At 1022 UTC on the 20th day of October 2023 I tuned in to China Radio International broadcasting in the English language on 11905 kHz.
The broadcast was coming from the 500 kW Jinhua transmitter in China.
The overall reception of CRI was excellent. The signal strength was extremely strong.
| S | I | N | P | O |
| 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Below is a video showing my reception of CRI.
References.
At 0959 UTC on the 20th day of October 2023 I tuned in to NHK World JAPAN broadcasting in the Japanese language on 11815 kHz.
The broadcast was coming from the 300 kW Ibaragi-koga-Yamaha transmitter in Japan.
The overall reception was good. There was some slight bleed over interference from the Voice of America broadcasting on 11825 in the Chinese language
| S | I | N | P | O |
| 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Below is a video showing my reception of NHK World.
References.
Our fourth and final park for the 2023 VKFF Team Championship on Saturday 21st October 2023, was the Cox Scrub Conservation Park VKFF-0824.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Cox Scrub CP. Map c/o Google Maps.
Marija and I have activated Cox Scrub many times in the past. This time we decided to activate from a different position in the park. We drove along Ridge Road towards the northwestern corner of the park. There were some terrific views of the surrounding countryside from Ridge Road.
Cox Scrub Conservation Park is about 563 hectares in size and is one of the largest parks on the Fleurieu Peninsula south of Adelaide. 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.
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.
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.
We operated from just inside gate 5 near the intersection of Varanus Tack and Boronia Track. Our operating equipment was the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.
We made a total of 43 QSOs. Unfortunately, we were running short of time and needed to be at our son’s house for dinner and to drop off some tickets for the Bay to Birdwood Car Rally.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
References.
Our third park for the 2023 VKFF Team Championship on Saturday 21st October 2023, was the Finniss Conservation Park VKFF-0916.
Above: Map showing the location of the Finnis CP. Map c/o Google Maps.
The Finniss Conservation Park is 123 hectares in size and was first proclaimed on 29th January 1976. An additional 56 hectares were added between 1985 and 2005. The park is undulating with Woodland consisting of Pink Gum and Golden Wattle, and Low Woodland consisting of Cup Gum and Pink Gum over Tate’s Grass-tree.
The park is located just 7 km (by road) to the northeast of the settlement of Nangkita. It is located about 20 km to the northwest of the settlement of Finniss which was originally known as Queen’s Own Town, after the Queen’s Own Regiment of Foot. The name of the town was changed in 1940 to Finniss, in in honour of an early surveyor and the first Premier of South Australia, Colonel Boyle Travers Finniss.
Above:- Colonel Boyle Travers Finniss. Courtesy of Wikipedia.
Over 62 species of native birds have been recorded in the park including Laughing Kookaburra, Galah, Adelaide Rosella, Superb Fairywren, New Holland Honeyeater, Grey Fantail, Eastern Spinebill, and Australian Golden Whistler.
The park is located in close proximity to a number of other conservation parks, including Cox Scrub, Mount Magnificent, Kyeema, and Bullock Hill.
As we drove along Mount Magnificent Road we enjoyed some magnificent views out to the east and southeast.
We crossed the Finniss River en route to Finniss.
We then travelled along Stones Ford Road and crossed the Finniss River again at a small ford.
We continued north along Stones Ford Road which is part of the Heysen Trail, and soon reached the southwestern corner of the Finniss Conservation Park.
Our operating equipment for this activation was the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole, supported on the 7-metre heavy-duty squid pole.
Marija and I logged a total of 73 QSOs. This included 6 Park to Park contacts. There was also a nice little opening on 20m on the long path into Europe.
Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
References.
Our second park for the 2023 VKFF Team Championship on Saturday 21st October 2023, was the Mount Magnificent Conservation Park VKFF-0916.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Mount Magnificent CP. Map c/o Google Maps.
Mount Magnificent Conservation Park is 90 hectares (220 acres) in size. The summit of Mount Magnificent which rises 380 metres above sea level can be found in the park. The park is bounded to the west by the Blackfellows Creek Road and to the east by Mount Magnificent Road. The Heysen trail passes through the park.
