Brisbane VHF Group VK4RBB Beacon Update

These UHF and microwave beacons repaired and on-air 

432.440 MHz

1296.440 MHz

2403.440 MHz

3398.440 MHz

5760.440 MHz

10368.440 MHz

24048.440 MHz

WIA VHF UHF SHF Field Day Contests 2020

due to Covid19 isolation winding up at start of March, I decided not to go away for the JMFD contest, my local club still went, to Barrington Tops, I didnt think it be useful as a contest for UHF and above, as they were camping in a valley, but there were some excellent high spots 10 minutes drive from campsite. Keep that for a future contest. Also due to Covid shutdown the WIA AGM in Hobart postponed to May 2021.  And  the GippsTech Conference postponed until July 2021

I had some discussion with some other contesters about June  FD contest, we thought to drive to northern NSW to work the VK4 microwavers, however, that was soon scrapped, as the Covid19  shutdown would prevent that, with no real idea on when we can get back to normal, so we set our eyes for November as the next VHF-UHF-SHF contest FD. The June contest will just have to be done from home this year, I think at this stage.

Dates for remainder of the year:
The Winter Contest  is Sat/Sun 20th/21st June 2020,
The Spring Contest is Sat/Sun 28th/29th Nov 2020

November should have us back to normal as far as travelling interstate. It not too hot to go to VK4. I wondering if the VK5's planning any roadtrips, they might want to join us for some serious microwave contesting in VK4. Lots of good mountain tops for microwaving around VK4/VK2 border.

While I am at it, here are dates for next year :
The Summer Contest is Sat/Sun 16th/17th Jan 2021
The Winter Contest is Sat/Sun 26th/27th Jun 2021
The Spring Contest is Sat/Sun 27th/28th Nov 2021

http://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/

WIA Summer VHF/UHF/SHF Field Day Contest 2020 and John Moyle Field Day Contest 2020

As for the WIA Summer VHF/UHF/SHF Field Day Contest held on Saturday/Sunday 18th/19th January, 2020, I wasn't able to participate as I was working that weekend.

Next contest is the John Moyle Field Memorial Field Day Contest, to be held Saturday/Sunday 21st/22nd March 2020.  This time I have properly completed 10GHz portable setup to take away with me, plus the usual 3.4 GHz, 23cm, 70cm, 2m, 6m maybe some HF.  Probably go to Gowan  NSW grid square QF46pu to operate portable.

JMFD Contest details

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.

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

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.

VK5KK microwave photos from WIA AGM Hahndorf 2017

these are the photos I took of David VK5KK's microwave equipment display,  held on the Open Day, as part of the WIA AGM weekend, 21st May, 2017,  located at the Hahndorf Oval.

David was operating  all bands from 1.2GHz through to 122GHz ,including the 10GHz EME station.

http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/vk5kk_microwave.html

Photos from WIA AGM in Hahndorf for VK5ZD's microwave equipment

I have now collected and edited up the photos I took from the WIA AGM held in Hahndorf on 20th May 2017 and from the Open Day held on 21st May 2017,  this particular web page contains the photos of Iain VK5ZD's microwave equipment, I documented this to show what different people doing in terms of microwave band activity and experimentation. All bands 1.2GHz through to 122GHz.
I also preparing the same for David VK5KK's microwave equipment.

http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/vk5zd_microwave.html

MAD 23 on 23 (Microwave Activity Day) 23rd July 2017

I went portable for this months MAD 23 on 23, since it coincided with 23rd falling on a weekend, this month a Sunday, the VK4's organised to start at 12 noon, I went to the old Army Artillery Base up on North Head, Sydney, QF56pe, I chose this again, as it has some flat, clear area, reasonanly void of trees, and having a clear takeoff up the coast and to the north (direction of brisbane). The aim was to try and hear some of the activity from vk4  on microwave bands via AE. I took 23cm, 9cm and 3cm equipment. Tee'd up some attempts with some of the VK4's and VK2MAX on 1296.150, (via VKlogger.com)  we waited for some Brisbane bound jets from Sydney to be in position half way between us, we gave out calls to each other, but unfortunately nothing heard.  Found out later there were a handful of 23cm stations setup  out Penrith area.   Next MAD 23 on 23 that falls on a weekend is 23rd September 2017. Maybe next time to go Blue Mountains again.



the gridpack is for 23cm,  the square panel is one of the Geelong ARC 3.4 GHZ converted panels, the 60cm dish is ex-Austar dish and  modified feed for 10GHz

GippsTech 2017 - 1st and 2nd July 2017

registrations for GippsTech are now open today, as it only 1 month away until its on again, 1st and 2nd July.
http://www.vk3bez.org/gippstech.html
I driving down again, taking 23cm and 9cm equipment for some live contacts on the weekend. Maybe 10GHz.

RF site testing at QF46qu on Easter Sunday, 16th April, 2017

Doing some site testing at a friend's farm at QF46qu at Gowan, north west of Bathurst NSW.
my GPS estimated 950m ASL mostly cleared, with almost 360degress of clear horizon, good for playing radio. As it was Sunday morning I made use of the fact that the WIA morning broadcast was one reason to listen for it on various known frequencies including 2metres, 70cm and 6metres.

I could hear 146.775 Newcastle, 146.725 Somersby, 146.850 Maddens Plains, 146.975 Knights Hill,  53.650 Maddens Plains, 146.950 Mt Ginini.   Could not hear anything from Dural. This was using quad band radio (TYT TH-9800) and quad band vertical from the vehicle. Should be much easier with some yagis up a mast.

Looks to be excellent site to run microwave equipment from (23cm and upwards).

 a little bit of trees to north east,

 looking to north coast & mid north coast NSW, all clear.

 looking to Newcastle through Sydney, all clear

Looking back to Bathurst

 Looking to south and VK1

Looking to VK3 & VK5 all clear.

Looking west, a couple trees

Facing to north west, highest point where these pine trees are.

 Looking north, a few sparse trees, but nothing Roundup or a chainsaw can't fix

Good flat area, for parking, camping, whatever.

Microwave Activation Day

the next Microwave Activation Day fast approaching, Saturday 23rd July 2016.
Hoping to help our with some 3.4 GHz testing  with Brian VK2XTC and Gary VK2KYP.
I also  wish to take 23cm and see if I can hear anything  from VK4,  ie. MS scatter or AE, as these days yield a good turnout from VK4 area, so expect plenty signals bouncing around from up that way.

GippsTech symposium 2016

this coming weekend is GippsTech 9th/10th July at the Federation University in Morwell Victoria.
Lots of  good technical discussions to listen too, meeting microwave gurus and top it off with some on-air activity on sunday afternoon on 3.4 Ghz

4th October, 2015 - my first 3.4Ghz contact, 0110 to 0115 UTC, worked VK2JDS and VK2AVR/p , distance 500 metres at QF46, we finished modifications and tested our transverter units that came from Geelong ARC, .75w o/p FM, 60/9 signals at each end, ready to do some serious 3.4 GHz terrestrial activity. Now have 1296Mhz, 3.4GHz and 10Ghz transverters ready to go.

http://vk3atl.org/3400.php

1296 Mhz and 10 GHz transverters

I started documenting the building of some transverter kits for 1296 Mhz (23cm) and 10 GHz (3cm) to inspire others to try (what I consider is) this new frontier of amateur radio.

I say "a new frontier", as the proliferation of kits and surplus of microwave gear, opens the opportunities of experimenting on microwave bands to more people.

If you have never looked, then go look at VK5EME Minikits  and VK3XDK websites.

anyway, here is my microwave page:

http://www.qsl.net/vk2kfj/microwave.html