Spanish amateurs have been authorized to use a new segment on the 160 metre band on secondary basis, 1810-1830 kHz, beside the primary allocation 1830-1850 kHz.

They are also allowed to use the band 472-479 kHz on secondary basis.

A non-stop castle activity for the Belgium Castle Award is planned on Saturday 18 May 12:00 UTC till Monday 20 May 14:00 UTC. Members of UBA section ODE will activate Castle De Ghellinck (BCA ref. OV-032) on all HF bands SSB & CW and on 2m FM, using the call OT7G/P.

The castle in Elsegem (JO10ST) goes back to the 16th century and became the property of the family De Ghellinck around 1718. Although the castle was surrounded with water, it was not really fortified. As so many castles, it was pillaged during the French revolution. In the 19th century there have been many structural alterations. During both World Wars there was a lot of damage. After the Second World War the castle wasn’t used any more and in 1973 the whole building burned down. The community of Wortegem Petegem obtained the castle and the park. The remaining buildings are being restored, but financial problems slow down the project.

From the 3th until the 5th of May 2013, Fons, ON4AWT will activate SF3HF together with more than 20 members of the city of Sundsvalls hamradioclub SK3BG.

SF3HF will be activated from a nuclear protected armour bunker on Hemsö Island, some 40 meters into the bedrock of Storråberget mountain. The island is part of the IOTA EU-087 group and is located some 380 km north from Stockholm. The fortification was once manned by 320 people, is intact and gives a unique insight into one of Sweden's most important coastal defence installations during the cold war. More information can be found here.