New 2m/70cm Radio Yaesu FTM-300D

After many years of using an Icom IC-2000 for 2m FM in the shack, decided to upgrade and got a Yaesu FTM-300D. This is a 2m/70cm dual band, dual receive radio, with some extras such as APRS.

I set mine up with one band set to the local 2m repeater, VK1RGI Mt Ginini. The other band set to the National APRS frequency 145.175.

 Here is the old setup, Icom IC-2000 with 2m FM only.

It works quite well, just not used much, very quiet on the local 2m repeaters. Even scanning all the repeaters hardly anyone on... Used it a bit working SOTA activators on 146.500 FM, otherwise would sit idle in the shack for hours each day...

So got the Yaesu FTM-300D. This gives me some more repeaters to work on 70cm. The main activity now on 2m seems to be APRS. Monitoring the APRS frequency shows a lot of activity. The Station List display shows APRS packet activity.

Clicking on each entry gives good details on what and where the station is, speed and altitude, direction and for some weather stations temperature and other data.

I set it up to beacon my station call a few times an hour, shows up on the APRS website aprs.fi okay as a Yellow/Green roof house...

Most of the packets I hear come from VK1RGI-1, the Mt Ginini digipeater. Not surprising given its excellent coverage of the region, it acts as a relay for APRS traffic over a vast area. I also get copied by VK1RBM-1, Black mountain, which is only 6 Km away and very strong.

Some park and SOTA operators run APRS when driving and activating sites, so handy to keep track of them.

Still have lots more to learn about APRS, anyway something else to look at when HF is quiet.  

1000 Asia stations award

Another award from the FT8 Digital Mode Club, for working 1000 Asia stations. Most of these would be to Japan...

Molonglo River Reserve VKFF-3184

With a nice sunny Sunday decided to do a park activation. Went to one of the newly added parks in the ACT, Molonglo River Reserve VKFF-3184.

The park is large, covering the Molonglo river from downstream of Scrivener Dam down to the junction of the Murrumbidgee river, around 13 Km. I headed for a walk in the park close to home, the Woodland track. Drove to Southcott Vw in Coombes, parked and headed off on the walk. Sign about the park flora and fauna.

The track descends at first and crosses a small creek. Feet got a bit wet near here, have had a lot of rain lately...

After climbing the hill reached the Molonglo cottage ruins. Sign about the cottage. Not much left of it now. Coombes suburb can be seen behind.

Just to the East of the cottage was a lookout area with a fence. Set up the station here as the fence provided a good squid pole and antenna support.

Looking back the other way to the West

Looking across to the station. Shack on the tarp.

Operating spot. Map from Openstreetmaps

Looking down to the Molonglo River. Black Mountain tower can be seen in the distance on the right.

Tested the 40m dipole, good SWR on 7.129 Mhz.

Spotted myself on ParknPeaks and got called first by VK2EXA. Then another park activator, VK4SYD/2 in VKFF-1916 Cudgen Nature Reserve

Worked VK3SQ and VK2IO, both strong signals.

Called by another park activator, VK2OMK Richard and VK2YAK/VK4YAK Gavin in VKFF-0522 Watagans National Park

Then VK3NDG/m, VK3NFS, VK1AD, VK1NAM. VK1AD Andrew advised me VK1DA Andrew was on 7.090 on a SOTA summit, so QSYed to work him. Quite strong, on VK2/RI-016 Mount Burngoogee

Then VK3FAR, VK2PKT, VK3YV, VK3APJ, VK3KR, VK2YN/p, VK3GJG.

A contact with VK2ASD Phil maritime mobile on Sydney Harbour, very strong.

Worked VK3NDG/p now on a SOTA summit VK3/VT-030 Mt Lookout

After contacts dried up on 40m, changed the links to 20m. Worked

VK5HAA, VK4WTN, VK4MVL, ZL3MR.

My spot must have gotten onto the DX cluster, then got the EU stations calling...

IK4IDF, DL2ND, F1BLL, OH1XT

Most fairly low, except OH1XT who was peaking 58. I was not too strong, did up my power to 40w to help out.

Another park to park with VK4MUD John in VKFF-0199 Girringun National Park

After 20 seemed to close to EU gave it away and headed home after 30 contacts. Will need to return to get the 44, as close to home easy enough to revisit.

Worked 900 FT8DMC Members Award

Award for working 900 members of the FT8 Digital Mode Club (FT8DMC)

VKFF Hunter Honour Roll 1100 Award

Latest VKFF award for me for hunting 1100 parks. Thanks park activators for the contacts.