Mulanggari Grassland Nature Reserve VKFF-0856

The weather on Anzac Day was fine and sunny, too good to be at home, so headed out to activate Mulanggari Grassland Nature Reserve, VKFF-0856.

The park is near the Canberra suburb of Franklin. It can be accessed from off Gungahlin Dr, however this is a noisy, busy road, so headed for the Eastern side of the park. Parked in Alec Hope Cres and entered the park via a gate. Sign for the park.

There was a fence and gate up the hill. Used the gate to support the squid pole and ran the dipole along the fence.

Checked the antenna on 40m, resonant high up in the band but good SWR across it.

Shack on the tarp. As only a short walk to the car power from my 40Ah Lithium battery pack. I could run higher power, around 40w.

Started by working some parks already on the band.

VK4EMP Mark in VKFF-0719 Lockyer National Park

VK3AWA Daryl in VKFF-0747 Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park

Spotted and called, got several park hunters.

VK1CHW, VK2YAK/VK4YAK, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK3ZPF/VK3JW, VK5BJE, VK4QP.

VK3PF Peter in POTA park VK-6906 Trafalgar Bushland Natural Features Reserve

VK3SG, VK3FTOM/VK9TOM/3, VK3GJG, VK3KR.

Packed up and headed home for afternoon tea.

VKFF Activator 200 Award

 Latest award for me for activating 200 VKFF parks.

Bemm River S.R Natural Features Reserve VKFF-3593

After stopping overnight at Lakes Entrance I continued on my way home to Canberra. I noticed there was a WWFF park on the Princes Hwy, before Cann River, Bemm River S.R Natural Features Reserve VKFF-3593, so stopped to activate it.

Just before the Bemm River bridge turned off onto a dirt road on the left, Club Terrace Loop Road.

Continued on this road for a while, looking for somewhere to activate from, but nothing suitable. Turned off into Camp Track on the left. Followed Camp Track for a while, until reaching the turnoff to Boulder Creek Track. According to the map Camp track leaves the park ahead so stopped here.

Boulder Creek Track was very overgrown, did not look like it gets much use. Decided it would be a good spot to set up the dipole. Used a small sapling for support.

Checked the antenna, not a bad match considering the nearby foliage. High in the 40m band but fairly flat SWR across it.

Shack on the tarp.

Got on 40m. Pleased to see had some mobile coverage here, it is often poor in East Gippsland. Started with a P2P with the special call VI10VKFF in VKFF-2000 Tarawi Nature Reserve

After spotting worked several hunters.

VK4TJ, VK2EXA, VK5PAS, VK2IO/m, VK3MCK.

Another park to park with VK3PF Peter in VKFF-3582 Avon River SS.R. Natural Features Reserve. Like my own park a recently added one, first activation.

VK5MAZ, VK3SG, VK1CHW, VK3UH, VK3SQ.

Another P2P with VK5BJE John in VKFF-0784 Mount George Conservation Park

As getting near lunch packed up. On the way out I stopped just before the Bemm River bridge. There was a clear area near the bridge could have operated from. May have been a bit noisy, and not sure if mobile coverage here, somewhere to check next time.

Headed to nearby Cann River for lunch. After lunch headed home to Canberra.

Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2431

After having lunch in Sale headed to my next park, Sale Common Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2431. Drove South on the South Gippsland Hwy, turning off to the park on a road on the left before a bridge. Sign for the park and a car park.

Took the track at the end of the car park.

A sign detailing some of the history of the Sale Game Reserve. Apparently was quite large.

Reached a junction, straight ahead to the boardwalk, or right to a lookout.

A map of the park here.

At the junction a cleared area with a picnic table. For a park activation picnic tables are great, headed for it and set up.

Squid pole attached to the table, dipole laid out across the cleared area.

Radio on the table. Quite nice in the sun, although there were mosquitoes here. I was mostly covered, just kept annoying my hands which were not.

Started by working on 40m, a park to park with VK3ZPF Peter in VKFF-2058 Buxton Silver Gum Nature Conservation Reserve

A lot of callers calling. Worked

VK2LEE, VK2KYO, VK3SQ, VK3MCA, VK3FRT, Vk2EXA, VK5BJE, VK3PF, VK2YAK/VK4YAK

Another Park to park with VK2TER James in VKFF-0049 Bouddi National Park

VK1AO/VK2MET, VK2HRX, VK3BEL, VK3APJ, VK7PAL, VK3ANL, VK3AWA.