The park was previously known as the Mount Magnificent National Park when it was gazetted on the 10th day of August 1967. On the 27th day of April 1972, it was reconstituted as the Mount Magnificent Conservation Park.
We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.
We made a total of 52 QSOs between us. This included 6 Park to Park contacts.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
References.
Marija VK5MAZ and I are home from our trip to the 2023 VKFF National Get-Together at Renmark.
Here are our park and silo activation stats whilst we were away:-
Tailem Bend silo VK-WRN5
Karoonda silo VK-KRA5
Wanbi silo VK-WNI5
Alawoona silo VK-ALA5
Morkala Bushland Reserve VKFF-4119
Karween Bushland Reserve VKFF-4120
Bambil Bushland Reserve VKFF-4121
Cooltong Conservation Park VKFF-0823
Murray River National Park VKFF-0372
Pike River Conservation Park VKFF-0831
Danggali Conservation Park VKFF-0825
Chowilla Regional Reserve VKFF-1698
Murray River National Park VKFF-0372 and Paringa silo VK-PRG5
Morkalla-Redcliffs Railway Bushland Reserve VKFF-4127 and Yarrara silo VK-YRA3
Morkalla-Redcliffs Railway Bushland Reserve VKFF-4127 and Meringur silo VK-MRR3
Werrimul Bushland Reserve VKFF-4122 and Werrimul silo VK-WRU3
Karawinna Bushland Reserve VKFF-4123 and Karawinna silo VK-KRA3
Merrinee Bushland Reserve VKFF-4124 and Merinee silo VK-MRE3
Pirlta Bushland Reserve VKFF-4125 and Pirlta silo VK-PRT3
Waikerie silo VK-WKE5
DB Mack Reserve VKFF-4032
Fort Glanville Conservation Park VKFF-1031
Outer Harbour silo VK-OTR5
Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary VKFF-1880
Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary VKFF-1880 and Osborne silo VK-OSE5
Adelaide Dolphin Sanctuary VKFF-1880 and Port Adelaide silo VK-PRA5
I will slowly add details and photos about each activation to my WordPress site over the coming weeks.
Thank you to everyone who called.
I will also post some info about the Get-Together in a separate post.
Received this special QSL card this morning via email regarding my reception of the ’80 Years of Woofferton’ special broadcast.
On Saturday 21st October 2023, Marija VK5MAZ and I activated the Kyeema Conservation Park VKFF-0826 for the 2023 VKFF Team Championship.
Above:- Map showing the location of the Kyeema CP. Map c/o Google maps.
We have activated Kyeema a number of times previously, but it was close to home and suited us as we had a big day planned for Sunday with the Bay to Birdwood Classic Car Rally.
For more information on the Kyeema Conservation Park, please have a look at my previous post……
We set up in our normal spot off Woodgate Hill Road. There is a nice clearing here with plenty of room to string out the dipole antenna.
We ran the Yaesu FT857, 40 watts, and the 20/40/80m linked dipole.
We made a total of 72 QSOs between us. This included 12 Park to Park contacts.
The highlight of the activation was to work the special event station ZL6WG, promoting the 2024 NZART Conference in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Marija worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
Marija worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 40m SSB:-
I worked the following stations on 20m SSB:-
References.
Amateur Radio, Short Wave Listening, travel and history
Amateur radio experiences with VK1DA
Brisbane - Australia
german amateur radio station
Summits On The Air
SOTA on the peaks, wilderness QRP and some bushwalking
A fine WordPress.com site
Amateur Radio Adventures
Summits on the Ai
Amateur radio station from Belgium
Radio craft, homebrew, QRP/SOTA, AM
Ego loqui ad viros super montes
My adventures with Amateur Radio and Geocaching!
The rantings of VK2GAZ on his SOTA experiences in Australia
A survivor, with minor cuts and abrasions.
The Art and Craft of Blogging
The latest news on WordPress.com and the WordPress community.
Blog of Justin Giles-Clark VK7TW's SOTA and amateur radio adventures.
Occasional SOTA & Microwave operation
VK5PAS 