VKFF-2296 & 2110

Two quick park activations near Rokewood, not too far from home. Weather was a bit dodgy, with heavy rain coming through as I headed out, though happily I was able to avoid the showers when the radio was all set up.

First site was VKFF-2296, Commeralghip Flora Reserve. A small patch of native grassland that didn’t even get a sign stating what the site was. Set up the linked dipole on 40m and managed 17 contacts over about 40 minutes, with one Park to Park. Band conditions seems to favour the longer contacts as I struggled with VK36MB/3 who was in the nearby Brisbane Ranges, VKFF-0055.

Wide shot showing operating position.

After a short stay here I moved over to Illabrook Rail Line Nature Conservation Reserve, VKFF-2110. This site was a bit more exposed. I could see rain in the distance, but happily it held off long enough for me to make 17 contacts, including 2 Park to Park’s. Many of them were second contact for the day too.

Illabarook Rail Line Nature Conservation Reserve

At one point the squid pole collapsed mid contact. For some reason it didn’t see to affect the operation of the antenna, so I was trying to work out what had happened while getting out from under the wire and coax and also complete the contact. It did result in a few messed up entries in the log, but no damage was done.

At the end of the day the US was booming in, but they weren’t hearing me, even at 100 watts. One guy was using a boom on 40m probably running 1kw plus. So not surprising they couldn’t hear me.

The weather was such that I could easily have stayed home, but it all worked fine, so I was glad I went.

VK3/VC-024 Mt Beckworth

Mount Beckworth has, I think, my perfect SOTA profile. Not too far from home. In a park, but one that’s not too popular. Has a decent walk to get from car park to summit, but not too steep. And great views once your there. And an open area on the summit that’s great to operate from. So I’m not sure why it’s taken me so long to get up there.

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  The famous Lollipop Tree, which is at the summit, from the road in.

Headed up there on Sunday 19th May 2019. Weather was perfect. Sun was out, not too hot. On arrival in at the car park there was a group who were into large format photography. They’d mostly travelled up from Melbourne to make the most of the location and the weather. It was a bit surreal on the first section with these guys off in the bushes hiding under the camera covers while the messed about taking photos.

It took about 40 minutes to walk up the hill. When I got there I was sharing the top with a couple of walkers who headed off 5 minutes after I arrived. And one car that had driven up the 4wd track that comes up the other side. But he turned around and didn’t even get out of the car. So I had the place to myself.

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  View on walk up.

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  Operating position at base of Lollipop Tree

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  EFHW tied to seat.

Setup the end fed and started calling. Managed eight contacts in about 40 minutes. After some lunch there didn’t seem to be anyone else on the bands, so made my way back down.

Obligatory selfie.

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  Track log, car park to summit.

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  Elevation Profile

All in all it was great day out.

VKFF-2049 Blacks Creek NCR

I’ve picked up a Yaesu FT-897 so thought it’d be good to give it a try out, and aimed for Blacks Creek NCR on 6th April. (You’ll see that I’m a bit slow logging it here.)

Blacks Creek NCR is an unremarkable area that looks very much like a farmers field. In fact there we’re some sheep grazing when I pulled up. There’s a stile that enables visitors to get over the fence. At one point a neighbouring farmer pulled up curious about what I was up too. Apparently he was the previous owner, and he was pleased to see the area get some use.

Sadly the activation wasn’t really successful. I had a setting wrong somewhere which meant I wasn’t outputting any power on transmit. So after some mucking about I set up the FT-817, managed one contact, and packed up and travelled back home.