DXFF-3 References
Another small step in the journey. This certificate, which arrived in January 2015, recognises that I have activated three DXCC entities.
World Wide Flora & Fauna, 3 References, 24th May 2015
Month: May 2015
Another great qsl card from Doug, VK2FMIA/P2, 20th May 2015
Couradda National Park
I had another contact with Doug, VK2FMIA, on the 16th May, from Couradda National Park. Thanks Doug for the splendid card.
Black Mountain, VK1/AC-042, 10th May 2015
After successfully activating Mount Ainslie, VK1/AC-040, we travelled the short distance to Black Mountain, VK1/AC-042. In 2010, at the 100th Anniversary AGM of the WIA we visited the Telstra Tower for an inspection and dinner later in the restaurant. This time we were looking forward to coffee!
While the sun was still shining the wind was ferocious. Andrew’s squid pole came down at least twice and on one occasion the operator at the other end gave a 5 and 9 report with the squid pole erected and 5 and 2 when collapsed! We were joined by Heath, VK3TWO and his partner, Monique and we persuaded Heath he should join the activation as well.
Despite the weather we successfully activated the Peak and also gain a six metre contact. After contacting VK1DI, Ian on 40 metres, he agreed to migrate to six metres and we all contacted him on 52.200 ssb. The six metre contact was a first for me portable and Paul and I both resolved to make dipoles for this band.
Here is my log.
Black Mountain, VK1/AC-042 log
VK1NAM, VK5PAS & VK5BJE
VK5PAS (log-keeper), VK5BJE (on-air) & VK3TWO (supervisor)
At last, coffee in the tower restaurant!
Here is a link to a video taken by Andrew, VK1NAM/P1 of the activation on Black Mountain.
Mt Ainslie, VK1/AC-040, 9th May 2015
On Sunday morning VK5PAS, Paul and I met Andrew, VK1NAM, who had arranged on Saturday afternoon at the WIA AGM, to take us out for more SOTA activations if the weather was reasonable. Well the weather was wet on Saturday evening and the weather bureau predicted strong winds and more rain for Sunday. Paul and Andrew had discussed the matter earlier and we agreed we would all go and take one peak at a time and stop the activations if it became necessary.
So we set out for Mt Ainslee, VK1/AC-040. This peak is right in Canberra and accrues one point for a successful activation. The winds were gale force. However, we successfully activated the Peak and took some photos before setting out for Black Mountain, VK1/AC-042, just a short drive away.
Eleven contacts were made. When the activation was finished we set out for Black Mountain, VK1/AC-042.
Canberra from Mount Ainslie
Andrew setting up squid pole in the wind
Black Mountain from Mount Ainslie
I would like to thank VK1NAM, Andrew, who so generously gave up a fair bit of his Sunday to enable me, Paul and Heath to enjoy these activations. The activations on Thursday and Sunday enriched an already splendid weekend at the WIA AGM. On Sunday evening we enjoyed a casual meal with members of the Canberra Amateur Radio Club. I also enjoyed the presentation of home brewed equipment from members of the Club which was on display during the AGM. This display was orientated to low frequency transmitters and audio equipment. The gear was impressive and mainly illustrated published articles from Amateur Radio Magazine. Finally, of course there are the chasers. Without chasers we would have become cold and wet for nothing!
Mt Ginini, VK1/AC-008, Namadgi National Park, VKFF-377, 8th May 2013
After lunch we travelled to Mt Ginini. While the sun was still shining the temperature had dropped to 4 degrees Celsius and the wind was blowing really hard. It was also very cold! We all activated the summit successfully and I secured ten contacts. Mt Ginini, like Mt Coree is in Namadgi National Park, VKFF-377 and these ten contacts together with the 15 from Mount Coree means I have successfully activated the Park for the VKFF program. By the time we had finished our activation the temperature had dropped to two degrees Celsius. It was very cold and the wind chill factor was severe. I thought it was going to snow.
Mt Ginini log
VK1/AC-008
Mt Ginini has been a place I have long wanted to see. It is, of course, the site of the ACT repeater, VK1RGI, 149.950 – 600Khz transmit, also 91.5 Hz tone, provided by the Canberra Amateur Radio Club: a repeater I have used on previous visits to the ACT and while in New South Wales. But Mt Ginini is also a very significant peak in the Brindabella Ranges also known as the Brindabells. Mt Ginini is 1,762 metres above sea level (5,781 feet). The NSW/ACT border runs along the ridge of the Brindabella Range and the surveyors would have had lots of challenges in their work during the early part of the 20th century.
The picture below shows VK5PAS/P1 operating a Icom IC703, ten watt transceiver, contacting European stations from Mt Ginini. He is in a prone position to minimise the cold wind.
Mt Coree, VK1/AC-023, Namadgi National Park, VKFF-377, 8th May 2015
On Thursday 7th May I flew to Canberra for the Annual General Meeting of the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA). The WIA is the oldest national amateur radio society in the World and I had previously attended the 100th anniversary AGM in Canberra in 2010. That AGM was splendid. I knew this one would be different and I was looking forward to participating. But as the AGM did not begin until 18:00 hours on Friday I had the day to do other things. Some of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT/VK1) amateurs had promised to take me (and my colleague from Adelaide, VK5PAS, Paul) to the some of the local summits which we would activate for SOTA.
The Trig Point at Mt Coree.
