looks like its back on air, I keep tabs on activity from it and when I up near Gowan, noticed it had been off for a few months, but appears it back on since start of December.
And I spotted a new APRS digi for Gunnedah VK2ZSI-1
https://aprs.fi/#!mt=roadmap&z=9&call=a%2FVK2RCC-1&timerange=604800&tail=604800
Monday, December 16, 2019
Thursday, December 12, 2019
vklink repeater linking project
INTRODUCING VKLINK, THE VK REPEATER LINKING PROJECT
For a couple of years now, VK3VS, VK7DB and VK7HH have been working on a project to link the countries repeaters without the problems associated with poor audio, limited connections, and "drive by" operators from other countries that connect, listen, hear nothing and then disconnect again.
The idea behind it was to use something cheap, readily available and open source software to connect repeaters via the internet, and make it work.
2 Years in the making, it is finally at a stage that can be released to the Amateur population.
All you need is a Raspberry Pi, a radio and a CM108/CM119 sound card to start. A riser board is coming to make an "out of the box" solution.
Look at the current nodes in operation, see status.vklink.com.au
The version of VKlink for the Raspberry Pi 3B+ has now been released
the main vklink website
Monday, November 25, 2019
Post mortem of WIA Spring Field Day Contest 2019
Roger VK2ZRH and myself operated an 8hr section of the contest from Gowan QF46pu, which is n.w. of Bathurst in NSW. On a hill at 920m ASL.
We took gear to cover 6m, 2m, 70cm, 23cm, 9cm and 3cm, all yagis for 6,2,70,23 and panel for 3.4GHz and dish for 3cm.
We chose this location on basis of working local microwave stations of VK2CU and VK2DAG who have all bands up to an including 122GHz versus trade off of operating back towards Sydney to pickup on stations on the low bands from Sydney and coast.
We had a few contacts on 6,2,70 with various locals from Central West ARC, but the long distance contacts we hoped to get didn't happen, eventhough we receiving fhe VK4RHT Atherton Tablelands 52.280 beacon coming in solid for hours, plus hearing VK2RWI Dural 2m, 70cm and 23cm beacons, which proved antennas are working, we just didnt hear anything.
What i learnt from this is we just can't try and work everything, its either go to Gowan to work microwave bands, or locate closer to Sydney for the contest, i.e. up in the Blue Mtns, i think it better do special trips to Gowan just to do microwave activity,such as MAD 23 on 23 days and operate from different hills to test our abilities at operating microwave portable. On side note, one of the locals from Central West, Doug VK2XLJ operated portable from Mt Canobolis and worked a ZL on 2m SSB as part of the contest, thats pretty impressive as tropo path from ZL rarely extends inland or over the Great Dividing Range.
We took gear to cover 6m, 2m, 70cm, 23cm, 9cm and 3cm, all yagis for 6,2,70,23 and panel for 3.4GHz and dish for 3cm.
We chose this location on basis of working local microwave stations of VK2CU and VK2DAG who have all bands up to an including 122GHz versus trade off of operating back towards Sydney to pickup on stations on the low bands from Sydney and coast.
We had a few contacts on 6,2,70 with various locals from Central West ARC, but the long distance contacts we hoped to get didn't happen, eventhough we receiving fhe VK4RHT Atherton Tablelands 52.280 beacon coming in solid for hours, plus hearing VK2RWI Dural 2m, 70cm and 23cm beacons, which proved antennas are working, we just didnt hear anything.
What i learnt from this is we just can't try and work everything, its either go to Gowan to work microwave bands, or locate closer to Sydney for the contest, i.e. up in the Blue Mtns, i think it better do special trips to Gowan just to do microwave activity,such as MAD 23 on 23 days and operate from different hills to test our abilities at operating microwave portable. On side note, one of the locals from Central West, Doug VK2XLJ operated portable from Mt Canobolis and worked a ZL on 2m SSB as part of the contest, thats pretty impressive as tropo path from ZL rarely extends inland or over the Great Dividing Range.
Friday, November 8, 2019
Converting Codan 8528 Remote Head backlighting from globes to LEDs
I noticed the remote head for my Codan 8528 HF xcvr getting, ... is hard to see at night, i thought maybe a globe blown, so opened it up and removed the pcb to see where the globes are for front panel key backligting. Well, surprise all the globes are working when plugged in on the bench. I thought, well, they going to fail one day and they work poorly as us, so let's see about making it better.
Made some measurements across globes solder pad, running about 4.3volts across globe, that's an odd number, did more checking to find they running three globes in series. Checking globes behind LCD display shows six globes. This means three sets of three globes, if one fails, you lose a good part of your backlighting.
Next what can we replace these with, I have some rolls of LED strings, I tried some blue, but poor backlighting of the keyboard, found white LED giving best keyboard backlighting., same for the LCD display, which yellow backing.
Next cut some strings of white LED ribbon and connect to the 12v and gnd points on the board. Removed old globes. Now Codan remote head much better at night. I will document on my web pages sometime.
Made some measurements across globes solder pad, running about 4.3volts across globe, that's an odd number, did more checking to find they running three globes in series. Checking globes behind LCD display shows six globes. This means three sets of three globes, if one fails, you lose a good part of your backlighting.
