FT8 Digital Mode Club

Posted on January 19, 2023 by Paul VK5PAS

A few days ago I received my FT8 Digital Mode Club certificate.

1st contact with VK

Posted on January 16, 2023 by Paul VK5PAS

It always makes me happy when I am the first VK in the log for a station. It is even more special when that station is portable.

On the 8th January 2023, I spoke with Peter G5AIB/p who was activating SOTA summit Ros Castle G/SB-009), a little east of the Northumbrian town of Wooler, in the North East of England, near the Scottish Border.

Peter sent me an email and said:

“You were my first ever contact outside of Europe, so I was delighted to speak to you”.

Peter was using a Elecraft KX3 on 15 watts, with a SOTA beams Band Springer Midi, end fed antenna-Bandspringer Midi , end fed antenna, 10m-60m – SOTABEAMS

Peter sent me the photo below of his set up at the time.

It was a pleasure to get Peter in the log.

Radio DX Norfolk Island – 5045 kHz

Posted on January 15, 2023 by Paul VK5PAS

Last night (14th January 2023) Nick VK9DX undertook some on-air tests for RadioDX Norfolk Island 5045 kHz.

The overall reception was fair. Unfortunately the static crashes were terrible here last night and that affected listening pleasure.

Below is a video of my reception of RadioDX Norfolk Island.

I’m on FT8

Posted on January 15, 2023 by Paul VK5PAS

One of the things I had promised myself in 2023 was getting onto the digital mode FT8.

I had previously done digital work using the PSK31 and 63 modes, but that was 7 years ago. Back then I was using my Yaesu FT450 and the SignaLink USB interface device. With FT8 I decided to use the Yaesu FT450 exclusively for the digital modes.

I downloaded WSJTX and JTDX and with both programs I was able to monitor the incoming FT8 signals but I could not get the radio to talk. John VK5BJE kindly came over on Thursday but we still could not get the radio to operate. I then reached out to Peter VK3ZPF who gave me the settings for the FT450, and BANG IT WORKED.

Thanks John and thanks Peter.

FRIDAY 13th JANUARY 2023.

On Friday night (13th January 2023) I worked a total of 27 stations on 20m and 40m FT8.

Countries worked on 40m FT8:

Antarctica
China
European Russia
France
Indonesia
Japan
Norway
Scotland
Sri Lanka
Venezuela

My first ever FT8 contact was with Gildas F4HRG.

Above:- screen showing my contact with F4HRG

Above:- Gildas F4HRG

Countries worked on 20m FT8:

European Russia
Japan
Netherlands
West Malaysia

It was a nice taste of FT8.

SATURDAY 14th JANUARY 2023.

Yesterday (Saturday 14th January 2023) I worked a total of 172 stations on FT8 on 15m, 20m, & 40m.

15m – 98 QSOs

Countries worked on 15m FT8:-

Asiatic Russia
Australia
Brazil
China
Fiji
Indonesia
Japan
Korea

20m- 44 QSOs

Countries worked on 20m FT8.-

Argentina
Asiatic Russia
Austria
Australia
Belgium
Canary Island
England
Estonia
Finland
France
Israel
Germany
Greece
Italy
Japan
New Zealand
Poland
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
Spain
Switzerland
USA

40m FT8 – 30 QSOs

Countries worked on 40m FT8-

Asiatic Russia
Australia
Canada
Colombia
Indonesia
Japan
New Caledonia
Panama
USA

USA states worked on 40m FT8

Arizona
California
Florida
Georgia
Louisana
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
New Hampshire
New Jersey
North Carolina
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Tennessee
Texas
Wisconsin

FT8 has opened up another exciting aspect of amateur radio for me.

Latest QSL cards received

Posted on January 13, 2023 by Paul VK5PAS

A selection of the latest QSL cards received in the mail for VK5MAZ and VK5PAS.

Russian Districts Award

Posted on January 13, 2023 by Paul VK5PAS

I received this certificate last week….the Russian Districts Award. Issued for having worked at least 100 different Russian districts.

WRTC 2023

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Paul VK5PAS

Over the past few weeks, I have been having fun chasing the World Radiosport Team Championship (WRTC) stations.

Below is a video of some WRTC stations heard and worked from my QTH.

So far I have worked the following WRTC stations:-

4X22WRTC Israel – 20m, 15m
8B0RARI Indonesia – 20m, 15m
8N1WRTC – 10m
9A22WRTC – 20m
DA22WRTC – 20m, 15m
E2WRTC -20m
EF2WRTC – 15m, 10m
EF8WRTC – 20m
GB2WC – 20m
HZ1WRTC – 20m
II0WRTC – 20m
II1WRTC – 15m
II2WRTC- 20m
II3WRTC – 20m, 15m
II5WRTC – 15m
II8WRTC – 20m
II9WRTC -15m
IO1WRTC – 20m
LZ0WRTC – 20m
OM22WRTC – 20m, 15m
SP0WRTC – 15m
SX0WRTC – 20m, 15m
TM2WRTC – 20m
UP7WRTC – 15m

KNLS – 6110 kHz

Posted on January 12, 2023 by Paul VK5PAS

At about 1419 UTC on 7th January 2023, I tuned in to KNLS Alaska broadcasting on 6110 kHz in the English language.

The broadcast was coming from the Anchor Point 100kW transmitter.

The program consisted of music and religious content.

The overall reception of KNLS was good. The signal strength was good, however, there was some slight interference from PBS Xizing in China broadcasting on the same frequency.

S	I	N	P	O
4	4	4	4	4

Below is a video showing my reception of KNLS.

