SOTA Livingstone Hill VK2/SM-093

Decided to head down to Thredbo in the Snowy Mountains and do a SOTA summit over the UTC rollover period, the Cascades VK2/SM-014. This meant driving down on Saturday New Years Eve. While driving down via the Monaro Highway stopped to activate Livingstone Hill VK2/SM-093, near Michelago.

Parked near the gate. Note that this is private property, a sheep paddock, at the request of the farmer left a note on my dashboard with my name and mobile number. It's about a 500m walk to the summit.

Set up the squid pole on the trig cairn. Looking East to the Tinderies mountains.

Looking North to the communication tower.

Looking South towards Cooma. Eastern edge of the ACT is on the right.

While putting up the 40m dipole one of the wire legs snapped... fixed it by twisting the broken ends together tightly, managed to hold together okay for the weekends activations.

Got on 40m. Found there was an annoying on air white noise appearing from the tower nearby, sounded like an air conditioner as it would cut in and out. Managed to work stations when it was off. Probably best to move away from the trig next time

Started with an S2S with VK7XDM/p Mitch on VK7/WC-013. Then the regular chasers from VK2, VK3 and VK5. Another S2S with Peter VK3PF/p on VK3/VE-014 The Horn.

After 40 m contacts stopped switched to 20m for post UTC contacts. Some good signals from VK5WG, VK7CW, VK4RF/VK4HA, VK2YK and VK1MA.

As still had a long way to drive to Thredbo packed up and continued driving South to Cooma.

SOTA Mt Ginini VK1/AC-008

Found I've missed adding this blog entry so a late entry.

A warm day in Canberra so decided to activate Mt Ginini, VK1/.AC-008. At 1760m ASL a good 10c or so cooler. Drove up the Brindabella Road turning off onto the Mount Franklin Road.

Stopped at Bulls Head for lunch. A pleasant picnic spot. Drove up to the Mt Ginini communications site. The water tank is a new addition here.

As wanted to be in the Bimberi Wilderness area for WWFF purposes set up on the New South Wales side of the border, on the other side of the copper log fence. Used a convenient dead tree for squid pole support. As only a short walk to the car used my WWF setup, table, chair and TS480 radio.
Mountain in the background is Mt Gingera VK1/AC-002.

 Radio on the table. A few march flies about so some repellant needed...

Got on 40m. A Park to park with VK2YK/3 Adam activating VKFF-0627 Organ Pipes National Park.

Also worked VK1MA/2 Matt activating VK2/SW-026 Yankee Ned Hill nearby.
Several of the usual chasers in VK2, VK3 and VK7.  Another S2S with VK1MBE/2 Andrew on VK2/ST-036 Spring Hill.

After 17 contacts had a low battery warning, so gave it away and headed home.

2016 VKFF Activation Weekend Certificate

In the email received a certificate from Paul, VK5PAS the VKFF Awards Manager for participating in the 2016 VKFF Activation Weekend, on the 26th and 27th November.

My part of this weekend was the activations of VK1 parks VKFF-0985 Gigerline Nature Reserve and VKFF-0992 Old Naas TSR on Saturday 26th November, and VK1 park VKFF-0989 Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve on Sunday 27th November.

Thanks to Paul for the award. This was an enjoyable weekend.

Kooraban National Park VKFF-0267

After activating Yurammie State Conservation Area near Wolumla continued North on the Princes Highway. Stopped at Bega for lunch. Drove on through Cobargo, just before passing Mt Dromedary spotted a National Park sign on the left side of the highway, Kooraban National Park. Decided to turn off and activate it.

A short drive along the dirt road, which is Digmans Hill Firetrail, saw another park sign. Used this for squid pole support.

Set up the radio on the tarp.

Made 2 contacts on 40m, VK3SQ Geoff and VK2IO/p Gerard, before it started to rain again... The band seemed fairly dead anyway with only a couple of stations on. Gave it away and continued down to Batemans Bay, up Clyde Mountain and home to Canberra. Another park to return to.

Yurammie State Conservation Area VKFF-1403

For Christmas was driving down to my brothers place at Pambula Beach on the NSW South Coast. Looking at maps, saw a possible parks activation I could do on the way, Yurammie State Conservation Area, VKFF-1403. This park is located North of Merimbula near Yellow Pinch Dam, which I have driven past other times and knew had an access road in off the Prince Highway.

Drove from Canberra to Cooma, Nimmitabel, down Brown Mountain, turning off to Candelo and joining the Princes Highway at the small town of Wolumla. Once on the Princes Highway only a few Km to the turnoff to Yellow Pinch Dam, and the park.

