52 Week Ham Radio Challenge 2026 - Week 1: Make a QSO on a far-away repeater using Echolink!

Challenge for 2025-12-29 - 2026-01-04

Category: 🖥️ - Difficulty: 🟢

Make a QSO on a far-away repeater using Echolink!

Download one of the Echolink apps and get going. You can even request a QSL card for such an uncommon connection. Which country did you talk to?

Toots mentioning this challenge

DateUserUser ScoreStatusToot Summary & Link
December 31, 2025 10:22 UTCphikes@mastodon.social1Working on it...@hamchallenge I came up with the idea for HC01 because suddenly I heard a call from KE2FYY on a repeater in the north of Germany stating a QTH somewhere in NY. I thought that was a pretty unconventional QSO!
December 31, 2025 22:23 UTCDL6PL@social.darc.de0Working on it...@hamchallenge Okayyy, let's go! HC01
January 02, 2026 07:50 UTCVK4JPS@mastodon.hams.social0Working on it...@VE6LK last year got the better of me, #hamchallenge was one thing to fall off the list. I'm keen to give it a bit more of a solid go this year. Working on HC01 already, hopefully make an echolink QSO in the next day or so. Thanks for letting is know about the #HRWB #hamchallenge discord chat. @hamchallenge
January 05, 2026 11:34 UTCbgarfoot@kind.social0Working on it...@hamchallenge wait, we're already into week 2? Week 1 barely even started last week! Normally I'm all for doing each challenge in the week it's presented, but I may bend that slightly due to calendar tomfoolery, doing HC01 and HC02 this week
January 09, 2026 11:02 UTCmischk@bunt.social4Working on it...I tried some repeaters on Echolink in the last days, but didnt have luck to get someone. Today I called CQ via Echolink and had a nice QSO with Harry G0LHX from England. Well we talked about the weather and exchanged late seasons greetings :) anyway... the challengs is not solved yet. hc01 @hamchallenge #hamchallenge
January 09, 2026 20:37 UTCVE6LK@mastodon.hams.social1Success!I completed week 1 of the 52 week ham radio challenge, seen here https://www.hamchallenge.org/ @hamchallenge HC01S
January 10, 2026 10:35 UTCmischk@bunt.social4Working on it...Today, I managed to make a QSO via a repeater in London (GB3LV) using #Echolink. The repeater is connected to a larger network, and I had a QSO with EA7KNK from Spain. Many repeaters seem to be connected via a wide variety of networks, so you can connect via Echolink and then end up via Allstar in Spain on another repeater or an operator's hotspot in Turkey... In any case, the first Hamchallenge of the year has been completed #hc01s #hamchallenge @hamchallenge If anyone else is still working on the challenge, I am now QRV on DB0BLO, which can also be reached via Echolink (call for DK4MJ).
January 10, 2026 10:42 UTCmischk@bunt.social4Success!Today, I managed to make a QSO via a repeater in London (GB3LV) using #Echolink. The repeater is connected to a larger network, and I had a QSO with EA7KNK from Spain. Many repeaters seem to be connected via a wide variety of networks, so you can connect via Echolink and then end up via Allstar in Spain on another repeater or an operator's hotspot in Turkey... In any case, the first Hamchallenge of the year has been completed HC01S #hamchallenge @hamchallenge If anyone else is still working on the challenge, I am now QRV on DB0BLO, which can also be reached via Echolink (call for DK4MJ).
January 11, 2026 10:51 UTCVK4JPS@mastodon.hams.social0Working on it...In an Attempt to work on HC01 I have had a marvellous QSO with a former Student, whom I help get his Foundation Licence. Given Echolink is an Unfamiliar mode to me I think I'm eligible to claim success in HC02S I will persist and aim to have a QSO with a little further away. #hamchallenge @hamchallenge
January 11, 2026 21:51 UTCbgarfoot@kind.social0Working on it...Well, I think I'm just going to call HC01 and HC02 of the @hamchallenge both fails this year. I got on Echolink, connected to a VK repeater on the Pride Radio Network. Unfortunately, no one else ended up being around, so that was a bust. I've also tried out the new "Call CQ" feature in Echolink, but wasn't matched and got tired of waiting. I'll probably get back on Echolink at some point, but not within the confines of the challenge
January 12, 2026 09:53 UTCVK4JPS@mastodon.hams.social0Working on it...@bgarfoot @hamchallenge G'day from VK. I would be happy to set up a Sked ( scheduled QSO) to help make HC01 for both of us. I am in QLD Australia, in UTC +10 time zone. I work from 05:30 to 16:00 local (Monday to Thursday) 73, VK4JPS
January 19, 2026 20:31 UTCdavekuk@mastodon.radio3Success!HC01S Completed Checked in to EchoLink GB3FK-R Repeater in Folkestone, UK. Met a good group of guys having a chat. @hamchallenge

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