Just like there are Winlink Wednesdays for Winlink e-mail check-ins, there is a similar, but unrelated, VarAC Wednesday check-in for VarAC. The purpose is the same:
- To test readiness of the VarAC communication systems including our ZS1DCC station
- To see who is active in an area (if ever required during a real emergency)
- To remain familiar with operating VarAC software (including switching slots on HF) and your radio
- To test EmComm mode by sending a ICS-213 form
- To gamify the participation by encouraging competition and consistency – the first goal is to get to the Half-Century Award
The full instructions on how to compose and send the messages, are documented at https://www.varacwednesday.net/varac-wednesday. This page is a summary of those instructions, adapted for local use.
For Cape Town, we have station ZS1DCC situated at the Goodwood Disaster Risk Management Centre which has:
- VHF VarAC service running 24/7 on 144.700 MHz (this is not the standard calling frequency so that disconnects don’t occur while messaging as handhelds don’t change frequency slots automatically)
- HF VarAC service which is on 7.105 MHz during the day and on 3.595 MHz at night (move to slot off calling frequency to send/receive Vmails)
The HF and VHF sides are linked so local amateurs who do not have HF, can still connect using VHF and send/receive VarAC Vmails with HF users. The service is linked to an Internet e-mail gateway so it can relay sent and received e-mails for VarAC Wednesday or to any other Internet e-mail address. The VarAC system does not have the limitations of the Winlink e-mail system where unused mailboxes get disabled after 6 months, or where replies require a special addition to the subject line to get past spam filters.
The station ZS1DUT is also available in Cape Town with an e-mail gateway on 7.105 MHz HF.
Check-ins can be sent any time from 00:00 until 23:59 on Wednesdays local time. The key thing is you need to send it from your station via RF (VHF or HF) to any VarAC station that has a connected e-mail relay. That remote station will forward the e-mail for the check-in.
Composing the Check-In
Open VarAC and click the SEND VMAIL button on the right side of the application screen. Click the “Send as email” check-box so it shows a tick.
The following is an example standard check-in message:
Key elements are:
- To address must be [email protected]. You can add a comma and your own e-mail address so that you receive a copy too (and know the mail has been relayed OK).
- Reply to address can be your e-mail address. In theory a reply can also come back via e-mail to your VarAC Vmail if you leave Email gateway radio button selected.
- Subject should be VarAC Wednesday Check-In
- Message body is usually:
- call sign, first name, town/city, county if applicable, country or state (HF or VHF)
- ZS1OSS, Danie, Cape Town, South Africa (VHF)
The message body may vary depending on whether it is also a weather check-in or form. If in doubt, just start with the standard message check-in. Weather check-ins would just have this additional line added as a line 2 of the body text:
If at 1317 UTC, it is overcast (with light rain, 16°C, wind from the NW at 5 km/h, the second line would be added like this:
1317Z, overcast, light rain, 5 km/h NW, 16C
NOTE: To make this even easier and quicker, a check-in template can be created to have a standard CANNED MESSAGE that you just select, and it will populate the above info for you. A tip is you can include a weather check-in line by editing the CANNED MESSAGE, and then either delete or edit that just before sending.
There is a good YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu3j_ioLzhQ showing how to set up and use a canned message for VarAC Wednesday Check-ins.
Sending the Check-In
Connect to a station that shows a beacon displaying the Email Gateway icon ⚡︎ (lightening bolt). In the case of Cape Town that would be ZS1DCC or a similar station showing that symbol in the Beacons pane on the app.
If on HF, then send a QSY to the station to switch to a quiet slot (you cannot send / receive VMails on the calling frequency slot). Ignore this step for VHF.
Thereafter, the Vmail should send automatically, and you should see a copy of it in your Internet e-mail if you specified your address after the check-in address.
TIP: In VarAC settings there is an Email tab. Ensure the box is ticked for Auto VMail to Email gateway relay. This ensures the auto send will work otherwise you need to initiate the sending manually from your Vmail outbox or parking box.
You can click the DISCONNECT button after the Vmail is sent.
FAQ
See the page at https://www.varacwednesday.net/varac-wednesday for more details and tips.
Seeing the Results
Weekly results can be viewed at https://www.varacwednesday.net/varac-wednesday/results. Most recently (14 July 2026) there were 5 gateways being used in South Africa, by 11 stations checking in from South Africa. Globally 294 check-ins were sent.
Trending metrics can be viewed at https://www.varacwednesday.net/varac-wednesday/metrics
There is also a map at https://www.varacwednesday.net/varac-wednesday/map showing the participating e-mail gateways, and clicking on one will show which stations checked in via these gateways.