With a nice mild sunny Saturday morning decided to get out and activate a park. Last activation of Kowen Escarpment Nature Reserve I only made 25 contacts, so returned to finish the 44 needed for WWFF.
As per last activation parked off Sutton Rd in front of the Sutton Forest pine plantation. There is an ACT Parks sticker on the boom gate, about the only sign that this is a nature reserve.
Walked down the road, passed the power lines that had caused me to move last activation from QRM... Headed up the escarpment, a steep climb.
Around the bend the road leveled out a little, still quite steep. Started looking for an operating spot.
Decided to use the boundary fence for the reserve as antenna support. Strapped the squid pole to a fence post and ran the dipole legs along the fence.
A good view here to the West. Black mountain to the left of the tree branch, tower on top just visible. Mt Ainslie behind it in the centre and Mt Majura to the right. Only about 5 km from Canberra airport here.
Checked on the antenna analyser on 40m, not too bad, resonant on 7.150 Mhz with SWR of 1.32
Shack on the tarp near the fence. A bit of shade here which was good.
Got on 40m. I did hear Adam VK2YK doing an activation on 7.144, but vanished after I called him. Worked VK3PF Peter with a good signal.
Adam returned and made a P2P contact, he was in VKFF-3185 Cleland National Park, also on SOTA summit VK5/SE-005 Mt Lofty.
Stayed on 7.144 and made several contacts. The band had lightning QRN but most signals over it.
VK5HAA, VK1RF, VK3AFW, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2EXA, VK2IO, VK1CHW, VK3UH, VK4SYD, VK4KLA, VK3CWF, VK3AMO, VK2LEE, VK3SQ, VK3ANL, VK4HAT, VK2PKT, VK4TJ.
After contacted stopped on 40m went to 20m. Found Adam VK2YK/5 again on 14.310, a strong S8 signal, still in VKFF-3185 Cleland National Park
After working Adam moved to 14.244. Worked VK5STU, VK3BBB/VK2CCP, VK7IAN, VK4KLA, VK4GJP. Returned to 40m.
Worked VK4GJP again, a lot lower signal compared to 20m. Then VK3VIN and VK2SLB.
Had 31 contacts so park qualified. Packed up and headed to Queanbeyan for lunch.
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