Here is my latest certificate for hunting references – slowly!
WIA Norfolk Island Award 2016
It was my intention to attend the Wireless Institute of Australia Annual General Meeting held on Norfolk Island over the weekend of 27th, 28th and 29th May. I indicated this while in Canberra attending the 2015 AGM. A change in health status made attending risky. So I could not join the considerable contingent from VK5 (over thirty persons). However, I shared in the event as best I could, vicariously, by chasing stations for the Norfolk Island Award and multiple contacts with VK5 stations on Norfolk Island and through enjoying posts on Facebook. I have reproduced my application log below.
As you can see there are a few issues noticeable to seasoned observers. My claimed contacts are highlighted. First, there is only one contact shown for 40 metres with VK9PAS/9. While I heard VK6FMON, Monique, and VK5FMAZ, Marija, operating QRP stations from Mount Bates, on 40 metres, conditions were just not able to support two-way contacts. Secondly, I was only able to secure one CW contact, with Ron, VK3AFW/P9 on the 20 metre band. I used my VK5PF call, reserved for CW. And finally, there are no contacts with the Australian DX station, VK9NT. This wasn’t for want on trying. I restricted myself to just two modes: ssb and CW and listened quite a bit for them. One evening I listened to the station on 80 metres: signals into the Adelaide Hills were excellent, over S9 and the band was quiet. I thought I had a chance, but I just couldn’t make it with 100 watts! And then they closed down the station!
Thanks to the WIA awards team. It was fun chasing these stations and the Award certainly created some interest on the mainland.
Bullock Hill Conservation Park, VKFF-0873 & 5CP-265, 7th August 2016
Today, on a beautiful late Winter’s day, I was able to indulge in two of my passions: music and radio. Each year the Payneham City Concert Band plays a bracket of numbers at the Strathalbyn Band Festival: sufficient to fill a half hour time slot. I have participated a number of times now and, in 2013, I also played radio after the event.
The Festival is a great event, not a competition, but a chance to play to entertain the audience. The Festival extends over two Sundays and we were the first band for the first Sunday and completed our section by noon. Strathalbyn is 55.7 kilometres from Adelaide and is a pleasant drive through the Hills from my place. The town is on the plains below the Hills and overlooks the Coorong Lakes and the Southern Ocean. After our contribution I visited the coffee shop and ordered a sandwich for my lunch and set out to cover the 13 kilometres to the Bullock Hill Conservation Park, which is just off the Strathalbyn to Ashbourne Road. Bullock Hill Conservation Park is a fairly new Park and was gazetted on 30th January 2014. It has been activated a number of times previously but this was my first activation.
The photo above shows the Park notice board being pressed into service to support my ten metre squid pole. The land was too uneven to use the tripod. And the rear of the notice board provided a back stop for my table and gear. I used my newly purchased, and second, Yaesu 857D, for the activation. I purchased my first from Wyong over a decade ago and it gives great service in our 4 x 4. These radios are old technology but they are great for portable use, tolerant of low battery voltage (11.73 volts), rugged, small and easy to use.
I spent a few sessions at home setting up the radio for my usage patterns, particularly the audio response to suit my voice, added some six and two metre beacons, a few for 70 centimetres, a handful of repeaters, WWVH for accurate time keeping and for an indication of propagation on the 20 metre band and 891 ABC Adelaide, for fire warnings in the Summer. I also installed the 500 Hz filter for CW. I had the power set for 10 watts.
I made my first contact at 03:25, with Ron, VK3AFW/P who was operating from Mount Strickland, VK3/VN-030 and my last was with Gordon, VK3EJ, at 06:20 making 46 contacts. It took over three hours to secure these contacts: perhaps everyone was ‘radioed out’ by Sunday afternoon? I tried 20 metres at 06:05 but I could not post myself which is always a handicap. Nevertheless it was a successful activation and, as always, thanks to all who gave me a call.