A park to park with VK3TKK Peter, QRP in VKFF-0978 Tocumwal Regional Park

VK3CJN, and another P2P with VK7IAN Ian in VKFF-3385 Peter Murrell Conservation Area

As still had a long drive ahead packed up. I had a quick look at the bird lookout nearby before heading back to the car.

Herb Guyatt Flora Reserve VKFF-2329

After attending a funeral in Melbourne returned home to Canberra via Gippsland. After leaving Melbourne travelled East on the Princes Hwy. When reaching Sale stopped to activate a couple of parks close to the town, the first one Herb Guyatt Flora Reserve, VKFF-2329. Accessed the park via a left turn into the Ridge Rd off a roundabout, then Wurruck Way, turning off onto Riverview Rd on the right. Note this is a dirt road and ends up going to a farm. Before the farm a gate on the right and a sign for the reserve.

Wandered along a track until finding a spot to operate from, a dead tree on the side of the track, ran the dipole along the track. Dipole ends up high enough to avoid pedestrians, did not see anyone here though.

Checked SWR on 40m, a little high in the band, but good across the band.

Radio on the tarp

Got on 40m. able to spot easily here as good mobile coverage. Worked the following stations. most strong signals, especially the VK3s.

VK3MCA, VK2YAK/VK4YAK, VK3NP, VK3PF, VK3CWF, VK3GJG, VK3UH, VK1AD, VK3VIN, VK7IAN, VK5AYL, VK3ZSC, VK3CJN

A SOTA contact with VK3ZPF Peter on VK3/VN-027 Mt Gordon.

As lunch time and had enough contacts, packed up and headed into nearby Sale for lunch.

Coopracambra National Park VKFF-0113

With a funeral to attend in Melbourne on Friday I decided to avoid the quicker boring Hume Hwy route and travel down a day before via Gippsland. A bit longer but more scenic, with a few parks to activate on the way. From Canberra headed South on the Monaro Hwy to Cooma, Bombala then into Victoria. Before Cann River turned off onto the WB Line Rd and Coopracambra National Park VKFF-0113. Sign for the park.

A few Km down WB Line Rd came to a junction, on the left a road heading to private property and on the right a clear area where I could park and set up the station. Squid pole attached to a small sapling. 

Operating spot, map from Google Maps. Fairly close to Beehive falls. There was a sign warning that 4WD needed after here, good enough for me here.

Radio on a log

Tried to spot myself on the phone, no mobile coverage. Fairly normal around here, usually no mobile coverage from South of Bombala until almost into Cann River. Very isolated mountainous area.

Called on 7.144. VK2MOE heard me and spotted me, so got some park hunters calling. 

VK3SQ, VK3PF, VK2IO, VK1BUB, VK3ANL, VK1ARQ, VK4TJ, VK1AO/VK2MET.

As still had a long drive packed up and headed to Cann River for lunch. Spent the afternoon driving to Sale for the night, no more activations. Drove to Melbourne the following morning for the funeral.

Gungaderra Grassland Nature Reserve VKFF-0843

With a fine warm day and a rainy Easter coming up decided to activate yet another park, Gungaderra Grassland Nature Reserve VKFF-0843. Been a couple of years since last activated.

After looking at a map I decided the easiest way to access was to park in Cocoparra Cres Crace. After driving there spotted a stile leading into the reserve and parked nearby. Sign for the park.

The stile for accessing the reserve on foot. Note this was originally a separate reserve, Gungahlin Hill Nature Reserve, until being absorbed into Gungaderra Grassland Nature Reserve. There was an old sign for this former reserve.

Wandered along the track until finding a large log suitable for a seat and squid pole support. Set up.

Looking back the other way. Houses in the subrub of Crace visible, but far enough away to not cause QRM.

Checked the SWR on 40m, good.

Radio and myself on the log.

Got on 40m. Worked a couple of parks first.

