Last night (Friday 27th February 2015) was the 4th Summer activation event for the VK5 National and Conservation Parks Award.  So I headed out to the Onkaparinga River National Park, which qualifies for both the VK5 Parks Award and also the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  The park is VKFF-402 in the WWFF program.

Above: Map showing the location of Onkaparinga River National Park.  Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

I set up near Gate 3 and the Bakers Gully track.  There is a good carpark here where you can park off Chapel Hill Road.  Just a short walk of 20 off metres is a wooden table and benches, which makes a great ‘shack’.  The scrub here is a bit thick, but there is enough room to string out a dipole which is exactly what I did.  For this activation I ran the Yaesu FT-857d, 40 watts and the 40m/20m linked dipole, supported on a 7 metre telescopic squid pole.  It was quite a warm afternoon, about 28 deg C, so the shade provided by the gum trees was very welcome.

Above: Map showing my operating spot.  Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

Prior to calling CQ I had a look around the 40m band hoping that I would find some of the other park activators.  And it wasn’t long before I did.  My first contact was with John VK5BJE who was operating portable from the Scott Creek Conservation Park on 7.100.  John had a lovely strong 59 signal.  I then found Tom VK5EE in the Gower Conservation Park in the South East on 7.088.  Tom was also 59 and was conducting a joint activation with Col VK5HCF and new park activator, Alan VK5FAJS.  It was great to get Alan in the log.  Welcome to the world of park activating Alan.

My next contact was with another new park activator, Adrian VK5FANA, who was in the Clinton Conservation Park on the Yorke Peninsula.  Adrian was operating from near Port Arthur, and had a very nice 5/9 plus signal to Onkaparinga River.  This was a great start to the activation, five park to park contacts.

I then headed up to my nominated operating frequency of 7.144, but found that there was a lot of activity on either side, so I settled for 7.142 and started calling CQ.  In fact there were 2 G stations on 7.138 having a chat amongst themselves.  They were not very strong, but very readable.  But I didn’t call them as I wasn’t confident that they would hear me.  My CQ call was answered by Marc VK3OHM who has recently become an avid park hunter, followed by another park to park contact, this time with Chris VK4FR/5 who was portable in the Morialta Conservation Park.  Although Chris was running QRP, his signal was still 59 to me.  I went on to work a number of stations in VK3 & VK5, including Mick VK3PMG who has recently upgraded his call (formerly VK3FAFK).  Well done Mick.

When things slowed down I took the opportunity of QSYing and having a look around the band.  I found Richard VK5ZRY on 7.110 calling CQ from the Ramsay Way Conservation Park on the Yorke Peninsula.  I wasn’t expecting Richard to be out and about so this contact was a nice surprise.  I then worked Les VK5KLV who was portable in the Winninowie Conservation Park, south of Port Augusta.

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I then lowered the squid pole and removed the links in the dipole, so I could try my luck on 20m.  The WWFF program is very popular in Europe, so I was hoping to work some of the European park hunters.  I headed to my nominated operating frequency of 14.244, however there was activity either side including a G station calling CQ on 14.245.  So I headed up to 14.250 and started calling CQ.  But unfortunately the same G station had followed me up the band and started calling CQ on 14.251.5, just above me.  Strike two!

I then moved up to 14.267 and started calling CQ again and this was answered by David VK5ADO with a very loud signal.  This was followed by a small group of European park hunters including F5TJC, DJ8QP, I5FLN, IZ2IHO, F1BLL, EA3MP, F2YT, DK0EE, EA1DFP, HA6OB, S52KM, ON4BB, and DK4RM.  Conditions were challenging to say the least.  Many thanks to my old mate Larry VK5LY for spotting me on the DX Cluster.  This certainly alerted the European stations to my presence in the park.  I also managed a few other VK contacts which included Andrew VK2AC, John VK5BJE in the Scott Creek Conservation Park, and my mate Greg VK8GM in Alice Springs.

Prior to heading back to 40m, I had a quick listen around the 20m band.  I’m very pleased I did, because I managed to work VK9LC on 14.199 on Lord Howe Island.  But the cream on the cake was a contact with Jerry PH9HB who was aeronautical mobile above the Canary Islands.  Jerry was a good 5/7 and he gave me a 4/4 with my 40 watts.  I have worked Jerry before whilst he has been in the air, but those contacts have been from home.  So this was a very exciting contact.

