Results from the KRMNPA and SOTA weekend.

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What a great 4 days I’ve just had.  My wife Marija and my Boss at work gave me some ‘leave passes’ and it was off to Victoria for me, for the 2014 Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award (KRMNPA) activation weekend, and the 2014 Summits on the Air (SOTA) Spring Activation weekend.

So I packed the car with my gear and headed off early on Friday morning, and returned Monday evening, covering over 1,500 km during my travels.  On Friday I activated 4 SA Conservation Parks on the way to Victoria, and then on Saturday, Sunday and Monday I activated 6 Victorian National Parks, and 4 SOTA peaks.  I based myself at Portland.  I stayed at the Whalers Rest, which I can highly recommend.

Screenshot 2014-11-19 19.15.58

I managed a total of 473 contacts whilst in a park or on a summit, and a further 13 QSOs whilst I was mobile.  Most of those contacts were VK’s but I did manage about 30 DX contacts into Europe, UK, Pacific.  I had just 8 summit to summit contacts, missing quite a few opportunities whilst either climbing or in transit.  

Band conditions were excellent on Friday & Saturday, bu t then took a dive on Sunday & Monday, with lots of QSB.  And absoultely no local (VK3) propagation on Sunday morning when I was on the top of Mount Rouse.  But I did manage a contact into the Azores on 20m.  Go figure!

Many thanks to Peter VK3PF, who I managed to work for my 3 remaining Victorian National Parks: Errinundra, Lind, & Snowy River.  I’ve now managed to work all 45 Victorian National Parks and qualify for the Worked all 45 Victorian Parks  KRMNPA certificate and the KRMNPA Merit plaque.

I worked the following activators in Victorian National Parks (a few a couple of times, when I had moved parks, or on different days, etc)…..

  • John VK2AWJ/3, Barmah National Park
  • Peter VK3TKK/p, Organ Pipes National Park
  • John VK2AWJ/3, Lower Goulburn National Park
  • Tim VK3MTB/p, Tarra Bulga National Park
  • Terry VK3UP/p, Brisbane Ranges National Park
  • Johnno VK3FMPB/p, Grampians National Park
  • John VK2AWJ/3, Warby Ovens National Park
  • Mike VK3XL/p, Churchill National Park
  • Nick VK3ANL/p, Mornington Peninsula National Park
  • Hiro VK3EHG/p , Yarra Ranges National Park
  • Tim VK3MTB/p, Baw Baw National Park
  • Nick VK3ANL/p, Point Nepean National Park
  • Peter VK3ZPF/p, Yarra Ranges National Park
  • Peter VK3PF/p, Alfred National Park
  • Peter VK3PF/p, Coopracamba National Park
  • Julie VK3FOWL/p, Wilsons Promontory National Park
  • John VK2AWJ/3, Chiltern-Mount Pilot National Park
  • Joe VK3YSP/p, Wilsons Promontory National Park
  • Peter VK3PF/p, Lind National Park
  • Peter VK3ZPF/p, Churchill National Park
  • Amanda VK3FQSO/p, Terrick Terrick National Park
  • Allen VK3HRA/p, Morwell National Park
  • John VK2AWJ/3, Burrowa Pine Mountain National Park

Thankyou to all of the activators.  I really appreciate your efforts, as I know the weather conditions were less than ideal, and band conditions were very challenging at times.

And I worked the following SOTA activators (a few a couple of times with the UTC rollover and when I had moved parks, etc)…..

