SOTA Tuggeranong Hill VK1/AC-038

 For Monday Canberra day holiday decided to do a SOTA activation in the morning, and try for a S2S with the Andrews VK1AD/VK1DA on Boboyan Range. Picked Tuggeranong Hill as have not done it for some time, since 2016, so time for a revisit.

As per previous activations parked in a side road off Callister Cres in Theodore and walked into the reserve. Sign for the Tuggeranong Hilll Nature Reserve VKFF-0863 is the WWFF reference

The track up Tuggeranong Hill is short but steep. Approaching the top of a small knoll before the main hill on the right.

Approaching the top of Tuggeranong Hill. Think the towers are for Radio/TV/mobile repeater stations for the Tuggeranong valley. Never had interference from them on HF/VHF. Its around a 25 minute walk to the top.

Just past the towers set up on the trig. 2m Slim Jim and 20/40/80m linked dipoles on the squid pole.

Some views from the top. a bit cloudy today, in fact had a light shower driving here but did not last.

Set up the radio on the tarp. The tarp and radio were soon overrun with hundreds of millipedes... They are harmless but proved to be a nuisance during activating, as constantly flicking them off the tarp, myself and the gear. Was worried small enough to crawl inside the radio... a couple close up.

Shack on the tarp, can see lots of millipedes everywhere...

Got on 80 m to try for a park to park with VK3TKK/p Peter in VKFF-2159 Mount Terrick Road Nature Conservation Reserve. By the time I got the antenna links sorted he had gone to 40m... so quickly changed the links and managed to work him on 40m. Had a call from VK3BBB Bruce afterwards so QSYed for a contact, also worked his other call VK3CCP.

Tried 2m FM, 146.5. Worked VK1MA, VK1LH, then VK1AD/p Andrew for a S2S on VK1/AC-044 Boboyan Range, about 40 Km South of me with a good signal. Also worked Andrew VK1DA/p on the same summit

After a contact with VK1FELF went to 40m again, working local VK1TX Tex and VK3GTV Col. 

Following UTC rollover at 11 am local time went to 80m to again work Andrew VK1DA/p for a post UTC rollover S2S contact. Also worked VK3ZPF/p Peter on VK3/VN-030 Mt Strickland, weak but workable. Also VK2IO/p Gerard for a park to park in VKFF-0092 Cattai National Park.

Went to 40m to work a weak park to park with VK4AAC/5 Rob in VKFF-1095 Searcy Bay Conservation Park. This is a remote park past Port Lincoln.

Returned to 2m FM to get the post rollover chasers. Worked VK1MA, VK1FDNK, VK1DB, VK1LH,  VK1FELF, VK1AD/p for a post rollover S2S.

Returned to 40m to work VK7LTD, VK7FAMP, VK2VK and VK7PSJ. As noon packed up and headed down for lunch.