Aranda Bushland Nature Reserve VKFF-0833

With Andrew VK1AD activating Stony Creek Nature Reserve, VKFF-0986, decided to chase him from a nearby park that had not activated for a while, Aranda Bushland Nature Reserve VKFF-0833.

Parked at the end of Galali Pl in Aranda and walked into the park. At the top of the hill a sign for the park, one of the new metal ones the ACT Government has put in, replacing the old wooden ones.

A close up of the map part of the sign

Wandered along the track towards the high point in the park. Dropped off down the slope when I spotted a tree stump suitable for squid pole support and set up the 40m dipole. Note there are lots of mountain bike tracks in the scrub here so access is fairly easy, and the scrub not that thick.

Squid pole attached to the tree stump

Looking back the other way. Houses in Aranda visible, still far enough away to not cause QRM.

Operating Spot, from Protected Planet

Radio perched on a nearby log, with a rough log seat. In the sun so quite warm, even if it made reading the tablet logging screen a bit hard... There were also mosquitos, but was well covered up.

Got on 40m. Managed to work Andrew VK1AD/p in Stony Creek Nature Reserve, VKFF-0986 with a good strong signal. Then had a look for other parks on. Worked

VK1IO/p Gerard in VKFF-1787 Wolli Creek Regional Park

Spotted myself on Parks n Peaks and worked

VK3BBB, VK2CCP, VK2VW, VK2HFI, VK2LEE, VK3FIMD, VK3MPR, VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4. VK5FANA, VK4SMA.

Andrew VK1AD had suggested trying a 2m contact, so stuck up the 2m Jpole ribbon antenna on the squid pole. Andrew was 59... I had a look later, he was only around 5 Km away so no wonder.

Also worked VK1MA Matt, mobile on William Hovell Drive just below me, was very strong...

Returned to 40m and worked

VK3MTT, VK2YK/5, VK5GA, VK3ZPF, VI100AF with VK5PAS operating, VK7ME, VK7QP, VK3DAC.

A couple more park to parks, VK3PF/p Peter and VK3NRB/p Ross in VKFF-2235 Wonthaggi Heathlands Nature Conservation Reserve

VK2PKT, then another park to park, VK5CZ/p Ian in VKFF-0812 Clements Gap Conservation Park

Also VK3AWA/p Daryl in VKFF-2329 Herb Guyatt Flora Reserve

Finally VK2VRO/p Joel on SOTA summit VK3/VC-022 Mt Cowley

Packed up and headed home for afternoon tea.

The Pinnacle Nature Reserve VKFF-0852

Decided to activate WWFF park The Pinnacle Nature Reserve VKFF-0852. Mainly to work Andrew VK1AD/p park to park in Mt Mugga Mugga Nature Reserve on 2m, also to add another activation towards the Boomerang Award. Parked off Springvale Drive and headed into the park. The ACT Government appear to be updating the old wooden park signs with metal ones. New sign for the park.

Walked along the track to the Pinnacle summit

Approaching the Pinnacle. Not that hard a hill to climb.

View from the Pinnacle. The roads in the foreground with no houses is the new suburb of Whitlam under construction. Mt Stromlo on the right.

Did not stop here, it gets busy with walkers. Headed down the hill to find a suitable operating spot. View to the West over the Brindabella range

Found a large dead tree a bit down the hill, set up at the base of it on some logs.

 Operating spot, map from Openstreetmap

Radio on my pack, using a nearby log as a seat.

Started on 2m FM. Easily worked Andrew in Mt Mugga Mugga VKFF-0852, a strong S9 signal 8 Km South of me.

Got on 40m, worked a few park to parks first

VK3BBB Brian and VK3MTT Therese in VKFF-2382 Merbein South Flora Reserve

VK3CMA Peter in VKFF-2229 Whroo Nature Conservation Reserve

VK3CRG Craig and Debbie in VKFF-0982 You Yangs Regional Park

VK3TV Mal in VKFF-0747 Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park

VK3AWA Daryl in VKFF-2321 Giffard Flora Reserve

Spotted myself and worked the usual Hunters

VK3PF, VK2IO, VK7QP, VK5FANA, VK2VW, VK2HFI, VK2FADV, VK3ANL, VK4SMA, VK2MET, VK2TER

A SOTA contact with VK3TUN David on VK3/VW-016 West of England Fire Tower. Also in park VKFF-0629

VK5CZ, VK5MAZ, VK3MPR, VI100AF/VK5PAS, VK3FRC, VK3PJR, ZL3RIK

I tried switching to 20m. Worked VK1CT Chris in VKFF-0984 Bullen Range Nature Reserve, but no luck with further calls. Packed up and headed home for afternoon tea. The park is only about a 10 minute drive from home.

 

30 CQ Zones on 30m Award

Checking my awards status recently in Ultimate AAC software, found had worked 30 CQ zones on 30 m, so applied for the award.

10 Taiwanese Prefixes Award

 The latest award for me, for working 10 Taiwanese prefixes on FT8. 

VKFF Hunter Honour Roll 925 Award

Checking on the WWFF logsearch website, found had confirmed contacts with over 925 VKFF parks, so applied for the hunter award. 