Next what can we replace these with, I have some rolls of LED strings, I tried some blue, but poor backlighting of the keyboard, found white LED giving best keyboard backlighting., same for the LCD display, which yellow backing.
Next cut some strings of white LED ribbon and connect to the 12v and gnd points on the board. Removed old globes. Now Codan remote head much better at night. I will document on my web pages sometime.
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Spring 2019 VHF UHF SHF Field Day Contest discussion forum
If you intending to operate in the upcoming contest 23rd, 24th November, 2019, then add your operating details in this discussion forum to maximise activity
http://www.vklogger.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=13975&p=63877#p63877
http://www.vklogger.com/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=13975&p=63877#p63877
Thursday, October 3, 2019
2019 WIA Spring VHF UHF SHF Field day contest
Its fast approaching the next contest, which is Sat 23rd and Sun 24th November, 2019
Tuesday, September 17, 2019
2m and 70cm opening to ZL1 from VK2 and VK4
Yesterday afternoon was first opening for spring 2019 across the Tasman, contacts made on both 2m and 70cm, via tropo, calls active were ZL1IU, ZL1RQ, ZL1SWW, VK2ZT, VK2MAX, VK2VL, VK4UH, VK4CZ, VK4MIL, VK4KSY, VK4OX and possibly others. And the FK8ZNB 2m repeater also heard in far nth Qld. Activity is a little earlier than normal, as it usually the first week of October that we get the tropo ducts across the Tasman Sea. Period of opening was approx 5.00 UTC to 10.00 UTC 16th Sept.
Thursday, August 22, 2019
6metre repeater update
53.650 VK2RMP Maddens Plains is back on air,
Others
53.625 VK2RSN Newcastle, still unknown.
53.675 VK2RMB Terrey Hills, still off air.
53.725 VK2RAG Somersby operational, seems stronger now in signal strength
53.850 VK2RWI Dural, operational
53.875 VK2RBM Blue Mountains, can not key it lately.
Others
53.625 VK2RSN Newcastle, still unknown.
53.675 VK2RMB Terrey Hills, still off air.
53.725 VK2RAG Somersby operational, seems stronger now in signal strength
53.850 VK2RWI Dural, operational
53.875 VK2RBM Blue Mountains, can not key it lately.
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
WIA VHF-UHF-SHF Field Day Contests
just adding the 5 year table of event dates for this contest :
Year Summer Winter Spring
2017 14-15 Jan 24-25 Jun 25-26 Nov
2018 13-14 Jan 23-24 Jun 24-25 Nov
2019 12-13 Jan 22-23 Jun 23-24 Nov
2020 18-19 Jan 20-21 Jun 28-29 Nov
2021 14-15 Jan 26-27 Jun 26-27 Nov
Therefore, the next contest date is Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th November 2019
and first one for 2020 will be 18th/19th January.
WIA VHF-UHF-SHF Contest Rules and Results
Monday, August 12, 2019
NBN working today
here it is NBN is connected today as promised, I ran a speedtest to see how well it works. Here is the results, during 6.30pm peak via wifi to the Telstra modem. Almost 48Mbps DOWN and 19Mbps UP, I'm good with that result. Thanks NBN.
Checking the rate values from inside the modem statistics the DSL Rx Rate is 54.997 Mbps, Tx Rate is 22.600 Mbps via IPoVDSL mode. The old Telstra TG797 ADSL modem used to quote signal levels in dBm, unfortunately, this new Arcadyan (Telstra Gen2) FTTN modem doesn't give any signal measurements.
Checking the rate values from inside the modem statistics the DSL Rx Rate is 54.997 Mbps, Tx Rate is 22.600 Mbps via IPoVDSL mode. The old Telstra TG797 ADSL modem used to quote signal levels in dBm, unfortunately, this new Arcadyan (Telstra Gen2) FTTN modem doesn't give any signal measurements.
Tuesday, July 30, 2019
the NBN saga continues
at end of June I fixed the ADSL connection at home, its been solid 10Mbps download since.
start of July, I checked the NBN website again to get latest status, as when I last checked it was saying due August, anyway, now the NBN site saying my address was now ready for connection to NBN and that I should contact my provider to arrange connection. So i plugged in the new modem that Telstra sent me, a few minutes later we up and running and live on ADSL, still 10Mbps. Next thing a SMS comes from Telstra to say we have acknowledged the new modem is connected, NBN will be connected soon. I keep checking the STATUS of the modem, still showing ADSL, I wondering what is happening, before long it is now last week of July, still no NBN, suddenly another SMS from Telstra, that NBN is now available in your street, that we will be connecting you automatically within 10 days (strange as NBN already said it was available 3 weeks ago) so finally the switch is being flicked and cutover from ADSL to VDSL is about to happen.
A week goes by still nothing. Suddenly a SMS to my XYL's phone from NBN (dont know how NBN got my XYL's mobile) anyway, it states, NBN will be enabled 12th August (another couple weeks ??) and it rambles on that a NBN Tech coming to the street to connect the NBN (wtf ?? ) It is underground pair twisted leading back to a FTTN box at the end of the street, what they havent already connected the twisted pair to the FTTN ?, something doesnt add up here !. It cant possibly be a twisted pair going back to the Exchange as that is 3km and I am getting better than 10Mbps downlink speed, I estimate I getting full ADSL speed as the distance is only 500m to the FTTN box. Switching from ADSL to VDSL should a logical changeover in the backend, not a physical pair swap.