Unfortunately there was now a locked gate on the road to the dam, so no easy drive in and activate :( I knew however that the park boundary was just off the road in the bush behind the sign, so wandered in on foot behind the sign to set up my station inside the park.

Map of the park from ProtectedPlanet website

 The park was fairly open forest. Used a tree stump to support the squid pole.

Newlands Creek at the bottom of the hill. The Princes Highway on the right.

Shack on the tarp, my TS-480 running off Lifepo4 8400maH battery. Set the power to 40w.

Conditions were not good on 40m, a storm front a bit to the North of me generating a heap of static, and there just didn't seem to be many signals on the band. Christmas Eve guess a lot doing other things... Only managed to work 6 stations in a half hour before the threat of rain forced me to pack up. Worked the following stations:

VK3SFG Sergio
VK3SQ Geoff
VK3UH Ken
VK2IO Gerard
VK1WX Amanda
VK2FENG Helen.

Drove on to my brothers place at Pambula Beach for Christmas and Boxing Day.

27/12/2016 Yurammie State Conservation Area return

After Boxing day stopped by again on the way home to get some more contacts. Set up on the same stump.

The band was a bit better this time. Worked the following on 40m

VK5BJE/2 John park to park with VKFF-0444 Scheyville National Park
VK3ZPF Peter
VK3SQ Geoff
VK3MRG/p Marshall
VK2HHA Dennis
VK7CW Steve
VK5PAS Paul
VK3KMH Mike

There was a very light drizzle of rain, but it got heavier towards the end of the activation so gave it away and continued the drive home. At least had enough contacts for the basic VKFF point, which requires 10 contacts.

OConnor Ridge Nature Reserve VKFF-0857

With a nice sunny Sunday afternoon and the bands sounding reasonable decided to do another WWFF park activation, this time  OConnor Ridge Nature Reserve. My last activation there was on the 21st June 2015, about the shortest day of the year, and despite a good opening into Europe had to give it away at sunset as it got freezing... no chance of it this time as a pleasant 25c.

As per last time drove to Dryandra St in the Canberra suburb of OÇonnor and parked. A short walk up the hill and I was on the road along the ridge. Noticed the traffic noise from nearby Gungahlin Drive, also the sounds of Cicadas in the trees, would make it unpleasant to operate from. I eventually settled on a lower track on the Eastern side of the ridge away from the noise. There was a track marker post suitable for squid pole support. Set up the 40 m dipole. View to the North East. Mt Majura on the right.

Looking back down the hill. Crane and other buildings are in Dickson. Dryandra St at the bottom of the hill.

Looking back South along the track. Black Mountain tower visible on the next ridge, heading up to Black Mountain.

Shack on the tarp. There was a bit of a slope here, ended up lying down on the tarp as the most comfortable way to operate the radio.

Got on 40m. Started with a Park to Park contact with Bob, VK5AFZ/p in VKFF-0922 Newland Head Conservation Park with a good signal. Worked Peter VK3PF next who spotted me, then the pileup began...

Worked several of the regular park hunters in VK2, VK3, VK4 (VK4RF/HA Rick), VK5 and VK7. Quite a lot of hunters calling, band in good shape. Another park to park contact, with Andrew VK7DW/p in VKFF-1156 Trevallyn Nature Recreation Area.

After contacts dried up was going to go to 20m to give it a try, but then got called by Paul VK5PAS, VK3TJK and VK2YK. I tried 20m but no answers to my calls, propagation didn't sound good on 20, maybe why so many were active on 40m?

Another park to park with Tom VK5NFT/p in VKFF-0791 Beachport Conservation Park. A total of 36 contacts, well qualified so packed up and headed home to dinner.

Map from Openstreetmaps showing my operating location in the park.

SOTA Booroomba Rocks VK1/AC-026

A nice sunny Saturday forecast with a top around 25c, decided to reactivate one of my favorite VK1 SOTA peaks, Booroomba Rocks VK1/AC-026.

Drove to the Booroomba Rocks car park, took about an hour from home, got there at 10 am. Quite a few cars in the car park, probably rock climbers and other walkers.

Sign at the start of the track. a 2.5 Km walk.

The track climbs slowly at first, then gets steeper. A large granite boulder along the way.

Once reaching the top of the track headed off into the scrub to try and break into the first rock slab. The bush was pretty thick but didn't last. There used to be little rock piles to guide you along the easier path through the scrub, I couldn't find any of these until getting to the top of the intermediate summit.

Looking towards the SOTA summit from the intermediate summit.

Descended into the treed gully, luckily the rock piles here made it easier.

