1000 Asia stations award

Another award from the FT8 Digital Mode Club, for working 1000 Asia stations. Most of these would be to Japan...

Molonglo River Reserve VKFF-3184

With a nice sunny Sunday decided to do a park activation. Went to one of the newly added parks in the ACT, Molonglo River Reserve VKFF-3184.

The park is large, covering the Molonglo river from downstream of Scrivener Dam down to the junction of the Murrumbidgee river, around 13 Km. I headed for a walk in the park close to home, the Woodland track. Drove to Southcott Vw in Coombes, parked and headed off on the walk. Sign about the park flora and fauna.

The track descends at first and crosses a small creek. Feet got a bit wet near here, have had a lot of rain lately...

After climbing the hill reached the Molonglo cottage ruins. Sign about the cottage. Not much left of it now. Coombes suburb can be seen behind.

Just to the East of the cottage was a lookout area with a fence. Set up the station here as the fence provided a good squid pole and antenna support.

Looking back the other way to the West

Looking across to the station. Shack on the tarp.

Operating spot. Map from Openstreetmaps

Looking down to the Molonglo River. Black Mountain tower can be seen in the distance on the right.

Tested the 40m dipole, good SWR on 7.129 Mhz.

Spotted myself on ParknPeaks and got called first by VK2EXA. Then another park activator, VK4SYD/2 in VKFF-1916 Cudgen Nature Reserve

Worked VK3SQ and VK2IO, both strong signals.

Called by another park activator, VK2OMK Richard and VK2YAK/VK4YAK Gavin in VKFF-0522 Watagans National Park

Then VK3NDG/m, VK3NFS, VK1AD, VK1NAM. VK1AD Andrew advised me VK1DA Andrew was on 7.090 on a SOTA summit, so QSYed to work him. Quite strong, on VK2/RI-016 Mount Burngoogee

Then VK3FAR, VK2PKT, VK3YV, VK3APJ, VK3KR, VK2YN/p, VK3GJG.

A contact with VK2ASD Phil maritime mobile on Sydney Harbour, very strong.

Worked VK3NDG/p now on a SOTA summit VK3/VT-030 Mt Lookout

After contacts dried up on 40m, changed the links to 20m. Worked

VK5HAA, VK4WTN, VK4MVL, ZL3MR.

My spot must have gotten onto the DX cluster, then got the EU stations calling...

IK4IDF, DL2ND, F1BLL, OH1XT

Most fairly low, except OH1XT who was peaking 58. I was not too strong, did up my power to 40w to help out.

Another park to park with VK4MUD John in VKFF-0199 Girringun National Park

After 20 seemed to close to EU gave it away and headed home after 30 contacts. Will need to return to get the 44, as close to home easy enough to revisit.

Worked 900 FT8DMC Members Award

Award for working 900 members of the FT8 Digital Mode Club (FT8DMC)

VKFF Hunter Honour Roll 1100 Award

Latest VKFF award for me for hunting 1100 parks. Thanks park activators for the contacts.

 

Gossan Hill Nature Reserve VKFF-0842 National Tree Day 2022

Sunday 31st July was National Tree Day, with an award for activating a VKFF park. Headed out to one of my local parks to activate. Went to nearby Gossan Hill Nature Reserve, VKFF-0842. As forecast was for rain in the afternoon set off in the morning. Parked at the end of Clews Pl in Bruce, after a short walk into the park found a suitable place to activate, a tree stump with a log nearby to sit on.

 Location in the park. Map from Google Maps

Shack on the log. Ran the FT857D at 40w

Got on 40m. Started by working park to parks with some of the Parks on the band.

VK2YAK Gavin in VKFF-1410 Port Stephens - Great Lakes Marine Park

VK4EMP Mark in VKFF-1511 Clear Mountain Conservation Park

VK2HBG Gerald in VKFF-2022 Wogamia Nature Reserve

Spotted on 7.167 and worked several park hunters

VK5LA, VK5BJE, VK3SQ, VK5PAS, VK5FANA

Another P2P with VK4HNS Neil in VKFF-2537 Boomi West Nature Reserve

VK5MAZ, VK2PKT, VK2KYO, VK5IS, VK3NP, VK1ACE, VK2HHA, VK2YK/VK5GA, VK2PCT, VK4CJ, VK2LEE, VK4HAT, VK2YES, VK2EXA.

Tried 20m. Worked

VK4EMP Mark in VKFF-1511 Clear Mountain Conservation Park

KG5CIK Steve in Texas. Surprised, although seems several activators have worked him.

ZL3MR, ZL4NVW

Another P2P with VK1CT Chris in nearby VKFF-0859 Percival Hill Nature Reserve

Returned to 40m to work VK2IO Gerard in VKFF-2784 Rouse Hill Regional Park

After midday light rain began to fall. Packed up and made it back to the car before it got too heavy, headed home for lunch.

Award from VK5PAS Paul for National Tree Day 2022

Taiwan Awards from YB6DXC FT8 club

Some more awards from the YB6DXC FT8 Club for working Taiwan stations

Basic - 2 contacts

Bronze - 4 contacts

Silver - 6 contacts

Gold - 8 contacts

Platinum - 10 contacts

2 Oman Awards from YB6DXC FT8 club

After running UAAAC software found I had some new awards. From the YB6DXC Award scheme, for working a Oman Station Basic Award

For working 2 Oman stations, Bronze Award

Oman is hard to work from VK, so may take a while to get more contacts there.