I then headed back to 40m, where I spoke with Geoff VK5HEL on 7.093, who was portable in the Ferries McDonald Conservation Park.  Geoff had a beautiful 59 signal from the Murray Mallee.  I then QSYd to 7.144 and called CQ and this was answered by Perrin Vk3XPT who was portable in the Alpine National Park, running QRP 5 watts from his Yaesu FT-817 and an end fed 1/2 wave antenna.  Perrin was camping near Mount Buller and had a nice 59 signal.

I worked a further 11 stations in VK2, VK4 & VK5.  This included Tom VK4FAJB at Hervey Bay, who only received his licence in the mail the day prior.  Welcome to amateur radio Tom.

The drizzly rain had just started at this time, and it would continue on and off for the rest of the activation.  There were about five occasions when I had to drive underneath the bothy bag.

Again when things slowed down a little I had a look around the band.  I found Chris VK5FR/5 having a chat with Adrian VK5FANA who was portable in his second park, the Wills Creek Conservation Park.  After having a quick chat with Chris, Adrian came up asking Chris if he could quickly work me, to which Chris obliged.  It was great to get Adrian in the log from his second ever park activation.

I then spoke with Peter VK3YE who was pedestrian mobile at Port Phillip Bay.  Peter regularly goes pedestrian mobile and it never ceases to amaze me with the signal he puts out.  This evening was no exception, 5/8.

I then found Phil ZL2RO calling CQ on 7.167 from Hastings in New Zealand.  Phil had a very good 5/9 plus signal.

Following my contact with Phil, it was 8.00 p.m. local time (0930 UTC) so I headed to 7.130 for the 7130 DX Net.  On the net I had a total of 17 contacts including Bill W1OW in Massachusetts in the USA (5/7 sent & 5/5 received), William FO5JV in French Polynesia (5/8 sent and 5/5 received), Brian ZL2ASH in Wellington new Zealand (5/9 both ways) and Phil (VK2MCB) operating special event station VI110ROTARY for the 110th anniversary of ROTARY.  I also spoke with Andy VK4TH/8 who was sitting back enjoying the sunset in the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory.

Above: underneath the bothy bag.

Just prior to the closure of the net, I QSYd up to 7.135 and started calling CQ.  This was answered by Steve VK5SFA.  I went on to work a further 11 stations on this frequency, in VK2, VK3, VK4, VK6, & VK7.  All with excellent signals.

I then decided to see what propagation was like on 20m, specifically the Southern Cross DX Net.  Once lowering the squid pole again, removing the links, and putting the squid back into place, I tuned to 14.338.5 and heard the Net Control, Jack W1FDY in Virignia, with a good strong 5/8 signal.  Surprisingly Jack was able to hear me quite well.  He gave me a 5/6 signal report.  I went on to work a further 5 stations on the net: Reg VK6BQQ, Peter VK3CFA, Peter KD2BMX in new York, Bill W1OW in Massachusetts, and Al K4AWM in Virginia.

Unfortunately I had to go QRT in a hurry, as the rain really started to come down heavy.

This was a very enjoyable activation, with a total of 87 contacts in the log.  This included 13 S.A. park to park contacts, two Victorian National Parks and one Northern Territory National Park.  And also some interesting DX contacts including the contact with Jerry PH9HB aeronautical mobile.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. John VK5BJE/p (Scott Creek Conservation Park)
2. Tom VK5EE/p (Gower Conservation Park)
3. Col VK5HCF/p (Gower Conservation Park)
4. Alan VK5FAJS/p (Gower Conservation Park)
5. Adrian VK5FANA/p (Clinton Conservation Park)
6. Marc VK3OHM
7. Chris VK4FR/5 (Morialta Conservation Park)
8. Keith VK5FEKH
9. Peter VK3TKK/m
10. Fred VK3DAC
11. Phil VK3BHR
12. Lynton VK5FLKJ
13. Peter VK3PF
14. Amanda VK3FQSO
15. Peter VK5KPR
16. Mick VK3PMG
17. Richard VK5ZRY/p (Ramsay Way Conservation Park)
18. Les VK5KLV/p (Winninowie Conservation Park)
19. Geoff Vk5HEL/p (Ferries McDonald Conservation Park)
20. Perrin VK3XPT/p (Alpine National Park)
21. Andrew VK2UH
22. Rob VK4FFAB
23. Tom VK4FAJB
24. Wayne VK4MAD
25. David VK5NQP
26. Bob VK5FPAC
27. Rod VK5VRB
28. Theo VK5MTM
29. Allen VK3HRA
30. Jim VK1AT/3
31. Greg VK5GJ (QRP)
32. Adrian VK5FANA/p (Wills Creek Conservation Park)
33. Peter VK3YE (pedestrian mobile)
34. Phil ZL2RO
35. Bill W1OW
36. Chris VK2UW
37. Peter VK4AAV
38. Andy VK4TH/8 (Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park)
39. John VK2FALL
40. Mal VK5MJ
41. William FO5JV
42. Brian ZL2ASH
43. Phil VI110ROTARY
44. Gavin VK3MLU
45. Craig VK6VCK
46. Doug VK2FMIA
47. Geoff VK5HEL/p (Monarto Conservation Park)
48. Rick VK2HFP
49. Keith VK2PKT
50. VK6FABC (QRP)
51. Greg VK8GM
52. Steve VK5SFA
53. Gavin VK3MLU
54. Peter VK3TKK/m
55. Derric VK6PI
56. Wayne VK2PDW
57. Roger VK5NWE
58. Alan VK4NAI/p
59. Adam VK7VAZ
60. Ian VK3VIN
61. Paul VK7CC
62. Oscar VK4BOV
63. Glen VK4FSCC

