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.