The following stations were contacted on 40 metres:
VK3AFW/P SOTA VK3/VN-030
VK3KIM/P SOTA VK3/VN-030
VK5AFZ/P Coorong National Park
VK7EK
VK2TH
VK3PF/P SOTA VK3/VT-078 and Bunyip State Park
VK7CW
VK4AAC/P3 Croajingolong National Park
VK3FIRM
VK3SQ
VK4CFS
VK3UH
VK3TJC
VK3SFG
VK3FSTA
VK4RF
VK4HA
VK5PAS/M
VK3BWZ
VK2EXA
VK2KYO
VK3TJS
VK3BBB
VK3ELH
VK3BNJ
VK2HJW/QRP
VK5PAS/M
VK3BNJ
VK3CMR
VK3AJA
VK3FOTO/M
VK3IO
VK3KCD
VK2FJPR
VK5PAS/P Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve VKFF-1701
VK3CAT
VK4HNS
VK3XZ
VK2IO/P SOTA VK2/ST-009 & VKFF-1375
VK4FAAS
VK3MCX
VK2FAAA/M
VK3KRH
VK3FSPG
Tried 20m without success
VK4SOE/P (7113 xtal locked transmitter)
VK3EJ
Total 46 stations with two duplicates. A glance at the stations contacted shows that propagation to Queensland was quite good, but not for the Western area of Victoria or in South Australia.
A Review of the Heil Sound Pro-Set Elite, 7th June 2016
This article, called A Review of the Heil Sound Pro-Set Elite Head-set and AD-1-YM adapter, first appeared in the June 2016 edition of Out and About Issue 20. Out and About is published by VK5PAS.
Head-sets, incorporating, either one or two head-phones and a microphone are de jure for DXpeditions. Have a look at the photos of DXpeditions. Operators sitting along-side of one and another all wearing head-sets are commonly pictured in QST, CQ and Amateur Radio Magazine.
They have many advantages: perhaps the most important is that they reduce extraneous noise, allowing the operator to concentrate on the voice or morse code content in what is being received. And amateur hand-books recommend head-sets for morse operations!
Another considerable advantage, not only for the home station operator, but also for portable and DX field operators is that the use of head-sets frees both hands for log-keeping and/or operating an electronic key or hand key.
Perusing the blogs of SOTA and Park operators (see Parksnpeaks for a list of active blogs) will show pictures of amateurs using computer head-sets, the Yamaha (CM-500) head-set not sold in Australia, but which receives very good reviews from the amateur community overseas and professional head-sets as advertised in QST. Perhaps the head-sets from Heil Sound are the best known?
Bob Heil, K9EID, is a very active US amateur. His business is Heil Sound. There is plenty of information about Bob Heil on the internet. And those of you who have listened to the Eagles will have heard of Joe Walsh, WB6AU, guitarist with the band. Joe Walsh endorses Heil products, reflecting the origins of Heil Sound as a sound equipment company for musicians. However, this does not make the products good. It is just great advertising!
I have never owned a head set until recently. I do own a venerable pair of low impedance (8 ohms) head phones labelled with the Archer brand. This was one of the brands owned and sold by Tandy electronics, no longer active in the Australian market and now down-sizing in the US. I purchased these circa 1974 to use with my Tandy DX160 receiver. They made my head feel like it was being squeezed in a vice! I tried them on while writing this review. Actually I might have been a bit unfair with my comment. They are not too bad – reasonably comfortable and well cushioned and, more importantly, built like the proverbial tank! As a sign of earlier times the connecting plug is an old-fashioned ¼, yes, one quarter inch phono connector.
So what did I buy? Having studied the manufacturers’ specifications, discussed options with other active amateurs who enjoy the outdoors and read the popular review sites, I decided to buy the popular Heil Sound Pro-Set Elite. The first thing a prospective buyer needs to do is to consider what transceiver you are going to use. Each manufacturer uses different wiring configurations and, in the case of ICOM, a lower level microphone pre-amplifier. Heil makes a special insert just for ICOM users. So make sure you read about different microphone levels and ensure you make the correct purchase. If you buy a head set from a US manufacturer, or the Yamaha CM500 you will need to consider the interface and connections to your transceiver. If you buy a Heil head set this is all taken care of: all you do is read the chart and make your selection. You select your head set then the appropriate adapter or adapters for your transceiver/s. This makes it easy. I want to use my head set with the Yaesu FT 817, 857 and 897 family of transceivers. Heil also provides suggested settings for the audio equaliser settings in your transceiver. This provides a great starting point in achieving an excellent transmitted audio for your specific purposes for example, DX or rag-chewing.