Walking up the rock slabs towards the SOTA summit. There are rock piles that lead you around to the left and up the Eastern side of the summit, avoiding the worst of the scrub just before the top.

After over an hour reached the summit. Someone had scattered the summit cairn rocks apart :(... thankfully the single gum tree for my usual squid pole support was still going strong.

Always enjoy the fantastic views up here, at over 1300 m. Canberra visible to the North East.

Looking West to the Brindabella Range

I put the summit cairn back together :) It used to be quite large many years ago.

Set up the squid pole on the lone gum tree, legs of the dipole tied to the rocks one end and to a dead snow gum branch at the other end. Also set up the 2m Jpole ribbon antenna. This is a really good VHF site.

Shack on the tarp at the base of the tree. It afforded little shade... luckily not too warm a day. There were lots of small ants here, seemed to like running over the radio, hopefully none got inside.

Got on 40m. Started by working Peter VK3ZPF/p in VKFF-0480 Tarra Bulga National Park with a good signal.

Then spotted myself on ParksnPeaks. Went on to work VK3EQ Rick, VK3LED Col, VK7CW Steve, VK3PF Peter, VK3CAT Tony, VK4RF/VK4HA Rick. Took me a few attempts to get my report to Rick, not that strong. A big signal from local VK1NK Nick, VK2HHA Dennis, VK2KYO Ken.

After 40 m died down went to 2m on 146.500 Mhz the FM calling frequency. Worked VK1MT/m Matt, VK2KBB/m David and VK1MA Matt with a huge signal as usual.

VK1AD/2 Andrew and VK1DA/2 Andrew had come up on VK2/SM-024 Tantangara Mountain. This was on the other side of the Brindabella Range in the Kosciusko National Park, over 50 Km away, but they were up at 1700 m so an easy S9 copy on 2m FM for S2S contacts.

Returned to 40 m for another park contact with VK3ZPF/p Peter, this time in VKFF-0626 Morwell National Park.

There was a spot for Rob VK4AAC/5 in VKFF-0796 Ewens Ponds Conservation Park. Rob was fairly weak, I gave him a 53 report, and he was struggling to copy me at 22.

Worked Gerard VK2IO, Robert VK7VZ/2 portable at Braidwood and Chris VK2SR/m near the ACT border, running 400w in the mobile.

After 25 contacts packed up and headed back down. Took about an hour to get back to the car.

Yanunbeyan State Conservation Area VKFF-1400

A nice sunny Sunday morning, expected to warm up later, so decided to activate a park close by the the ACT, Yanunbeyan State Conservation Area. This is a little known park, I only knew about it as I had entered it before to activate SOTA summit Mt Foxlow VK2/ST-010 in June 2014. At that time the park was not part of the WWFF parks register, State Conservation Areas in NSW were added in July 2016.

Drove out to Queanbeyan, then the Kings Highway, turning off onto Captains Flat Road, then turning off onto Woolcara Lane. This road is unsealed but okay for 2WD cars. It is actually a fairly long road. The road goes past Woolcara station. Please note you pass through this property, don't leave the road and watch out for sheep!

I had a few close encounters with them on the road, they tended to lie down on it and I surprised them coming over the crests of hills. Just slow down and they will get out of the way.

Eventually reached the entrance to Yanunbeyan State Conservation Area. Sign on the left.

A few km past this reached Apple Box Flat picnic area. This is the only picnic area in the park, so stopped here.

A large sign telling the history of the park and Apple Box Flat. Named after an Apple Box Tree. I'm no botanist so unsure where this was...

Close by 3 picnic tables. The closest one and the one behind it had trees overhanging, not good for the squid pole, so picked the one on the right. Probably had the most shade too.

Set up the squid pole and radio shack on my chosen picnic table.

Another view of the shack.

Park radio shack on the table. Partial shade, still quite pleasant temperature mid morning.

Went to spot myself and found there was no mobile coverage here :( Hardly surprising as in a deep valley between Mt Foxlow and Corner hill. So needed to get a park hunter to spot me on parksnpeaks, and hope I would stumble across other park activators.

After a tune around on 40m came across Gerard, VK2IO/p in VKFF-1370 Parr State Conservation Area with a strong 59+ signal. Then found a spot and called CQ, hoping park hunters would spot me.

Worked the following hunters.

VK2ZGH Geoff
VK5ZGY Greg
VK2HHA Dennis
VK3AFW Ron.

Another tune around stumbled across Rob VK4AAC/5 activating VKFF-0905 Lower Glenelg River Conservation Park. Rob was low down, only a 53, he gave me a 32 report but we did make it.

Some more park hunters. The pace got better as someone had spotted me.

