>>> 🐧NEW ONE WBA 2026 🐧 <<< 161DA/D014 – GROBLA FOLWARCZNA IWI by 161DA135 Sylwester / 5 PTS (H)/4 PTS (A) / DATE: 07/06/2026 start @ 11.00 UTC / Freq. stay tuned on WhatsApp WBA DA-RC News / PROVINCE 0264 ( Breslavia )/ Municipality 0264011 ( Gmina miasto Wrocław )
ANT: SKYPPER 3 EL. / PW 100W / PTS(A):2POTA+1N.One
📡 WBA 161DA/D014 – Grobla Folwarczna Activation Report 🇵🇱🌊
The highly anticipated radio activation for the World Beauties Award (WBA) with reference 161DA/D014, located on the scenic river “island” of Grobla Folwarczna (IWI) within the Wrocław Water Junction, has come to a successful close!
Despite several logistical challenges on the field and an unexpected delay in the schedule, operator 161DA135 Sylvester successfully completed a great portable session, logging a fantastic total of 102 QSOs!
🌲 Operating Context: Between Wild Nature and Restrictions
Operating from this narrow strip of land was no easy task. As Sylvester shared in his report, the entire Grobla Folwarczna area is state-owned land with strict access restrictions, particularly regarding entry with vehicles. Sylvester managed to find a tiny, precarious spot surrounded by greenery to temporarily park and set up his portable station.
The site proved to be as challenging as it was beautiful: the dirt path runs right along a busy two-lane road close to two bridges, an area heavily patrolled by police checking for speeding vehicles. Despite the pressure of the location and the need to operate discreetly, the portable station went live, surrounded by the Oder River and its artificial canals.
🕒 Activation Diary and Propagation Conditions
Due to sudden family matters, Sylvester had to delay the start of the activation. This delay unfortunately cut into the initial morning window, meaning a few potential contacts were likely missed.
- The Start and the European “Wall”: The kickoff in USB mode saw a weak response from Poland at first. However, shortly after, propagation exploded towards the rest of Europe, bringing very strong, clear signals that rolled in without any issues, giving Sylvester his first wave of great satisfaction.
- Propagation Drop and Working the Edge: As the hours passed, propagation took a heavy hit. Contacts became sporadic, and signals dropped down to a very weak level, right on the edge of readability. Despite this, Sylvester managed to pull through and log very difficult stations from division 91 (Indonesia) and division 153 (Thailand). Interestingly, because these signals were so weak and barely readable, the operator noticed they were actually coming through the back-lobe of his antenna!
- Silence from the East and South American Openings: Unfortunately, the Short Path towards the East remained completely closed throughout the day, despite several attempts. On the bright side, there were some exciting openings towards South America, bringing in solid sporadic signals from Brazil and other well-known overseas stations.
- The Wavy Finale: In the late afternoon, around 5:00 PM local time, signals slowly started to rebuild, with propagation fluctuating in a cyclic, wavy fashion (fading) until the end of the activation.
📊 Final Log Results (161 POLAND)
In the beginning, given the tough conditions and the drop in propagation, Sylvester was worried he wouldn’t even reach the 60-contact mark. Instead, by extending the activation well beyond the planned 4 hours to make up for the late start, the final outcome was outstanding:
- Total QSOs: 102 stations logged 📝
- DXCC Entities: 19 different countries 🌍
- Continents Connected: 5 continents 🗺️
A special thank you goes directly to Alex (for the constant help and spots on the DX clusters) and to Gaetano. Catching both of them directly from the field was a true highlight and a great honor for Sylvester’s logbook.
The activation of reference 161DA/D014 goes into the books as a memorable portable adventure, perfectly blending the true spirit of field operation with the discovery of Poland’s unique river heritage.
Thanks to all the hunters who chased the reference and made it into the log! 73 & DX from 161DA135 Sylvester! 📻🤝🇵🇱🤙
The complete and real-time logs can be viewed on the official page: 👉 WBA Live Log 161 POLAND
Get your rigs ready, fine-tune your antennas, and prepare to log an extraordinary upcoming radio activation for the WBA – World Beauties Award! We are bringing you a unique and fascinating location straight from the heart of Lower Silesia, Poland! 🇵🇱📻
📅 Activation Details
- Activator: 161DA135 Sylvester 👤🎙️
- Date: June 7, 2026 🗓️
- Start Time: 11:00 UTC ⏰
- Mode: USB (Upper Sideband) 🗣️💨
- WBA Reference: 161DA/D014 – Grobla Folwarczna (River Island) 🌊🏝️
- Live Log 161 POLAND: Follow the action and check your QSOs in real-time here: 👉 WBA Live Log 161 POLAND 💻📊
⚠️ Frequency Notice: The exact operating frequency will be announced live by Sylvester directly in the WBA Award News WhatsApp chat and spotted across the main DX Clusters! Keep your eyes on the cluster! 👀📡
🌿 The Location: Where History Meets Nature
Sylvester will be setting up his portable, green-powered station completely immersed in the wild, lush environment of this unique site, operating directly from the scenic Grobla Folwarczna area!
While modern radio amateur directories like the IWI (Islands Base Award) conventionally map and recognize this long, narrow strip of land as a “river island,” its true identity carries a spectacular historical and engineering tale. Grobla Folwarczna is actually a monumental, historic flood-protection embankment (grobla in Polish) built to tame and manage the mighty Oder (Odra) River within the Wrocław Water Junction.