If you are going to get the best ergonomic results from your head set you will also need a foot-switch. I have two. The first is from Jaycar and was used as a hand operated push to talk set up on another transceiver where I use a studio condenser microphone. It works well but takes a bit of holding closed during a long over. The cable is really too short for me: it might work for a shorter person. I decided to buy the single channel Heil foot switch. It is very easy to operate.
This photo shows the head set connected to the foot switch and the Yaesu adapter terminating in the yellow modular plug. The unconnected ¼ inch phono plug, which incorporates a 3.5 mm plug as well, connects to the phono socket on your radio.
If you are going to use your footswitch to operate your transceiver in parks and on summits, you can easily destroy a perfectly good switch by using it in sand and mud. You will need a base: a small board or a mat or the tent floor or camper trailer.
The Bottom Line
The Pro-Set Elite is a most comfortable head-set: it sits firmly in place and does not exert too much pressure on your ears. I would even go so far to describe the head-set as comfortable. It is very important to adjust the head band so that the head-set does not slide down from your ears. I have field tested the Pro-Set Elite and have received very favourable audio reports about my transmitted signal. It is very important that you at least use the Heil suggested audio settings as a starting point. Move up to the two metre band to adjust your audio, wind down the power and enlist the assistance of friendly amateur nearby if you want to fine tune the settings. Keep a record of your microphone settings so you can quickly re-establish yourself if you want to revert to using your microphone.
I am delighted with this excellent addition to my portable kit and recommend this head-set to you for your consideration.
I purchased mine from friendly Ross (Strictly Ham Pty Ltd). Here is a link to Heil Sound http://www.heilsound.com/amateur/products/headsets/pro-set-elite
If you would like to read this edition of Out and About, or earlier editions, they are available on the Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society web site at the following address: http://www.ahars.com.au/
Park to Park – 10
I am pleased to display my latest certificate for ten park to park contacts. VK2IO/P was chased three times: thanks Gerard but also thanks to the other intrepid park operators.
| Count | Reference | DXCC | Activator | Chaser | Date | Band | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WWFF P2P References (Mixed/Mixed) | |||||||
| 1 | VKFF-0023 (from VKFF-0781) | OC / VK | VK5BJE/P (VK5BJE) | VK2IO/P | 2016-04-02 | 40m | SSB |
| 2 | VKFF-0055 (from VKFF-0766) | OC / VK | VK5BJE/P (VK5BJE) | VK3XV/P | 2016-04-16 | 40m | SSB |
| 3 | VKFF-0069 (from VKFF-0967) | OC / VK | VK5BJE/P (VK5BJE) | VK4AAC/P3 | 2016-04-17 | 40m | SSB |
| 4 | VKFF-0113 (from VKFF-0781) | OC / VK | VK5BJE/P (VK5BJE) | VK3PF/P | 2016-04-02 | 40m | SSB |
| 5 | VKFF-0195 (from VKFF-0751) | OC / VK | VK5BJE/P (VK5BJE) | VK2YK/P | 2016-04-15 | 40m | SSB |
| 6 | VKFF-0528 (from VKFF-0766) | OC / VK | VK5BJE/P (VK5BJE) | VK2IO/P | 2016-04-16 | 40m | SSB |
| 7 | VKFF-0595 (from VKFF-0967) | OC / VK | VK5BJE/P (VK5BJE) | VK2IO/P | 2016-04-17 | 40m | SSB |
| 8 | VKFF-0781 (from VKFF-0793) | OC / VK | VK5BJE/P (VK5BJE) | VK5FMAZ/P | 2016-04-10 | 40m | SSB |
| 9 | VKFF-0792 (from VKFF-0781) | OC / VK | VK5BJE/P (VK5BJE) | VK3VTH/P | 2016-04-03 | 40m | SSB |
| 10 | VKFF-0821 (from VKFF-0781) | OC / VK | VK5BJE/P (VK5BJE) | VK5ZGY/P | 2016-04-03 | 40m | SSB |
Worked all eAustralia award, 26th April 2016
I received this award late April. It was unexpected. I was checking my eqsl accounts and saw that I had qualified for this award. A simple click of the mouse and the next day it was in my inbox. I have actually worked more than eight (8) Australian call areas but not every amateur uses the eqsl system and therefore I am unable to claim a higher score. I should point out that the Wireless Institute of Australia recognises confirmations of contacts via eqsl. I am a bit disappointed in the wording which leaves women amateurs out of the picture: ‘Know all men by these presents…’ Nevertheless I am pleased to gain this award. I wish to encourage those who do not use the eqsl system to consider adding to your QSL program.
