Mobile trek to VK3 and VK5 - November 2022

 We did a recent mobile trip to VK3 and VK5, Sydney > Albury > Benalla > Shepparton > Bendigo > Daylesford  > Ballarat. Did some gold mining history research at Haddon, Smythesdale, Scarsdale and Gordon, including visiting some historic cemeteries.

Then onto Geelong > Portarlington > St.Leonards >  Queenscliff >Point Lonsdale , along ocean road to Barwon Heads > Torquay > Jan Juc > Bells Beach > Anglesea > Aireys Inlet  > Lorne >

Then from Lorne > along Great Ocean Road to Apollo Bay > Cape Otway lighthouse > Glenaire > Lavers Hill > Yuulong > Princetown > Tweleve Apostles > Loch Ard Gorge and other cliff spots > Port Campbell.

Then to London Bridge > Peterborough > Bay of Islands > Allansford > Warrnambool > Port Fairy >Portland > Cape Nelson Lighthouse > Nelson > Mount Gambier > Millicent > Robe.

Then from Robe > Kingston > Meningie > Tailem Bend > Murray Bridge > Hahndorf.

From Handorf to Port Elliot > Victor Harbour > Capre Jervis > Normanville > Glenelg > Tanaunda.

Then from Tanunda > Kapunda > Hamilton > Waterloo > Black Springs > Burra > Hallet > Oodle Wirra and through to Broken Hill.

From Broken Hill onto Wilcania > Cobar > Nyngan > Narromine > Dubbo.

Last Day, was Dubbo > Dunedoo > Merriwa > Denman > Jerrys Plains > Warkworth > Mount Thorley and back onto the motorway to Sydney.

All up about 5100km

Note:  big gaps of no Optus mobile coverage  either side of Broken Hill.  Telstra mobile coverage MUCH better out there.

Big gaps of 2metre APRS found in VK3 and VK5, plus my HF APRS stopped near Shepparton, HF antenna base failure. Then moved HF antenna to different base, but then TT3 didnt want to TX anymore for rest of the trip. TT3 for HF  worked when I arrived home. Didnt hear much 2m or 70cm FM traffic whilst travelling, when arrived home I investigated to find both Diamond SG-M507  antennas are stuffed, with high VSWR.  Replaced them with the more expensive Diamond SG-7500, now I hear distant repeaters again.  Then I checked my 2metre APRS antenna, high vswr,  it is also stuffed, it was just a 1/4 wave, I fitted new 1/4 wave, now APRS working better.

Lessons learnt: check your antennas are actually working before heading to outback or major road trips.

The screenshot is my VK2KFJ APRS last 7 days tracking, the pink lines are where there is nil Optus coverage