The name Folwarczna whispers tales of the past, echoing back to the historic old manors, estates, and granges (folwark) that these very earthworks were designed to protect centuries ago.
🌊 Why This Activation is So Special
Operating from 161DA/D014 is not just about chasing a rare grid or ticking off a reference; it is about bridging the gap between radio frequency and historical geography:
- An Engineering Marvel: This narrow “island” is a man-made sliver of land perfectly wedged between the Flood Canal (Kanał Powodziowy) and the Navigable Canal (Kanał Żeglugowy). By activating this reference, Sylvester brings the incredible 19th and 20th-century water engineering history of Wrocław right into your shacks! 🗺️🛠️
- Immersed in the Wild: Today, this site has been reclaimed by mother nature. It is a vibrant, green lung filled with rich biodiversity, birdwatching paths, and whispering trees. Setting up a portable station here represents the absolute core philosophy of the World Beauties Award: celebrating the breathtaking harmony between amateur radio and the hidden, scenic wonders of our planet. 🌲🦅
Sylvester will be battling the local noise floor, throwing wires into the trees, and bringing you this beautiful, wild Polish riverbank directly to your speakers.
Do not miss this chance to log 161DA/D014! Your participation supports the WBA program and honors a truly unique piece of European river heritage.
See you on the air! 73 & DX! 📻🇮🇹🤝🇵🇱🤙
Follow the live updates tomorrow on the DX Cluster and join us on the WBA Live Log! 📶✨
Are you in the Log? Click below.
| LOG |
| 161EX16 Mariusz 1AT127 Luciano 165AT131 Riccardo 29AT38 Tim 165DA101 Alessandro 1AT227 Livio 1EK156 Mauro 68AT121 Robert 165AT448 Franco 30RC13 Fran 14AT219 Alain 108FB213 Brian 14DX19 Chris 14DA49 Fred 1AT562 Antonio 1DA1 Gaetano 14DA20 Pascal 30DA10 Sergio 1SR13 Andrea 1DA6 Sergio 13OT1 Mario 1RC118 Vittorio 14DA181 Marc 14EK105 Jérôme 13AT715 Pete 14EK11 Jack 3AT303 Renato 14RF83 Roger 91AT109 Agus 14DA11 Cédric 47DX101 John 26RC2 Tom 13DA285 Tommy 68AT108 Richard 14AT224 David 29LR49 Michael 14AT259 Allan 26DX25 Paul 26AT80 Harry 26ND86 Nick 161BN13 Jacek 14DA496 Marino 108DA147 Kenny 3AT59 Valdecyr 14CI177 Olivier 34DA183 Juan Carlos 1TW25 Claudio 108CT338 Kenny 13AT13 Steve 3RC8 Alex 153DA102 Lars 3SKD8 José Mauricio 102EK222 Omar 14RA41 Chris 1ALE13 Alessandro 3DA1 Tulio 14AT264 Pat 1AT771 Marco 14LE928 Bruno 14AT145 Philippe 13OP20 Martin 3A159 Kim 16AT128 Stéphane 47DX11 Finn 14AT247 Hervé 14AT292 Bernard 14AT824 Philippe 161KW2 Arek 165PAT104 Pierpaolo 1TW316 Luca 161BL1 Rafal 1DT153 Carlo 13IR100 Stefan 14AT123 Stéphane 14VD66 Christophe 30EK40 Martin 14RC166 Christophe 14WAC186 Xavier 14AT317 Bernard 1AT678 Vicio 14EK154 Daniel 1AT1982 Daniele 1SA186 Pasquale 14AT276 Chris 14AR321 Jerome 14RC210 Morad 1SD125 Antonio 14AT350 Didier 14EK34 Michel 1VL63 Giuseppe 1CO303 Daniele 14RC82 Seb 30RCO37 Paco 163TM777 Paul 14AT23 Jean Marc 14KM2913 Charlie 1RIR300 Raffaello 14CP1004 Nicola 1WM491 Fabio 1PC74 Mattia 178AT213 Jack 1/34AO103 Chilo —————————————- 161EX016 1AT127 165AT131 29AT038 165DA101 1AT227 1EK156 68AT121 165AT448 30RC013 14AT219 108FB213 14DX019 14DA049 1AT562 1DA001 14DA020 30DA010 1SR013 1DA006 13OT001 1RC118 14DA181 14EK105 13AT715 14EK011 3AT303 14RF083 91AT109 14DA011 47DX101 26RC002 13DA285 68AT108 14AT224 29LR049 14AT259 26DX025 26AT080 26ND086 161BN013 14DA496 108DA147 3AT059 14CI177 34DA183 1TW025 108CT338 13AT013 3RC008 153DA102 3SKD008 102EK222 14RA041 1ALE013 3DA001 14AT264 1AT771 14LE928 14AT145 13OP020 3A159 16AT128 47DX011 14AT247 14AT292 14AT824 161KW002 165PAT104 1TW316 161BL001 1DT153 13IR100 14AT123 14VD066 30EK040 14RC166 14WAC186 14AT317 1AT678 14EK154 1AT1982 1SA186 14AT276 14AR321 14RC210 1SD125 14AT350 14EK034 1VL063 1CO303 14RC082 30RCO037 163TM777 14AT023 14KM2913 1RIR300 14CP1004 1WM491 1PC074 178AT213 1/34AO103 |
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