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. David VK5ADO
2. F5TJC
3. DJ8QP
4. Luciano I5FLN
5. IZ2IHO
6. F1BLL
7. EA3MP
8. F2YT
9. DK0EE
10. EA1DFP
11. HA6OB
12. S52KM
13. ON4BB
14. VK2AC
15. DK4RM
16. VK5BJE/p (Scott Creek Conservation Park)
17. Greg VK8GM
18. VK9LC
19. Jerry PH9HB (aeronautical mobile)
20. Jack W1FDY
21. Reg VK6BQQ
22. Peter VK3CFA
23. Peter KD2BMX
24. Bill W1OW
25. Al K4AWM

After leaving the Winninowie Conservation Park, I travelled south along the Augusta Highway and then travelled east along the Mambray Creek into the Mount Remarkable National Park.  The park is located about 60 km south of Port Augusta, and about 260 km north of Adelaide, in the southern Flinders Ranges.

I have activated this 16,000 hectare park previously, and have climbed the Mount Remarkable summit, but I had never activated the park at the Mambray Creek section.  The park entry fee was paid online, and I entered the Mambray Creek section and found a quiet parking spot on the northern side of road, amongst the scrub.

Prior to activating I walked over to the old Baroota Homestead ruins.  This area was once part of the might ‘Baroota Run’ which was established in 1851, and flourished for 12 years.  South Australia then suffered devastating droughts for a number of years.  Following the break in the drought, flooding rains and extreme cold followed.  This resulted in the death of thousands of sheep, and with them, the owners livelihoods.

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I ran the Yaesu FT-857d for this activation, with 40 watts output and the 40m/20m linked dipole.  I had the entire campround  area all to myself.  It was a beautiful mild night, with an almost full moon.  And no mosquitos.

I started off on 20m first and I was hoping to work some European DX and give the Europeans the opportunity of working a new park for the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  But I was to be sadly disapointed.  I called and called CQ  on 14.250 with no takers, until finally, Jim VK2QA responded (5/9 both ways).  But I was not spotted and called CQ numerous times after this with no takers.  So rather dejected, I tuned across the band and spoke with Franc F5PAU (5/8 sent and 5/5 received).  I then found Paul VK2HTM calling CQ with a booming signal from Sydney.  Paul also gave me a 5/9 signal report in return.  It was nearly 0900 UTC (7.30 p.m. SA local time), so I had probably left my run for 20m a little too late.

So it was off to 40m that I headed.  And my first contact there on 7.142 was with the same station I had first made contact with on 20m, Jim VK2QA in Lane Cove.   I worked a further 14 stations in VK2, VK3, VK4, & VK5, until a very strong CW signal came up on frequency calling me.  Wow, was this going to put me to the test.  It was Jack, VK5CJC.  I managed to stumble my way through and exchanged signal reports with Jack.  This was the first time I had ever had a CW-SSB contact whilst in a park.

Following my contact with Jack, I worked a further 3 stations on 7.142 until callers dried up.  I tuned across the 40m band and heard WWFF park activator and hunter, Rob VK4FFAB in QSO with Shaun VK4NSP and Glen VK2FQSL/p, so I called in to say hello.  After working Rob, Shaun, and Glen, I went up to 7.167 and called CQ.  The first responder was regular park hunter, Ron VK3JP with his usual very strong signal.  About 8 QSO’s later, after being placed on the DX Cluster by John, VK5NJ, I was called by Bill W1OW in Massachusetts in the USA.  Bill and I had a successful contact (5/7 sent and 5/5 received).  And then to my surprise, ten QSO’s later I was called byTom K2WCT in New Jersey in the USA (5/8 sent and 5/3 received).