  • Rob VK2QR/3, Mount Hotham VK3/ VE-006 
  • Andrew VK1NAM/p, VK2/ SM-036 and Kosciuszko National Park
  • Rob VK3EK/p, Mount Cann VK3/ VG-133
  • Peter VK3FALA/p, Mount Elizabeth VK3/ VG-074
  • Nick VK3ANL/p, Arthurs Seat VK3/ VC-031 
  • Ian VK3TCX/p, Mount Elizabeth VK3/ VG-074
  • Fred VK3DAC/p, Mount Toolebewong VK3/ VC-033
  • Ron VK3AFW/p, Arthurs Seat VK3/ VC-031
  • Andrew VK1NAM/2, Blackfellows Hill VK2/ SM-033
  • Phil VK3BHR/p, Mount Alexander VK3/ VN-016
  • Rob VK2QR/p, Mount Lock VK3/ VE-005 & Alpine National Park
  • Amanda VK3FQSO/p, West of England Fire Tower VK3/ VW-016 & Kara Kara National Park
  • Bernard VK2IB, VK2/
  • Peter VK3PF/p, Mount Ellery VK3/ VG-153 & Errinundra National Park
  • VK3FCAT, Mount Vinegar VK3/ VC-005
  • Rob VK3EK/p, Mount Cann VK3/ VG-133
  • Tony VK3CAT/p, Mount Strickland VK3/ VN-030
  • John VK2YW/p, Granite Mountain VK2/ SW-015
  • Rob VK2QR/p, The Twins VK3/ VE-017  
  • Andrew VK1NAM/2, VK2/ SM-053
  • Peter VK3PF/p, Mokeytop VK3/ VG-041 & Snowy River National Park
  • Allen VK3HRA/p, Mount Seldom Seen VK3/ VG-029 & Alpine National Park
  • Nigel VK5NIG/p, Mount Gawler VK5/ SE-013
  • Tony VK3CAT/p, Sugarloaf Peak VK3/ VN-011
  • Nick VK3ANL/p, Mt Dandenong VK3/ VC-025 & Dandenong Ranges National Park
  • Reuben VK7FREU/p, Mount WellingtonVK7/ SC-001
  • Rob VK2QR/3, Sam Hill VK3/ VG-049
  • Glen VK3YY/p, Mount Terrbile VK3/ VE-134
  • Kev VK3KAB/p, Mount Terrible VK3/ VE-134
  • Rob VK2QR/p, VK3/ VG-016
  • Rob VK2QR/p, VK3/ VE-023
  • Rick VK3EQ/p, Mccarthy Spur VK3/ VT-039
  • Rob VK2QR/3, Mount Murray VK3/ VE-025
  • Rick VK3EQ/p, Mount Beenak VK3/ VC-016

Thanks to all of the SOTA activators, who also braved the weather.

And I also worked Col VK5HCF in the Canunda National Park in the South East of South Australia.

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Here’s a quick breakdown on my activations…..

  • Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park
    • 26 QSOs
  • Kelvin Powrie Conservation Park
    • 27 QSOs
  • Mount Monster Conservation Park
    • 24 QSOs
  • Desert Camp Conservation Park
    • 20 QSOs
  • Lower Glenelg National Park
    • 50 QSOs
  • Cobbobonee National Park
    • 53 QSOs
  • Mount Clay summit, VK3/ VS-051
    • 34 QSOs
  • Mount Napier summit, VK3/ VS-046
    • 29 QSOs
  • Mount Eccles National Park
    • 49 QSOs
  • Mount Richmond National Park
    • 64 QSOs
  • Mount Rouse summit, VK3/ VS-048
    • 7 QSOs
  • Mount Dundas summit, VK3/ VS-045
    • 26 QSOs
  • Grampians National Park
    • 32 QSOs
  • Little Desert National Park
    • 32 QSOs

It was really pleasing to get my 44 + contacts from 5 of the 6 National Parks that I activated for the World Wide Flora Fauna program (WWFF).  I fell a few short from Little Desert NP.  I’ll have to revisit that park.

I will post some more details here in the next few weeks re each of the activations.

Many thanks to Tony VK3VTH and Andrew VK1NAM for their great efforts in the KRMNPA & SOTA activation weekend.  It was a terrific weekend, and I will certainly be back over the border again next year.

And finally thanks to everyone that called.  Without the Hunters and Chasers, these programs do not exist.

2014 Keith Roget Memorial National Parks activation weekend

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This weekend is the annual activation weekend for the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award (KRMNPA).  As it turns out there is also a VK Spring Summits on the Air (SOTA) Party being held this weekend as well.

krmnpasm

SOTA_logo

So this is a fantastic opportunity to work a stack of parks that qualify for KRMNPA and the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program, and SOTA summits.

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I will be heading off to Victoria tomorrow morning and here is my itinerary…..

Friday 14th November, 2014

4 x South Australian Conservation Parks.

