1000 Asian Stations Award

Latest award from the European Ros Club,, for working 1000 different Asian Stations. Most of these would be with Japan, on 17m and 10m. Thanks for QSOs

SOTA Mt Gillamatong VK2/ST-034

When Andrew VK1AD and Andrew VK1DA announced they were going to activate Big Badja Hill VK2/SM-059, and Bald Mountain VK2/SM-052, thought I would try for an S2S from a close by mountain, Mt Gillamatong VK2/ST-034. This is located near Braidwood and should have a clear line of sight to these 2 mountains to the South.

The drive to Braidwood was uneventful, although did get some spots of rain on the way, so knew could be a damp activation. Approached Mt Gillamatong along Gillamatong Lane.

At the end of Gillamatong Lane a small car park with an unlocked gate.

Up the hill, then headed to the right and up. Walked through the long grass, getting fairly wet feet... 

At the top a small foot gate

Went to the left after the gate for a while, finding a hole in a fallen down fence and then headed up the mountain through the scrub. Lots of thistles... managed to avoid the worst by following the rocks.

Reached the top. Guess should have expected it on a work day, there were a couple of workers near the trig, cutting and clearing away tree branches, probably for improving radio reception up there. I didnt want to get in their way, so set up in the bush just behind one of the compounds. Still well within the activation zone, almost at the same altitude as the trig anyway. Set up just the 2m Jpole on the squid pole.

Shack on the tarp. Running 40w on 2m SSB.

Got on 2m SSB just before UTC rollover at 10:45am. Surprisingly heard Compton VK2HRX/p on VK2/IL-003, Mt Wanganderry. This is around 135 km away to the North... Not real strong but easy copy. Also worked Matt VK1MA.

After rollover worked lots of activators and chasers

VK1MBE Andrew on VK2/ST-001 Mt Cowangerong. Real strong, S9+, although expected as only about 30 Km away to the South.

VK2HRX again post rollover on VK2/IL-003, Mt Wanganderry

VK1MIC, VK1MA

VK1RX/p Al on Mt Stromlo, VK1/AC-043 70 Km away. Quite strong.

VK1AD/2 Andrew on VK2/SM-059 Big Badja Hill, Good S9, about 65 Km to the South

VK2DO Chris operating a remote station down at Batemans Bay, around 45 Km away

VK1DA/2 Andrew on VK2/SM-052 Bald Mountain, about 55 Km to the South. A huge 59+ signal.

It looked like the rain was headed my way, so packed up and headed down the hill to Braidwood for lunch at the bakery.

  

SOTA Mt Ainslie VK1/AC-040

VK1AD Andrew was activating Bobarra Mountain, VK2/ST-044 so decided to chase him from a local SOTA summit, Mt Ainslie VK1/AC-040. Plus it was a chance to get out and activate before several days of cold wet weather...

Drove up Mt Ainslie and parked in the car park just below the summit. A short walk and was on top. As per other activations used the round metal thing on top for squid pole support.

Set up the radio at the base, the mouse mat is to make the concrete slab a bit more comfy to sit on... 

First set up the 2m Jpole ribbon to work some of the locals. Started by working VK1AD/p on Bobarra Mountain on 2m SSB 144.200. Low signal but easy copy. After Andrew a surprising contact with Chris VK2DO down the South Coast near Batemans Bay! Weak but easy copy.

Got a few locals calling me, so moved up to 144.210 SSB to work them. VK1PDW, VK1MIC, VK1RF, VK1DD. A S2S with VK1CT/p Chris on nearby Black Mountain, VK1/AC-042. Plus VK1MF/p Mat in a nearby WWFF park, Bruce Ridge Nature Reserve, VKFF-0835.

Andrew VK1AD then spotted on 50.150 Mhz SSB, so set up the 40m dipole to chase him. From the antenna analyser knew it loads up fine on 6m as a multi wavelength antenna. Worked Andrew easily on 6m a good S7. To my surprise worked Chris VK2DO again down the South Coast, not that strong but readable. Also worked VK1DA Andrew on VK2/ST-053 Mt Mundoonen, strong signal. Also VK1MF again, using a loaded up 2m antenna on 6m.

Went to 40m. Worked Andrew VK1AD/p again on Bobarra Mountain, surprising as thought 40 m would not be open so close by, maybe was on ground wave?

After spotting myself on 40m 7.090 Mhz worked VK3PF, ZK3RIK, VK5PAS, VK2VW, VK2HFI, ZL1BQD, VK3ANL, VK2YAK, VK1DA/p Andrew again on Mt Mundoonen VK2/ST-053.

After 11am local time, UTC rollover returned to 2m, this time to 2m FM. Worked Andrew VK1DA on Mt Mundoonen again with a strong signal. Then VK1MF/p, VK1PDW, VK1MIC. Another S2S with Andrew VK1MBE on Isaacs Ridge VK1/AC-041.

Returned to 6m as Andrew VK1AD had spotted, asking for S2S contacts with myself and VK1CT post rollover. Worked Andrew an easy S7 on 6m SSB. Also worked VK1MF/p again, then VK1CT/p Chris on nearby Black mountain. 

Packed up and headed down to nearby Civic for lunch.

5 Hungarian Stations Award

 Latest award for me, from the European Ros Club for working 5 different Hungary stations on FT8.