Andrew, VK1DA was our guide, mentor and used his station to ensure we could activate two summits and see some of the peaks and natural areas which are so significant in the ACT. So after checking our arrangements with Andrew, VK1DA, we were on the road at 10:00 driving to two peaks in the Brindabella Ranges. The first peak was Mt Coree which has the SOTA reference, VK1/AC-023. It was a cool sunny day with a slight breeze. To get to Mt Coree was about an hour and a half over some sealed roads, but mainly gravel roads and, finally, a rough track to take us about 300 metres below the summit. We then walked to the summit and used the trig point to secure the squid pole. By the time we reached the summit the breeze had changed to a howling wind!
I was able to secure 15 contacts with amateurs in VK1, 2, 3 and 5 on the 40m band. Also Andrew and Paul activated the summit. It was cool and the wind was blowing hard, but it was great fun and I was delighted to secure my first summit in VK1, and my third SOTA Association as I have previously activated summmits in VK3 and VK5. After completing our activation we arranged to meet Marc, VK3OHM/P1 and Ono, VK6FLAB/P1 at a picnic spot on our route to Mount Ginini and their route to Mr Cooree. We were swapping peaks!
Mt Coree Log
The ACT Government web page, link above, indicates that the survey of the border began in 1910 and was completed in 1915. A plaque is in place at Mt Coree, where the work began on the survey at the Trig Point, to commemorate the achievements of the survey team. I recommend a look at the ACT planning site (URL above) and particularly the page on the border markers and accuracy. It is impressive. So we were there in the Centenary Year.
Belair National Park, VKFF-022, 5th May 2015
The Park
I have written about the Park on previous occasions. Here is a link to my last activation on Australia Day 2015. https://vk5bje.com/category/sa-national-park/belair-national-park/
It is sufficient to repeat that this Park was South Australia’s first and, as you can see from the maps on my blog, it is not far from the Adelaide city business district. Belair is a gated park: it is open for vehicles from 08:00 to 19:00 hours local. You must pay a fee for you vehicle, but if you walk entry is free.
Belair National Park Open Day invitation
I decided I would activate the Park for Open Day as I thought this would be a great chance to profile our wonderful hobby. I spoke with the Ranger and she knew my plans. I kept away from the popular areas as the noise level was likely to be higher and I didn’t want my signal relayed over the public address systems.
Belair Open Day
reverse
I had contacts on 40 and 30 metres, I tried 17 and 10, and although I could hear signals, I didn’t think I could work them. Thirty metres was great with strong signals from interstate, including Mike, VK6MB, from Western Australia. Fifty-nine contacts were made over the activation and as well I conducted some antenna experiments. Contacts were had from VKs 1,2,3,5, 6, and 7.
I decided to return to Long Gully, my third visit at this picnic area within the Park. I set up in the usual fashion taking advantage of the Park picnic table and my 20 and 40 metre well-used linked dipole. I soon noticed I was getting poor reports and after three contacts decided to change antennas. I am not sure what the problem was. I changed the coaxial feeder to no avail and made sure all of the connectors were tight. I did notice that some connectors do not screw onto the FT897 SO239 socket as well as they should. Perhaps the SO239 is worn?
Here are my first three contacts for 40 metres beginning at 2306: VK5PAS/P, Paul 59s 58r from Murray Sunset National Park, VKFF- 373; VK5FANA, Adrian, 57s 56r; and finally, Fred, VK3DAC, s57 r41. I then changed antennas to my new home brew three band antenna for 30, 17 and 10 metres. I have operated before on 30m QRP with an end fed half wave length antenna and had success from Spring Gully Conservation Park, near Clare. I was really pleased with the 30m contacts:
00:09 VK3PF/QRP, s57 r 54
00:13 VK5EE s59 r57
00:14 VK7CC s59 r58
00:16 VK2IO s57 r54
00:22 VK1DA/P1, s59 r57, Andrew was on VK1/AC- 034. Andrew saw my spot on Parks and Peaks and made a special excursion to 30m to give me a call. This was greatly appreciated.
00:29 VK2YW 259 r59
00:31 VK6MB, s58 r46
00:34 VK3OF, s59 r59
I checked, in order, 17 metres and then 10 metres. I did hear signals but not strong on either band and I did call CQ on each band. I then decided to change antennas and I used my SOTA antenna (20 and 40m), which I have owned for two years, for the first time!
Beginning at 01:31, on 40m, VK5PAS/P, Murray Sunset National Park; VK5LY, Larry; VK5ZAR, Arno; VK5C/P on SOTA summit, VK5/SE-007; VK5PAS/M; VK5NAL; VK3FQSO; VK3OHM; VK5NQP; VK3HSR; VK5FLEX; VK5GT; VK5WG; VK5NAQ; VK5KLV; VK5FTRG/M; VK3TKK; VK100ANZAC from the Mentone RSL; VK5HSX/P5, Stef in Hallett Cove Conservation Park; VK5ZGY/M; VK5FCGM; VK3UP/P3; VK3PMG/P3, Mick in Kara Kara National Park, KFF-629; VK3ATC; VK3CRG; VK3YE/P, Peter at Chelsea Beach; VK5FTVR; VK3SFG/P; VK5KC; VK5VGC; VK5MJ; VK5PAS/P5, Paul in Murray River National Park, VKFF-372; VK5JK; VK5KFB; VK3BWZ; VK3YAR; VK3AWG; VK3MPM; VK5PAS/P5; and finally, to finish a great day, Larry, VK5LY/P in the Murray River National Park, VKFF-372. My original plan was to activate Mark Oliphant Conservation Park VKFF-782 to begin my campaign for 44 contacts. However, upon learning of the Open Day at Belair National Park, I changed my plans. I listened on the frequency I was using to work Larry and then suggested he should remain there. As soon as Larry called CQ he was greeted with a pile up. How great was that! My log has been uploaded to HRD.log and Log Book of the World. Thanks to all who gave me a call.
vk5bje 