VK3PMG Mick
VK3GGG Mick
VK3IRM Mike
VK3SQ Geoff
VK2GAZ Gary
VK2VW Brett
VK3ELH/p Simon
VK3ARH Allen
VK5PAS Paul
Vk7CW Steve
VK3BWZ Bob
VK3OW Ewen
VK2KYO Ken
VK2FPRM Phillip
VK3FLCS Brett
VK2FAD John

After working John called several times with no answer, spun the dial around and found the whole 40 m band empty... it had just died.

Gave 20m a try. Managed to stumble across Adam, VK2YK/4 on 14.244 Mhz activating SOTA peak VK4/NH-129 on Magnetic Island. This was also in VKFF-0299 Magnetic Island National Park. He had a good 58 signal.

Packed up after working Adam and headed home after 25 contacts. Need to return to get the 44.

VKFF Hunter Honour Roll 375 Award

Following a lot of park to park contacts on the VKFF Activation weekend I boosted my park tally over 375, and able to apply for another award.

Applied via Logsearch, Promptly received from Paul, VK5PAS VKFF Awards manager.

VK7RHF 10m FM Repeater

Noticed on vklogger.com a new 10m FM repeater was on air, VK7RHF near Hobart. It is on 29.680 Mhz Output and 29.580 Mhz input, with 91.5 Mhz tone access required.

Fiddled about with my TS480 radio, and after reading the manual on how to set the tone got it sorted in split mode and keyed it up :)

Coming back full scale, so good sporadic e opening to VK7.

Put a call out and worked Hayden VK7HH, the repeaters owner, also Bruce VK7MBD.
Should be good for use during the summer sporadic e season.

Old Naas Travelling Stock Reserve VKFF-0992

After activating Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985 headed for my next park, Old Naas TSR (Travelling Stock Reserve) VKFF-0992. This park has never been activated before for WWFF. Headed back to Naas Road and drove South until reaching the bridge crossing the Gudgenby River. Pulled up off the road here on the left and parked.

Old Naas Travelling Stock Reserve is a rather unique nature reserve in the ACT, it is the only protected Travelling Stock Reserve. Wikipedia definition:

A Travelling Stock Reserve is a fenced paddock set aside at strategic distances to allow overnight watering and camping of stock.

It is a small section of land running along part of the Gudgenby River. No real signs here to indicate it, apart from one nearby for Remnant Vegetation Conservation Area.

There was a track running down to the river, which didn't look that good for operating from as in the full sun. The rest of the reserve was just grassland.

I decided to use about the only bit of shade in the reserve, behind the trees in the remnant vegetation area. used the sign for squid pole support.

Operating position. Map from Protected Planet website. The reserve is small, .019 sq km.

Managed to tuck the operating table in a shady corner behind the trees.

Radio shack on the table in the shade.

Got on 40m. Started with a couple of park to park contacts with VK3FLCS/p Brett in VKFF-0979 Wandong Regional Park, and VK2QR/p Rob in VKFF-1392 Wereboldera State Conservation Area.

A hunter contact with VK2FVIN, Vini, then park to park contacts with Mick VK3PMG/p /VK3GGG/p in VKFF-0958 Ararat Hills Regional Park, VK3XV/p Tony in VKFF-0968 Hepburn Regional Park, and Gerard VK2IO/p in VKFF-1271 Bargo State Conservation Area.

Some more hunters, VK3SQ Geoff, VK3PF Peter, VK2KYO Ken, VK3SFG Sergio with good signals.

A couple more park to parks with  Les VK5KLV/p in VKFF-0360 Mount Remarkable National Park and Rob VK4AAC/3 in VKFF-0361 Mount Richmond National Park.

Saw a spot for Adam VK2YK/4 on 20m so switched to this band. He was weak around S3 and had problems copying me, made contact eventually. He was in VKFF-1666 Townsville Town Common Conservation Park so a good distance away.

Tried spotting and calling on 20m but no callers, so returned to 40m. Some more parks to parks:

VK5ZGY/p Greg in VKFF-0796 Ewens Ponds CP
VK7DW/p Andrew in VKFF-1156 Waterhouse Conservation Area
VK5FMAZ/p Marija in VKFF-0919 Mowantjie Willauwar Conservation Park
VK3MTB/p Tim in VKFF-0747 Gippland Lakes Coastal Park

Worked VK3BSG Erik, before a final contact with VK5PL/p David in VKFF-1159 Wiljani Conservation Park.

My TS480 was displaying LO for low battery for a while, and finally decided to stop transmitting anymore, so packed up and went home. 20 contacts from this park so need to return to sometime to complete the 44 needed for a WWFF point.

Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985

For the VKFF Activation Weekend thought I would activate the last few remaining parks in the ACT yet to be activated by anyone, Gigerline Nature Reserve VKFF-0985 and Old Naas Travelling Stock Reserve VKFF-0992. The 2 parks are close to each other and ideal for a days trip.

Gigerline Nature Reserve is located South of the rural town of Tharwa which is South of Canberra. It protects the Murrumbidgee River Corridor flora and Fauna as it enters the the Eastern edge of the ACT at Angle Crossing.It is one of the nature parks along the river as it flows through the ACT.

I decided to activate at Tharwa Sandwash, a picnic area on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River.

Drove through Tharwa, heading South and turned off onto Smiths Road on the left. Followed this down to a crossing over the Gudgenby River, where you enter the park.

Crossed the bridge. Looking back you can see Mount Tennent, SOTA summit VK1/AC-025. The scar on the side is from a rock fall some years ago.

There was a side road off Smiths Road leading to Tharwa Sandwash.

The side road follows the Murrumbidgee river for a while, dropping down to the river and ending at a picnic/swimming area.

Looking upstream from the picnic area

Looking downstream.

A few tables at the picnic area, this one had a good view of the river but trees above made it unsuitable for the squid pole.

Another table nearby had space above, plus some shade from a nearby tree. Decided to set up here. The table wasn't good for strapping the squid pole to, so used my own camping table instead.

My operating location, map from Protected Planet website.

Radio set up on the picnic table. A bit of shade, but did get warm later as the sun got overhead.

Got on 40m. To my disappointment the band was noisy, there was some electrical interference from nearby power lines. Put on the noise blanker on the TS-480 which removed most of it, however adjacent frequency interference increased. Splatter or noise... Decided to just put up with it as keen to get on air.

Started by working all the parks currently on air. First were Joe VK3YSP/p and Julie VK3FOWL/p in VKFF-0957 Yaringa Marine National Park. Then Marija VK5FMAZ/p in VKFF-1082 Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park.

Found a clear spot and called CQ parks. Contacts with VK2QA Jim, VK1AD/VK1NAM Andrew, VK3PF Peter, VK3SQ Geoff and VK3PMG/VK3GGG Mick, VK2VW, Brett.

Another park to park contact with Rob, VK2QR/p in VKFF-1392 Wereboldera State Conservation Area. This is just outside Tumut and on the other side of the Brindabella Ranges to me, Rob had a good strong signal.

Another park to park, Tony VK3XV/p in VKFF-0772 Paddys Ranges State Park. A couple more hunters, VK2NTJ Jerry and VK2AFY Chris. Another park to park with VK3ZPF/p Peter in VKFF-0750 Arthurs Seat State Park.

Briefly chased a SOTA station, Andrew VK1MBE/2 on VK2/SC-042 Wandera Mountain on the South Coast NSW near Moruya, a summit I have done.

Another park to park with VK5PL/p David in  VKFF-1159 Wiljani Conservation Park.

Switched to 20m to work VK5PAS/p Paul in VKFF-1082 Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park. He had a strong signal and 20m was less noisy then 40m. A surprising contact with VK3ZPF/p Peter in VKFF-0750 Arthurs Seat State Park. This would be only about 600 Km away so short sporadic e skip was in on 20m. Some more contacts on 20m with VK4RF/VK4HA Rick, and VK4HNS/p Neil in VKFF-0300 Main Range National Park.

My next park to park was a real surprise for 20m, VK2IO/p Gerard in VKFF-1271 Bargo State Conservation Area. This is South of Sydney and only a few hundred Km away!? Also Adam VK2YK/4 a lot further away in VKFF-1504 Cape Pallarenda Conservation Park near Townsville.

Some more hunters on 20m, VK3SFG Sergio, VK2KYO Ken and VK3XV/p Tony again, this time on 20m, still in VKFF-0772.

Since sporadic e was in decided to try 15m. Didn't have an antenna for this band, but found the TS480s inbuilt antenna tuner would let me load up the 40m dipole okay on it. Worked VK4FFAB/p Rob in VKFF-0734 Lockyer (Recovery) National Park, also VK3ARH Allen and VK3UH Ken, all strong signals.

Ended up working VK5FMAZ/p Marija and VK5PAS/p Paul again in VKFF-1082, just to get them on 15m for a change.

While at the park I had a visit from the local park ranger, based at Namadgi Visitors Centre nearby. Wanted to know what I was doing. Gave him my email address and later on sent him an email with details on both WWFF parks awards and SOTA. He will pass this on to the other rangers so they are aware of it.

Packed up after lunch and headed off to my next park, VKFF-0992 Old Naas TSR for the afternoon.