I’ve been asked a couple of times in the past few weeks, what camera gear do I use to:

1.  take the photos on the summits and in the parks;

and

2. take the video from my activations.

When I first started activating, I used my i-phone.  I soon learnt that the phone went flat quickly by using it for this purpose.  Thus eliminating a tool for contact with the outside world should things go wrong.

So I started using a camera and video during my activations.

My current camera is a Nikon D750 which also takes full HD video.

I have a variety of different lenses including a Nikon 24-120mm lens, and a Nikon 200-500mm lens.

Also in the mail was my certificate for the ARRL Centennial Points Challenge.

This was held during 2015, and points were allocated for QSOs with ARRL memebrs, appointees, elected officials, staff, and W1AW portable stations.

More information can be found at…..

http://www.arrl.org/centennial-qso-party

I received in the mail the other day my certificate for the 2015 HF World Championship.  I came first in Zone 59 for my category, Single Operator/Phone only/Low power.

The objective of this contest is to make contact with as many other amateurs, especially IARU member society HQ stations, around the world.

I decided to have a look tonight at my stats for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  I’m sitting on 745 different WWFF references worked around the world, and I was interested to see how that broke down per country.

Below is a bar graph showing the number of references worked in various countries around the world.  I have worked WWFF activators in 27 different countries (DXCC entities).

Of course, the most number of references worked is Australia on 504.  This is followed by Belgium with 63, Poland with 37, and then Italy with 32.

The graph below shows references worked around the world (excluding Australia).  As mentioned, leading is Belgium, followed by Poland, Italy, France, and then Germany.

1. Australia-504
2. Belgium-63
3. Poland-37
4. Italy-32
5. France-19
6. Germany-16
7. Denmark-7
8. Romania-7
9. United Kingdom-7
10. Finland-6
11. Czech Republic-6
12. Netherlands-6
13. Spain-6
14. Croatia-4
15. Cyprus-3
16. Portugal-3
17. Hungary-3
18. Greece-3
19. Ukraine-3
20. Switzerland-2
21. Serbia-2
22. New Zealand-2
23. Lithuania-1
24. Austria-1
25. Sweden-1
26. Israel-1
27. Galapagos Island-1

Belgium, Poland, and Italy have very vibrant WWFF programs, and their activators often listen for ‘outside of Europe’ which helps us activators down here in Australia.

I have just clicked over the 125 VKFF references activated and now qualify for the VKFF Activator Honour Roll 125.

Thankyou to all the park hunters.

My eighth and final park whilst away was the Franklin Harbour Conservation Park VKFF-0807 and 5CP-071.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Franklin Harbour Conservation Park.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

After leaving Middlecamp Hills, I travelled south along the Kimba-Cowell Road, and enjoyed some nice views down towards Cowell.  I was very cognisant of the time, as it has taken me longer to get my 44 QSOs at Middlecamp Hills than expected.  And I had to be back at Whyalla, about 100 km away, for lunch, and then a 5 hour drive back home to the Adelaide Hills.

Above:- View towards Cowell.

I had activated Franklin Harbour CP previously, but this was to be another unique VKFF park for me.  My last activation of the park was back in June 2013, and was as part of the VK5 National and Conservation Parks Award.  It is amazing how the parks programs have progressed in Australia since that time.  For that activation I made a total of 7 contacts.  To read and see more have a look at my previous post at……

https://vk5pas.org/2013/06/13/franklin-harbour-conservation-park/

Franklin Harbour CP was established on 22nd January 1976, and is 1,356 hectares (3,350 acres) in size.  It is located about 5 km south of the town of Cowell.  The conservation park consists of land on a peninsula that encloses the south east side of Franklin Harbor and four islands including Entrance Island.  The park is important in that it preserves an area of mangrove and samphire flats.  This type of vegetation is dramatically depleted in South Australia.

Above:- Aerial shot showing the location of the Franklin Harbour Conservation Park.  Image courtesy of Google Maps.

The Entrance Islands contain a population of Death Adders, which is one of the most venomous land snakes in Australia and the world.  Death Adders possess the longest fangs of any Australian snake and can deliver the fastest strike among all venomous snakes recorded in Australia.  Death can result within 6 hours of the bite.  Thankfully I was not going there.  I am no fan of snakes!  The islands also provide a safe roosting and feeding site for sea birds.

Above:- A Death Adder.  Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

Cowell itself is a beautiful little town, with a population of around 1,070 people.  It is the centre of the surrounding agricultural district.  The town also supports the local fishing and oyster farming industry.

