>>> 🐧NEW ONE WBA 2026 🐧 <<< 165DA/CMSB14 – Among the Ancient Forests and Peaks of Marganai (by 165DA101 Alex)/ 4 PTS (H)/5 PTS (A) / DATE: 25/09/2026 start @ 13.00 UTC / Freq. stay tuned on WhatsApp WBA news / PROVINCE 119 ( Sulcis Iglesiente )/ Historical Region HR01 ( Sulcis Iglesiente ) / Municipality E281 ( Iglesias ) 

ANT: 3 EL. SKYPPER / PW 270W / Pts(A):2 Pota+ 2Field+ 1N.One=5

📜 OFFICIAL PORTABLE ACTIVATION REPORT: 165DA/CMSB14 🌲⛰️

🐧 THE FULL CREW CONQUERS THE 755 METERS OF MARGANAI: PICNICS, TECHNICAL HICCUP, AND 82 QSOS!

The radio-trekking journey along the Santa Barbara Mining Trail (CMSB) experienced a memorable leg today, September 25, 2026, with the fourteenth activation (165DA/CMSB14), operated in field mode from the heart of the stunning Marganai state forest.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Full Crew, Panda Climb, and High-Altitude Picnic

Today’s team was complete: alongside operator Alex (165DA101) and his wife, there was the official mascot Giacomino together with a brand new, friendly addition, the penguin Michelino!

Departure took place around 11:30 local time, aiming to arrive just after midday for a nice pre-activation picnic. Upon reaching the parking lot of the Marganai picnic area, the operator’s sharp eye spotted a small side path/road climbing up a small hill. After a quick preliminary scouting walk on top, there it was: a great spot to set up the field station right next to a small building (likely a weather station), sitting right at the top of the hill at about 755 meters of altitude.

Without missing a beat, the trusty white Fiat Panda 169 4×4 devoured the climb with zero issues, parking just a short distance from the chosen site. Before firing up the rigs, it was time to relax and enjoy a delightful picnic surrounded by the wild, lush nature of the holm oak woods.

⚡ Technical Hiccup and Challenging Propagation

Field setup operations kicked off around 14:20 local time, a strategic and optimal window to make the most of the afternoon and evening propagation trends typical of this period in the 165 region.

However, the classic “live show” surprises in portable operation didn’t hold back:

• The Antenna Issue: Right after getting started, the activation had to be temporarily paused due to an anomalous SWR issue. Immediate diagnosis: a loose solder joint on the center conductor of the antenna’s SO239 connector. A quick field repair fixed the problem and brought the setup safely back online.
• The Directional Carousel: Propagation proved highly uncertain, erratic, and unstable. To avoid missing any signals, continuous monitoring and adjustment of the antenna beam heading were required, as hunters were coming from widely scattered directions across Europe and beyond.

📊 An Outstanding Haul: 82 QSOs in the Log!

Despite the radio wave caprices and the initial technical setback, the team’s persistence and flexibility paid off in a big way. Thanks to the strategic hilltop location at 755 meters and meticulous beam adjustments, the session wrapped up with an exceptional result: a massive 82 QSOs logged!

Framing this brilliant radio performance was a breathtaking landscape of green ridges, deep valleys, and clear skies surrounding the operating post (as perfectly captured in the photos taken throughout the day).

🏁 CONCLUSION

Stage 14 goes into the logbooks with a smile, the satisfaction of a great score, and the realization that with the Panda 4×4, penguins Giacomino and Michelino, and the support of the XYL, no high SWR or rough trail can slow you down!

The log is closed, antennas are packed down, and eyes are already set on the next milestone of this magnificent CMSB marathon.

Best 73’s, 51 and great DX de Alex 165DA101, XYL, Giacomino, Michelino & the Panda 4×4 Crew! 📻🙏 👋 QRZ… Stage 14 successfully in the log!

📻 165DA/CMSB14 – Among the Ancient Forests and Peaks of Marganai: Field Operation at the Linasia Gardens! 🌲⛰️🌿

The radio-trekking adventure along the Santa Barbara Mining Trail (CMSB) marches on with unyielding enthusiasm! For the fourteenth stage, scheduled for Friday, September 25, 2026, operator Alex 165DA101, accompanied by his faithful mascot Giacomino and aboard the inseparable white Fiat Panda 169 4×4, will move into one of the most breathtaking green sanctuaries in southwestern Sardinia.