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I went on to work a number of other VK’s including my good mate Greg VK8GM in Alice Springs, and a handful of VK6 stations including my buddy Ted VK6NTE with his normal very strong signal.  My last contact on 40m was with Damien VK2XDL.

I had a quick listen on 20m for Jack W1FDY on the Southern Cross DX Net, but all I heard were some of the local VK’s talking about how the band had not yet opened to the States.  So I decided to ‘pull stumps’ and head back to Crystal Brook.  I had a total of 50 contacts in the log, which I was very happy with.  Although I was a little disapointed that I did not work the expected DX on the 20m band.

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. Jim VK2QA
2. Franc F5PAU
3. Paul VK2HTM

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. Jim VK2QA
2. David VK5KC
3. Brian VK5FMID
4. Roger VK4YB
5. Jim VK5JW
6. John VK3HJD
7. Doug VK2FMIA
8. Ian VK5CZ
9. Tom VK5EE
10. Peter VK3ZPF
11. John VK5BJE
12. Richard VK5ZRY
13. Nev VK5WG
14. Chris VK2SR
15. Peter VK3TKK
16. Trevor VK5ATQ
17. Arthur VK5AAR
18. Peter Vk5FLEX
19. Sg\haun VK4NSP
20. Rob VK4FFAB
21. Glen VK2FQSL/p
22. Ron VK3JP
23. Colin VK3ZZS/m
24. Tom VK5FTRG/m
25. Gavin VK3MLU
26. Tony VK2RI
27. Ray VK3NBL
28. Chris VK5FCHM
29. John VK5NJ
30. Bill W1OW
31. Ian VK3VIN
32. James VK1DR
33. Steven VK7PSJ
34. Tony VK3AAT
35. Mark VK3YYR
36. Tony VK5TT
37. Geoff VK5HEL
38. John VK5FTCT
39. John VK5FABC/m
40. Tom K2WCT
41. Nill VK5MBD
42. Tom VK5FTRG
43. Doug VK2FMIA
44. Phil VK5NPP
45. Greg VK8GM
46. Owen VK5HOS
47. Larry VK6NOL
48. Charles Vk5FBAC
49. Mick VK4GMH
50. Adrian VK5FANA/qrp
51. David VK5ADO
52. Peter VK6DC
53. Doug VK3YQS
54. Ted VK6NTE
55. Ian VK3VIG/5
56. Damien VK2XDL

The following station was worked on 40m CW:-

1. Jack, VK5CJC

Yesterday (Saturday 20th December, 2014) I activated the Belair National Park (NP), VKFF-022, in the Mount Lofty Ranges ‘Adelaide Hills’.  I had already activated Belair NP earlier in the year, so there were no VK5 Park Award points up for grabs.  And I had already passed the 44 QSO threshold for Belair NP in the World Wide Flora and Fauna (WWFF) program.  But my real motivation, was to try out my new radio.  My beautiful wife Marija (and yes I am constantly reminded I am ‘boxing above my weight’) and my lovely daughter Olivia, purchased a Yaesu FT-857d for me, and gave it to me as an early Christmas present and early 50th birthday present.  I turn 50 on the 5th January.  So it was off to Belair for me, just a 15 minute drive to the west from home.

I set up just inside Gate 1 off Sheaok Road, at Crafers.  This is on the northern side of the park.  This gate was locked, however there is no restriction to access to the park at this point.  There is a walking track here, Wilyawa Track.  But to gain access to it, you need to either jump the fence, which has barbed wire, or jump the padlocked gate.  Why DEWNR do not have a pedestrian access point here I do not know?  Anyway, I got all the gear from the 4WD and then jumped the fence and walked a short distance down the track, where I set up my station, under the shade of some gum trees, as it was a warm 30 deg C day.

Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

I started off on my nominated frequency of 7.095.  I had posted on the VK5 Parks Yahoo group and the WWFF Australia Yahoo group that I would be on air at 0600 UTC on 7.095.  I was about 15 minutes late, but still did not have to call CQ.  I asked if the frequency was in use and this was responded to by Les VK5KLV at Port Augusta with a beautiful 5/9 signal.  Les gave me a 5/9 in return, and it seemed the band was in very good shape.  It was certainly very quiet.  There was no man made noise on the band due to the remote location of the park, and the QRN (static crashes) that have been present over the past few weeks were noticably absent.  My second caller of the day was Adam VK2YK who was a good 5/8.  Adam was struggling with me a little bit due to QSB, but gave me a 5/4 signal report.  This was followed by Mal VK5MJ in The Riverland in South Australia, who was 5/9 plus.  David VK5KC then called me, using just 1 watt, and was a very nice 5/8 signal.  I had already caught up with David earlier in the day for a coffee.

I went on to work a further 20 stations in VK1, VK3, and VK5.  A few of those stations were operating QRP.  The first QRP caller was Peter VK3TKK who was running just 5 watts.  Peter’s signal was only signal strength 3, but due to the low noise floor, I was able to receive him perfectly.  This was followed by Andrew VK1NAM mobile in VK3, in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne.  Andrew was running just 2.5 watts from his FT-817 in the car, but nether less had a great 5/7 signal.  Tom VK5FTRG then called in from the South East of South Australia, running just 5 watts, with a nice 5/9 signal.  My final QRP caller was regular QRP operator, Ian VK5IS, again running 5 watts.  Ian had a beautiful 5/9 signal coming in from the Mid North of South Australia.

I also worked a few mobile stations.  Other than Andrew mentioned above, I also spoke with Greg VK5ZGY who was mobile in the South East of South Australia, with a good strong 5/7 signal.  Greg had co pilot and wife, Gabbie, alongside of him.  I then spoke with Ian VK6PXF who was mobile in VK5 at Lonsdale, south of Adelaide.  Ian has started activating National Parks, and has sent me quite a few of his logs for upload to the WWFF Log Search facility.  And lastly I was called by Robin VK5TN who was mobile at Hahndorf in the Adelaide Hills.

But to make my day, I was called by Richard VK5ZRY, who had decided to head out to the Ramsay Way Conservation Park.  The park is/was located on Richard’s property on the Yorke Peninsula.  Richard was trying out his new Yaesu FT-817 and had a magnificent 5/9 signal coming across the Gulf St Vincent to Belair.

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I left the frequency to Richard, and lowered the squid pole and removed the links in the dipole, so I could operate on 20m.  However, I was disapointed when I tuned across 20m, to hear only very weak signals coming in from Europe.  I found that my nominated frequency of 14.244 was clear, so I put out about 8 CQ calls but had no takers.  Rather disapointed, I tuned across the 20m band and could hear three stations coming in from Spain.  However, their signals were well down compared to normal conditions.  I also heard Jason ZL3JAS, working long path into Europe.  However, all the European stations he was making contact with, were very weak to me.

So I headed back to 40m.  Prior to calling CQ again, I tuned across the 40m band and I could hear quite a few Europeans & stations from the United Kingdom coming through, including Javier, EA7GAK on 7.178 who was working into the USA.  I gave Javier a few calls, but sadly he could not hear me.  I also heard W1AW/3 on 7.161 working into Europe.  I also called him, but again my 40 watts just wasn’t making the grade.   So I went back to 7.095 and called CQ again, and this was responded to by Nic VK5ZAT who was portable at Carrackalinga on the Fleurieu Peninsula.  I had worked Nic a little earlier, prior to QSYing to 20m.  He had been having problems with a high VSWR on his dipole.  And this time, his signal had dropped down a good 2 S points.  I was then called by Mick VK3FAFK in Stawell in western Victoria, with a beautiful 5/9 signal.  And this was followed by Andrew VK5UR mobile in VK2, about 100 km south of Parkes.  I had a lengthy chat with Andrew and his signal always remained around the S9.  Andrew was running an IC7100 and a roof mounted whip antenna.  My last contact on 40m was with Adam VK2YK who had called in again, as conditions had improved.  I was now 5/9 with Adam, and he was 5/9 plus.  I worked a further 13 stations from VK2, VK3, VK4, & VK5.

My curiosity had got the better of me, so I again lowered the squid pole and removed the links in the dipole, and again tuned to 20m.  I was hoping that the band had improved.  But it was getting a little late, approaching 8.00 p.m.  Again, I could hear some weak Europeans, who were certainly not strong enough for me to try to make contact with.  I managed just 1 DX contact and that was with Michio, 7L4LKK, who was a strong 5/9 to Belair.

So after a number of hours in the park, I had a total of 41 contacts in the log.

