Thanks to all of those amateurs who made contact with me this morning while I operated in the Little Desert National Park at Horseshoe Bend picnic and camping ground. I had the place to myself. The sun was shining and it was warm. I had access to a park picnic table but I used my tripod to support the 10m squid pole. The dipole ends were up high in trees and I was happy with the antenna installation. The first two contacts were at 23:50 UTC. VK5MBD/p, Bill at Northfield and VK5ST, QRP, Steve (6th September) with really good signals both ways. I knew then, or at least I hoped, I was going to be in for a great morning! And it was: contacts were with VK3MRG, QRP, Marshall at home in Kew, 00:00; VK5LA, Andy; VK3CAT, Tony; VK3PF/p, QRP, Peter; VK3AFW, Ron; VK3DEE, Mark; VK5NJ, QRP, John; VK5NQP, David; VK3ZLD, Lou; VK5FTCT, John; VK3MCD\p, QRP, Brian in the Grampians on VK3 VW007; VK5PAS/p, Paul on VF046, Mt Napier; VK5LY, Larry; VK5IS, Ian; VK5LDM, Dennis, VK3AMB, Bernard; VK3TJC/m, Tim; VK3LP, John; VK3UBY, Col; VK3PI, Mark; VK2UH, Andrew; VK2EAR/p QRP, Michael in the Blue Mountains; VK3FMPB, John; VK5FWMA, Bill; VK5DJ, John and at 01:12, VK5AV, Tim at Mount Gambier, making 28 contacts in an hour and a quarter.
At the Little Desert National Park
A great spot!
On Sunday 8th September I thought I would try 20m. I had two contacts from the Sanctuary Picnic Ground (within the Park) as I only had about half an hour before going to the Little Desert Lodge to visit the Mallee Fowl aviary. I was pleased to work, Pat, VK6QL, 5 and 8 and 5 and 7 to me, at 00:01 and Nigel, ZL1BY, 5 and 7 and I received 5 and 2. I thought that was pretty good!
vk5bje 
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Hi there, I just stumbled across this (Googled my own call sign 😉 ) only almost 18 months after you posted it! LOL
just thought you might be interested in seeing a photo of my setup I spoke to you on… that day I had taken my 15 year old son out for a walk up a local hill (750m ASL) at Lawson the next town up from my house at Hazelbrook, the hill is less than a Km from my house in fact… my house is about 650m ASL
My son took a few photos’ of me operating the radio while talking to you, he took a bit of interest in what was happening and was surprised that such a simple setup and 5w of power was able to get to S.A… a little while later on 20m I spoke to a ZL station as well.
But alas as it with most teenagers the attention span ran out and he soon started complaining it was too hot in the sun and wanted to go home 😦
Here is a link to a picture on Facebook (public so you don’t have to have FB to view)
Where I am sitting is on the South side of a ridge and to the far left is the township of Lawson, behind me is West towards Katoomba and S.A of course.
I am using a FT-817 with a 9ah battery in the backpack and the antenna is a “PAC-12” (or Buddi pole vertical copy) which is a tapped vertical that does 40-10m with good SWR and 6m not so good SWR.
I have used it a few times on SOTA activations with reasonable success 🙂
Michael
Hello Michael,
I am delighted you ‘stumbled’ across your call on my blog. The contact we had stayed in my mind because I have called on the Lawson 2 metre repeater a couple of times when visiting Sydney to see our son. Anyway, it never ceases to amaze me how well I do with five watts and an FT817 or my Ten Tec Argonaut. I like both radios and they are quite different. I use a home made link dipole, the details can be found under equipment. I like your picture as well!
On our last visit to Sydney I activated a couple of National Parks north west of the city, but the Blue Mountains remains on my list for both parks and peaks.
I have a friend with the same vertical. The antenna is no longer available – but a vertical would add to my kit and increase flexibility, especially on some summits. I will probably buy the original one day.
Once again delighted to hear from you. PS I have been back to the Little Desert NP in December 2014. Great fun!
Cheers
John
VK5BJE