In summary, I dont know WTF NBN is doing, as their website said it was ready in our street at start of July and Telstra was under impression it was ready and same for all the other providers, as we had a rush of brochures arrive in letter box the first week of July, but in reality the NBN not ready and won't be until mid August.
Next gripe - Optus mobile coverage, I am up the back of Jenolan Caves last week for the week, omg, that Optus mobile coverage is still crap up there, I have the Network Analyzer app on my phones, trying to identify the signal strengths, the Bands used by the phones, as I couldn't make a phone call or get a SMS on my S7 or S8 or XYL's iphone6, we could get flakey data connection on the iphone6 and S8. I could identify the four Optus towers on the App map, I can see the damned towers across the valley using binoculars at Blackheath, Medlow Bath and Katoomba and Megalong Valley, the signal strengths could barely reach -100dBm usually fluctuating in the -130 to -110dBm. Watching the Band used, mostly band 1 and 3, sometimes band 28, I had to get in the car and drive to Oberon to get a consistent signal to make calls and send SMS. If low cloud rolls up the valley, it totally kills the signal, meaning zero.
In summary, the four towers must have their panels aimed away from Jenolan Caves direction, it would be great if Optus could put a cell at top of the hill outside of Jenolan Caves to cover Porcupine Hill and also to put some signal into Jenolan Caves valley, as there is absolutely zero coverage down in the Jenolan Caves valley. No doubt someone will offer the suggestion that it far easier to just move our mobiles to Telstra, as it unlikely SingTel will want to spend any money on improving coverage.
start of July, I checked the NBN website again to get latest status, as when I last checked it was saying due August, anyway, now the NBN site saying my address was now ready for connection to NBN and that I should contact my provider to arrange connection. So i plugged in the new modem that Telstra sent me, a few minutes later we up and running and live on ADSL, still 10Mbps. Next thing a SMS comes from Telstra to say we have acknowledged the new modem is connected, NBN will be connected soon. I keep checking the STATUS of the modem, still showing ADSL, I wondering what is happening, before long it is now last week of July, still no NBN, suddenly another SMS from Telstra, that NBN is now available in your street, that we will be connecting you automatically within 10 days (strange as NBN already said it was available 3 weeks ago) so finally the switch is being flicked and cutover from ADSL to VDSL is about to happen.
A week goes by still nothing. Suddenly a SMS to my XYL's phone from NBN (dont know how NBN got my XYL's mobile) anyway, it states, NBN will be enabled 12th August (another couple weeks ??) and it rambles on that a NBN Tech coming to the street to connect the NBN (wtf ?? ) It is underground pair twisted leading back to a FTTN box at the end of the street, what they havent already connected the twisted pair to the FTTN ?, something doesnt add up here !. It cant possibly be a twisted pair going back to the Exchange as that is 3km and I am getting better than 10Mbps downlink speed, I estimate I getting full ADSL speed as the distance is only 500m to the FTTN box. Switching from ADSL to VDSL should a logical changeover in the backend, not a physical pair swap.
In summary, I dont know WTF NBN is doing, as their website said it was ready in our street at start of July and Telstra was under impression it was ready and same for all the other providers, as we had a rush of brochures arrive in letter box the first week of July, but in reality the NBN not ready and won't be until mid August.
Next gripe - Optus mobile coverage, I am up the back of Jenolan Caves last week for the week, omg, that Optus mobile coverage is still crap up there, I have the Network Analyzer app on my phones, trying to identify the signal strengths, the Bands used by the phones, as I couldn't make a phone call or get a SMS on my S7 or S8 or XYL's iphone6, we could get flakey data connection on the iphone6 and S8. I could identify the four Optus towers on the App map, I can see the damned towers across the valley using binoculars at Blackheath, Medlow Bath and Katoomba and Megalong Valley, the signal strengths could barely reach -100dBm usually fluctuating in the -130 to -110dBm. Watching the Band used, mostly band 1 and 3, sometimes band 28, I had to get in the car and drive to Oberon to get a consistent signal to make calls and send SMS. If low cloud rolls up the valley, it totally kills the signal, meaning zero.
In summary, the four towers must have their panels aimed away from Jenolan Caves direction, it would be great if Optus could put a cell at top of the hill outside of Jenolan Caves to cover Porcupine Hill and also to put some signal into Jenolan Caves valley, as there is absolutely zero coverage down in the Jenolan Caves valley. No doubt someone will offer the suggestion that it far easier to just move our mobiles to Telstra, as it unlikely SingTel will want to spend any money on improving coverage.
Sunday, July 28, 2019
post mortem of WIA Winter VHF UHF SHF Field Day Contest 2019
I forgot to do a write up, or I started but never completed, anyway, I did actually enter the contest, I operated from QF46pu, others who were there or nearby (QF46qu) were VK2CU, VK2DAG, VK2ZIW, VK2ZRH and VK2JDS.
I operated 24hrs segment. Bands used were 6m, 2m, 70cm, 23cm, 9cm, 3cm, 24Ghz, 76Ghz, not sure if we did 122GHz in the contest itself, but we did spend a fair bit of time experimenting with 122Ghz on that weekend across the 3.8km void between hilltops. Also did some 4WDing around the two farms and taste testing some red wines at night following the roast pork cooked in a wood stove.