Brisbane Ranges National Park, VKFF-0055, 17th April 2016
My reason for going to the Brisbane Ranges National Park was to participate in Amateur Radio Victoria’s ‘Show and Tell’. I had been reading the various emails on the groups to which I belong and thought I would attend. It would be very easy to tack on two or three extra days to our trip to the Grampians National Park. I did not publicly commit to going until the Saturday before the Show and Tell. I wanted to create a bit of a surprise.
I drove on the route from Ballarat to Brisbane Ranges National Park using the track suggested by the GPS in the 4 x 4. This approach has a few narrow roads and some gravel but it is a shorter way than driving to Ballan down the freeway and driving to Boar Gully Camp Ground (the approach I took on an earlier activation).
When we arrived at the camping ground, which is just inside the Park boundary, I spotted Tony’s vehicle. We shared a warm hello and he said that the interstate parking lot is the next one down the track. He had hired two camping spots for the day. We noticed a camper already in this area but there was plenty of room for our vehicle. The owner was John, VK2AWJ, from Gol Gol New South Wales. Gol Gol is not far from Mildura, more or less on the other side of the Murray River. So the two Johns shared a car park. I have had contacts with John of many occasions and it was great to meet him. I made a point of meeting all of the participants. I was later to have a contact, with VK5PAS/P, using John’s KX3.
There were a number of intrepid SOTA and Parks operators present and I really enjoyed meeting them all and learning from their presentations.
We had met Tony, VK3VTH, previously when I was activating Barmah National Park. Everyone else was new to me: all I had to work with was memories of photos on blogs and various websites. It worked well. I met VK3ZPF, Peter; VK3ARH, Allen; Amanda, VK3FQSO; her husband, Bob, VK3FLAK (and their three children), Chris, VK3PAT and Peter, VK3TKK. All of the above amateurs are frequently on the bands activating or chasing and I have had many contacts with them.
I also caught up again with Marc, VK3OHM, whom I met at the WIA annual general meeting 2015 in Canberra. Finally, it was really good to meet Joe and Julie, VK3YSP and VK3FOWL. We have had lots of contacts over the last three years. I learned many new ideas from Joe: his adaptation of the Aboriginal Woomera is most impressive. Instead of launching a spear this very smart device launches a lead ball with a light weight rope into very high trees. He might have had the rockets at the Woomera Rocket Range in South Australia in mind when we were all advised to stand well back from the launching area! Joe and Julie demonstrated their portable sattelite station and had a contact (which I did not see as I was discussing antennas with Tony at that time). I was also very impressed with his ‘tree-grabbers’, which provide another way of getting an antenna into a tree.
The other folk I was introduced to were all new to me.
Allen, VK3ARH, showed me his trail friendly Mountaintopper three band CW transceiver. If one was disciplined enough to use one of these the reduction in weight carried on SOTA activations would be enormous. These radios are about the size of a deck of cards!
I had quite a discussion with Bob, VK3FLAK, on air one day about remote area power supplies. He has since that discussion increased their system with more panels and larger battery size to handle more demanding loads. We have replaced the battery once and we are now in our fifteenth year of being off-grid. Most of those present displayed some parts of their portable stations and many were on the air.
At one stage I hear Paul, VK5PAS/P calling and John VK2AWJ, offered his KX3 already set up to enable me to contact Paul.
This was my only contact from Brisbane Ranges National Park.
00:40 7.095 VK5PAS/P, Paul, Cooltong Conservation Park, VKFF-0823, s53 r57.
