Kowen Escarpment Nature Reserve VKFF-3182

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.

1175 VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award

Latest award for me, for hunting 1175 VKFF parks. Thanks activators for contacts.

6m contact to USA

After turning on the radio this morning I checked the FT8 frequencies in memories for activity. Hearing signals on 6m started up WSJTX. Much to my surprise there were signals coming in from the USA!

Called CQ and managed to work W6TMD Darrel in Los Angeles California

12,335 Km away in Los Angeles, a new record for me. This was on a 40m dipole loaded up on 6m!

Some of the signals received. Mainly California, with some Nevada and Arizona stations

The band closed shortly afterwards, these openings are rare and do not last long.

Bournda Nature Reserve VKFF-1896

After stopping at my brothers place at Pambula Beach headed back to Canberra, on the way stopping to activate a WWFF park I had not done before, Bournda Nature Reserve, VKFF-1896. Drove through Merimbula, North to Tura Beach, then stopped off Sapphire Coast Dr at Bournda Quarry Fire trail in the park.

The trail was locked, so continued on foot until reaching a park sign suitable for squid pole support, Set up here. Able to extend the dipole out along the fire trail.

Location, from Google Maps

FT857D on the ground. Sat on my tarp.

Got on 40m. Found the band fairly quiet, not many stations on. Able to spot myself on ParksnPeaks okay. Slowly worked my way through park hunters on 7.144. Lots of calling with no answers.

VK2EXA

VK2IO

VK3PF

VK2RK, VK2ACR

VK2HRX

VK3SQ

VK3ANL

VK3IH

VK1AO, VK2MET

VK3ZSC

My operating spot was popular with mosquitos, and also had a leech crawling over the radio. Had enough contacts so packed up.

75 Canadian Stations Award

Another award from the European Ros Club, for working 75 Canadian stations. Most of these would have been on 10m recently.

US Grids

 In the USA there is an award for working all 488 Grid squares in the lower 48 States on VHF and above. Not much hope of doing this from Australia, however curious to see how I am going with working US grid squares on HF. So designed a Log4OM award to display this. After creating the award scanned my log and got a list of grids worked per band

Looking at Statistics, 10m has the most grid squares, followed by 17m and 40m. The grand total is 300, so about 3/4 of all grid squares worked.

Log4OM mapping shows what grid squares worked. Not too many holes in the East Coast, however central and parts of the West Coast have large areas of missing grids. Doubt I will ever work all grids in the USA from Australia, even located in the USA would be tough going.

SOTA Mount Majura VK1/AC-034 10 years anniversary

SOTA in VK1, the ACT commenced on the 1st February 2013. To mark the 10th Anniversary, I activated the same summit as 10 years ago, Mount Majura VK1/AC-034.

Parked off Antill St Watson and started on the walk up Mount Majura. Sign for Mount Majura Nature Reserve. Mountain is on the left.

Walked past a pond, full after recent rain. Lots of frogs audible.

The track joins another track running along the base of the mountain, then took another track up.

The track joins up with another track running along the ridge between Mount Majura and Mount Ainslie.

Some steep bits after here. After 40 minutes reached the summit.

As per other activations set up the squid pole on the round metal thing near the trig. Initially set up the 2m jpole antenna only. SWR did not seem that good, low in the band.

Squid pole on the metal pole.

Got on 2m FM. First contact was VI10SOTA, Andrew VK1DA on VK1/AC-037 Mt Taylor. He was quite weak with QSB, not what I would have expected as Mount Majura is a prime VHF site, should have been full scale?

Also worked VK1MA Matt on VK1/AC-043 Mt Stromlo weak with QSB. Not good.

After being called by VK1RX Al on VK1/AC-032 Castle Hill and barely copying each other, decided to investigate and tried wriggling the coax. He suddenly leapt up to S9. So some poor connection somewhere.

Worked VK1NAM Andrew on VK1/AC-039 Yellow Rabbit Hill, then VK2ARK Andrew on VK1/AC-040 Mt Ainslie, both very strong.

Worked a couple of chasers, VK1ARQ and VK1XP.

Set up the dipole for 40m. SWR quite good at 7.135 Mhz

Radio shack on the concrete base. A little shade welcome as warm in the sun.

Worked VK1FPRV, then another S2S with VK2IO Gerard on VK2/SY-001 Canoelands

VK3PF Peter on VK3/VT-046 Mt Tassie

VK1ACE Rod on VK1/AC-038 Tuggeranong Hill

VK2JDL Phil on VK2/HU-093 Mt Elliot

VK2EXA Greg

VK1NAM Andrew again on VK1/AC-039 Yellow Rabbit Hill

VK1MA Matt again on VK1/AC-043 Mt Stromlo

VK2AN Peter at Batemans Bay.

Getting warm in the sun and approaching lunch time. Packed up and headed back down.

For interest, this is my SOTA station 10 years ago. Note the heavy SLA battery. No squid pole, I used a painters extension pole...