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

600 Asia Stations Award

Another award from FT8DMC, for working 600 Asia stations. Mainly Japanese contacts on 17m and 10m. Nice award. Thanks for QSOs and award manager,

300 Asia Stations on 10m Award

Latest award, for 300 Asia Stations on 10m FT8, by the European Ros Club. Admittedly fairly easy from Australia. Thanks for the QSOs and award manager.

50 Spanish Stations award

After contacting some Spanish stations on 30 m FT8, found I had reached a total of 50, and applied for this award, from the ERC. Nice award. Thanks for QSOs and awards manager

10 Greek Stations Award

Latest award, for working 10 Greek Stations from FT8DMC. 7 of these were on the 30m band, which seems to open to EU nicely here in VK early mornings. Nice award. Having visited Santorini brings back memories.

SOTA Mt Coree VK1/AC-023

With a high 38c forecast for Canberra decided to head into the mountains and escape the heat for a while. Decided on Mt Coree as little walking involved and at 1400 m should be nice and cool.

As per other activations took the Brindabella Rd up to Picadilly Circus, turning off onto Two Sticks Road on the right. Then turned off onto the Coree Summit Trail. Note the sign for this on Two Sticks Road seems to be missing now so need to watch out for the turn off.

The road passes the Coree camping area, then climbs steeply in a series of turns up to the summit. This road is rough with lots of rocks, so care needed. You need a 4WD for most of the ascent. I stopped around 3 bends from the top and walked the rest of the way. View from one of the bends to the North

The final ascent. There are some tricky rocky bits here, probably could have driven up but it does get crowded at the top with 4WDs, so better off just walking up.

Top of Mt Coree with the fire tower and trig at the end.

Mt Coree Trig

View out to the West towards Tumut

View towards Canberra to the East

View to the North of the trig along the Brindabella range

Set up the squid pole on the trig. At first just put up the 2 m slim jim ribbon antenna.

Radio on one of the legs of the trig, partially out of the sun. 

As the trig is on the border of Namagdi National Park in the ACT and Brindabella National Park in NSW, was set up on the Western side in VKFF-0054 Brindabella National Park. Got on 2m FM on 146.500 and spotted myself on SOTAwatch. Worked

VK1MA

VK1AD

VK2PET/m

VK2VEX

VK1DW

VK2ADB

VK2KI

VK1GH

All the VK1s were pretty much full scale signals. Some very strong signals from Yass, Bowning too. VK2ADB was in Booroowa past Yass, almost 100 Km away. My furthest contact was with VK2PET, Pete mobile at Breakfast Creek, North of Booroowa, 128 Km to the North.  Mt Coree has an excellent take off to the North.

Tried putting up the link dipole and getting on 40m. Disappointingly found about an S7 of some electronic type noise across the whole band. Would have to be from the fire tower. Had not had this noise here before, although that was in 2016 so some new gear must have been installed. Stopped and called anyway, limited to only working some of the stronger stations I could hear over the noise.

VK3PF

VK1AD

VK5HAA

VK2VH, VK4AAC/2

VK1FJNG

VK3SQ

VK5IS

VK2KI

VK2IO

VK3YV

Switched to 20 m. Luckily the noise was gone on this band, so able to hear stations. On 14.310 Mhz heard ZL3MR putting out final calls from ZL3/CB-617, a SOTA peak North of Christchurch New Zealand. Called him for a S2S, worked with a good 53 signal.

After he went clear took the frequency. Worked

ZL1BYZ

VK1MA

VK5HAA

VK3CAT

VK5AYL

VK5WG

VK8BL

ZL1TM

VK1CT

As around noon and the wind had picked up, packed up and headed back down to the Coree camping area for lunch. Drove home.

  

25 Canadian stations Award

 Picked up a new award from the European Ros Club, 26 Canadian Stations on FT8. Nice. Will need to look up for more VE stations for the higher number awards.