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.