I drove out of Cowell along Beach Road which was quite wet and boggy in parts.  Beach Road takes you out to The Knob and the south western tip of the Conservation Park.

I found a dirt track off Beach Road and drove a short distance down that track and set up my station quickly, as I wanted to get back to Whyalla for lunch.

Above:- Map showing my operating spot within the park.  Map courtesty of Protected Planet.

There were some stations on 7.146 so I decided not to operate on 7.144 as I did not want to cause any interference to them.  So I headed down to 7.142 and commenced calling CQ.  My first responder was Geoff VK3SQ in Beechworth with a nice 5/9 signal, followed by Col VK5HCF, and then Greg VK5GJ, running QRP 40 milliwatts again.  This time Greg was a good 5/5 with his QRP set up.

It was an extremely nice outlook from ‘my shack’ out across Spencer Gulf, and to top it off I had a lot of callers.  I had secured the elusive 44 contacts within 40 minutes, and that was with Peter VK3ZPF.  I worked a further 3 stations before going QRT.

I’m sorry if there was anyone else waiting there, but I did not want to push my luck with my wife Marija.  I had a total of 47 contacts in the log and another successful VKFF activation.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK3SQ
2. VK5HCF
3. VK5GJ
4. VK4RF
5. VK4HA
6. VK3PF
7. VK2HHA
8. VK5EE
9. VK3GGG
10. VK3PMG
11. VK1AT/3
12. VK5FANA
13. VK3SFG
14. VK3MRH
15. VK2YW
16. VK3UH
17. VK3ZMD
18. VK5NFT/m
19. VK2PKT
20. VK3FRAB
21. VK3FLCS
22. VK5AFZ
23. VK3ELH
24. VK5FMID
25. VK3BBB
26. VK5MRT
27. VK5VRB
28. VK2IO
29. VK5FR
30. VK3VBI
31. VK4HNS/p
32. VK5HS
33. VK2KYO
34. VK5FLEX
35. VK3FSPG
36. VK5AYD
37. VK3GP
38. VK3FQSO
39. VK5PL
40. VK3KRH
41. VK5KLV/m
42. VK3PAT
43. VK3TJS
44. VK3ZPF
45. VK6JON/7
46. VK1DI
47. VK7FOLK/m

At the conclusion of the activation I stopped off very quickly at the agricultural museum at Cowell, which contains a wide range of agricultural machinery.  It was then a 1 hour drive back to Whyalla.

And while on Whyalla, I’d be remiss not to mention something about the town.  I always joke that the best view of Whyalla is ‘in the rear vision mirror’.  It is not the most pleasing town on the eye.  But it is the birth place of my beloved, and we have family and many good friends there.

Whyalla, previously known as Hummock Hill, is the third most populous town/city in South Australia.  Only behind Adelaide and Mount Gambier.  It is known as the “Steel City’ due to its steelworks and shipbuilding heritage.  Whyalla has been exporting iron ore since 1903 and was founded by the Broken Hill Proprietary Company (BHP).  A shipyard was constructed at Whyalla to provide ships to the Royal Australian Navy during the Second World War.  The first ship that rolled off the shipyard, was in 1941, and the corvette was appropriately named HMAS Whyalla.  This is now a landlocked tourist attraction.

References.

Wikipedia, 2016, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_Harbor_Conservation_Park&gt;, viewed 22nd September 2016

Wikipedia, 2016, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_death_adder&gt;, viewed 22nd August 2016

Wikipedia, 2016, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cowell,_South_Australia&gt;. viewed 22nd September 2016

Wikipedia, 2016, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whyalla&gt;, viewed 22nd September 2016

It was another early start on Sunday morning, 18th September 2016.  I had two scheduled park activations for the day, each being about one hour drive south of Whyalla.  The first being the Middlecamp Hills Conservation Park VKFF-1059 and 5CP-184.  So after a quick bite to eat and a morning coffee I was on the road, heading south out of Whyalla.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Middlecamp Hills Conservation Park.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

I travelled south west to Cowell and then north west out along the Cowell-Kimba Road.  I then turned left onto the Cowell-Mangalo Road, and then on to Ferns Road.

These are all dirt roads, and after all the rain from the day before, they were quite muddy and slippery in spots.  So that combined with the kangaroos, it was quite slow going out to the park.

Above:- Ferns Road, looking south west.  Yeldulknie Conservation Park is off in the distance.

This was another park that I struggled to find a lot of information about on the internet.  The park which is about 857 hectares in size, is around 13 km north west of Cowell.  It consists of rugged low hills with areas of dense mallee vegetation.   The native scrub here consists mostly of various kinds of eucalyptus and broombush.  The Silver daisy bush, which is listed as being vulnerable, can be found in the park.  A variety of native animals can be found in the park including Euros and western grey kangaroos.

