SOTA Livingstone Hill VK2/SM-093

Decided to head down to Thredbo in the Snowy Mountains and do a SOTA summit over the UTC rollover period, the Cascades VK2/SM-014. This meant driving down on Saturday New Years Eve. While driving down via the Monaro Highway stopped to activate Livingstone Hill VK2/SM-093, near Michelago.

Parked near the gate. Note that this is private property, a sheep paddock, at the request of the farmer left a note on my dashboard with my name and mobile number. It's about a 500m walk to the summit.

Set up the squid pole on the trig cairn. Looking East to the Tinderies mountains.

Looking North to the communication tower.

Looking South towards Cooma. Eastern edge of the ACT is on the right.

While putting up the 40m dipole one of the wire legs snapped... fixed it by twisting the broken ends together tightly, managed to hold together okay for the weekends activations.

Got on 40m. Found there was an annoying on air white noise appearing from the tower nearby, sounded like an air conditioner as it would cut in and out. Managed to work stations when it was off. Probably best to move away from the trig next time

Started with an S2S with VK7XDM/p Mitch on VK7/WC-013. Then the regular chasers from VK2, VK3 and VK5. Another S2S with Peter VK3PF/p on VK3/VE-014 The Horn.

After 40 m contacts stopped switched to 20m for post UTC contacts. Some good signals from VK5WG, VK7CW, VK4RF/VK4HA, VK2YK and VK1MA.

As still had a long way to drive to Thredbo packed up and continued driving South to Cooma.