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.

SOTA Mt Ainslie VK1/AC-040 end of year activation

In Australia we have UTC rollover in Eastern Australian Summer Time at 11 am, meaning you can activate a SOTA summit in one year, then claim it again in the new year for another lot of points, and not be in the dark.

Essentially just an excuse for a National SOTA summit to summit party... I picked VK1/AC-040 Mt Ainslie as it is an easy drive up to and set up.

I had a late night with my partner for the traditional new year, and we ended up sleeping in. By the time had breakfast got and all my SOTA gear ready, and drove to Mt Ainslie and set up, I had 8 minutes left of 2017 to make 4 contacts!

Squid pole on Mt Ainslie, looking North.

Looking South.

Shack on the concrete base, my FT-857D running 40 W.

Got on 40 m at 23:52 z as this had the most activity. Pounced on other activators, making the following summit to summit contacts:

VK3ARR/p Andrew on VK3/VC-019 Mt Warrenheip
VK1MA/2 Matt on VK2/ST-005 Webbs Ridge
VK1FWBD/p Wade on VK1/AC-043 Mt Stomlo

and the 4th contact as 23:57 z VA3OZI/VK Mathew on nearby VK1/AC-042 Black Mountain.

Just for good measure I managed a 5th contact for the year with
VK1ATP/p Paul on Yellow Rabbit Hill at 23:59z

Probably the fastest I've qualified a SOTA summit...

After 11 am and UTC rollover into 2018 I could relax and take my time.

Worked the following:

VK3AFW/p Ron on VK3/VE-031 Mt Skene
VK3ARR/p Andrew on VK3/VC-019 Mt Warrenheip
VA3OZI/VK Mathew on VK1/AC-042 Black Mountain
VK1AD/2 Andrew on VK2/ST-006 South Black Range
VK2JDL Phil
VK3OAK/p Mal on VK3/VS-008 Mt Cole
VK1MBE/2 Andrew on VK2/ST-008 Baldy Range
VK5PAS/p Paul on VK5/SE-013 Mt Gawler
VK3BHR/p Phil on VK3/VN-016 Mt Alexander
VK3HN Paul
VK7FAMP/p Angela on VK7/CH-057 Mt Dromedary
VK7CW Steve
VK3FPSR Peter
VK3SQ Geoff
VK3GGG/p VK3PMG/p Mick on VK3/VS-015 Blue Mountain
VK3PF/p Peter on VK3/VE-126 Mt Stanley
VK2SG/3 Leigh on VK3/VG-001 Mt Cope

Started to get warm in the sun, and had qualified the summit so gave it away.

This was also a WWFF activation as the summit is in VKFF-0850 Mt Ainslie Nature Reserve.

SOTA Mt Ainslie VK1/AC-040

With the threat of rain decided to activate a local city summit, Mt Ainslie, so could make a run for it if the weather turned bad...

As per other activations here parked off Mt Ainslie Drive around the bend from the top.

Walked up along the side of the road to the top. About 600 m with a 60 m climb

View out over North Canberra. A bit cloudy and misty but not raining

Set up at the usual place at the top, a locked round metal thing.

Set up the shack at the base on the concrete slab. Dipoles for 20/40 m and 6/10 m tied up to nearby trees.

Got on 40 m. Worked Andrew VK1NAM first with a S2S on nearby Mt Stromlo, VK1/AC-043. Conditions were poor, struggled to work an S2S with Andrew VK3ARR/p on VK3/VN-023. Most of the VK3 chasers were quite low and had problems copying me. An S2S with Andrew VK1MBE/2 on nearby VK2/ST-036 Spring Hill.

Tried 6 m, VK2MBE/2 was my only contact on this band.

Went to 10 m. Worked a local, Matt VK1MT, then tried calling a CQ call from AE7KI, Gerry in Washington State. He was a good signal, but he was running 500 w! I actually knew him from before , he was previously VK2APG at Kiama and Robertson.

Switched to 20 m. Worked VK6MB, VK4JD, VK2HAS very close by in Campbelltown Sydney, VK5EE, VK5WG, VK1EM and VK1NAM/p again in the new UTC day. Went on to work VK2IO and VK1MA. After waiting for the band to improve made a very weak S2S contact with VK4BZ/p John on VK4/SE-005 Mt Bethongabel

Returned to 10 m. Worked VK4JD, VK4OH, VK1MA and a quick 2 m contact on the HT with VK1MBE/2 for a post UTC S2S. Back on 10 m called Ross VK4CQ for a chat who I have known for many years, as usual he was a strong S9+...

