SOTA Black Mountain VK1/AC-042

Each new year gives VK stations a unique opportunity to activate SOTA summits each side of UTC day, which is at 11 am local Eastern Summer Time. Basically an excuse for a S2S SOTA bash fest...

I decided to activate Black Mountain, VK1/AC-042, mainly because it is the closest summit to me and the quickest to get to. I had activated it before in 2021, so before UTC would just be collecting S2S points, but would get a point for it after UTC changeover.

Drove to the car park near the tower. Found the faint track I used previously was now upgraded, and other access tracks down were now closed off, directing walkers onto it. So got quite busy... Instead of setting up on the track, set off to one side just in the scrub, using an old star picket for squid pole support. Black Mountain Telstra tower can be seen in the background

A view down the track. It got quite busy with joggers and walkers.

Shack on the tarp

At 2330z got on 2m FM with the Jpole ribbon antenna, using 30w from the FT857D. Found 146.500 too busy to get on, announced there would be calling on 146.550 and moved there to start working S2S and chasers. Worked prior to UTC rollover

VK1DA/p on VK2/ST-006 South Black Range

VK1RW/p on VK1/AC-048 Mount McDonald

VK1MF

VK1MIC/p on VK2/ST-053 Mt Mundoonen

VK1AD/p on VK1/AC-043 Mt Stromlo

VK1VIC/p on VK1/AC-008 Mt Ginini

VK2COW, VK1DW, 

VK2XDT/1 on VK1/AC-040 Mt Ainslie

VK1GVC

VK1MCW/p on VK1/AC-033 Bullen Range

VK1LF, VK1FELF, VK1FDNK all /p on VK1/AC-023 Mt Coree

VK1DD/p on VK1/AC-037 Mt Taylor

VK1MA/p on VK2/ST-005 Webbs Ridge

After UTC rollover at 1100 am local time

VK1MA/p on VK2/ST-005 Webbs Ridge

VK1MF

VK1LAJ/p on VK2/ST-008 Baldy Range

VK1RW/p on VK1/AC-048 Mount McDonald

VK1AD/p on VK1/AC-043 Mt Stromlo

VK1MIC/p on VK2/ST-053 Mt Mundoonen

VK1DD/p on VK1/AC-037 Mt Taylor

VK1MCW/p on VK1/AC-033 Bullen Range

VK1DA/p on VK2/ST-006 South Black Range

VK1LF, VK1FELF, VK1FDNK all /p on VK1/AC-023 Mt Coree

I briefly tried 40m, it sounded very quiet, not that much activity. Managed  to work a couple more

VK1ACE/p on VK1/AC-031 Mt Rob Roy

VK2NKO/1 on VK1/AC-037 Mt Taylor

Getting quite warm, packed up at noon and headed home for lunch.

  

SOTA Black Mountain VK1/AC-042

To mark the anniversary of VK1 SOTA starting, 1st Feb 2013, decided to activate Black Mountain, VK1/AC-042. This is not far from home. Parked in the car park for Black Mountain tower

Just down from the car park on the Northern side set up in my usual spot, a walking track running diagonally down from the car park. Its not used much, in fact the top is overgrown and hard to find now. Set up the squid pole on an old fence post

Left my tarp behind, so used an old blanket from the back of the car. Was more comfortable anyway. Shack on the blanket.

Got on 2 m first. Worked S2S with VK1CT/p Chris on Mt Stromlo VK1/AC-043, strong. Then

VK1AD, VK1MCW, VK1MA,

VK1DB/p, Dermy who was also on Mt Stromlo with Chris.

Tried 40 m. My first contact a S2S with VK3ZPF/p Peter on VK3/VC-033 Mt Toolebewong

Then VK5AYL, VK1MA, VK5PAS, VK5MAZ, VK3UCD, VK3CRG, VK7LTD, VK7AN, VK2YK/5

Went to 20 m. Worked

ZL4NVW, VK1MA, ZL1BYZ

No more contacts, so packed up and headed home

SOTA Black Mountain VK1/AC-042

Saw an alert for a SOTA activation of Mt Domain VK1/AC-020 by Aaron, VK1LAJ on Saturday morning, so thought I would try to work him with a summit to summit contact. So headed to my local summit, Black Mountain, VK1/AC-042. 

This summit is very easy to find in Canberra, as it has a large communications tower on top, Telstra Tower. View of it from the car park.

I also wanted to activate Black Mountain Nature Reserve for WWFF so headed down from the car park into the scrub. The car park is not in the park. Set up in my usual spot on a minor walking track heading down to the North of the car park. There is an old gate post that serves for squid pole support

First set up on 2 m with my 2 m jpole ribbon antenna. Shack on the tarp

Not long after setting up, heard Aaron VK1LAJ with a strong signal on 146.500 FM, worked him easily.

After Aaron had worked his callers put out some calls of my own. Worked

VK1MA Matt

VK1HAM Mat

VK1MCW Bill

VK1MIC Wade

VK1KW Rob

VK1FLEX Drew.

Most quite strong. After calls on 2 m ended set up the linked dipole, first on 80 m to get the locals.