Above:- Aerial image showing the location of the park, to the north west of Cowell.  Image courtesy of Google maps.

The only way to access this park is via Ferns Road.  A small section of the park abuts the roadway.  I unpacked the Toyota Hi Lux and then carried the gear carefully over the barbed wire fence.  Sadly, this is another park which unless you are agile and game to climb over a barbed wire fence, does not offer any user friendly access.

Above:-Aerial view of the park, showing my operating spot.  Image courtesy of Protected Planet.

As it was a Sunday morning, I did not venture up to 7.144.  The numerous WIA broadcasts are in that vicinity every Sunday morning.  So I commenced calling CQ on 7.090 and it was very very slow going to start off.  My first contact was with Rod VK7FRJG with a beautiful signal from Tasmania with his 2 elements.  This was followed by Tom VK5EE at Mount Gambier, and then Peter VK2NEO who almost lifted the Yaesu FT-857d off the fold up table.   Whilst I was speaking with Peter, the squid pole collapsed in the wind.  I could hear Peter and others saying ‘I wonder what happened there?’ until I came back to advise what had happened.

About 10 QSOs into the activation, the Western Australian guys started up on 7.088.  It wasn’t broadcast time, but a few VK6’s started chatting away, which caused a bit of QRM for me.  I persisted for another 12 QSO’s until it became unbearable, so I headed down to 7.084.  I had a total of 22 QSOs in the log by this time.

I started calling CQ again on 7.084 and this was answered by Bob VK5FO.  It was about this time that I started to experience some showers in the park, so it was quick dash back to the 4WD across the barbed wire fence to collect the bothy bag.

I worked a total of 51 stations on 40m from VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, and VK7.  This included Greg VK5GJ at Meadows who was operating QRP 4 watts.  I had worked Greg the day before when he was running just 40 milliwatts and I suggested he should try again.  So Greg dropped his power to 40 milliwatts and I dropped down from 40 watts to 5 watts.  Greg’s signal dropped from strength 9 to strength 6.  My signal report dropped from strength 9 down to strength 7.

I then lowered the squid pole and adjusted the links in the dipole and heded off to 14.310 on 20m where I worked Neil VK4HNS/p.  Unfortunately Neil was my only contact on 20m, and I did not have any phone coverage to I was unable to spot on parksnpeaks.

I then decided to try 80m before heading off to my next park.  Again, despite band conditions being quite good on 80m, I only had 2 callers.  I did however experience a little bit of noise on 80m.  Callers included Adrian VK5FANA on the Yorke Peninsula (5/8 sent and 5/6 received), and Gred VK5GJ running QRP 400 milliwatts.  Greg had a good signal and was peaking strength 8.  Below is a short video showing just how well I was receiving Greg at Middlecamp Hills.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK7FRJG
2. VK5EE
3. VK2NEO
4. VK1DI
5. VK3NBL
6. VK4RF
7. VK4HA
8. VK3AFW
9. VK3UH
10. VK2IO
11. VK5FMLO
12. VK6MB
13. VK3FPSR
14. VK3GGG
15. VK3PMG
16. VK5FR
17. VK3PF
18. VK2XXM
19. VK5FMID
20. VK4HNS/p
21. VK5WG/m
22. VK5AFZ
23. VK5FO
24. VK2LEE
25. VK3SQ
26. VK3ZPF
27. VK3XDM/p
28. VK3MCK
29. VK5ZGY
30. VK5ZX
31. VK1AT/3
32. VK3SFG
33. VK5BJE
34. VK3FRAB
35. VK3BBB
36. VK2HHA
37. VK2KYO
38. VK4RF
39. VK4HA
40. VK5NFT/m
41. VK3GGG
42. VK3PMG
43. VK5NJ
44. VK5GJ
45. VK6JON/7
46. VK5FANA
47. VK3FADM
48. VK5RR
49. VK7FOLK
50. VK3TKK
51. VK2IO

The following station was worked on 20m SSB:-

1. VK4HNS/p

The following stations were worked on 80m SSB:-

1. VK5GJ
2. VK5FANA

References.

Australian Heritage Database, 2016, <http://www.environment.gov.au/&gt;, viewed 22nd September 2016

Department Environment Water and Natural Resources, 2013, Approved Conservation Advice for Olearia pannosa.