Cox Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-0824

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Paul VK5PAS

Our final park for Sunday 27th November 2022 and the 2022 VKFF Activation Weekend was the Cox Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-0824. The park is located about 70 km south-south-east of the city of Adelaide and about 8 km south of the town of Ashbourne where I live.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Cox Scrub Conservation Park. Map c/o Google maps.

The park is bordered by Bull Creek Road to the east, and Rymill Road to the west. Cleared farming land can be found to the south and north.

Above:- An aerial view of the park showing the boundaries. Image c/o Google Earth.

Cox Scrub Conservation Park is about 563 hectares in size and is one of the largest parks on the Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide.

Above:- An aerial view of the Cox Scrub Conservation Park. Image c/o Google maps.

The park was proclaimed on the 5th day of March 1970 as the Cox’s Scrub National Park. Prior to this, the park was owned by Mr V. Cox, an apiarist of Ashbourne> He preserved the park in is natural state for the bees which he bred. On the 27th day of April 1972, it was reconstituted as the Cox Scrub Conservation Park. Additional areas were added to the park in 1977, 1982, 1984, 1986, and 2018.

In 1983 the park was destroyed during the Ash Wednesday Bushfires.

Above:- Article from the Victor Harbour Times, Wed 21 Sep 1983. Image c/o Trove.

The park is well-signposted from Bull Creek Road.

The majority of the park’s vegetation is low stringybark and banksia with a dense understorey

The park is home to numerous birds. Below are some photos I took during our visit.

Birds SA have recorded 152 different bird species in the park including Superb Fairywren, Red-browed Finch, Galah, New Holland Honeyeater, White-browed Scrubwren, and Red Wattlebird.

Marija and I logged a total of 70 QSOs, including 22 Park to Park contacts.

Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3ZPF/p (Kurth Kiln Regional Park VKFF-0971)
VK3OAK/p (Baranduda Regional Park VKFF-0959)
VK2YK/p (Angove Conservation Park VKFF-0867)
VK5BJE
VK5LA
VK5KAW
VK5DW
VK3VIN
VK5HAA
VK5FANA
VK5KLV/p (Whyalla Conservation Park VKFF-0808)
VK3BEZ/p (Kangaroo Swamp Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2121)
VK3MCA/p (Timor Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2211)
VK3TUN/p (Tunstalls Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2217)
VK5DG/p (Tunstalls Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2217)
VK2IO/p (Yellomundee Regional Park VKFF-0558)

Marija worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK3BEZ/p (Kangaroo Swamp Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2121)
VK3MCA/p (Timor Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2211)

I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-

VK3ZPF/p (Kurth Kiln Regional Park VKFF-0971)
VK3OAK/p (Baranduda Regional Park VKFF-0959)
VK2YK/p (Angove Conservation Park VKFF-0867)
VK5BJE
VK5LA
VK5KAW
VK5DW
VK3VIN
VK5HAA
VK5FANA
VK5KLV/p (Whyalla Conservation Park VKFF-0808)
Vk2VH
VK4AAC
VK3AMO
VK3GJG
VK7HAM
VK5CZ
VK3CJN
VK3YAR
VK3BEZ/p (Kangaroo Swamp Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2121)
VK2HMC/p
VK3MCA/p (Timor Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2211)
VK3BBB/5
VK2CCP/5
VK3AHR
VK3TUN/p (Tunstalls Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2217)
VK5DG/p (Tunstalls Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2217)
VK3UAO
VK5PHR
VK3CWF
VK3UH
VK3DNB
VK3SMW
VK3MLT
VK2IO/p (Yellomundee Regional Park VKFF-0558)

I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-

VK4FW
VK8MM
V73MS
VK1ZZ/4
VK6NU
VK4JT/p
VK4TJ
VK6LMK
VK4NH
VK4DXA

I worked the following stations on 80m SSB:-

VK3BEZ/p (Kangaroo Swamp Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2121)
VK5DW
VK5HAA
VK3MCA/p (Timor Nature Conservation Reserve VKFF-2211)
VK5FANA
VK5CZ

I worked the following station on 80m AM:-

VK5FANA

It was the end of an excellent weekend and another successful VKFF Activation Weekend. Marija and I activated eight (8) parks on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

References.

Birds SA, 2023, <https://birdssa.asn.au/location/cox-scrub-conservation-park/>, viewed 10th January 2023.
National Parks and Wildlife Service, 2023, <https://www.parks.sa.gov.au/parks/cox-scrub-conservation-park>, viewed 10th January 2023.
Wikipedia, 2023, <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cox_Scrub_Conservation_Park>, viewed 10th January 2023.

Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve VKFF-1701

Posted on January 10, 2023 by Paul VK5PAS

Our third park for Sunday 27th November 2022 was the Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve VKFF-1701. The park is located about 65 km south of the city of Adelaide.

Above:- Map showing the location of the Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve. Map c/o Google maps.

The Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve is located on the eastern side of Bull Creek Road (Meadows-to Goolwa Road). It is not to be confused with the Cox Scrub Conservation Park which is much larger in size.

Above:- An aerial shot of the Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve showing the boundaries. Image c/o Google Earth.

The majority of the adjacent Conservation Park was previously owned by the late Mr. V. COX of Ashbourne, who preserved the area in a natural state for overwintering his honey bees. In 1969 the land was purchased from Mr. COX on the condition that he was allowed to keep bees in the park. This agreement was upheld until he passed away.

Above:- Aerial shot showing the Cox Scrub Conservation Reserve with the Conservation Park in the background. Image c/o Google maps.

The park does not have a sign. There is an overgrown track on the eastern side of the road which is suitable for 4WD only.

Marija and I drove along the 4WD track and found a clearing on the eastern side of the park. We ran the Yaesu FT857. 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole for this activation.