Overall, it was more of a microwave tuneup get together, than a serious go at contesting.
I operated 24hrs segment. Bands used were 6m, 2m, 70cm, 23cm, 9cm, 3cm, 24Ghz, 76Ghz, not sure if we did 122GHz in the contest itself, but we did spend a fair bit of time experimenting with 122Ghz on that weekend across the 3.8km void between hilltops. Also did some 4WDing around the two farms and taste testing some red wines at night following the roast pork cooked in a wood stove.
Overall, it was more of a microwave tuneup get together, than a serious go at contesting.
3398.100 MHz contact with VK2KYP
on 25th July 2019, whilst I was portable up the back of Porcupine Hill near Jenolan Caves, in QF46xe, I worked Gary VK2KYP firstly on 1296.100 Mhz USB, who was portable at Somersby, (QF56pp) near the FM broadcast tower, across to me portable at Jenolan Cabins, signals were 57, then we followed that contact with a 9cm contact on 3398.100 MHz USB, both of us using GARC 3.4GHz panels, running 100mW each way, the distance was approx 131km, it was exciting for us as we broken the 100km hurdle, even though VK3's have done much better, we thought it significant since we both running QRP and simple panel antennas. Signals were in the order of 50/51, we also tried FM, we could detect and hear each other, but not strong enough for a successful contact.
portable QF46xe
last week was portable & mobile around QF46xe, staying at Jenolan Cabins, I setup a 2/70 vertical on a 2.5metre portable mast, here are some signal strengths for some repeaters I could key up, or simply heard them, as of 22nd July 2019.
146.650 VK2RDX Mt Bindo 60/9
146.675 VK2RUW Knights Hill s5
146.800 VK2RLE Heathcote s9
146.875 VK2RMB Terrey Hills 20/9
147.000 VK2RWI Dural 50/9
147.125 VK2RAG Somersby 50/9
147.200 VK2RCW Gowan s3
147.250 VK2RNS Hosrnsby 10/9
438.350 VK2RHT Chatswood 50/9 (digital)
438.400 VK2RMB Terrey Hills s3 (digital)
438.450 VK2RCF Carlingford 40/9
438.525 VK2RWI Dural s9
438.575 VK2ROT Paddington 10/9
438.600 VK2RWI Dural s6 (digital)
438.725 VK2RMP Maddens Plains s7 (digital)
439.500 VK2RCG city 30/9 (digital)
439.750 VK2RHP Horsley Park 20/9 (digital)
439.800 VK2RCG city 30/9 (DMR)
439.925 VK2RON Hunters Hill s6
439.950 VK2RAG Somersby s7
439.975 VK2RHS Hornsby 10/9
The 23cm repeaters was using a grid pack in vertical polarised position.
1273.100 VK2R?? Sugarloaf tried it but nothing
1273.200 VK2RWC Chatswood 60/9
1273.500 VK2RAG Somersby s3
1273.500 VK2RWI Dural s5
The beacon was received using a grid pack in horizontal polarised position
1296.420 VK2RWI Dural s9
As for 6metre repeaters, I had my quad band FM in the car, I tried the following 6metre repeaters,
53.625 Sugarloaf, 53.650 Maddens Plains, 53.725 Somersby, 53.850 Dural, 53.875 Blue Mtns, received none of them.
I made several contacts on 23cm repeaters over the week. Glad to see people using the 23cm repeaters.
146.650 VK2RDX Mt Bindo 60/9
146.675 VK2RUW Knights Hill s5
146.800 VK2RLE Heathcote s9
146.875 VK2RMB Terrey Hills 20/9
147.000 VK2RWI Dural 50/9
147.125 VK2RAG Somersby 50/9
147.200 VK2RCW Gowan s3
147.250 VK2RNS Hosrnsby 10/9
438.350 VK2RHT Chatswood 50/9 (digital)
438.400 VK2RMB Terrey Hills s3 (digital)
438.450 VK2RCF Carlingford 40/9
438.525 VK2RWI Dural s9
438.575 VK2ROT Paddington 10/9
438.600 VK2RWI Dural s6 (digital)
438.725 VK2RMP Maddens Plains s7 (digital)
439.500 VK2RCG city 30/9 (digital)
439.750 VK2RHP Horsley Park 20/9 (digital)
439.800 VK2RCG city 30/9 (DMR)
439.925 VK2RON Hunters Hill s6
439.950 VK2RAG Somersby s7
439.975 VK2RHS Hornsby 10/9
The 23cm repeaters was using a grid pack in vertical polarised position.
1273.100 VK2R?? Sugarloaf tried it but nothing
1273.200 VK2RWC Chatswood 60/9
1273.500 VK2RAG Somersby s3
1273.500 VK2RWI Dural s5
The beacon was received using a grid pack in horizontal polarised position
1296.420 VK2RWI Dural s9
As for 6metre repeaters, I had my quad band FM in the car, I tried the following 6metre repeaters,
53.625 Sugarloaf, 53.650 Maddens Plains, 53.725 Somersby, 53.850 Dural, 53.875 Blue Mtns, received none of them.
I made several contacts on 23cm repeaters over the week. Glad to see people using the 23cm repeaters.