I tested the 80 m dipole SWR using my new RigExpert 230 stick, a bit low in resonant frequency but okay for use. Its usually resonant around 7.100 Mhz but was showing 3.486 Mhz.

 

Went on to work on 80 m

VK3PF Peter

VK1DW Deanne

VK3SQ Geoff

A summit to summit with Gerard VK2IO/p on VK2/HU-080 Summit Point near Newcastle.

VK3ARH Allen

When I switched the links to 40 m, found why the SWR was a bit out, I had forgotten to tie up one leg of the dipole 😐 The end was just lying on the ground... Still seemed to work though.

On 40 m worked

VK4TJ John

VK1DW Deanne

VK1MA Matt

ZL1BYZ John

ZL1WA Jacky

Seeing New Zealand was coming in on 40 m, went to 20 m to make it easier for them. Worked

ZL1SKL Soren

VK1MA Matt

ZL3JD Phil

ZL3RIK Rick.

Signals quite good on 20m.

As lunch time packed up and headed back home. The summit is only about a 15 minute drive from home.

SOTA Black Mountain VK1/AC-042

With a nice sunny warm 30c Saturday afternoon decided to activate a nearby SOTA summit, Black Mountain VK1/AC-042. This is the closest summit to home, about 6 Km away and about a 15 minute drive, so very easy to do. I also needed another 25 contacts to qualify it for the WWFF award, the summit is WWFF park VKFF-0834 Black Mountain Nature Reserve.

Set myself up in the same spot as last time, on a little used walking track off the Northern side of the car park, using an old gate post for squid pole support.

Looking back down the track. Lots of tree branches across the track from a strong wind storm on Friday afternoon.

Set up the radio on the tarp, using my TS-480 running 25w. Black mountain Telstra communications tower visible in the background.

Got on 40m. Started with a park to park with Marc VK3OHM/p in VKFF-0296 Lower Glenelg National Park. Then a summit to summit with Marshall VK3MRG/p on VK3/VE-137 Bald Hill.

Then usual chasers from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4 and VK5. When 40m dried up for contacts went to 20m. Usual contact with Rick VK4RF/VK4HA. John ZL1BYZ with a good signal. Seemed to be good conditions to VK6, as went on to work VK6XL Allen and VK6NU John. Final contact with Matt VK1MA,  a massive strong 59++ signal as usual.

Gave it away and headed home to dinner. 26 contacts made so with my activation last year had 45 contacts, completing the park for WWFF.

SOTA Black Mountain VK1/AC-042

After a dull cloudy morning the weather improved into a nice sunny afternoon, so headed out to activate a local SOTA peak, Black Mountain VK1/AC-042.

As per other activations parked in the lower car park and walked up to the tower and summit.

Wanted to to ensure properly activating Black Mountain Nature Reserve, VKFF-0834 for the WWFF award. The park map from the ACT Government TAMS website seems to indicate Black Mountain Road and the tower car park are not within the park.

The summit distance marker where I usually operate, probably inside the park, however continued on .

At the top of the rise the actual summit, only a marker in the ground, not a proper trig

Just on the Northern side of the car park within the activation zone was a track with the remnants of a gate and gate posts. Probably left over from a time when Black Mountain was farmland. Used one of the gate posts as a support for the squid pole

Looking back up the track towards the tower car park.

Shack on the tarp at the base of the gate post. Telstra tower visible behind. No problem getting a mobile Telstra signal here :)

Got on 40 m. A few birdies in places but otherwise not much interference from the tower. Worked the usual chasers in VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5 and VK7, most good signals but lots of QSB.

A couple of S2S contacts, Julie VK3FOWL/P on VK3/VC-018 Mt Buninyong and Gerard VK2IO/P on VK2/SY-002 Riley's Mountain. Gerard had been operating on 10 m, I had a brief listen but as expected nothing, too close for skip and no sporadic e about.

Tried 20 m, however no luck, band didn't sound that good with only a few ZLs on.

Starting to get warm in the sun, so packed up after 19 contacts and headed home.

SOTA Black Mountain VK2/AC-042

For the upcoming SOTA 6 and 10 m challenge made a new linked dipole to cover these bands. Thought I would test it out in the field with an activation of my local summit, Black Mountain.

As per my previous activations parked in the car park just below the summit and walked up.

The track passes close to the base of the tower and joins the road running around the top car park

Headed up the road to the lookout

Black Mountain lookout. Or it would be if the trees hadn't grown up...Set up the squid pole on the fence and strung out both my old 20/40 m linked dipole and my new 6/10 m dipole.

Shack in the small amount of shade behind the distance marker

Tried 10 m first. Worked a couple of locals, Matt VK1MA and Andrew VK1NAM with good signals.
Tried listening for 10 m beacons in the 28.2-28.3 Mhz segment of the band, could hear several, including V73TEN Marshall Islands on 28.297 Mhz and ZL3TEN New Zealand on 28.227 Mhz, so the band was open to the Pacific okay.

There were some signals from the USA, tried calling W7CI in Arizona with a good strong S8 signal. He misheard my call as K1DI and turned his beam to the East and lost me...

