According to the available information, preparations have been going on intensively since March 2026. The team paid a lot of attention in particular to testing the antenna systems, which were completely assembled, tuned and tested before being transported to the destination location.
The key element of the setup will be three main antennas designed for different bands and operational scenarios. They are spiderbeam 20-17-15-12-10m, hexbeam and vertical GP-5SP. If possible, they will also implement GP 160m/80m and GP 40m. Reception should be facilitated by BOG and 4SQ HiZ RX antennas.
In addition to them, equipment for satellite communication via QO-100.
Team Z66SP
The team Z66SP consists of a group of six experienced operators, members of the Polish Radio Amateur Union (PZK), divided according to their expertise and club affiliation:
-
CW špecialisti a contestmani:
-
Robert (SP1D) a Darek (SP2R) – telegraphy experts (CW) with rich experience from international contests (e.g. CQ WW) and the SN0HQ national team.
-
-
DXing and antenna technology (Club "Galeon" SP2YWL):
-
Rafale (SQ2IHP) a Maciej (SP2RBA) – focus on SSB and digital modes. Their domain is hunting DX stations on short waves and building their own antennas.
-
-
Satellite communication and education (Club "Szkuner" SP2ZIE):
-
Areca (SP2AS) a Darek (SP2HQY) – operators for SSB and digital operation, who, in addition to radio amateurs, are also engaged in satellite broadcasting and radio amateur education.
-
The whole team is united by many years of experience in Polish radio clubs (Władysławowo, Gdynia, Barlinek) and the ambition to establish as many successful connections as possible from Kosovo to the whole world.
Operating plan and used modes
The Z66SP will be active across multiple bands from shortwave to higher frequencies. Operators plan to work in three basic modes:
- CW
- SSB
- FT8
This selection reflects current trends in radio amateur operation. CW remains an effective tool for weak signals, SSB ensures classic voice communication, and FT8 enables connections to be made even in difficult propagation conditions.
At the same time, the team declares flexibility depending on the current conditions of dissemination. The antenna system is prepared for various scenarios, which means that operators will be able to quickly respond to the opening of bands towards Europe, America or Asia.
Bandplan and expected frequencies
Although the detailed official band plan of the expedition may change dynamically according to QRM and conditions, it is based on standard DX frequency segments within IARU Region 1.
| Band | CW | SSB | FT8 | RTTY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 160m | 1.826 | 1.856 | 1.836 | – |
| 80 m | 3.526 | 3,760 | 3.578 | – |
| 60 m | 5.353 | 5.363 | 5.537 | – |
| 40 m | 7.026 | 7.170 | 7.056 | – |
| 30 m | 10.106 | – | 10.131 | 10.146 |
| 20 m | 14.026 | 14.260 | 14.091 | 14.088 |
| 17 m | 18.076 | 18.150 | 18.096 | 18.102 |
| 15 m | 21.026 | 21.260 | 21.091 | 21.102 |
| 12m | 24,896 | 24,960 | 24.911 | 24,920 |
| 10 m | 28.026 | 28,460 | 28.091 | 28.102 |
| QO-100 SAT | 10,489,520 | 10,489,900 | 10,489,540 | – |
These ranges are based on customary international recommendations and the practice of large DX expeditions. The operation will continue split, that is, with transmission on one frequency and reception in the range of a few kHz higher. Operators will continuously announce where they are listening, so it is important to strictly follow on-air instructions.
An interesting feature is the inclusion of satellite communication via the QO-100, which is not completely standard for every DX expedition and expands the connection options for operators equipped for this platform.
How to apply for Z66SP QSL tickets
During the activity in Kosovo, we will use them as the main platform CLUBLOG. Nájdete tam The latest logy. Ak to bude možné, plánujú spustiť aj livestream. Po ukončení prevádzky bude aktivované OQRS. Zároveň si môžete byť istí, že logy budú čoskoro nahrané aj do LoTW.
A few rules for QSL
- Please do not send YOUR QSL tickets.
- OQRS (Online Request System) will be used to order both direct QSL and QSL through the bureau. Paper QSL tickets can be ordered exclusively through OQRS. This system will be available only for a limited time and will be made available after returning to Poland. OQRS will be open for 3 months from launch. After this period, it will no longer be possible to order paper QSL tickets. Paper QSLs will be sent as soon as possible.
- Fees will be charged for sending QSL tickets via bureau and direct. The amount of fees will depend on production and distribution costs.
- LoTW – kompletný log bude nahraný po ukončení DX expeditions.
- Chybné alebo chýbajúce volacie Brands, prípadne spojenia, ktoré nie sú v logu, hláste výhradne cez OQRS. Log preveríme a po DX expedícii vás budeme kontaktovať.
- Počas aktivity Z66SP z Kosova plánujú spustiť live stream cez CLUBLOG. Všetko však závisí From kvality internetového pripojenia na našom QTH. Ak bude pripojenie slabé, logy budú aktualizované raz denne.
Importance of Z66SP for European radio amateurs
For Slovak and Czech radio amateurs, the Z66SP represents relatively affordable DX. The expedition will also be interesting for operators focused on satellite communication, which is not a matter of course in every activation.