  • Poonthie Ruwe Conservation Park (2100 UTC Thursday, 7.30 a.m. SA local time Friday morning)
  • Kelvin Powrie Conservation Park (2330 UTC Thursday, 10.00 a.m. local time)
  • Desert Camp Conservation Park (0100 UTC)
  • Lower Glenelg River Conservation Park (0430 UTC)

Saturday 15th November 2014

2 x Victorian National Parks (qualify for both KRMNPA & WWFF) & 1 x VK3 SOTA peak

  • Lower Glenelg National Park, VKFF-296 (2200 UTC Sunday, 9.00 a.m. Victorian local time Saturday morning)
  • Cobbobonee National Park, VKFF-728 (0200 UTC)
  • Mount Clay, VK3/ VS-051(0700 UTC).  Concides with the proposed VK/Europe SOTA activation day

Sunday 16th November 2014

1 x VK3 SOTA peak, & 2 x Victorian National Parks (qualify for both KRMNPA & WWFF)

  • Mount Napier, VK3/ VS-046 (2300 hrs UTC Saturday, 10.00 a.m. Victorian local time)
  • Mount Eccles National Park, VKFF-345 (0200 UTC)
  • Mount Richmond National Park, VKFF-361 (0700 UTC)

Monday 17th November 2014

2 x VK3 SOTA peaks & 2 x Victorian National Parks (both qualify for KRMNPA & WWFF)

  • Mount Rouse, VK3/ VS-048 (2100 UTC Sunday, 8.00 a.m. Victorian local time Monday morning)
  • Mount Dundas, VK3/ VS-045 (0000 UTC)
  • Grampians National Park, VKFF-213 (0200 UTC)
  • Little Desert National Park, VKFF-291 (0400 UTC)

Hope to get you in the log.

A fascinating story of some courageous ‘Aussies’

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At 2.55 a.m. on the 18th June, 1940, an amphibious Walrus aircraft, took to the sky from Mount Batten, near Plymouth in England.  There were four men aboard the plane: a crew of three and a special passenger, British Intelligence officer Captain Norman Hope.  The crew consisted of an Australian pilot, Flight Lieutenant John Napier Bell, an Australian navigator, Sergeant Charles William Harris, and a British wireless electrical mechanic, Corporal Bernard Nowell. As they left Plymouth in the early hours of the morning, the crew were totally unaware of their mission and destination.  It was the role of Captain Hope to brief the crew following their take off. What was their mission? To fly to the French coast and rescue the family of General Charles De Gaulle.  Following the invasion of France by the Germans in May 1940, De Gaulle instructed his wife to take their three children and leave their home near Rheims, and travel to Brittany.   There, safe passage to England would be arranged.  It is reported that De Gaulle flew to London and met with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and asked him to assist in the rescue of his family from Carantec on the coast of the English Channel, where they had sought refuge with an Aunt. 225px-De_Gaulle-OWI

Image courtesy of wikipedia.

However, there are no known official records to confirm this meeting.  What is known is that at 9.00 p.m. on the 17th  June, 1940 a ‘green form’ (authority for a flight) was received at Mount Batten Station at Plymouth.  It originated from Admiral Dunbar-Nasmith the Commander in Chief Western Approaches.  It stated: “One Walrus to proceed with Admiralty passenger from Plymouth sound to north coast Brittany at earliest 18/6. Passenger will give details of destination on arrival about 2359/17.  Aircraft to be fully armed and to keep defence watch at all time especially water borne. Return to base upon completion.”  Screenshot 2014-11-08 19.37.57

Image courtesy of http://www.aircrewremembered.com

At about 4.30 a.m. on the 18th June, locals in the small village of Ploudaniel were awoken by the sound of a low flying aircraft.  It was the Walrus.  There is speculation that the plane may have been shot at.  But what is known is that the plane subsequently crashed at Kerbiquet adjacent to Ploudaniel, and all 4 on board were killed.  They were buried at the Ploudaniel churchyard, Ploudaniel, Brittany, France. Screenshot 2014-11-08 19.36.57 Since 1940, each year the people from Ploudaniel honour the crew with a special service at the crash site and the local church grave site. So who were the crew and specifically the Captain? John Napier Bell was born on the 25th day of April, 1916 at Largs Bay South, South Australia, to parents John ‘Jack’ Henry Bell and Eva Annie Bell.  Coincidentally, this was the same day that the Australian Government declared that day to be called Anzac Day.  On leaving school, Bell helped his father to run Mansfield’s Store (later renamed as Bell’s Store) at Farina in the Far North of South Australia.  Bell became an Air Force Cadet in July 1935 and in July 1936 at age 20, he was appointed Pilot Officer.  In April 1937 he was promoted to Flying Officer. Screenshot 2014-11-08 19.43.55