Packed up and headed home for lunch.

Track log of walk

SOTA Reactivation Mt Ainslie and EU DX

Saw a posting by Andrew VK1NAM who was going to activate Mt McDonald and try chasing EU DX, figured might as well join him and activate Mt Ainslie. This summit is most suitable for evening activations as there is a road to the top and it is practically in the city, and is very quiet electrically.

As per my first activation parked out of the activation zone and walked up the road to the top.

I walked around to the proper tourist lookout to see if any better position to operate. There are some tables and chairs here but too many tourists about.

So returned to the operating spot I used last time, a 'round metal thing' on the very summit.

Set up my SOTA shack on the concrete base, with a mouse mat for comfort.

40 m and 20 m fan dipoles run out to nearby gum trees.

Got on 40m at 07340z working S2S with Andrew VK1NAM/p on nearby VK1/AC-048, Mt McDonald. Then VK2LAX Rod and VK2JI Ed on VK2/HU-093 Mt Elliot. Worked several chasers in VK1, VK2, VK3 and VK5.

Just before 0800z got on 20m after the 40m contacts dried up. Found the band packed with DX, managed  to find a quiet spot on 14.280, spotted myself and called CQ SOTA.

I got jumped on! Generated a good pileup of EU stations from several countries. Bit of a shock after only working VK/ZL on previous SOTA activations. After a while a couple of Spanish stations came up on my frequency and started chatting so moved frequency and continued. After it went quiet went up to 14.335 to chat to Andrew VK1NAM who sounded like he had also been very busy, going by spots. While chatting we had a station call in, 2E0YYY Mike on a G summit, G/SP-013. He worked Andrew first then myself. Pleased to make a S2S to England on 5w! Over 17000 Km, possibly more as long path. Andrew left me with the frequency as he had a bit of a walk back to the car. Continued working DX until dusk at 0900z, then pulled down the station and headed home for dinner.

Here is the list of callsigns I worked.

40 m

VK1NAM/P Andrew S2S VK1/AC-048
VK2LAX/p Rod S2S VK2/HU-093
VK2JI/p Ed S2S VK2/HU-093
VK1RX Al
VK2CCW Michael
VK3FPSR Peter
VK5GJ GReg
VK3PF Peter
VK2YK Adam
VK3FRJK Ralph
Vk3ANL Nick

20m

OE9HRV Herbert
G4UXH Colin
OE7FMH Franz
HA5LV Victor
VK6NU John
G6TUH Mike
VK1MDC Mark
IK4CBO Georgio
DK9JI Alfons
G3MWV Dave
EA2CCG Joaquín
DF5WA Bert
EA3HND Jaime
VK1NAM/p Andrew S2S VK1/AC-048
2E0YYY/p Mike S2S G/SP-013
HB8MKV Rudi
VK1MA Matt
G0RQL Don
EA2LU Jorge
DJ5AV Mike
G4OBK Phil
HB9BHW Hans
SM6DER Sten

SOTA Activation Mt Ainslie 843m

Drove up Mt Ainslie and parked off the final bend in the road before the summit. From the map I had estimated this to be outside the activation zone, a check of the GPS showed just on 800m, so over the 25m limit. Walked up the road, getting a few odd looks from joggers and cyclists as I had on a weekend pack with a pole sticking out of it :)

Reached the summit car park

Note the sign says 846m. Listed on SOTA as 843m, guess close enough :) The road runs in a loop about the actual summit in the middle, which is where I headed for.

The mast at the end is the navigation/warning light for Canberra airport. Beyond is the tourist lookout over Canberra.

There was a locked metal pole thing at the summit, like Mt Majura. Suspect contains a suryeying GPS system. Like Mt Majura I used this as a base for the 40m dipole.

FT817 portable SOTA shack

Started on 2m, worked several locals and then switched to 40m. Found Al, VK1RX on Mt Tuggeranong, also Andrew VK1NAM on Mt Coree so some S2S contacts. Worked heaps of VK1s, Vk3s, and a VK5 and a VK7. Total of 28 contacts. A few tourists and joggers wandered past, had a chat to one who wanted to know what I was doing, gave him a brief rundown on SOTA. Seemed to quieten down around noon so packed up and went home for lunch. An enjoyable morning playing portable radio.