Thursday, July 18, 2019
50 years since Apollo11
looking at the a few key time line entries back in 1969 :
July 16 at 13:32:00 UTC (11:32pm AEST 16th July) - launch of Apollo 11 via the Saturn V AS-506 rocket
July 19 at 17:21:50 UTC (03:21 AM AEST 20th July) - Apollo 11 passed behind the Moon and fired its service propulsion engine to enter lunar orbit.
July 20 at 12:52:00 UTC (10:52pm AEST 20th July) - Aldrin and Armstrong entered Eagle to prepare for lunar descent after 30 orbits of moon.
July 20 at 17:44:00 UTC (03:44am AEST 21st July) - Eagle (LM) separates from Columbia (CM)
July 20 at 20:17:40 UTC (06:17am AEST 21st July) - Eagle lands on moon
July 20 at 23:43 UTC (09:43am AEST 21st July) The two astronauts begin preparations to walk on the Moon
July 21 at 02:39:33 UTC (12:39pm AEST 21st July) - open the hatch
July 21 at 02:51 UTC (12:51pm AEST 21st July) - Armstrong starts descent
July 21 at 02:56:15 UTC (12:51pm AEST 21st July) - Armstrong steps on moon
July 21 at 05:11:13 UTC (03:11pm AEST 21st July) - hatch was closed again
July 21 at 17:54:00 UTC (03:54am AEST 22nd July) - lift off in Eagle's ascent stage
July 21 at 21:35 UTC (07:35am AEST 22nd July) - Eagle docked with Columbia
July 21 at 23:41 UTC (09:41am AEST 22nd July) - jettisoned Eagle into lunar orbit
July 24 at 16:44 UTC (02:44am AEST 24th July) - parachutes deployed
July 24 at 16:51 UTC (02:51am AEST 24th July) - landed in Pacific Ocean
Interesting fact, they used Slow Scan TV (SSTV) from Eagle on the moon, apart from normal TV.
July 16 at 13:32:00 UTC (11:32pm AEST 16th July) - launch of Apollo 11 via the Saturn V AS-506 rocket
July 19 at 17:21:50 UTC (03:21 AM AEST 20th July) - Apollo 11 passed behind the Moon and fired its service propulsion engine to enter lunar orbit.
July 20 at 12:52:00 UTC (10:52pm AEST 20th July) - Aldrin and Armstrong entered Eagle to prepare for lunar descent after 30 orbits of moon.
July 20 at 17:44:00 UTC (03:44am AEST 21st July) - Eagle (LM) separates from Columbia (CM)
July 20 at 20:17:40 UTC (06:17am AEST 21st July) - Eagle lands on moon
July 20 at 23:43 UTC (09:43am AEST 21st July) The two astronauts begin preparations to walk on the Moon
July 21 at 02:39:33 UTC (12:39pm AEST 21st July) - open the hatch
July 21 at 02:51 UTC (12:51pm AEST 21st July) - Armstrong starts descent
July 21 at 02:56:15 UTC (12:51pm AEST 21st July) - Armstrong steps on moon
July 21 at 05:11:13 UTC (03:11pm AEST 21st July) - hatch was closed again
July 21 at 17:54:00 UTC (03:54am AEST 22nd July) - lift off in Eagle's ascent stage
July 21 at 21:35 UTC (07:35am AEST 22nd July) - Eagle docked with Columbia
July 21 at 23:41 UTC (09:41am AEST 22nd July) - jettisoned Eagle into lunar orbit
July 24 at 16:44 UTC (02:44am AEST 24th July) - parachutes deployed
July 24 at 16:51 UTC (02:51am AEST 24th July) - landed in Pacific Ocean
Interesting fact, they used Slow Scan TV (SSTV) from Eagle on the moon, apart from normal TV.
GippsTech 2019 post mortem
I went to GippsTech 2019 last weekend, drove down Friday, left home at 5.30am, met up with others collectively at different stages of trip, had breakfast with Steve VK2XDE, Garry VK2KYP and Roger VK2ZRH at Maccas Exceter, then continued on to Canberra, where Lindsay VK2AMV, Bob VK2AOR, Brad VK2NMZ met us at a servo in Hume, continued on to Cooma with Dave VK2JDS and Gary VK2GLJ and Rex VK2AZG close behind, we did rendevous in Cooma, bumped into VK2QV on his way to ski fields. Then we travelled in convoy of 5 cars through to Morwell via Nimmitabel, Bombala, stopping for lunch at Cann River, we kept in touch car to car on 2metre simplex, as well as doing some HF on 40metres. Weather was pretty wet crossing VK3 to Morwell.
Met up with everyone else at Morwell Friday night, then at the conference on Saturday. Some great lectures again, 10GHZ EME, reference locking rigs, GPDSO stability and locking Grid Square accuracy for portable operation, the VK5 Road Trip to VK3,1,2,4. Saturday night dinner and Sunday morning continuation of lectures. Sunday was still raining so we could not do the usual microwave party on local hills after lunch, so we retired to local pub for drinks and dinner.
Monday morning left at 5am for trip home, very windy and raining, 4 cars travelling together again, breakie at Maccas Bairnsdale, morning tea at Cann River, weather fined up crossing border into VK2, lunch in Canberra before we split off heading to our respective QTH's.
Overall, 12 hours travelling Sydney to Morwell, about 10 hours actual driving.