The following stations were worked:-

1.  Les VK5KLV
2. Adam VK2YK
3. Mal VK5MJ
4. David VK5KC/qrp
5. David VK5HYZ
6. Peter VK3TKK/qrp
7. Nev VK5WG
8. Ian VK5KKT
9. Matt VK1MA
10. Andrew VK1NAM mobile VK3/qrp
11. Tom VK5FTRG/qrp
12. Greg VK5ZGY/m
13. Ian VK6PXF mobile VK5
14.  Amanda VK3FQSO
15. Marshall VK3MRG
16. Ian VK5IS/qrp
17. Stuart VK5STU
18. Peter VK5KPR
19. Keith VK5FEKH
20. Steve VK3MEG
21. Nic VK5ZAT/p
22. Tom VK5EE
23. Richard VK5ZRY/p (park to park contact)
24. Robin VKTN/p
25. Nic VK5ZRY/p
26. Mick VK3FAFK
27. Andrew VK5UR mobile VK2
28. Gary VK4MDZ
29. Ian VK3VIN
30. Rob VK4FFAB
31. Bruce VK3FBNG
32. Darren VK2NNN
33. Kevin VK2VKB
34. Peter VK3ZPF
35. Andrew VK2UH
36. Jim VK5JW
37. Tony VK3AN
38. Nick VK3ANL/qrp
39. Tom VK5FTRG
40. Adam VK2YK
41. Michio 7L4LKK

Yesterday afternoon (Monday 15th December 2014) I headed over to the Onkaparinga River National Park (NP), VKFF-402, which qualifies for the VK5 National and Conservation Parks Award, and the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  I have activated the park a number of times previously, and it is a nice 40 minute drive from my home via Echunga, Meadows, and Kangarilla, through the southern Adelaide Hills.

Onkaparinga River NP is located about 35 km south of Adelaide, and is about 1,544 hectares in size.  It is a magnificent park in close proximity to Adelaide.  The park is disected by the Onkaparinga River, which is South Australia’s second longest river after the mighty Murray.  The river enters the park in a steep sided valley and flows into a spectacular gorge with cliffs up to 50 metres in height, with large permanent rock pools.

Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

I set up on Chapel Hill Track which runs off the northern side of Chapel Hill Road.  I parked my vehicle at gate 21 and walked about 50 metres down the track.  This location is situated on the southern side of the park.  On the southern side of Chapel Hill Road was the beautiful valley containing the vineyards of McLaren Vale and McLaren Flat, and to the north was the park, leading down to the Onkaparinga River cutting its way through the gorge.

It was quite a warm day (about 28 deg C), so I found some nice shade under some large gum trees.  I kept an ever vigilent watch for some of the crawly inhabitants of the park, and fortunately did not encounter any.

I started off with the little Yaseu FT-817nd and just 5 watts.  I powered the radio with a 12 volt 4 ah sealed lead acid battery (SLAB).  My antenna was a 40m/20m linked dipole, supported on a 7 metre squid pole.

I had nominated 7.095 as my calling frequency, but the Kandos Net was still running on 7.093, so I held off for a little while until that finished, and I then called CQ on 7.095.  My CQ call was immediately responded to by Peter VK5NAQ in the Mid North of South Australia with a beautiful 5/9 signal.  This was followed by Les VK5KLV at Port Augusta who was also 5/9.  Park Hunter reliables John VK5BJE and Greg VK5GJ then called in.

After working 11 stations on 7.095, my SOTA Goat application on the i-phone bleated, so I tuned down to 7.090 where I worked Andrew VK1DA/2 who was portable on the top of Livingstone Hill VK2/ SM-093, for the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program.  Andrew was a good solid 5/6 and he gave me a 5/7 signal report.  Livingstone Hill is 932 m above seal level (asl) and is located near the New South Wales and ACT border.

I then returned to 7.095 where I spoke with Amanda VK3FQSO and Ivan VK5HS in the Riverland.  But things slowed down from that point on, and despite a few more CQ calls, I had no takers.  The static crashes were also starting to pick up on 40m.  So I lowered the squid pole and removed the links in the dipole, so that I could operate on 20m.  I was to be disapointed on 20m, as there was no long path propagation into Europe and the United Kingdom.  I could hear John EA7BA on 14.156 but John was very weak.  I could not hear the G stations at all, that he was speaking to.  John was the only European signal I could hear.  The only other activity on 20m that I could hear were some weak Japanese signals.  The band was also covered in the Over the Horizon radar.