🗺️ The Route: From San Benedetto to Domusnovas / Musei Through the Marganai Forest

Inspired by the official fourteenth stage connecting San Benedetto to Domusnovas and Musei via the majestic Marganai forest, this leg plunges deep into an ancient, lush landscape. The trail winds through dense holm oak woods, massive limestone cliffs, and historical evidence of old forestry and mining infrastructures. For this portable field activation, the station will position itself in an exceptional elevated spot near the renowned Linais Gardens (Giardini di Linasia), precisely at coordinates 39.35234, 8.58176. Thanks to the legendary off-road reliability of the Panda 169 4×4, the operating post will be safely reached amidst this pristine natural sanctuary.

📡 Activation Details

• WBA / CMSB Reference: 165DA/CMSB14
• Date: September 25, 2026
• Start Time: 13:00 UTC
• Mode: USB (11 Meters)
• QTH Locator / Coordinates: 39.35234, 8.58176 (Linasia Gardens / Marganai Area – San Benedetto to Domusnovas/Musei Route)
• Operational Support: White Fiat Panda 169 4×4 & Skipper Antenna
• Dedicated Live Log: Follow the live log here

Prepare your beams, tune your rigs, and get ready to point your antennas toward Sardinia to log another spectacular DX reference from the heart of the Marganai forests!

Best 73’s, 51 and great DX de Alex 165DA101 & Giacomino! 📻🌐✌️

Are you in the Log? Click below.

LOG

1AQ13 Andrea 56TR277 Timo 56SD106 Ville 56SD173 Kristian 165PAT104 Pierpaolo 3AT303 Renato 14AT824 Philippe 56DX113 Panu 1AT114 Mauro 34RC24 Cristo 13AT715 Pete 14DA20 Pascal 108AT46 Jim 13DA285 Tommy 14GT44 Pierrot 30DA10 Sergio 1AT127 Luciano 34DA101 Berto 165AT448 Franco 1RC118 Vittorio 14AT75 Georgette 14RA41 Chris 34AT192 Nando 14DA1 Stéphane 56LR555 Hannu 3KPI1 Fernando 47PL122 Arne 14AT292 Bernard 14EK154 Daniel 1AT227 Livio 91AT149 Ari 91AT109 Agus 14LE928 Bruno 14AT23 Jean Marc 1DA1 Gaetano 14AT145 Philippe 161DA135 Sylvester 1PAT198 Maurizio 34DA183 Juan Carlos 13SD114 Matt 14AT350 Didier 153DA102 Lars 26DX25 Paul 68AT108 Richard 3DA148 Tony 12EK60 Omar 3SD25 Rogerio 1AT771 Marco 3AT101 Fernando 1DA6 Sergio 16AT128 Stéphane 1SD14 Fabio 14EK102 Jean 44NB124 Steven 34AT116 Belen 3AT340 Angelo 1AT40 Franco 19AT515 Ron 1AT535 Alessandro 1AT14 Vincenzo 4RC978 Salvador 1TW25 Claudio 14AT247 Hervé 14LE1191 Manuel 14AT371 Michel 26AT80 Harry 91RDX603 Dodo 153AT102 Fred 14AT197 Philippe 1AT1692 Willi 26DA40 Robert 14RF83 Roger 1EK115 Emanuele 14AT16 Bruno 14AT224 David 1AT400 Vittorio 34AT106 Tino 34CG7 Domingo 91AT777 Hakiem 3AT140 Marcos 34VAG379 Victor 14AT661 Gérard —————————– 1AQ013 56TR277 56SD106 56SD173 165PAT104 3AT303 14AT824 56DX113 1AT114 34RC024 13AT715 14DA020 108AT046 13DA285 14GT044 30DA010 1AT127 34DA101 165AT448 1RC118 14AT075 14RA041 34AT192 14DA001 56LR555 3KPI001 47PL122 14AT292 14EK154 1AT227 91AT149 91AT109 14LE928 14AT023 1DA001 14AT145 161DA135 1PAT198 34DA183 13SD114 14AT350 153DA102 26DX025 68AT108 3DA148 12EK060 3SD025 1AT771 3AT101 1DA006 16AT128 1SD014 14EK102 44NB124 34AT116 3AT340 1AT040 19AT515 1AT535 1AT014 4RC978 1TW025 14AT247 14LE1191 14AT371 26AT080 91RDX603 153AT102 14AT197 1AT1692 26DA040 14RF083 1EK115 14AT016 14AT224 1AT400 34AT106 34CG007 91AT777 3AT140 34VAG379 14AT661