Can't wait to do it again next year.
http://www.vk3bez.org/gippstech.html
Met up with everyone else at Morwell Friday night, then at the conference on Saturday. Some great lectures again, 10GHZ EME, reference locking rigs, GPDSO stability and locking Grid Square accuracy for portable operation, the VK5 Road Trip to VK3,1,2,4. Saturday night dinner and Sunday morning continuation of lectures. Sunday was still raining so we could not do the usual microwave party on local hills after lunch, so we retired to local pub for drinks and dinner.
Monday morning left at 5am for trip home, very windy and raining, 4 cars travelling together again, breakie at Maccas Bairnsdale, morning tea at Cann River, weather fined up crossing border into VK2, lunch in Canberra before we split off heading to our respective QTH's.
Overall, 12 hours travelling Sydney to Morwell, about 10 hours actual driving.
Can't wait to do it again next year.
http://www.vk3bez.org/gippstech.html
Sunday, June 9, 2019
latest ramblings
what's been happening lately ?
WIA AGM was in Sydney this year, couple weeks ago,
GippsTech registration announced, you can register your attendance now.
http://vk3bez.org/gippstech.html
VKspotter site now active, its the replacement to VKlogger.com which has been retired,
https://www.vkspotter.com/
Central Coast ARC VK2RAG 6metre repeater back on air, it re-appeared again a couple days ago,
Illawarra ARC VK2RMP 6metre repeater still dead,
VK2RWI 6metre repeater still alive and well.
World Super Bikes from Spain this weekend, watched a couple races.
Fixed my internet at home, damned ADSL was so flakey, one minute it 6Mbps, then drops below 1Mbps, the speedtest graphs looked like a saw-tooth pattern, it was internal cabling problem, bypassed it all, now I getting 10Mbps down consistently, the old 600ohm transmission line just wasn't behaving itself.
WIA AGM was in Sydney this year, couple weeks ago,
GippsTech registration announced, you can register your attendance now.
http://vk3bez.org/gippstech.html
VKspotter site now active, its the replacement to VKlogger.com which has been retired,
https://www.vkspotter.com/
Central Coast ARC VK2RAG 6metre repeater back on air, it re-appeared again a couple days ago,
Illawarra ARC VK2RMP 6metre repeater still dead,
VK2RWI 6metre repeater still alive and well.
World Super Bikes from Spain this weekend, watched a couple races.
Fixed my internet at home, damned ADSL was so flakey, one minute it 6Mbps, then drops below 1Mbps, the speedtest graphs looked like a saw-tooth pattern, it was internal cabling problem, bypassed it all, now I getting 10Mbps down consistently, the old 600ohm transmission line just wasn't behaving itself.
Tuesday, April 2, 2019
Where are they now ?
I was at work talking with work colleague, we side tracked onto projects we had done many years ago, got on subject on mailers and terminal programs, I remembered Bmailer (Bdale's messy mailer), I thought whatever happened to those packet radio guys from early 1980's.
I recalled some names and decided to look them up:
Bdale Garbee KB0G - still working and active.
Phil Karn KA9Q - wow, Phil is retired
Brian Kantor WB6CYT - still active with AMPRNET
Doug Lockhart VE7APU - sadly Doug became silent key in Sept 2017, age 76.
Hank Magnuski KA6M - amazing I just discovered Hank involved in Gammafax. Our company sold and integrated their gear with our software back in the 90's, small world.
Stu Beal VE3MWM - possibly silent key
Dave Borden K8MMO - he move to central west USA, I guessing he retired
Paul Rinaldo W4RI - looks to have retired a while ago.
a lot of very intelligent people, successful in their careers and heavily contributed to the hobby.
I recalled some names and decided to look them up:
Bdale Garbee KB0G - still working and active.
Phil Karn KA9Q - wow, Phil is retired
Brian Kantor WB6CYT - still active with AMPRNET
Doug Lockhart VE7APU - sadly Doug became silent key in Sept 2017, age 76.
Hank Magnuski KA6M - amazing I just discovered Hank involved in Gammafax. Our company sold and integrated their gear with our software back in the 90's, small world.
Stu Beal VE3MWM - possibly silent key
Dave Borden K8MMO - he move to central west USA, I guessing he retired
Paul Rinaldo W4RI - looks to have retired a while ago.
a lot of very intelligent people, successful in their careers and heavily contributed to the hobby.
Monday, March 25, 2019
post mortem for John Moyle Field Day Contest 2019
the plan was to go to Mt.Lambie to operate the contest from, however, the weather was a let down, as it rained all the way from Sydney to Lithgow and onto Mt.Lambie. In fact the whole of Mt.Lambie was engulfed by low cloud, as were any hills around Lithgow area. So a plan of action was required, checking the BOM radar it was showing it as raining in Bathurst, that meant the alternative plan of going to Mt.Panorama was out of the question. We noted that no rain showing on the radar to the north, ie. up to Ilford, Rylestone area. Started driving towards Ilford, as we progressed the weather improved, by time reaching Ilford it was mostly sunny, the road was dry. Once at Ilford, turned onto the Sofala road and headed along looking for a high location suitable for VHF and above, particularly for microwave bands.