Image courtesy of www.awm.gov.au

Where in the world is Farina? Farina is located about 617 km north of Adelaide and about 64 km north of the coal mining town of Leigh Creek.  It is a ghost town located on the edge of the desert.  Farina was first settled in 1878 Screenshot 2014-11-08 20.40.58

Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

More information on Farina can be found at…..

http://blogs.abc.net.au/theoverflow/2013/07/volunteers-bring-ghost-town-back-to-life.html http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2013/s3802729.htm

In mid June, 2015, myself, Larry VK5LY, and John VK5BJE, will be travelling to Farina.  The Farina Restoration Group has organised a special event at Farina.  It is the 75th anniversary of the secret mission to rescue the De Gaulles.  A flyover has been organised.  We will be operating some amateur radio stations from Farina, and we hope to use the special call sign of VK100ANZAC.  

We have applied for use of this special call sign and are awaiting the decision of the WIA Board. Alan Hall (VK3AJH) has written excellent book entitled ‘Four Men and the Walrus‘.  It is well worth a read. For more information on this fascinating story, please have a look at the following websites…..

https://www.awm.gov.au/blog/2014/09/25/rescuing-de-gaulles/

http://www.walrus2014.com

Larry and I plan on activating a number of National and Conservation Parks in the Far North of South Australia during this trip.  Many of those will have never been activated previously.  So please keep an eye on my WordPress site for further details.

References.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 2014, viewed 7th November 2014, <http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-

dead/casualty/2814005/BELL,%20JOHN%20NAPIER> Farina Resoration Group, 2014, viewed 7th November 2014,  <http://www.farinarestoration.com/page4/page7/&gt; Hall; A, 2014, viewed 8th November 2014, <http://www.walrus2014.com/john-bell.html&gt;

Mark Oliphant Conservation Park

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After the Scott Creek Conservation park, I travelled to the Mark Oliphant Conservation Park, which is located about 14 km south east of Adelaide in the Heathfield/Ironbank area of the Mount Lofty Ranges ‘Adelaide Hills.

Screenshot 2014-11-12 09.20.21

Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

I last activated this park in July 2013.  For information on my prior activation and information on the park, please see my precious post at…..

https://vk5pas.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/mark-oliphant-conservation-park/

This park was originally known as the Loftia Recreation Park.  It was renamed in honour of former state Governor Sir Mark Oliphant’s contribution to conservation, and to reflect the conservation status of the land.  It contains a small remnant parcel of high quality forest that is characteristic of the native vegetation of the higher rainfall areas of the Mount Lofty Ranges ‘Adelaide Hills’.  The park is about 178 hectares in size.

I have fond memories of this park.  A number of years ago I worked at Stirling for many years, and we often would hold our annual Christmas show here in the park.  A section of the park was leased as a recreation area.  There was a beautiful oval, BBQ facilities, tennis courts, and a kiosk.  However, this no longer appears to be the case.

Sir_Mark_Oliphant

photo courtesy of wikipedia

For my last activation I set up off one of the walking tracks off Evans Drive.  This time I set up off Scott Creek Road in the old Recreation area.  Sadly, this area appears to have gone to rack and ruins.  The former oval is no more and the area was quite run down.

Screenshot 2014-11-12 09.20.06

Map courtesy of mapcarta.com 

My first taker on 40m was Greg VK5GJ, again operating QRP 5 watts with his home brew transceiver.  This was followed by Peter VK3YE who was operating portable from Chelsea Beach with a 1/4 wave vertical antenna.  I again had a number of QRP callers including Les VK5KLV/p at Blanche Harbour with 5 watts, Nick VK3ANL/p running 5 watts, Peter VK3TKK also running 5 watts, Reuben VK7FREU/p running 5 watts, Peter VK3PF running just 1 watt, and Amanda VK3FQSO on just 1/2 watt (5/7-9 QSB).  The strongest caller of the day was Peter VK5NAQ from the Mid North of South Australia with a 30/9 signal.

