Station ZC4MK will be on the air again from Cyprus in November 2026. G0KOM departs on November 23rd and returns on December 1st, for a total of eight days of operation. It will be his fourth trip to ZC4. His license with the ZC4MK brand was renewed for another 12 months. The trip also includes the CQ WW CW race, which this year takes place on November 28 and 29. The activity itself should start a week before the race.
You will read in the article
Why ZC4 is a separate entity
The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dekeleia (Sovereign Base Areas, SBA) were created under the Treaty of Establishment of August 16, 1960, when Cyprus gained independence. The United Kingdom retained two military territories with a total area of 254 km². Akrotiri has 123 km² and lies in the south of the island near Limassol, Dekeleia has 131 km² and lies in the southeast near Larnaca. It is administered by an administrator who is also the commander of British forces in Cyprus, and the administrative center is located in Episkopi. Approximately 18,000 people live here, payments are made in euros, and the territories have their own legal system, different from the British and Cypriot ones.
For radio amateurs, it is important that SBAs use their own ZC4 prefix and count separately as a DXCC entity. The ARRL article "ZC4: The Other Cyprus" characterizes them as politically separate areas of Cyprus controlled by the British. An interesting statistic from G0KOM's post: in Club Log's Most Wanted list, the ZC4 was ranked 50th for North America and 19th for the West Coast of North America.
The bases have a strategic role in the geopolitics of the Mediterranean, supporting NATO military operations and protecting UK interests in the region. They are used for exercises and training and also offer civilian services to the local population. They are also a diplomatic challenge for the Republic of Cyprus. The territory is managed by the British Ministry of Defence.
| Data | Value |
|---|---|
| Emergence | 16/8/1960 |
| Area | 254 km² (Akrotiri 123 km², Dekeleia 131 km²) |
| Right center | Bishops |
| Residents | approximately 18,195 |
| Payment | euro |
| Prefix | ZC4 |
Station and antennas
G0KOM will broadcast from its usual location on Melanda beach near Avdimou. The radio has not yet been decided. Adrian is looking Elecraft K3 or K3S, and if he can't find it at a reasonable price, he'll take it Icom IC-7300. In the June post, he also mentioned the loan of a 2 kW generator. Meanwhile, the antennas were changing. He announced in June multiband vertical DX Commander and portable hexbeam, in the October update talks about a "couple of DX Commander 10m poles" and a vertical Moxon on the beach for different bands if there is room. For the reader, this means simple: the specific lineup is not binding and the plan can be adjusted according to the location on the beach.
For QRP enthusiasts, it is worth remembering that even a minimalist station can be used in ZC4. KF6RCP was on SBA for about four months in 2011 with a Yaesu FT-817 transceiver, Buddistick antenna, LDG Z-817H tuner and 9 Ah lead-acid battery. It was his third DX entity.
Trip plan in brief
| Item | Status by posts |
|---|---|
| Departure and return | 23/11/2026 and 1/12/2026, Gatwick |
| Place | Melanda Beach near Avdimou |
| Radio | Elecraft K3 or K3S, spare IC-7300; the decision also depends on the budget |
| Antennas | DX Commander (Multiband vertical and two 10 m masts), hexbeam, possibly vertical Moxon |
| Power supply | borrowed generator 2 kW |
| Fashions | CW, SSB, little FT8 |
| Racing | CQ WW CW, 28 to 29 November 2026 |
| Financing | own, donations via PayPal optional |
Bands and modes ZC4MK
According to ZC4MK QRV will be mostly in CW and SSB, with some FT8 as a low priority. G0KOM plans more activity on the WARC bands, especially on 12 m. He is open to skeds and requests them by email. The exact list of bands for this exit is not in the sources. If you want to know him, stay tuned for more updates.
Participation in CQ WW CW
The period November 23 to December 1 covers the weekend of November 28 to 29. Originally, G0KOM was scheduled for October and CQ WW SSB, but he was not given time off for this date. As he himself writes, CW has never run a race before and can "go comfortably" around 25 words per minute. A practical takeaway for callers: don't expect the pace typical of large expeditions. Expect a slower CW pace.
the operator also writes about other plans: March 2027 for CQ WW WPX, summer with an emphasis on 6m and 4m, and October for CQ WW SSB. He hopes for three trips a year.
Logistics and financing
Trips to ZC4 for the last three years were financed by G0KOM himself. PayPal contributions are welcome but not relied upon. After problems with Ryanair, he had to change flights and now takes off from Gatwick, which, in his own words, added "a fair bit of expense".
G0KOM is considering keeping part of the equipment in Cyprus. He describes this as a possibility that would allow for multiple trips per year, but also states that it is not confirmed.
QSL ZC4MK
QSL via G0KOM.
SBA and the UNFICYP mission
Dekeleia is adjacent to the UN buffer zone. The UNFICYP peacekeeping mission oversees the ceasefire between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Slovak soldiers have been active in UNFICYP since 2001, when they took command of sector 4, and since September 2018 they are the only participating country in this sector. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Slovak Republic, this is the largest Slovak contingent in foreign crisis management missions.