Found a high spot just a few kilometres north of Sofala, about 860 metres ASL, QF46ux, an all open hilltop, setup off the road, then noticed the wind was suddenly increasing, by time we were ready to make contest contacts, the wind became so strong it was knocking over equipment and trying to blow away out portable gazebo. Meanwhile, over on another mountain to the south west, Dave VK2JDS and Matt VK2DAG were now getting wet from a rain squall and had to pack up all their equipment.
This lead us to the decision of packing up and go look at other potential mountain tops for future contests and microwave field days. One spot was up on the Old Ilford Road, QF46vx, this road runs along a ridgeline, all well above 1,000 metres ASL, better than the location we stopped at on the Sofala Rd. We will keep this location in mind for future events. Another potential area was at Wattle Flat QF46uu. we travelled back to Bathurst, then headed east, detouring up through sunny Corner and Dark Corner looking for potential high locations. A really good spot is at a farm at corner of W.Mitchell rd and Dark Corner Rd. (QF46wp). This might worth stopping and asking if we could use their paddock.
After returning to highway, we passed Mt.Lambie, it was still shrouded in low cloud. We proceeded onto Lithgow, purchasing some dinner and heading up to Hassans Walls lookout to check this as a potential site. Aft this heading up the Chifley Rd, stopped at Dargan next to railway line, could hear 439.700 repeater from Nelson Bay, also the Somersby 6m, 2m & 70cm repeaters are all 60/9 signals even though it pouring rain and sitting in cloud. It poured rain all the way back to Sydney.
Note: in this picture, you can see the ridgeline in the background of Old Ilford Rd.
Found a high spot just a few kilometres north of Sofala, about 860 metres ASL, QF46ux, an all open hilltop, setup off the road, then noticed the wind was suddenly increasing, by time we were ready to make contest contacts, the wind became so strong it was knocking over equipment and trying to blow away out portable gazebo. Meanwhile, over on another mountain to the south west, Dave VK2JDS and Matt VK2DAG were now getting wet from a rain squall and had to pack up all their equipment.
This lead us to the decision of packing up and go look at other potential mountain tops for future contests and microwave field days. One spot was up on the Old Ilford Road, QF46vx, this road runs along a ridgeline, all well above 1,000 metres ASL, better than the location we stopped at on the Sofala Rd. We will keep this location in mind for future events. Another potential area was at Wattle Flat QF46uu. we travelled back to Bathurst, then headed east, detouring up through sunny Corner and Dark Corner looking for potential high locations. A really good spot is at a farm at corner of W.Mitchell rd and Dark Corner Rd. (QF46wp). This might worth stopping and asking if we could use their paddock.
After returning to highway, we passed Mt.Lambie, it was still shrouded in low cloud. We proceeded onto Lithgow, purchasing some dinner and heading up to Hassans Walls lookout to check this as a potential site. Aft this heading up the Chifley Rd, stopped at Dargan next to railway line, could hear 439.700 repeater from Nelson Bay, also the Somersby 6m, 2m & 70cm repeaters are all 60/9 signals even though it pouring rain and sitting in cloud. It poured rain all the way back to Sydney.
Monday, March 11, 2019
John Moyle Field Day Contest 2019
next weekend is the John Moyle Field Day Contest on starting 0100z Saturday 16th March, running 24 hours to 0059z Sunday 17th March, contest operates across all bands and is focused on promoting field portable activity, but contest open to anyone.
I am going portable again to Mt.Lambie QF46xm 1300m ASL
primarily to operate 2metres and above, (2m, 70cm, 23cm, 9cm and 3cm)
but also taking HF and 50MHz
This occasion will be first time to take 10GHz gear.
Contest rules for 2019 are here :
JMFD 2019 contest rules
I am going portable again to Mt.Lambie QF46xm 1300m ASL
primarily to operate 2metres and above, (2m, 70cm, 23cm, 9cm and 3cm)
but also taking HF and 50MHz
This occasion will be first time to take 10GHz gear.
Contest rules for 2019 are here :
JMFD 2019 contest rules
Tuesday, March 5, 2019
Sydney Amateur Radio Ferry Contest - Sunday 10th March 2019
it is on again this year, the fourth time for this contest.
https://vk2bv.org/sydney-amateur-radio-ferry-contest-2019/ferry-contest-rules-scoring/
https://vk2bv.org/sydney-amateur-radio-ferry-contest-2019/ferry-contest-rules-scoring/
Monday, February 25, 2019
WIA Summer VHF-UHF Contest 2019
operated portable from Mt.Lambie QF46xm approx 1300m ASL on 12th January 2019
6m, 2m, 70cm, 23cm and 9cm for the WIA Summer VHF-UHF Contest
6m, 2m, 70cm, 23cm and 9cm for the WIA Summer VHF-UHF Contest
GippsTech conference 2019
the 2019 GippsTech conference dates have been announced, it will be 13th/14th July 2019 at the usual venues in Morwell/Churchill in VK3 land.
VK3BEZ GippsTech page
VK3BEZ GippsTech page
Central Coast Field Day 2019
went to the Central Coast Field Day yesterday (Sunday 24th February) held by the Central Coast ARC at Wyong Racecourse, little bit of rain, lacking in stalls from previous years, but still good to catch up with new and known microwavers and weak signal DXers, plus adding faces to callsigns. Good to see Rex VK7MO visiting too..
