SOTA Isaacs Ridge VK1/AC-041

Local SOTA activator Andrew VK1DA was going for SOTA mountain goat, so along with some of the other SOTA activators decided to chase him from a nearby peak for a summit to summit contact. I picked Isaacs Ridge, as it has a good path to Andrews summit VK2/ST-006 South Black Range, and as an added bonus activating a new WWFF park for me, VKFF-0845 Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve.

As per previous activations parked off Long Gully Rd. A walk starts here for walkers, mountain bike riders and horse riders in the park.

Map on the fence for Isaacs Ridge Nature Reserve

Walked straight up the road to the top of the hill, short but steep... Just to the South of the transmission towers some concrete post survey markers, used one to support the squid pole. Initially just set up the 2m folded dipole ribbon antenna, left the dipole wires down until later as in a hurry to get going on 2m first.

Location of my operating spot. Map from Protected Planet website.

Shack on the tarp at the base. Using my FT-857D for extra power.

Got on 2m calling frequency 146.500 FM. worked VK1AD/p Andrew on VK1/AC-043 Mt Stromlo and Matt VK1MA/2 on VK2/ST-001 Mt Cowangerong both with strong signals.

Then Andrew VK1DA/2 came up from VK2/ST-006 South Black Range. I was his 3rd contact, his 4th being with Andrew VK1AD/p for the 4 needed to claim the 1000 summit points and Mountain Goat. Well done Andrew!

Went on to work Al VK1RX/p on nearby VK1/AC-038 Tuggeranong Hill, a huge signal. Worked Matt VK1MA/2 again after UTC rollover at 10:00 am.

Went on to work the following on 2m FM

VK1MIC/p Wade, VK1CT/p Chris in a park VKFF-0859 Percival Hill NR, VK1FJDO, VK1AD/p on VK1/AC-043, VK1AT Jim at home.

Tried putting up the 40 m dipole. The band seemed quite dead, not even the usual Sunday WIA broadcasts coming in that well. After a few calls worked Tex VK1TX on ground wave. As obvious the MUF was low added in the wire extensions and moved down to 80 m.

Had more luck on 80 m. Worked VK1DA/2 Andrew again with a massive signal from VK2/ST-006. Got a call from Peter VK3PF/p activating VK3/VT-046 Mt Tassie. A park to park with Gerard VK2IO/p in VKFF-0092 Cattai National Park.

Geoff VK3SQ also called me on 80 m with a strong signal. Worked a couple more F calls on Mt Stromlo, VK1/AC-043 VK1FCLU/p and VK1FDHA/p.

Tried 40 m again. Managed a summit to summit with Mathew VA3OZI/VK2 on VK2/MN-079 - Mount Yarrahapinni. A bit weak but workable.

Packed up and headed back down. View down the hill to the South West.

VKFF Activator Honour Roll 100 Award

After my activation of VKFF-2653 Mcleods Creek Nature Reserve on Sunday I had activated 100 different VKFF parks, with more than 10 contacts in each, and able to apply for the VKFF Activator Honour Roll 100 Award.

Note I've actually activated 106 different VKFF parks, in 6 of these failed to make 10 QSOs or more... Thanks to the park hunters for the contacts.

WWFF Mcleods Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-2653

Recently another 284 parks were added to the NSW WWFF list, catching up on parks that were not added before due to limitations on how many can be added at a time. I had a look on a map at these new parks and noticed several close by to Canberra, including one not too far away to the North, Mcleods Creek Nature Reserve, VKFF-2653.

This is just to the East of the small village of Gundaroo. After lunch my partner and I drove there via Gungahlin, Gundaroo Drive, Captains Flat Road, then Sutton Road. About a 37 Km, 40 minute drive from home. Once reaching Gundaroo took Rosemel St on the right, this becomes Marked Tree Rd. The park is on the right after a few km, a locked gate with the park sign behind.

Just through the gate on the right the remnants of an old stock yard, probably used for holding sheep. Passed all the gear over the gate and set up using one of the stock yard posts for squid pole support.

Operating location on a map, taken from Protected Planet website.

looking back the other way

Radio shack on the table.

Good mobile coverage here. Saw a spot for VK5PAS/p in VKFF-0878 Eurilla Conservation Park so got on 40m and worked him, he was a strong S9. I spotted myself on 7.130 on ParksnPeaks and worked several park hunters

VK4FDJL
VK5KLV
VK5PL
VK3GGG/VK3PMG
VK4RF/VK4HA

Another Park to park with VK3PF/p Peter in VKFF-2034 Adams Creek Nature Conservation Reserve

I started getting heavy QRM from Europe from a contest, so moved down to 7.080, on the way working VK5FMAZ/p Maria also in VKFF-0878 Eurilla Conservation Park

Some more contacts

VK4TJ - VK4/AC8WN - VK4/VE6XT
VK2HF/4
VK4HNS

After no more calls on 40 m added the 80 m wire extensions on to the dipole ends.Worked Paul VK5PAS/p and Maria VK5FMAZ/p again in VKFF-0878 Eurilla Conservation Park, a good S7 on 80m.