There was quite a bit of QRM on the frequency with some very strong signals coming in from Europe.  It was noticeable that the noise level on 40m was much lower than normal.  It was extremely quiet.  That combined with the non existant man made noise floor from the park, made conditions on 40m: EXCELLENT.

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After operating on 40m ssb for about an hour and ssecuring 26 contacts in the log, I ventured over to 20m and put out a number of CQ calls.  However, my only taker was Adam VK2YK.  I tuned across the 20m band but there were not too many strong European signals.  And those that I did hear calling, were calling CQ contest for the JIDX contest.  So I decided to pack up and head home for my roast lamb.  I had a total of 27 contacts in the log from VK2, VK3, VK5, & VK7.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

  1. Greg VK5GJ/qrp
  2. Peter VK3YE/p/qrp
  3. Peter VK5KPR
  4. Andrew VK3ARR
  5. Brian VK5FMID
  6. Rod VK5VRB
  7. Les VK5KLV/p/qrp
  8. Nick VK3ANL/p/qrp
  9. Peter VK3TKK/qrp
  10. Nev VK5WG
  11. Allen VK3HRA
  12. Reuben VK7FREU/p
  13. Justin VK7TW/p
  14. Tony VK3AJW
  15. Peter VK3PF/qrp
  16. Grant VK2LX
  17. Amanda VK3FQSO
  18. Chuck VK2SS/p
  19. Ian VK3VIN
  20. Shaun VK5FAKV
  21. Matt VK3FORD
  22. Phil VK3BHR
  23. Paul VK7CC
  24. Andrew VK2UH
  25. Peter VK5NAQ
  26. Adam VK2YK

The following station was worked on 20m SSB:-

  1. Adam VK2YK

 

References

National Parks South Australia, 2014, <http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find_a_Park/Browse_by_region/Adelaide_Hills/Mark_Oliphant_Conservation_Park&gt;, viewed 12th November 2014

Scott Creek Conservation Park

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Last Sunday (9th November, 2014) I headed out to the Scott Creek Conservation Park (CP), which is situated about 30 km south of Adelaide.

Screenshot 2014-11-12 08.32.22

map courtesy of mapcarta.com

I last activated this park in September, 2013.  For full details on that activation and lots of information on the park, please have a look at my previous post.  The park has a very interesting history, and my previous post is well worth a read….

https://vk5pas.wordpress.com/2013/09/29/scott-creek-conservation-park/

The last time I activated the park, I operated from the old Almanda silver mining area.  This time, I headed to the high part of the park, off Mount Bold Road.  This is a beautiful drive through this area, with the thick scrub of Mount Bold Reservoir on one side of the road, and the Scot Creek CP on the other side.  I parked the car at one of the entry gates, and walked about 30 metres down Cup Gum Track and set up my fold up table and deck chair under the shade of some large gum trees.

Screenshot 2014-11-12 08.33.50

map courtesy of mapcarta.com

I set up the linked dipole for 40m and tuned to my promised frequency of 7.095.  However, this was in use, so I slipped down to 7.090 and started calling CQ.  I was almost immediately greeted by Amanda VK3FQSO with a beautiful 5/9 signal.  This was followed by Peter VK3PF who was runnign QRP, with just 1 watt.  Peter was a good 5/5 signal and was easily readible with the non existent man made noise floor within the park.

A number of other stations called me using QRP during this activation.  They included Les VK5KLV who was portable at Blanche Harbour near Port Augusta.  Les was running his Yaesu FT-817, 5 watts and a linked dipole, and had a very nice 5/9 signal.  Regular QRP park hunter, Greg also called in, using just 5 watts from his home brew transceiver, with a good 5/8 signal.  Andrew VK3ARR running QRP 5 watts also called me, with a good 5/8 signal.  And then Nick VK3ANL, also running QRP 5 watts, from the backyard of his house, doing some antenna experimentations.

I was also fortunate to get one park to park contact during this activation, with Gordon VK5GY, who was operating from the Bullock Hill Conservation Park on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

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After working 20 stations on 40m in VK2, VK3, and VK5, I qsy’d to 20m and put out some CQ calls on 14.310 mhz on 20m.  My first caller was Manuel CU3BL in the Azores Islands.  Manuel was an excellent 5/9 signal and I received a 5/7 from him with my 40 watts.  My only other caller on 20m was Dave VK6SG operating from a Mens shed in Western Australia.