Sadly the rain had hit with vengeance, so I decided to cancel the activation of Sheoak Hill Conservation Park, and activate just one more park (from the vehicle), the Yeldulknie Conservation Park VKFF-1127 and 5CP-260.  However, this activation would not qualify for the VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award, as I was going to operate from the vehicle.  You must be completely autonomous from the vehicle for the VK5 Parks Award.  However, WWFF does allow mobile activity or operation from a vehicle.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Yeldulknie Conservation Park, west of Adelaide, on the Eyre Peninsula.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

The Yeldulknie Conservation Park was first proclaimed on 21st September 1989 and comprises around 3,297 hectares.  The park comprises three major landform features including steep gullies, ridges and hills, and a system of creeks and water ways.

Above:- Aerial shot showing the location of the park.   Image courtesy of Google maps.

After leaving the Plug Range, I headed back into Mangalo, and then out along the Mangalo-Cleve Road.  Yeldulknie is well signposted unlike some of the other Conservation Parks on the Eyre Peninsula.  There is a park sign in the north western corner of the park, and another sign in the south western corner.

The rain had really set in now, so there was definitely no chance of me operating from outside of the vehicle.  This proved a problem, as there were limited operating spots along the roadway.  I eventually found a small clearing in the scrub and pulled off the road as far as I could, without the risk of getting bogged.

Fortunately it only takes a few minutes to erect the linked dipole, but this was long enough for me to be absolutely drenched by the time I got back into the vehicle.

I headed to 7.144 and found Rob VK4FFAB calling CQ from Conondale National Park VKFF-1513.  Rob was my first contact from Yeldulknie, and a nice way to start with a Park to Park contact.  I then moved down the band to 7.139 and called CQ and this was answered by a number of the usual suspects….Rick VK4TRF, Peter VK3PF, Chris VK5FR and Gerard VK2IO.

At times the rain was extremely heavy and the rain static was peaking up to strength 8, so I apologise to anybody who was calling that I did not acknowledge.  This combined with the rain hitting the roof of the Toyota Hi Lux, made conditions quite difficult at times.

I went on to work a total of 54 stations from Yelduknie, in VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, and VK7.  Sadly due to the rain I did not get to work any other bands.  It was just too wet and cold to be standing out in the rain for any longer than what was required.

Other than Damien VK5FDEC running his usual 5 watts (5/8 sent and 5/9 received), I spoke with Greg VK5GJ again, running just 4 watts (5/8 sent and 5/9 received).  Greg then lowered his power down to 40 milliwatts and dropped to a 5/1.  Fortunately the rain had eased by this stage, and I was able to copy Greg very well from Meadows in the Adelaide Hills.

I was now getting very cold and in dire need for a hot shower and a cup of coffee, so it was back out into the rain to lower the squid pole and collect the antenna.  And then an hour drive back into Whyalla.

Thanks to the following stations for spotting me: Rick VK4RF & Col VK3LSD.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK4FFAB/p (VKFF-1513)
2. VK4RF
3. VK4HA
4. VK3PF
5. VK5FR
6. VK2IO
7. VK3OHM
8. VK5HS
9. VK7CW
10. VK5WG
11. VK5MRT
12. VK4AAC/3
13. VK2HHA
14. VK3BBB
15. VK5BW
16. VK7ALH
17. VK3TKK
18. VK3SQ
19. VK5FMWW
20. VK2VW
21. VK2YW
22. VK5KLV
23. VK4HNS/p
24. VK5FANA/m
25. VK5BJE
26. VK3FLCS
27. VK5HDW
28. VK3BL
29. VK3ALA
30. VK5VRB
31. VK5EE
32. VK3SFG
33. VK7FRJG
34. VK5FDEC
35. VK5ZK
36. VK2KYO
37. VK3SL
38. VK3FRAB
39. VK3GGG/m
40. VK3PMG/m
41. VK3ZMD
42. VK5GJ
43. VK5FD
44. VK3PAT
45. VK3LSD
46. VK3ARH
47. VK5GJ
48. VK1MTS
49. VK2YK
50. VK2MOR
51. VK5NFB
52. VK2XXM
53. VK3FADM
54. VK3KLB

At the end of the activation I paid a quick visit to the Yeldulknie Reservoir.  This was completed in 1912 and had a capacity of 740 mega litres.  The building of the reservoir involved the construction of a 108 metre long and 12.8 metre high concreate retaining wall across Yeldulknie Creek.  A further two reservoirs were completed by 1914.  The reservoirs are no longer in use today, however there is a picnic area at the reservoirs.  The restored wheelhouse is state heritage listed.

References.

