F/DL1KVN/P
ILE D'AIX
EU-032
Impressions from RSGB IOTA Contest 2025 - F/DL1KVN/P on Ile d'Aix EU-032
IOTA CONTEST 2025
Summer 2025 – IOTA EU-032 Île d’Aix
I was active with my portable setup in the 2025 IOTA Contest as F/DL1KVN/P from Île d’Aix (EU-032).
Operating QRP with 20 watts CW, powered entirely by solar energy.
My antenna setup was an inverted V for 20m and 40m (15m wid tuner).
The QTH was the Fort de la Rade Camping.
tnx fer fb 447 qso in mixed mode - 80% were done in cw
Saturday 26th - Sunday 27th July 2025
1200 - 1200 UTC
This year, after activating Île de Madeleine in last year’s IOTA contest, I decided to activate Île d’Aix (EU-032).
Right in the middle of our family vacation, I took a tourist boat past Fort Boyard over to Île d’Aix, where I had booked a small campsite for one night. After checking in and setting up my tent, I found a good spot a bit away from the island’s lighthouses.
I set up my G90 with 20 watts and a two-band dipole. The contest started right on time, and I operated from 12:00 UTC until midnight, took a short break, and then got back on air around 06:00 in the morning until about 10:00 UTC.
In total, I made 447 QSOs, about 80% in CW. It was a lot of fun and worked great even with 20 watts in SSB. We had some curious visitors at the station, and I enjoyed a beautiful view of Fort Boyard and Île d’Oléron. Overall, it was a successful and very enjoyable event.
certificate iota contest 2025 F/dl1kvn/p Iota eu-032 Ile d'aix
Setup Tests
Île d'Aix is historically significant as Napoleon's last stop on French soil before his exile to Saint Helena (AF-022).
In 1808, Napoleon visited the island to inspect and reinforce its fortifications. He also ordered the construction of a house for the island's commander, now the Napoleon Museum, and Fort Liédot. In July 1815, after the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon spent four days on the island, attempting to escape to America before ultimately surrendering to the British.