Friday, February 1, 2019
6metre repeater update
status of 6metre repeaters in and around Sydney
53.625 Newcastle - unknown
53.650 Maddens Plains - been playing up lately, came back for a day then gone again.
53.675 Terrey Hills - still off air, but will be returned one day.
53.700 Goulburn - unknown
53.725 Somersby - working fine
53.850 Dural - working fine
53.875 Blue Mtns - working fine
53.625 Newcastle - unknown
53.650 Maddens Plains - been playing up lately, came back for a day then gone again.
53.675 Terrey Hills - still off air, but will be returned one day.
53.700 Goulburn - unknown
53.725 Somersby - working fine
53.850 Dural - working fine
53.875 Blue Mtns - working fine
Thursday, January 31, 2019
Summer 2019 Field Day VHF/UHF Contest and Ross Hull 2019 Contest logs due
the WIA Summer 2019 Field Day VHF/UHF Contest logs were due in by midnight 28th Jan 2019,
and the Ross Hull 2019 Contest logs are due in by 11th Feb 2019.
Coming Up:
There is a ZL based VHF-UHF-SHF-EHF contest called the NZART "DX Weekend Contest".
All bands 6m and up. Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th February 2019 ..
http://www.nzart.org.nz/activities/contests/vhf-uhf-shf-ehf-contest-dates/
and the next contest here in VK is the John Moyle Field Day Contest on 16th and 17th March 2019.
http://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/johnmoyle/
and the Ross Hull 2019 Contest logs are due in by 11th Feb 2019.
Coming Up:
There is a ZL based VHF-UHF-SHF-EHF contest called the NZART "DX Weekend Contest".
All bands 6m and up. Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th February 2019 ..
http://www.nzart.org.nz/activities/contests/vhf-uhf-shf-ehf-contest-dates/
and the next contest here in VK is the John Moyle Field Day Contest on 16th and 17th March 2019.
http://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/johnmoyle/
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
post mortem summary of the WIA Summer VHF/UHF/SHF Field Day Contest 12th/13th January 2019
here is summary of the weekend:
operated from Mt.Lambie (QF46xm) on Saturday afternoon, 2m SSB, 23cm SSB, 9cm SSB, 6m (52.525) FM, 70cm (439.000) FM. At last minute we didnt take 6m yagi or multimode. The 70cm yagi for SSB did not work, later finding a damaged centre pin in connector, and did not take 10 GHz unit as too big to fit it. It was clear skies, so solar panel & battery adequately provided power, so did not need to run generator. Packed up and left Mt.Lambie at 5pm.
Saturday night at QF46pu, we did some portable microwave contacts with Dave VK2JDS (QF46pu) across to Justin VK2CU's location (QF46qu), worked all 11 x bands 50 Mhz to 76 GHz until midnight.
Sunday morning did not go to QF46xe, instead stayed at QF46pu to operate all bands again, then continued on after lunch doing contacts for Ross Hull Contest. Also did some driving around looking for possible portable sites, ie. high spots that can be cleared.
operated from Mt.Lambie (QF46xm) on Saturday afternoon, 2m SSB, 23cm SSB, 9cm SSB, 6m (52.525) FM, 70cm (439.000) FM. At last minute we didnt take 6m yagi or multimode. The 70cm yagi for SSB did not work, later finding a damaged centre pin in connector, and did not take 10 GHz unit as too big to fit it. It was clear skies, so solar panel & battery adequately provided power, so did not need to run generator. Packed up and left Mt.Lambie at 5pm.
Saturday night at QF46pu, we did some portable microwave contacts with Dave VK2JDS (QF46pu) across to Justin VK2CU's location (QF46qu), worked all 11 x bands 50 Mhz to 76 GHz until midnight.
Sunday morning did not go to QF46xe, instead stayed at QF46pu to operate all bands again, then continued on after lunch doing contacts for Ross Hull Contest. Also did some driving around looking for possible portable sites, ie. high spots that can be cleared.
Saturday, January 5, 2019
DX Report 5th January 2018
I was out mobile today, 10metre FM and 6metre FM were buzzing, 28.620 Adelaide, 29.640 VK3RHF. and 29.680 presumably VK7 had a vk2 and a vk3 chatting on it, anyway, they were alive and active into Sydney, plus 52.525 FM into VK5, plus locals working interstate on 29.500 FM simplex and from the conversations it had been open on 6m and 10m into ZL solidly in the morning.
Friday, January 4, 2019
WIA Summer VHF/UHF/SHF Field Day Contest 12th/13th January 2019
check for latest status here on the day https://www.contestradar.com/
or vk2kfj-9 on aprs, or vklogger.com
of course the following are tentative, Wx permitting, failures, etc
Saturday afternoon QF46XM 1200m ASL
Sunday morning QF46XE 1300m ASL
Sunday afternoon back to QF46PU 900mASL (non-contest mucking around if people need Ross Hull contest numbers)
50.150 USB Horiz
52.525 FM Vert
144.150 USB Horiz
146.500 FM Vert
432.150 USB Horiz
1296.150 USB Horiz
1294.00 FM simplex Vert (or Horiz if reqd)
3398.150 USB or FM Horiz (or could be .100 or .200 whatever!)
10.368.1xx USB (or FM if reqd) (.100 or .150, or somewhere there
Actually Ross Hull Contest runs whole of January and overlaps Summer contest.
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