This photo shows some of the displays at the Boar Gully Camping Ground and also Bob, VK3FLAK, deep in discussion with Peter, VK3ZPF. Tony’s set up, including his tent, in in the background of the picture.
Thanks Tony, VK3VTH and Amateur Radio Victoria and those who attended making it a most enjoyable day.
Mount Buangor State Park, VKFF-0766, 16th April 2016
After leaving Halls Gap in the Grampians we travelled along the Western Highway towards Ballarat. On leaving Ararat, Mount Langi Ghiran looms high on the left horizon above the plains. I thought an activation of Langi Ghiran State Park would be feasible. We turned off the Western Highway near the park boundary, stopped at the railway line which is right on the Park boundary to check for trains and, as it was clear, we drove into the Park along Kartuk Road to the Langi Ghiran Picnic and Camping area. There were a number of campers at the ground and I thought my activity would be too intrusive so we drove the Langi Ghiran track though the park to exit onto the Western Highway a little closer to Ballarat. The Victorian Parks Visitors Guide has an excellent map of this Park. We did not find any safe parking areas along this track suitable for an activation. I did see an excellent spot soon after driving into the Park just off Kartuk Road, but that can wait for another time.
We decided to move onto Mount Buangor State Park, VKFF-0766. From late 1970 to the end of 1972 I worked at Langi Kal Kal Youth Training Centre. When I first went there on a work experience placement for three months at the end on 1967, I was told in very clear terms to stop at railway crossings and check carefully for trains. I was told that a staff member’s wife was killed at the crossing on Langi Kal Kal Road just a few years earlier. I used to think that the goods trains on the broad gauge were impressive – but the trains on the standard gauge are even more so and they travel faster! However, the broad gauge line from Ballarat to Ararat remains just that, a broad gauge line.
We have fond memories of Mt Buangor and Mount Cole State Forest. We purchased the first of our 4 x 4 vehicles, a short wheel based Toyota Landcruiser, while we lived at Langi Kal Kal and we honed our driving skills on the often wet and slippery forest tracks.
On this visit we drove in on the Ferntree Gully Road to the Bailes Visitor Area.
JCD photo
There was no one there. I decided to activate the Park and saw a Park bench and table that would suit my purposes admirably. I was hoping the rain would hold off: and it did! Soon after I had set up a 4 x 4 and trailer arrived with three males on board. The trailer had off-road and dirt bikes on board. I thought that would be the end of my peace and quiet. I met the Father of one of the younger men and he said that they would set up camp, the two boys would go riding and he would go back to work on a nearby property. The lads set off on the reasonably quiet bikes, the father left, I completed my activation and we had left before they returned. You can be lucky!
I set up the FT897, linked dipole on a squid pole tied to a Park post and I was on the air at 02:14z.
This photo shows my squid pole affixed to a car park boundary marker with the pole protected with a PVC pipe sleeve. JCD photo
JCD photo
This photo gives a view of the Visitors Area. There are picnic tables in place and toilets. The surrounding bush land gives a good idea of what it might have been like before logging.
JCD photo
I had a great time. Paul, VK5PAS/P, at the Overland Corner meeting in SA, had organised the attendees to give me a call on the portable radio (a Codan) setup by Ivan, VK5HS. I had a steady stream of contacts from Overland Corner interspersed by other stations, probably enhanced by my activation of a lesser activated Park?
Signals were really good.
VK5KBB/P5 VKFF-0783 P2P
VK3BNJ
VK5KC/P
VK5ZAI/P
VK5FMAZ/P Marija s59 r59
VK5PAS/P
VK5FLEX/P
VK3VIN
VK3FQSO, Amanda told me she planned to attend the ‘Show and Tell’ at the Brisbane Ranges National Park. I said not to tell any VK3s and that I hoped none were listening because I would be attending as well. I want my attendance to be a surprise!