Worked VK2IO Gerard and VK2NP Cliff in nearby Sydney, they could not hear me on 40 m as NVIS was not working.Went on to work

VK4TJ - VK4/AC8WN - VK4/VE6XT
VK3FMKE
VK3SQ

As the winter sun was setting it was getting quite cold. Overnight the temperature had fallen to -5 c and with thick fog in the morning the temperature had only struggled up to a maximum around 7 c.

Packed up and headed for the warmth of the wood fire in the nearby Gundaroo pub 😃

VKFF Hunter Honour Roll 675 Award

After working several new parks recently managed to reach 675 unique parks, and applied for the VKFF Hunter Honour Roll 675 Award. Thanks to park activators for helping me get there.

FT8DMC Worked All Indonesia Prefixes Award

The FT8 Digital Mode Club have the Worked All Indonesia Prefixes Award (WAIP), for FT8 QSOs with Indonesian amateur radio stations from each Indonesian Prefix:

YB, YC, YD, YE, YF and YG

From http://www.qsl.net/yb0emj/hamgen.html there are 4 classes of licence in Indonesia

YH - No code - VHF/UHF only

YD YG - Novice - HF 80 m, 40 m, 15 m, 10 m 10 w only

YC YF - General - HF except WARC bands 150 w

YB YE - Advanced - All HF bands 500 w

I managed to get most of the Prefixes, however YD took me some time... surprisingly I could copy them okay on their low power, just getting them to respond back to me on FT8 was a problem. Called several YDs over time on 40 m with no response. Finally made a QSO with YD9DE to complete the requirements for the award.    

YB0COU              2017-12-11  11:02  17M   FT8      YB      

YB3BME              2018-05-18  23:25  20M   FT8      YB      

YC4CHP              2018-03-07  09:56  20M   FT8      YC      

YE1AR               2017-09-06  08:43  20M   FT8      YE      

YF9CDL              2018-05-05  01:46  20M   FT8      YF      

YB1TJ               2017-09-13  12:37  30M   FT8      YB      

YE8XBN              2018-05-11  22:46  30M   FT8      YE      

YC0OSX              2017-09-13  12:01  40M   FT8      YC      

YD9DE               2018-07-08  11:57  40M   FT8      YD      

YE8XBN              2018-05-03  12:34  40M   FT8      YE      

YG7SPN              2017-10-19  10:17  40M   FT8      YG      

Result:

WAIP-WAIP:          6/6 indonesian prefixes

Applied using Ultimate AAC software. Approved promptly by the awards manager Yudi YE1AR, actually one of my contacts. A nice looking award.

WWFF Cooleman Ridge Nature Reserve VKFF-0837

With a sunny Sunday afternoon decided to do another WWFF activation, Cooleman Ridge Nature Reserve, VKFF-0837. I had activated this before but due to poor conditions only made 13 contacts, so returned to try and make the 44 for WWFF.

Wanted to try a different place, so this time drove to the end of Guiness Place in Chapman. The end of the road is unsealed with a parking area on the left, gate into the reserve at the end. A map of the park on the gate.

Walked past the gate and took Guiness Fire Trail, off Cutoff Drain Fire Trail, heading up the hill. After a bit of height for the activation.

Followed Guiness Fire Trail to the top of the hill. A water tank and mobile phone tower near the top. Wandered over to the highest point of the hill and set up on a log.

Location of my operating spot. Map from Open Street Maps.

Note this is not the highest point in the reserve, but this is WWFF not SOTA so does not really matter. Looking towards the highest point Mt Arawang trig at 765 m.

View towards Black Mountain and the city

View to nearby Woden town centre.

View West towards the Brindabella Ranges. One leg of my dipole visible, tied to a prickly bush :)

Set up the shack on a rock seat. FT-857D perched on the top of the rock.

Got on 40 m. Heard Glen VK3YY/p doing a SOTA activation on VK3/VT-016 Mt Useful, so worked him with a good signal. Then went and worked the 3 park activations on at the time.

VK4DX/p Mike in VKFF-1594 Moggill Conservation Park
VK4ALE/p Jono in VKFF-1511 Clear Mountain Conservation Park
VK4SMA/p Mark in VKFF-1660 Tingalpa Creek Conservation Park

With these parks worked spotted myself on ParksnPeaks on 7.115 Mhz and worked the park hunters.

VK2IO
VK3ZPF
VK4TJ
VK4FDJL
VK7QP
VK2UH
VK4HNS
VK4AAC/5
VK2NP
VK4NH VK4DXA ZL4TY/VK4
VK1MIC
VK2GPT
VK2VX
VK3LTL
VK4GSF
ZL1TM
VK2VW
VK7AN
VK1AT
VK2HPN
VK3SQ
VK5FMWW
VK3TXB/m
VK2IAN
VK2KTG
VK2KMI
VK4UMS

As had made 33 QSOs had 46 total for the park, and qualified it. Packed up and headed home.

VKFF Hunter Honour Roll 650 Award

After some park hunting both from home and while out activating, managed to confirm 650 unique VKFF park references. Applied for the award. Thanks to park activators for helping me achieve this.