District Council of Cleve, 2016, <http://arnobay.com/yeldulknie-conservation-park/&gt;, viewed 21st September 2016

Flinders Ranges Research, 2016, <http://www.southaustralianhistory.com.au/yeldulknie.htm&gt;, viewed 21st September 2016

After leaving the Heggaton Conservation Park I made my way to The Plug Range Conservation Park VKFF-1107 and 5CP-231.  The Plug Range is located about

Above:- Map showing the location of The Plug Range Conservation Park on Eyre Peninsula.  Map courtesy of Protected Planet.

I thought that this was going to be a short 30 minute drive from Heggaton and I would be there.  But that was not to be!   I drove down the Mangalo-Kielpa Road into the little area of Mangalo, which is easily identified as there are two large grain silos at the intersection with Burton Road.

Above:- the grain silos at Mangalo

I then drove north on Burton Road, heading towards what I thought was the park.   Unfortunately mobile phone coverage was very poor and it wasn’t long before I was lost.  Fortunately a local lady came along and kindly turned her car around and guided me to where I wanted to be to get into the park.  I am very appreciative of this.  It was a set of gates on Watchanie Road with a dirt track leading towards the scrub through a farming property.  Definitely no signs for this park.

Above: the track leading into the park (is actually a part of the park).

I drove to the end of the track and soon entered the scrub.  The dirt track leading to the scrub is actually part of the park.  You can see the narrow thin green line on the aerial below, which is the track leading to the park.  I set up off a little track following a ridgeline in the south western corner of the park.

Above:- Aerial shot of The Plug Range Conservation Park, showing my operating spot in the south western section of the park.  Image courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

The Plug Range Conservation Park was established on the 6th September 2012 and comprises 2,582 hectares.  The park is surrounded by farming land.  Again, I could find very little on this park on the internet.

Above:- Aerial shot from Google Maps showing the location of The Plug Range Conservation Park in relation to Heggaton Conservation Park.

The wet weather was moving in fast and I had my doubts that I was going to get my 44 contacts from the park before the rain started coming down.  I was on air at around 0315 UTC (1.45 p.m. local time), with my first contact in the log being a Park to Park contact with Adam VK2YK in the Glenrock State Conservation Area VKFF-1319.  I then moved down the band to 7.130 and started calling CQ.  This was answered by Mick VK3GGG who was mobile in the Grampians National Park VKFF-0213.  Next up was Gerard VK2IO, followed by Chris VK5FR, and then Tony VK5MRT.

As the rain was fast approaching I moved through each QSO quite quickly during this activation.  The band was completely devoid of any man made noise, but the static crashes were very strong from the nearby storms.  I had reached contact number 40 within 30 minutes of activating.  This was with Brian VK3BBB, when the heavens opened up.  Damn, I had 4 more contacts to get in the log to qualify the park.  So it was back to the 4WD and out with the bothy bag.

I returned to the deck chair and the fold up table, huddled underneath the bothy bag, and worked a further 5 stations before hurriedly going QRT.  My last contact was with Steve VK5SFA.  The rain was that heavy, that water was starting to seap through the bothy bag.  So out from underneath the bothy bag I came, and I commenced packing up the gear in the rain.  This normally only takes me around 2 minutes, but it was enough for me to be like a wet rat.

Unfortunately I did not have time or the opportunity to try any bands other than 40m during this activation.  The rain had beaten me.  But I had qualified the park with a total of 45 contacts.

Many thanks to the following stations who spotted me: Brett VK3FLCS, Rick VK4RF, and Robert VK2XXM.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. VK2YK/p (VKFF-1319)
2. VK3GGG/p (VKFF-0213)
3. VK3PMG/p (VKFF-0213)
4. VK2IO
5. VK5FR
6. VK5MRT
7. VK3MRH
8. VK5WG
9. VK3BNJ
10. VK2HHA
11. VK3MCK
12. VK3SFG
13. VK3PF
14. VK4RF
15. VK4HA
16. VK3FENC
17. VK7ALH
18. VK1AT
19. VK5KLV
20. VK3SIM
21. VK5ZK
22. VK4HNS/p
23. VK4AAC/3
24. VK7FOLK
25. VK2KYO
26. VK2YW
27. VK3TKK
28. VK3FLCS
29. VK5EE
30. VK5AFZ
31. VK2VW
32. VK5GJ
33. VK2XXM
34. VK2MOR
35. VK3FRAB
36. VK6JON/7
37. VK5ZGY/m
38. VK2JCC
39. VK3FSPG
40. VK3BBB
41. VK3UH
42. VK3BSG
43. VK3NXT
44. VK3AJA
45. VK5SFA

References.

Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources, Eastern Eyre Peninsula Parks Management Plan 2014