CMSB 11m On The Trail Challenge
165DA101 Alex Solo Expedition – World Beauties Award 2026
This special initiative, officially included in the international World Beauties Award (WBA) circuit, will feature operator 165DA101 Alex as the sole protagonist. He will personally handle all logistics, gear transport, and radio transmissions across all 30 stages of the trail.
The name perfectly captures the essence of the event: contrasting the underground world (the deep mining tunnels and ancient geology of the Sulcis region) with its rebirth over the air (above the radio waves) through the antennas of a solo operator.
📑 Challenge Rules & Dynamics (2026 Edition)
The Solo Venture: 30 Stages in “Portable Field” Mode
By the end of 2026, activator 165DA101 Alex will single-handedly complete 30 distinct radio activations, moving stage by stage along the trail.
- Exclusive Single-Operator Mode: All operations will be strictly Portable Field / Campale by Alex. This implies battery power, wire or vertical antennas deployed on the spot, and all equipment carried entirely on his back.
- Radiantist Strategy: Along each stage, Alex will scout and select the most favorable operating locations based on topography and take-off angle, maximizing the chances to catch propagation and hand out DX contacts to both domestic and international hunters.
The Bonus Points System (Surplus Valuation)
To reward the consistency of the hunters following Alex’s progression along the trail, a system of progressive Bonus Multipliers will be applied on top of the standard WBA scoring:
- 🏅 Over 10 stages logged with 165DA101: +1 Bonus Point
- 🥈 Over 20 stages logged with 165DA101: +2 Bonus Points
- 🥇 Over 25 stages logged with 165DA101: +3 Bonus Points
- 🏆 All 30 stages logged (En-plein): +4 Bonus Points
🔄 Comparative Analysis: Xacobeo Award 2022 vs. 165DA101 Solo Challenge
Operating as a solo activator sets this initiative completely apart from any past events, including the prominent Spanish Diploma Xacobeo held in Galicia in 2022.
| Feature | Xacobeo Award 2022 (Galicia) | Sulcis Underground & Over the Air 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Force | An entire team/group of activators distributed across the territory. | Single-Operator (165DA101 Alex). The entire radio journey rests on the shoulders of one single operator. |
| Operating Band | Predominantly classic Ham Radio bands (HF), with occasional extensions. | Exclusively 11-meter band, highlighting the history and technique of this specific frequency in portable setups. |
| Station Type | Mostly fixed stations (home shacks) or temporary base setups. | 100% Portable Field on the move. Fast, dynamic deployments directly along the trail. |
| Coverage | Broadly celebratory of the trail divided by macro-geographical provinces. | Capillare / Detailed: 30 targeted activations to map the entirety of the 30 official stages via radio. |
| Scoring | Linear point accumulation based on contacts. | Merit-based progressive bonus system (+1 to +4) to incentivize hunters to chase every single stage. |
To ensure complete transparency and allow all hunters to track the progress of the expedition in real time, the entire log management will be fully digitalized and centralized.
All data and radio updates for the 30 stages will be gathered on the single official reference page:
🌐 Official Challenge Page: https://sbota.org/cmsb-11m-on-the-trail-challenge/
What will hunters find on the dedicated page?
- Real-Time LIVE LOGS: There is no need to wait until the end of the challenge or even the end of a single stage to know if your contact is valid. The log updates from 165DA101 Alex’s field activations will be constantly uploaded, allowing for immediate QSO verification.
- 30 Stages Tracking: A clear overview of the trail’s progress, showing which CMSB stages have already been activated and which ones are coming up next.
- Bonus Points Counter: A straightforward system to monitor your own progress and see how close you are to reaching the extra evaluation thresholds (+1, +2, +3, or +4 bonus points for those who achieve the full en-plein).
Save the link to your bookmarks: chasing the contacts and supporting Alex and Giacomino all goes through this official platform!
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