VK3FIRM
VK3SQ
VK3GGG/M
VK5ZK
VK3ZPF
VK5TRM/P
VK2SK
VK5MJ/P
VK3DAC
VK5HS/P
VK3FAPH
VK3FCLK
VK3FMRC
VK5GJ/QRP
VK3VBC
VK5TT
VK3VEK
VK3TJK
VK2PKT
VK5MRE
VK5FTVR/P
VK3VEF/P5 Frank at Overland Corner
VK3SIM
VK2HHA/P5, Dennis at Overland Corner
VK3XV/P, Brisbane Ranges National Park, VKFF-0055
VK3ELH
VK5MBD/P5
VK5PL
VK3MCK
VK5FCDL
VK2IO/P2 VKFF-0528 P2P
VK4AAC/P3
VK7AN
VK3SQ
VK5ZGY/M
VK7FMPR, Mark, near Cradle Mountain
Thanks to all who gave me a call.
It was time to pack up and drive to our accommodation at Ballarat.
At 06:12, I had a contact from the motel parking lot with Paul, VK5PAS/P5 at Pooginook Conservation Park. Signals were 5 and 9 both ways. I have an 857D in the car and I mounted my Hustler vertical antenna for 40 metres on the base on the bull bar. The Hustler whips are great. They are centre-loaded and work really well: but they are tall!
Black Range State Park, VKFF-0751, 15th April 2016
On Tuesday 12th April we had a family day. In the morning we walked to MacKenzie Falls. I recommend this splendid walk if you are able to visit the Grampians. The Falls are not far from Halls Gap and there are various turn-around points if you don’t think the walk to the bottom is for you!
This photo shows the track down to the base of the Falls.
This photo shows MacKenzie Falls from the base and the bridge to the other side of the stream composed of five large rocks.
This photo shows three homo sapiens and a canis lupus sharing a bench.
Which living being cannot read? See the tail hanging below bench second from the left!
Thursday the 14th of April was the last day together with our Sydney family. They began the return journey on Friday morning. On Thursday we enjoyed some non-radio activities in and near the Grampians.
We travelled to Great Western to visit the Seppelt Winery where we had lunch and tasted a few wines. After lunch the family, including my xyl, left to do some more walking while I took the tour of the underground cellars. This facility is to close mid year. I had never visited it before and I am sure pleased I did. After the tour we (three visitors) were invited to try three sparking wines, two whites and a shiraz. They were excellent.
This photo shows the various bottle sizes used to package sparking wines. Most of them have names from the Old Testament (Jewish Scriptures).
My last activity on Thursday afternoon was to visit Mick, VK3PMG and VK3GGG. Mick is an active amateur who has risen through the ranks from F call, intermediate call and now full call, is a park activator and a very successful chaser/hunter. We arranged this meeting earlier and after an hour and a half it was time to go. It was great to see Mick’s shack and antennas and talk about our love of the hobby.
On Friday morning our Sydney family began the journey home. We decided to visit the Black Range State Park, VKFF-0751. Black Range State Park is located West of the Grampians National Park. We accessed the Park near the corner of Cherrypool and Black Range Roads. While the Park has recently suffered the ravages of a wild fire, where we entered the Park was untouched by fire. We found an excellent clearing and only had two visitors while we were there. We had a number of maps including the Black Range Self Drive Tour map which was quite helpful.
I enjoyed this activation a great deal. While chasers were a bit slow to find me initially I was soon working a steady stream of amateurs. Here are the call-signs of the chasers.
I began the activation at 00:48 on 7.095 with:
VK7AX
VK3CM Thanks to Brenton for inviting me to take the frequency.
VK5PAS
VK3CAT/P3
This was a dual mode contact: VK3BYD/P transmitted CW and I replied in SSB. Warren was activating VK3/VC-020 in VKFF-0264.
