On Saturday 21st March 2020 I headed out mid-afternoon to activate the Monarto Conservation Park 5CP-138 and VKFF-0828 and take part in the 2020 John Moyle Memorial Field Day.
I entered into the 6-hour single operator portable category.
I have operated from the Monarto Conservation Park many times in the past. The park is located about 80 km east of Adelaide.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Monarto Conservation Park. Map courtesy of Protected Planet.
I operated from my normal spot, which is adjacent to the carpark on Ferries McDonald Road.
Above:- An aerial view of the Monarto Conservation Park, looking north. Map courtesy of Google maps.
The aim of the John Moyle Memorial Field Day is….
“to encourage and provide familiarisation with portable and field operation, and provide training for emergency situations. The rules are therefore specifically designed and focussed to encourage field operations.”
For some very interesting information on John Moyle, the man, please see my previous post…….
John Murray Moyle. Image courtesy of Peter VK3RV
I was set up and ready to go by about 2.55 p.m. local time. I ran the Yaesu FT-857d and the 20/40/80 linked dipole for this activation. My power output was 40 watts.
My first contact was with Peter VK3PWG in Victoria on the 40m band. My final contact was with Garry VK7JGD in Tasmania on the 80m band.
I made a total of 239 contacts in my 6 hour period, with a claimed score of 478 points.
How does that compare to my scores in previous years?
- 2019 – 187 QSOs
- 2018 – did not operate portable
- 2017 – 241 QSOs
- 2016 – 229 QSOs
- 2015 – 238 QSOs
- 2014 – 155 QSOs
The chart below (courtesy of VK Contest Log) shows my activity during the Field Day.
The vast majority of my contacts were on the 40m band, a total of 176 QSOs. I made 47 QSOs on 80m, and just 16 QSOs on 20m.
Most of my contacts were into Victoria (VK3) with a total of 83 QSOs. This was followed by New South Wales (VK2) with a total of 59 QSOs, and then Queensland (VK4) with a total of 34 QSOs. I was very pleased to work ZL3VZ on 20, 40 & 80m SSB, and also ZL1GAB on 40m.
Above:- Graph showing the areas worked (VK1-VK7 & ZL) during the Field Day. Image courtesy of nces.ed.gov
The map below shows my contacts around Australia and into New Zealand during the Field Day.
Above:- Map showing my QSOs during the 2020 John Moyle Memorial Field Day. Map courtesy of qsomap.org
THANK YOU to everyone who called.
VK5PAS 
Hi Paul, great to see you out and about. We are confined at the moment due to the Coronavirus outbreak. I can go out to walk the dog but we are not supposed to stop anywhere for any length of time. So driving unnecessarily either so I guess portable radio is out for the moment.. I’m running WSPR mode at the moment with a Raspberry Pi and quite amazed at just how far my signal goes on 40m during the night. I was even heard in Tasmania with just 500mw HAHA who says the bands are dead 🙂 Hope you are well. Take care my friend. 72s from Belgium
Hi Stephen,
In the past 48 hours, there have been some dramatic changes here in VK. The Australian Government has placed some very strict conditions which have resulted in the closure of thousands of businesses and as a result many many Australians are now out of a job. It is a very serious situation.
Fortunately, we have (so far) only had about 2,400 cases of COVID-19 in Australia with 8 deaths. But I emphasise ‘so far’.
73 & take care,
Paul VK5PAS.
Excellent stats Mate, thanks.
Chris
VK5FR
H Chris,
I left my run on 20m too late. Apparently conditions on that band were very good earlier, but by the time I got there the band had shut down, all except for propagation to VK6 & VK4.
73,
Paul VK5PAS.
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