15 contacts on FT8 with Taiwan Award

After working BV6CC recently on 10m FT8 found I was eligible for a new award, Worked 15 Taiwan stations provided by the European Ros Club (ERC). Nice award

 

Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve VKFF-0847

After lunch at home drove to my 2nd WWFF park for the day, Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve VKFF-0847. I last activated this park 4 years ago in November 2016. For a change set up in another part of the park, a car park off Dairy Rd in Fyshwick.

Sign for the park off the car park.

Not far from the car park a descriptive sign for the park.

At the back of the sign a short walk to a bird hide overlooking a lagoon. The wetlands is a popular bird watching spot.

Another view of the lagoon, taken from inside the bird hide.

I decided to set up just off the car park, using one of the metal posts for squid pole support, and on the tarp on the grass.

Dipole legs to a small bush and to a picnic table support behind me. Antenna showing a good match on 40 m on 7.082 Mhz.

Shack on the tarp on the grass

Got on 40 m. Started with park to park contacts with Maria VK5MAZ and Paul VK5PAS in VKFF-0934 Scott Conservation Park, good S8 signals.

A contact with VK3PF, at which point noticed a few spots of rain. I could see a band of rain moving towards me, so announced going clear. I still had callers though, so quickly worked 

VK3LF in VKFF-0965 Crossover Regional Park

VK3MPR

VK3YV in VKFF-0840 Tarra-Bulga National Park

VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4

At this stage the rain was coming down heavy, so quickly bundled all the gear up and threw it in the boot of the car. The radio wasn''t too wet so should be okay. Drove home in the rain.

Apologies for the short activation to other callers. Managed to quickly get 9 contacts before cut off by the rain.

Dunlop Grassland Nature Reserve VKFF-0839

For the VKFF Activation Weekend decided to activate a couple of local parks that had not activated for a while. In the morning headed for Dunlop Grassland Nature Reserve VFFF-0839, which I activated back in 2017. This was mainly to grab park to park contacts as qualified it previously.

As per other activations parked in Binns St Dunlop, and entered the park on foot via a locked gate. Sign for the park

I had a look at where I operated last time, over 3 years the grass had overgrown the log I sat on last time, so this time just mounted the squid pole on the fence and set up the dipole along the fence.

Checked the dipole for resonance, looked okay on 40 m, around 7.124 Mhz

Set up the radio on the tarp. Was out of the sun, although that changed later so needed to move a bit...

Power set to about 40 w. Started by working Paul VK5PAS and Maria VK5MAZ in VKFF-1707 Encounter Marine Park, both good signals.

Spotted myself on Parks and Peaks on 7.160 Mhz. Worked

VK3ANL/p Nick in VKFF-2195 St Andrews Nature Conservation Reserve

VK1VIC/p Tony and VK1EM/p Mark in nearby VKFF-1920 Cuumbeun Nature Reserve

VK3YV/p Tony in VKFF-0626 Morwell National Park

VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4

VK7LTD/p Tony in VKFF-2920 Surveyors Bay Conservation Area

VK2VH, VK4AAC

VK5IS

VK3OF

VK3PF

VK7FAMP/p Angela in VKFF-2920 Surveyors Bay Conservation Area

VK3ARH, VK3HRA

VK2VW, VK2HFI

VK3ZPF

As 12:30pm packed up and headed back home for lunch, then on to my next park

VKFF-0847 Jerrabomberra Wetlands Nature Reserve

 

100 Russian Stations ERC Award

 After working a few Russian stations on 10 m FT8 recently, found on Ultimate AAC had qualified for an award by the European Ros Club (ERC). Here it is

Worked 15 Hawaiian Stations Award

 Latest FT8DMC award for working 15 Hawaiian Stations. Nice award.

400 Japanese Stations Award

Been working some good pileups of JA stations on 12 m, 10 m, and managed to get over 400 Japanese stations worked. Nice Award 

Worked 100 Indonesian Stations Award

Have been looking out for Indonesian Stations for the Indonesian Prefectures Award, also means managed to work 100 different stations, and qualified for this nice looking award. Mainly on 20 m, but quite a few lately on 15 m now the higher bands are opening. Thanks for contacts and Awards Manager

Worked 400 FT8DMC Members Award

Checking for new awards in UAAC software recently, found had contacted over 400 FT8DMC members so applied for the Worked All Members Award. Nice.