Popped over to 40 m to grab an S2S with Adam VK2YK/p on VK2/MN-117. Not very strong but quite readable with the low noise floor on the summit. Worked a few of the regular chasers, then went to 6 m.

Managed to work Andrew, VK2UH in Yass with a weak signal, otherwise quiet. Band didn't seem to be open. Went back to 10 m. Worked a few more locals, VK1MT Matt and VK1EM Mark, before packing up and heading home for lunch.

Track log of walk

SOTA Black Mountain S2S with VK7

On the 1st October a new SOTA Association, VK7, Tasmania was approved, and one of the local VK1 SOTA activators Paul VK1ATP put an alert up to activate the first summit, VK7/EC-045.

As had the day free decided to go chase him on local SOTA peak Black Mountain, VK1/AC-042. I knew it wouldn't be a strong signal at home, figured more chance on a peak, plus I get to do the first S2S to a new Association!

Black Mountain is only about a 10 minute drive from home. Parked in the lower car park as per other activations.

After a few minutes walk up the track reached the summit. Set up on the lookout platform as per my last time here, using the distance marker for a shack table.

The squid pole strapped to the metal fence and dipole legs laid out along the fence.

Got on 40 m on 7.090 and worked Paul, VK1ATP/7 on VK7/EC-045. He was about a S4R4, I was S5R5. He was mainly working VK3s.

After working him moved up to 7.095 and spotted myself to let chasers grab some points, none for me as already done this peak this year...Worked 3 VK2s, 3 VK3s and VK5BJE portable. The VK2s mentioned they were not able to copy Paul, signal too weak to work. Probably would have had problems myself at home so the quiet summit was good.

Packed up and headed home.

SOTA Reactivation Black Mountain

For the VK1 SOTA 1 year Anniversary since going live decided to activate a summit close to home, VK1/AC-042, Black Mountain. As expecting 37c in Canberra got there early at 8:30 am to beat the heat. Got to the car park just below the summit and started walking.

After a few minutes got to the top. Set up the squid pole and 20/40 m dipoles on the metal fence near the lookout, just above the tower.

Hid in the shade of the distance marker.

Got on 40 m, plenty of activity with several activations on air already.

VK2FGJW/p Greg on VK2/CT-001
VK1RX/2 Al on VK2/ST-036
VK1NAM/p Andrew on VK1/AC-041

Later on also worked VK2TWR/p Rod on VK2/SM-046.

Lots of chasers worked with some good signals from VK5 too. Spoke to Peter VK3YE on his pedestrian loop antenna. Also worked several at the M&DRC SOTA function. Made 31 contacts before packing up mid morning to escape the rising heat.

SOTA Activation Black Mountain VK1/AC-042

As had a day off work and some SOTA activations around 12:30pm local decided to do some S2S chasing from Black Mountain.

As per my last activation here parked in the car park mid way up the mountain and walked up to the summit.

The track ends just near the Black Mountain Telstra Tower

Instead of operating at the lookout with the direction marker like last time I decided to operate a bit further up the road, using a track marker for a squid pole support. This gave me a bit of shade under a gum tree.

It also meant got some traffic going past from walkers and joggers...fairly hard to avoid up here as a popular place to walk.

Found it a bit harder to get the dipole clear of trees, probably go back to my old activation spot next time.
Got on 40m, worked S2S VK1NAM Andrew and VK1RX Al on nearby Mt Ainslie, VK1/AC-040, then VK2FPJR Phil on Mt Alexandra VK2/IL-005. Then 6 of the regular chasers. As getting warm packed up just after 1pm. Checking Sotawatch later seems I missed another S2S with VK5TX but about 15 minutes...

SOTA Activation Black Mountain 812m

Set off this morning to activate the closest SOTA summit to home, Black Mountain, VK1/AC-042, a mere 5Km away or a 10 minute drive...

This summit is a well known Canberra landmark, having a large communications tower, restaurant and observation deck for tourist on top.

Drove into the car park part of the way up, out of the activation zone

GPS showed 768m at the car park. The peak is at 812m so well clear of the 25m zone.

You can see the track to the top through the bush and the tower on top. Set out on the track, got to the top after a few minutes walk.


APRS track log of the walk.

The summit area used to have a view, however over time the trees have grown up so not much of a view now days  most tourists head up the tower.

Black Mountain summit "view"

Tried 2m ht, nothing...RF overload from the tower. So used the FT817 and the standard whip to work 2m. Made 6 2m contacts, including S2S contacts with VK1NAM Mt Stromlo,  VK1NUT, VK1FSTJ Isaacs Ridge and VK1RX Booroombra Rocks.

Lashed the squid pole to the guard rail, and ran the legs to some of the rail and a nearby tree. A 7m squid pole got a few strange looks from passing tourists! Used the summit distance guide as a handy operating table.

Went on 40m, after some connection problems got going and worked 6 stations before new UTC day and 7 more in the new day, although several of these were repeats. Worked another S2S on 40m, VK3KAN Rick on Flinders Peak. Also caught up with Jack, VK2AXL in Coffs Harbour, who was very pleased to be working a few more SOTA contacts.

Telstra Tower.

Packed up around noon and headed down to nearby Civic for lunch with the girlfriend.