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So I returned back to 40m and due to the noise on the band, I started running 40 watts from the Yaesu FT-450.  I spoke with Andrew VK1NAM who was portable on SOTA peak, Mount Taylor, VK1/ AC-037 (5/7 both ways).  I then went back to 7.095 and started calling CQ but the static crashes had become louder making it difficult to pick up a couple of weak stations that were calling me.  However, I did manage to speak with George VK4GSF near Toowoomba in Queensland, Matt VK1MA, and Lee VK2LEE.  I put a few more CQ calls out but had no takers, so I tuned across the band and found Simon VK1FAAS calling CQ from SOTA peak, Mount Ainslee VK1/ AC-040 (5/6 sent and 5/8 received).

I then started calling CQ on 7.090 and worked a further 14 stations from VK1, VK3, VK4, VK6, and VK7.  My first taker here was Peter VK6YV in Perth (5/9 sent and 5/7 received).  This was followed by Wayne VK4XG, south west of Brisbane (5/9 sent and 5/4 received).  I went on to work a further 2 stations in Western Australia.  They being Mark VK6BSA mobile, on his way home from work.  And Alek VK6APK in Perth, who is on the WIA Awards Committee with me.  From past experience and confirmation during this activation, this time of the evening is very good for propagation on 40m into Western Australia.  Adelaide to Perth is a distance of about 2,500 km.  A local QSO we call that here in Australia.  In other parts of the world, it is a DX contact, working across multiple countries.

Sadly, there was a display of poor operating practice again during this activation.  I won’t mention his call sign here, but I had a VK3 come up straight over the top of Alek VK6APK, without asking if the frequency was in use, and start calling one of his mates in VK3.  He did this a number of times until he was sternly told off by a number of stations listening on the side.  No apologies, he just quietly slipped away off the frequency.

Before packing up I decided to book into the 7.130 DX Net.  And I am very pleased I did.  I went on to work William FO5JV in French Polynesia in the Pacific, Joe CU2CE in the Azores Islands off the coast of Portugal and north western Africa, Bill W1OW in Massachusetts in the USA, and four stations in New Zealand.  This included Noel ZL1DAI who was running just 5 watts from his Elecraft KX3 (4/6 sent and 5/6 received).

As the sun was setting, the kangaroos in the park had become very active.  Despite the noise from the radio, many of them came up quite close to my operating position.  The park was also alive with birds during my stay, including Yellow tailed Black Cockatoos, Blue Wrens, Eastern Rosellas, and Rainbow lorikeets.

So after a number of hours in the park, I had a total of 42 contacts in the log, to add to my other tally of contacts from previous activations from Onkaparinga River NP.  This is a great park to operate from.

For more information on the park, please have a look at…..

DEWNR website:

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find_a_Park/Browse_by_region/Fleurieu_Peninsula/Onkaparinga_River_National_Park_and_Recreation_Park

Friends of the Onkaparinga Park:

http://www.communitywebs.org/onkaparingaparks/

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. Peter VK5NAQ (qrp)
2. Les VK5KLV
3. John VK5BJE
4. Greg VK5GJ
5. Tony VK5FTVR
6. Nev VK5WG
7. Peter VK3PF
8. Brian VK5FMID
9. Trevor VK5ATQ
10. Larry VK5LY
11. Nick VK3ANL
12. Andrew VK1DA/p (SOTA)
13. Amanda VK3FQSO
14. Ivan VK5HS
15. Andrew VK1NAM/p (SOTA)
16. George VK4GSF
17. Matt VK1MA
18. Lee VK2LEE
19. Simon VK1FAAS/p (SOTA)
20. Peter VK6YV
21. Wayne VK4XG
22. Ian VK1DI
23. Paul VK3KLE
24. Graham VK7ZGK
25. Ian VK3VIN
26. Rob VK4FFAB
27. Mark VK6BSA/m
28. Jim VK5JW
29. Alek VK6APK
30. Ron VK3JP
31. Peter VK5FLEX
32. Kevin VK2VKB
33. Daniel VK3FACC
34. William FO5JV
35. Joe CU2CE
36. Brian ZL2ASH
37. Lamont ZL2ALK
38. Noel ZL1DAI (qrp)
39. Bill W1OW
40. Ray ZL4WRC
41. Mike VK3GYH (qrp)
42. Frank VK2HFS

On Sunday, 23rd November, 2014, with my wife Marija, I headed down to the Coorong National Park, VKFF-115.  It was a beautiful warm day, and we had just bought ourselves a new Toyota Hi Lux, so it was a a couple of great reasons to go for a drive.

Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

I have activated the Coorong National Park a number of times previously.  This is a spectacular part of South Australia which stretched for more than 130 km and protects a string of salt water lagoons which are sheltered from the Southern Ocean by the sweeping sand dunes of the Younghusband Peninsula.  The Coorong is a wetland of international signficance. For more information on the Coorong National Park, please have a look at…..

http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find_a_Park/Browse_by_region/Limestone_Coast/Coorong_National_Park

Rather than travelling along the South Eastern Freeway and the Dukes Highway, we headed out along the Wellington Road from home, and down through the beautiful wine growing region of Langhorne Creek, and then on to the little town of Wellington on the River Murray.  There, we put the 4WD onto the ferry and travelled over the Murray and then on to Meningie on the banks of Lake Albert.  From Meningie we continued south east along the Princes Highway.

Initially, we drove along 400 Mile Road and down to the Coorong.  However, as it was a warm day and there was no immediate shade at that location, we decided to turn around and head for Parnka Point, where I have operated from a number of times before.  I knew that there were shelters at Parnka Point, where I could set up out of the sun.

Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

My first contact was with Rod VK5VRB at Meadows in the Adelaide Hills with a very strong 5/9 signal.  This was followed by SOTA guru (and recently converted parks hunter) Andrew VK1NAM, Hans VK5YX running 5 watts from his home brew MFJ transceiver, and Ian VK3AXH.  I went on to work a number of stations in VK3 & VK5.

After working a total of 15 stations on 40m, I ventured over to 20m, where I put out a number of CQ calls on the nominated World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) frequency of 14.244, but had no takers.  It was still only 3.00 p.m. and a little too early for the 20m band to be open long path to Europe.  A quick tune around the 20m band confirmed this, with very little activity heard.  I did hear Anatoly RZ3ZM calling CQ on 14.228 and gave him a call and received a 5/5 signal report from Russia with my 40 watts.

I then went up to 14.310 and asked if the frequency was in use, and was advised by  Adam VK2YK that Bob VK5FO was on the frequency on a SOTA summit.  I could not hear a peep out of Bob, despite the fact that he was just 150 km away.  So I went down to 14.305 and was soon called by Adam VK2YK with a very strong 5/9 signal.  This was followed by VK7EB/p.  I started calling CQ again, but sadly some stations came up on 14.303 speaking German, and that was the end of that.  I was forced to QSY due to the bleedover.  So I tuned across the band and found John EA7BA in QSO with some of my mates including Brian ZL2ASH.  I gave John a call in Almeria in Spain and he gave me a 5/9 signal report.  Brian ZL2ASH in Wellington gave me a 5/6 signal report and Tony F5VBY gave me a 5/8 signal report from France.

I then tuned across the band and found 14.252 clear so I called CQ and this was responded to my Allan VK6APP.  Allan was struggling with me and I was certainly struggling with Allan.  Sadly his modulation was very distorted, and it was a difficult QSO.  A number of subsequent CQ calls went unanswered.

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I then worked a special event call YO555BU.  I then went to 14.252 and called CQ again, and this time I had a steady flow of callers from Europe.  My first contact was with Max IK1GPG, followed by Zenek SP5INQ, and then UA9LT.  I went on to work a total of 15 stations from Europe, but the Yaesu FT-450 kept cutting out as the 44 amp hour power pack was getting low.  I am sorry to the European stations that were still calling when I went QRT.

After a total time of 2 hours in the park, I had 38 contacts in the log.  We packed up the gear and headed for us.  This time taking the Princes Highway to Tailem Bend and then back along the South Eastern Freeway.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

1. Rod VK5VRB
2. Andrew VK1NAM
3. Hans VK5YX
4. Ian VK3AXH
5. David VK5NQP
6. Tony VK3CAT
7. Nigel VK5NIG
8. Brian VK5FMID
9. Peter  VK3ZPF
10. Bill VK5MBD
11. Ian VK5CZ
12. David VK5KC
13. Ian VK3VIN
14. Tom VK5EE
15. Keith VK5ND

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

1. Anatoly RZ3ZM
2. Adam VK2YK
3. K7EB/p
4. John EA7BA
5. Brian ZL2ASH
6. Tony F5VBY
7. Allan VK6APP
8. YO5SBU
9. Max IK1GPG
10. SP5INQ
11. UA9LT
12. Luciano I5FLN
13. Marnix OP7M
14. DF1YQ
15. I5JFG
16. G0KIK
17. RA3PCI
18. HA6OB
19. IZ2IHO
20. DL1EKO
21. UR7ET
22. UT5PI