Two Amateur Radio microwave enthusiasts in Australia are claiming a new distance record on 10 GHz. On January 5, during a tropo opening across the Great Australian Bight, VK6DZ and VK7MO exchanged reports over a 2732 km path, using JT4f mode as well as SSB. The distance surpasses by 36 km the previous World Record of 2696 km from Southern Portugal to Cape Verde Island.

VK6DZ was portable at Torbay Hill, 24 km west of Albany, Western Australia. He was running 10 W to a 60 cm dish. VK7MO was portable Cape Portland in northeastern Tasmania, running 50 W to a 77 cm dish.

Several other noteworthy 10 GHz contacts were completed the same day. VK6DZ worked VK5KK over a 1920 km path on JT4f mode, and VK5DK over a 2062 km path on SSB. VK5KK was portable at Crafters 10 km southeast of Adelaide, South Australia, running 5 W into a 75 cm dish. VK5DK was portable at Mount Burr, 40 km northwest of Mount Gambier running 5.5 W into a 60 cm dish. All stations were GPS locked. — Thanks to Rex Moncur, VK7MO