So, after just a little over an hour in the park I had a total of 22 contacts in the log.  It was time to head off to the Mark Oliphant Conservation Park, just a short distance away.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

  1. Amanda VK3FQSO
  2. Peter VK3PF/qrp
  3. Nev VK5WG
  4. Les VK5KLV/p/qrp
  5. Gordon VK5GY/p (Bullock Hill CP)
  6. Greg VK5LG
  7. Phil VK3BHR
  8. Greg VK5GJ/qrp
  9. Peter VK5KPR
  10. Andrew VK3ARR/qrp
  11. Brian VK5FMID
  12. Tom VK5FTRG
  13. Stuart VK5STU
  14. Nick VK3ANL/qrp
  15. Chris VK2SR
  16. Kevin VK3VEK
  17. Steve VK3VM
  18. Peter VK3TKK
  19. Peter VK2NEO
  20. Ivan VK5HS

The following stations were worked on 20m SSB:-

  1. Manuel CU3BL
  2. Dave VK6SG

parksnpeaks

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Allen VK3HRA, the developer of the parksnpeaks site has now deployed codes to allow SMS of activation spots.

You need to send your spots to 0447 568 667.

You simply key in the spot as a text message using the format below, and then send as an SMS message.  The format is:

Callsign, Class, location, frequency, mode, and any comments.

e.g.

VK5PAS/p SANPCPA 5NP-001 7.090 SSB enjoying the sunshine.

The class area = SANPCPA, WWFF, or KRMNPA.

Each VK5 National park and Conservation Park has a unique identification code, e.g. Aberdare Conservation Park is 5CP-001.  The VKFF reference numbers apply to the National Parks in the WWFF scheme.  And each of the National Parks for the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award (KRMNPA) have also been issued with unique id code, e.g. Alfred National Park is 3NP-001.

The location id can be entered with, or without the hyphen.

A list of the unique identification codes can be located at…..

http://parksnpeaks.org/showReports.php

Prior to using this new feature, you will need to add the mobile phone number that you intend to use and send the SMS message from.  This prevents abuse of the system.  All you need to do is simply add your number via the ‘Edit user data’ area on the parksnpeaks site.  You will need to add your number as +61 followed by your mobile (excluding the leading 0).

Thanks to Allen for all his work on the parksnpeaks site.

Please note, that at this stage, the use of the unique codes for VK5 Parks and KRMNPA parks only applies to this SMS spotting facility.  They have not yet been adopted for award purposes.

AHARS Buy and Sell 2014

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Yesterday (Sunday 2nd November, 2014) was the annual Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society (AHARS) Buy and Sell, held at the Goodwood Community Hall, Rosa Street Goodwood.

As per last year, myself and Ian VK5CZ set up a display for:

  • Summits on the Air (SOTA)
  • VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award
  • World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF)

This year we were ably assisted by Hugh VK5NHG.

During the day we had numerous people come up to the display, who were very keen on becoming involved with one or all of the programs.  Maybe we had an impact, as Ross from Strictly Ham who was at the buy and sell, sold out of Yaesu FT-817nd’s in the first 30 minutes.

On display at the table we had a Yaesu FT-817nd, an Elecraft KX3, numerous portable antennas (including home brew and commercial), various batteries (SLAB & LiFePo), my 44 amp hour power pack, tuners for portable use, various accessories including squid poles & bothy bag, various award certificates, and promotional brochures for all 3 programs.

AHARS 008

Above: Rob VK5RG in the foreground.  Rear L-R Hugh VK5NHG, Paul VK5PAS, & Ian VK5CZ

All in all, it was a great day, with lots of interest shown and plenty of stories shared with many activators, chasers/hunters, and future program participants.

Summary of my portable activities

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Last evening, I added all my contacts that I have had whilst operating portable, to the Logbook of the World (LOTW) and Clublog systems.  As a result I was able to find out the total number of QSO’s I had attained whilst either sitting in a park or on a peak for the Summits on the Air (SOTA) program.  I also checked off on my spreadsheets, those South Australian National Parks and Conservation Parks that I had activated, and also National Parks for both the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award (KRMNPA) and the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.  Here’s what I found….