VK3NDG Dan in VKFF-0942 Avon Wilderness Park

VK2IO Gerard in VKFF-0484 The Lakes National Park

Spotted on Parknpeaks and called. Several callers.

VK3PF, ZL1BQD, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK4NH/VK4DXA, ZL3RIK/ZL3YB, VK2EXA, VK3ANL, VK3UH, VK3AMO, VK5AYL, VK3NBL, VK3ZSC, VK2LEE, VK3UCD, VK7AN, VK2MES.

Saw a spot for VI10VKFF, special event station for 10 years of the VKFF program, with VK5PAS Paul activating. worked him in VKFF-1701 Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve.

Saw a spot for a SOTA activation for VK3TCP Alan on VK3/VU-002 Mt Wombat.

It was on 30m. I remembered a trick discovered by VK5CZ Ian, disconnected just one of the links on the 20m/40m linked dipole, it loaded up fine on 30m. Worked Alan a good S9. SWR on 30m. A little high but nothing to worry about.

Packed up and headed home for afternoon tea.

Stony Creek Nature Reserve VKFF-0986

With a nice warm sunny day decided to activate a WWFF park. Chose to return to Stony Creek Nature Reserve, VKFF-0986, a couple of years since last activated so should be popular with hunters.

As per other activations drove parked off the Brindabella Rd, near the start of the walk up to Mt McDonald. Gate and sign for the park.

Found a bit of shade and strapped the squid pole to a small gum tree. Table and radio nearby.

Checked the SWR, good, low across the 40m band.

Radio on the table. As on my 40aH power pack ran the FT857D at 40w.

Spotted and called on 7.138. A steady stream of callers, being a weekday not that busy.

VK1RF, VK3NDG/VK3FACD, VK2MES, VK4TJ, VK2YPU, VK3TKK, VK7QP.

A park to park with VK3PF Peter in POTA park VK-5424 Omeo Bushland Natural Features Reserve

VK1AO, VK2LEE, VK1ADW, VK1XP.

After 40m went quiet moved up to 20m.

On 14.244 found VK3AWA Daryl in VKFF-0747 Gippsland Lakes Coastal Park. Worked him, not strong but good enough to copy okay. Only around 300Km away and normally in my skip zone on 20m.

Spotted and called, another Park contact with VK2IO Gerard in VKFF-0619 Alpine National Park. Like Daryl weak but usually in my skip zone, about 200 Km away.

A weak contact with KG5CIK Steve in Texas, a regular caller for VKFF activations.

Another weak contact with IK4IDF, Raf in Banacavalo Italy.

No more callers, packed up and had afternoon tea at the nearby Cotter river picnic ground.

The Pinnacle Nature Reserve VKFF-0862

While at home had S9 QRM appear on 40m, so decided to get out of the house and escape it activating a WWFF park. Headed for my closest park, The Pinnacle Nature Reserve, VKFF-0862.

Parked off Springvale Drive Weetangera. Sign for the park.

Near the entrance is a mobile phone base station. I knew this generates QRM, so wandered away down the track to an operating spot on a log under a tree

Operating spot. Satellite view from Google Maps.

Checked the SWR. A little high up in the band, but the SWR was so low across the whole band not that worried.

Radio and myself on the log seat.

Spotted and called on 7.144. A bit of a pileup followed, band was in good shape.

VK3VIN, VK1AO/VK2MET, VK5PAS, VK3CBP, VK4NH/VK4DXA.

A P2P with VK4MUD in VKFF-2133 Lower Cann River Nature Conservation Reserve

VK2MOE, VK1RF, VK3TKK, VK2MES, VK3NDG

A weak contact with KG5CIK Steve in Texas. Took me a few goes to get his call, but finally made it. Although weak the band was very quiet.

ZL3RIK/ZL3YB, VK5BJE, VK3ANL, VK3GRK

Worked 3 SOTA stations on VK3/VG-027 Mt Baldhead. VK2IO Gerard, VK1DA Andrew and VK3PF Peter. Part of the Mt Hotham activation weekend.

Another SOTA/P2P contact with VK3TCP Alan on VK3/VE-024 and P2P in VKFF-0619 Alpine National Park

VK4HMI, VK4EMP/VK4TI.

Some light rain started so packed up.