Currently there are no phone apps similar to SOTA Goat or Rucksack radio, for park activations. So park activators are relying on the goodwill of park hunters to let other people know that they are in a park. As a result, activators and hunters are relying on other methods, such as setting up an SMS group (which I have done). This is a great way to let fellow park hunters know that you have just worked a park activator. I see that many park hunters have also been using the VK5 Parks Yahoo group or the WWFF Australia Yahoo group, and this is another good option. The DX cluster can also be utilised.
However, a terrific tool that many people still do not appear to be using is the parksnpeaks site which has been developed by Allen VK3HRA.
parksnpeaks can be located at…..
The parksnpeaks site is FREE to join. Just simply register a new account.
The required information includes:
- username (your call sign is a good choice)
- call sign (used to record alerts)
- emial address
- password (6 characters)
The ‘captcha’ feature is used to ensure that you are a ‘real’ person.
The parksnpeaks site has some excellent features. It can be used to add VK activity including QRP operation, National Parks, Conservation Parks, or portable operation in general, whilst SOTA spots are added directly via SOTAWatch.
The parksnpeaks site offers:-
- ‘spotting’ facilities
and
- ‘alert’ facilities.
‘Spotting’ is where you can add details of stations you have worked or heard. This allows you to share information with other amateurs.
‘Alerting’ is where you can add details of your proposed activations, so people can see what your future plans are.
The ‘Data tables’ area offers some excellent information. Allen, with the assistance of many others, has added a search facilty by summit ID to the parksnpeaks website. If you look under the ‘data tables’ tab you will find a search box. This search will provide you with:
- basic SOTA peak information
- grid location
- VKFF id
- relevant KRMNPA and/or SANPCPA National Park/Conservation Park information
- Shire information (only VK3 at this stage).
Also under the Data Tables tab you will find:-
- WWFF list (a full list of all qualifying WWFF parks)
- KRMNPA list (a full list of all qualifying KRMNPA parks)
- SANPCPA list (a full list of all qualifying SANPCPA parks)
- SOTA list
- SOTA to NP Awards Lookup
- SOTA to NP WWFF lookup
- SOTA to Victorian LGA lookup.
The SOTA to National Park lookup lists, marry up those SOTA summits which are located within a qualifying WWFF or KRMNPA National Park. This is an excellent resource.
So, PLEASE…..start using the parksnpeaks site. A lot of work has gone into it. I know that many park activators and hunters do use the site, and find it to be a terrific resource.
VK5PAS 