Daily Archives: March 22, 2021

Bullock Hill Conservation Park and the 2021 John Moyle Memorial Field Day

Posted on by

The 2021 John Moyle Memorial Field Day Contest (JMMFD) was held on Saturday the 20th day of March 2021 and Sunday the 21st day of March 2021.

The aim of the JMMFD is:-

“to encourage and provide familiarization with portable and field operation, and provide training for emergency situations.” 

The contest is held annually and is in memory of the late John Moyle.

For some very interesting information on John Moyle, the man, please see my previous post…….

https://vk5pas.org/2017/03/19/totness-recreation-park-vkff-1754-and-the-john-moyle-memorial-field-day-2017/

Above:- John Murray Moyle.  Image courtesy of Peter VK3RV

Late on Saturday afternoon I headed to my local park, the Bullock Hill Conservation Park 5CP-265 & VKFF-0873. The park is a very short drive from my home and about 60 km south of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Bullock Hill Conservation Park. Map courtesy of Location SA Map Viewer.

There are two ways of accessing the park. The first is at the end of Haines Road which runs off Signal Flat Road. The second is via Wattle Flat Road. I chose Wattle Flat Road. There is a small carpark there with just enough room to park a car.

Above:- Aerial shot of the Bullock Hill CP showing my operating spot. Image c/o Location SA Map Viewer.

I took part in the 6 hour portable single operator category of the JMMFD.

In the 6 hours I made a total of 241 QSOs on 20, 40, & 80m SSB.

I worked VK1, VK2, VK3, VK4, VK5, VK6, VK7, New Zealand, Netherlands, Japan, & Belgium.

Above:- Map showing my contacts during the 2021 JMMFD. Map courtesy of qsomap.org

Band conditions on 40m were very good with many portable QRP stations logged.

Above:- Map of Australia and New Zealand showing my contacts during the 2021 JMMFD. Map courtesy of qsomap.org

Thank you to everyone who called me.

References.

Wireless Institute of Australia, 2021, <https://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/johnmoyle/>, viewed 22nd March 2021.

VK100AF

Posted on by

On Sunday 14th March 2021 and Monday 15th March 2021, Marija VK5MAZ and I operated as VK100AF, for the 100 year anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

We made a total of 321 QSOs on 10,15, 20, 40, & 80m SSB.

This included 13 different DXCC entities.

Countries worked were as follows:-

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • Fiji
  • Hawaii
  • Hungary
  • Ireland
  • Italy
  • Japan
  • New Zealand
  • Philippines
  • South Cook Islands
  • Spain
  • United States of America.

This was down by about 21 countries from our time as VI100AF a few days earlier. Conditions on the 20m band were very poor. So bad, that the ANZA DX Net closed early on Sunday. Just a handful of Europeans were worked on the 20m band on the longpath on Sunday. We did manage some Europe contacts on 40m using our rotary dipole and just 100 watts.

The majority of our contacts, a total of 273, were with Australian amateurs – VK1, VK2, Vk3, VK4, VK5, VK6, VK7, and VK8.

We logged 23 Japanese stations on 15m and 10m.

The big surprise of the 2 days using the special call, was to be called by Alan K7ACZ in Nevada on the 80m band. Initially Marija and I thought it was a VK7 in Tasmania, but we were very suprised when an American voice came back to say we were 5/5 in Nevadsa.

Thank you to everyone who called. We will next be on air as VK100AF on Friday 23rd April 2021 and Saturday 24th April 2021. We hope to get you in the log.