VK5 National and Conservation Parks Award.

  • I have activated 10 of the 21 SA National Parks.
  • I have activated 80 of the 266 SA Conservation Parks.
  • I have activated a total of 90 VK5 parks (combined National Parks & Conservation Parks).
  • I have had a total of 126 South Australian park activations (as some of those parks I have visited twice)
  • My most activated park is Belair NP.
    • not surprising really considering it is just a short distance from my home.

IMG_1475

Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award (KRMNPA)

  • I have activated 4 Victorian National Parks:
    • Grampians NP, Little Desert NP, Murray Sunset NP, and Wyperfeld NP.
  • I have worked 42 of the 45 Victorian National Parks
    • I need Erinundra NP, Lind NP, & Snowy River NP.

IMGA0037_2

World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF).

  • I have activated a total of 15 WWFF parks
  • I have activated parks in three separate countries:
    • Australia, Belgium, & Germany
  • I have worked 172 WWFF parks around the world from 26 different DXCC entities.
    • the majority of those being from Australia (237), followed by Germany (17) and Italy (17).

IMGA0047_4

Summits on the Air (SOTA).

  • I have a total of 75 activations and 183 activator points.
  • I have activated summits in4 different Associations in 3 different countries.
    • DM (Germany)
    • ON (Belgium)
    • VK3
    • VK5
  • I have worked 1,271 activators and have 5,804 chaser points
  • I have worked 503 unique summits

IMGA0067

Other info.

I have had nearly 5,000 QSO’s whilst operating portable.  As you can see from the table below, I am 149 QSOs less than last year, with about 2 months remaining in 2014.

Screenshot 2014-10-29 15.14.01

I have worked 50 DXCC entities this year, compared to 2013 when I worked 30.

Screenshot 2014-10-29 15.18.46

I have worked a total of 52 DXCC entities whilst operating portable.  I have worked 52 DXCC entities on 20m SSB, and 8 on 40m SSB.  The vast majority of those has been whilst operating QRP with just 5 watts.

Here is a list of the DXCC entities I’ve worked whilst portable.  I’m only half way to ‘portable’ DXCC.

  1. Asiatic Russia
  2. Australia
  3. Austria
  4. Azores Islands
  5. Baeleric Islands
  6. Belarus
  7. Belgium
  8. Brazil
  9. Canary Islands
  10. Chatham Islands
  11. Costa Rica
  12. Croatia
  13. Czech Republic
  14. Denmark
  15. Ecuador
  16. England
  17. Estonia
  18. European Russia
  19. Federal Republic of Germany
  20. Finland
  21. France
  22. French Polynesia
  23. Greece
  24. Hawaii
  25. Hungary
  26. Ireland
  27. Italy
  28. Japan
  29. Lithuania
  30. Lord Howe Island
  31. Luxembourg
  32. Netherlands
  33. New Caledonia
  34. New Zealand
  35. Norfolk Island
  36. Northern Ireland
  37. Papua New Guinea
  38. Poland
  39. Portugal
  40. Puerto Rico
  41. Republic of Korea
  42. Romania
  43. Saint Helena
  44. Scotland
  45. Serbia
  46. Slovak Republic
  47. Slovenia
  48. Solomon Islands
  49. South Cook Islands
  50. Spain
  51. Sweden
  52. Switzerland
  53. Ukraine
  54. United States of America
  55. Wales

My first ever portable activity was a SOTA activation (VK5/ SE-016) in March, 2013.

 

Spring Mount Conservation Park

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My third and final park activation for Saturday was the Spring Mount Conservation Park, which is located about 71 km south of Adelaide, and about 20 km north west of the seaside town of Victor Harbor.

Screenshot 2014-10-27 20.28.14

Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

I last activated this park in December, 2013, whilst my wife Marija and I were staying at nearby Victor Harbor.  For more detailed information on the park, please refer to my December 2013 post at…..

https://vk5pas.wordpress.com/2013/12/29/spring-mount-conservation-park/

As soon as I approached the park, I encountered my first kangaroo, a Western Grey.  He/she allowed me to get quite close, before they scampered off into the thick bush.  I operated from the same spot as last year, which was on the eastern side of the park, off Mount Alma Road.  There is a nice cleared break between the park boundary fence line and the start of the thick scrub.  So there is plenty of room to string out a dipole.  I used a permapine post forming part of the fenceline to secure my squid pole with some octopus straps, and ran out the legs of the dipole, also securing them to the fence., so they were about 1.5 metres off the ground.

