VK3 MAD (Microwave Activity Day) 2nd November, 2024

 

VK3 MAD (Microwave Activity Day) 2nd November, 2024

VK3's having some fun for the MAD, plus some VK4 activity.

as per extract from vkspotter.com

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.

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.

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

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