WIA Awards for DXCC and Worked All States VHF Digital

Checked my awards status in the WIA Awards website, after uploading/updating my log in ADIF found have qualified for a few new awards

DXCC, both in Open and Digital Mode. They both look the same, here is the digital version. Mostly done on FT8 mode.

Worked All States (VHF). This is for contacting all the Australian States and Territories excluding Islands and Antarctica, basically VK1 through to VK8. All done on 6m, Digital, FT8 mode.

Mcleods Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-2653

With a warm sunny Sunday afternoon in Canberra decided to make the most of the nice weather and activate another WWFF park, Mcleods Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-2653. Last activation there was in winter and was cold, so would be a good change. Only made 22 contacts so needed to return to make up the 44 contacts for WWFF.

From my home in Belconnen the easiest way to reach it is via Gungahlin, Mulligans Flat Rd then continue on Sutton Rd to Gundaroo. Turn left at the end of town into Rosemel St that becomes Marked Tree Road. Last time I operated on the Western side of the park, this time found a gate on the Eastern end of the park for access. Locked but able to access the park on foot okay. Sign for the park.

Set up the shack near the sign, using the park fence for support

Looking back the other way

Park operating spot location. Map from Google maps

Tested the 40m dipole, SWR okay, a little bit high I think due to nearby branches. Seems to be resonant at the top end of the band. Still quite good SWR across the band.

Shack on the table. using my new Galaxy Tab 8 inch tablet again for logging.

Got on 40m. The band was wide open with strong signals. Started with a Park to park with VK2IO/p Gerard in VKFF-1881 Agnes Banks Nature Reserve

Also VK3AWA/p Daryl in VKFF-0758 Holey Plains State Park

Spotted myself on 7.130, and got a pileup... heaps of stations calling

VK3FIMD,VK1AD,VK3PI,VK5FANA,VK2VW,VK2HFI,VK3BBB,VK2CCP,VK3SRC,VK2MET,

VK2YK/5,VK5GA,VK5PET,VK3NFS,VK4HMI,VK4SMA,VK5HAA,VK2GAZ,VK3SQ,

VK4KC,VK4MAD,VK4DOG,VK4HNS,VK3ZPF

Another park to park with VK3PF/p Peter and VK3NRB/p Ross in VKFF-2045 Bengworden Nature Conservation Reserve

Went on to work several more park hunters

ZL4NVW,VK3MPR,VK2VH,VK4AAC/2,VK3CU,VK4FDJL,VK4NH,VK4DXA,ZL4TY/VK4

VK2MZ,VK4WTN,VK4IDK,VK5IS

Another park to park with VK2IO/p Gerard in a new park VKFF-0558 Yellomundee Regional Park

Then more hunters

VK2HRX,VK2HH,VK3ANL,VK2PKT,VK2GMC,VK5LA,VK3MCK,VK7ME

Tried going to 20m, but no answers, despite hearing some strong US stations coming in. Suspect running amplifiers... Saw a spot for VK3PF/p Peter and VK3NRB/p Ross in another park on 40m, so returned to work them in VKFF-2425 Providence Ponds Flora and Fauna Reserve.

Sun starting to set, and still had a 45 minute drive home, so packed up. More than enough contacts to qualify. Did a brief walk along the road along the boundary of the park

 

Stony Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-1997

With nice weather on Saturday afternoon decided to activate a WWFF park. Returned to finish off Stony Creek Nature Reserve, VKFF-1997. Last time logged 22 contacts so needed to complete the 44 needed for WWFF.

Access was per last time, head to Queanbeyan, then the Kings Hwy, then Captains Flat Rd. A few Km along the road the park is on the left. Parked near the gate. Pleased to see the fence was repaired. Last time I was here the left fence post was on the ground, and illegal trail bikes were entering the park, which I saw. Now its harder for them to enter.

Set up the squid pole on the park sign. While setting up a large flock of yellow tailed black cockatoos were flying around the nearby trees, noisy large parrots. Too far away to photograph.

Looking the other way. 

Tested the dipole, quite low SWR at the top end of 40m. Fairly flat across the whole band anyway.

Shack on the table. Now using a new Galaxy Tab A 8 inch tablet for park logging. Its a bit heavy for SOTA but good for parks, has a large battery that lasts for hours.

Got on 40. Started by making a couple of park to parks, both good strong signals.

VK3CRG Craig and 2nd op Debbie in VKFF-0055 Brisbane Ranges National Park

VK3YV Tony in VKFF-0758 Holey Plains State Park

Spotted myself on 7.155 and worked a heap of park hunters.

VK2IO, VK7ME, VK4KC, VK4MAD, VK4DOG, VK5FANA, VK5PAS, VK5HAA, VK3PF, VK5MAZ, VK2MET, VK3BBB, VK2CCP, VK4NH, VK4DXA, ZL4TY/VK4, VK4CZ, VK4SMA, VK2FADV, VK7FAMP, VK4WTN, VK2VH, VK4AAC/2

Another park to park with VK2YK/5, Adam in VKFF-1707 Encounter Marine Park

VK3APS, VK3FD, VK4COM, VK4BZ/3

I did briefly try 20m, but no reply to my calls. Could barely hear VK3YV and VK2YK/5 in their parks.

Copied VK0PD Paul in Antarctica quite well, but he was having a good chat with someone, left him to it.

Park more than qualified. Packed up and headed home.