Screenshot 2014-10-27 20.28.01

Map courtesy of mapcarta.com

Again for this activation I only operated on 40m SSB.  I figured that the 20m band was going to be just too busy with the CQ WW DX Contest, to event attempt to operate from that band.  And again, I used the Yaesu FT-450, 40 watts and the 20m/40m linked dipole (inverted vee)

I had nominated that I was going to operate on 7.095, however when I tuned to that frequency, I found that there were some very strong Europeans already there.  So I tuned down to 7.090, and although there were some European signals there as well, they were a little weaker.  I only put out one CQ call on 7.090 and was immediately greeted by Scott VK7NWT from North West Tasmania with a very strong 5/9 plus signal.  This was followed by Peter VK3PF running QRP 5 watts, and then park stalwart Brian VK5FMID in Mount Gambier.  I was pleasantly surprised when I was called by Wolfgang VK2LKW who was operating portable from the Burrowa Pine Mountain National Park in Victoria.  Wolfgang had a beautiful 5/9 plus signal (20/9) with his G5RV inverted vee antenna.  This park qualifies for both the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award and the World Wide Flora Fauna (WWFF) program.

Conditions on 40m SSB were excellent.  There were some static crashes on the band, but they were not severe, and the man made noise floor within the park was non existent.  Here’s where the static crashes were coming from (a severe storm approaching South Australia, from Western Australia)…..

Screenshot 2014-10-25 22.23.46  Image courtesy of weatherzone.com.au

I had a steady flow of callers from VK2, VK3, VK5, VK6, and VK7.  And some of those stations had extremely strong signals, with many between 20/9 to 40/9.  Many were using QRP, including Peter VK3PF on 5 watts, Damien VK5FDEC using 5 watts, Wolf VK5WF again on his home brew QRP transceiver, and Ian VK5IS in the Mid North of South Australia, using just 5 watts.

It was nice to get a few VK7’s in the log this time.  As mentioned my first contact was with Scott VK7NWT.  But I also had a good chat to John VK7JB who had a lovely signal coming in from Sandy Bay near Hobart.  t was also pleasing to get a contact with Bruce VK2FBJM.  I was Bruce’s first ever contact to VK5.  And my last contact of the night was with Daniel VK6LCK at Cottesloe in Western Australia.  Daniel was my only VK6 for this activation.

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Whilst I was operating, a couple of Western Grey kangaroos emerged from the scrub and were feeding on the grass in the break between the fenceline and the scrub.  At one point, they got within 50 metres of me and didn’t seem at all preturbed by the noise from the radio. That was until a passing car on Mount Alma Road, and off they went into the scrub.  But they soon re-emerged.

It was starting to get very chilly, and getting dark, and I had a long drive home.  I had also left my jacket at home!  So I decided to ‘pull stumps’ and head off home for some dinner and a nice bottle of red.  A shame really, because band conditions were very good, and there were still some people calling when I went QRT.  After an hour and 10 minutes in the park, I had a total of 29 contacts in the log from VK2, VK3, VK5, VK6, and VK7.

The following stations were worked on 40m SSB:-

Scott VK7NWT; Peter VK3PF; Brian VK5FMID; Nev VK5WG; Damien VK5FDEC; Ian VK5CZ; Bruce VK3NDM; Wolfgang VK2LKW/p (Burrowa Pine Mountain NP); John VK2FALL; Les VK5KLV/p; Ivan VK5HS; Nigel VK5NIG; Wolf VK5WF; Garry VK3FREQ; Connor VK2FCAC; John VK5FMJC; Grant VK3GMV; Bruce VK2FBJM; John VK7JB; Frank VK3GFS; Tim VK5AV; Amanda VK3FQSO; Peter VK5NAQ; Ian VK5IS; Colin VK3ZZS/p; Graham VK5KGP; Peter VK5JP; Ron VK3JP; and Daniel VK6LCK.