VK5FANA
VK5MBD/M
VK3PF
VK5MLB
VK1DI
VK2XXM
VK4RF s55 r52 & VK4HA
VK5FMID
VK5KLV
VK5JK
VK2YK/P2 in VKFF-0195
VK2IO/M
VK2MTC
VK5ALZ
VK3ARR/P7 on VK7/SC-001
VK2NP
VK3PRF/M
VK5PAS
VK2DLG
VK7LTD
VK5HSX/M
VK3VIN
VK5AW/M
VK3TKK/M
VK3GGG, Mick with his new call-sign
VK3MCK
VK3TJC/M
VK3PMG
VK5WG
VK3VBI
VK3SQ
VK3FAPH
VK5CM
VK3NXT
VK2CRF
VK5FD
VK5HS/M
VK5ATN
VK3FQSO
VK3MEG
VK3ANP
VK6MB 51s r35
I then moved to 14.310
VK6MB 59s 58r
VK6NU s55 r55
I spent about half an hour listening around on 20 metres. There were some strong stations around 14.150 to 14.250, but I would not be competitive with 10 watts and a dipole. I did not work work any further stations on 20 metres and moved back to 40 metres and had a further two contacts:
VK5KC/P s59 r59 David was portable at the Overland Corner ready for the Riverland Group’s meeting on Saturday and Sunday as was VK5IS (04:40z) , Ian was also s59 r59. I enjoyed a total of 51 contacts. My equipment on the day was an FT897, set for 10 watts and linked dipole.
Thanks to all the chasers who helped make this such an enjoyable activation.
Mount Zero, VK3/VW-020 & Grampians National Park, 13th April 2016
SOTA Summit, Mount Zero, VK3/VW-020, is within the Grampians National Park, VKFF-0213. I have activated the Grampians National Park a number of times. Here is a link to my last activation:
https://vk5bje.com/category/grampians-national-park/
I wanted to activate a second summit in the Grampians National Park. I have previously activated Mount William. Mount Zero is worth one point to the activator, and it is a much harder one point to earn, than the one point earned at nearby Mount Arapiles! However, I did not think that the walk and time spent on Mount Zero would keep two active Grandchildren busy (as well as their parents). So the family, including my xyl, Jenny, all went rock climbing at Hollow Mountain. This suited me as Hollow Mountain car park to the Mount Zero car park is only a further two or three kilometres, but over a badly corrugated road.
The photo shows our six year old (nearly seven) grandson near the top of the cliff. The organiser of the rock climbing experience said her youngest climber was aged four and her oldest in her/his eighties. All three women (three generations) in the party abseiled down the cliff. Congratulations to them. JCD photo
In preparing for this activation I read a number of blogs from other amateurs who have successfully activated the summit. They were all helpful. However, my only reservation about the advice given was that I did not adequately consider the age differences between them and me. I am a few years older than all of them! The walk is rated at medium. I would rate it as hard. The track is marked with yellow triangles and, towards the summit, additional markers. I had trouble on the return journey missing markers near the end of the track. I thought I would find my own way back to the car park though the bush and I was only one hundred metres out! So that was no great drama. I did not feel in the mood to retrace my steps by climbing back up the track to see the markers. The car park, or rather vehicles in the car park, are visible on the return walk so I knew I was close to the target.
Another message I received from the blogs, and also over the air with am amateur who has previously activated Mount Zero, is that the summit area is small and very exposed. As there were walkers, climbers and ‘boulderers’ on the mountain I chose to activate from a ledge just below the summit. I wondered what the persons were who were carrying something looking a bit like a single bed up the mountain? I stopped and had a exposition from a young chap so equipped! The ‘mattress’ is a safety device for when you fall! He was a ‘boulderer’!
I was given until about 13:30 local time to complete the activation and return to Hollow Mountain car park. However, I was given a reprieve via a phone message from my xyl who indicated that the family’s climbing experience would take longer. That was bad timing as I was already on the way down!
Here is my log for the activation:
I should point out that the contact at 01:26z with Warren, VK3BYD/P was dual mode, that is he used CW and I responded in SSB. How did Warren know to do this? Well I have had contacts from home in CW using my CW call, VK5PF. I did not have any CW gear on the summit – that will come!
Also the contacts at 01:33z with VK2UHI/P , Steve and his son, Thomas, VK2FTES/P were summit to summit and park to park as Steve and Thomas were activating Mount Kosciusko, VK2/SM-001 and VKFF-0269. Logs in the SOTA data base cannot be edited and the other choice is to delete the log and start again!
Once again I wish to thank all the chasers who helped make this activation so enjoyable.
Was all the effort worth one SOTA point! Absolutely yes! I recommend the walk.
vk5bje 