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Dan VK3NDG and Tony VK3YV activating Mitchell River National Parks on HF.
There were some happy campers during April when the Eastern Zone Amateur Radio Club hosted a club camping trip in the scenic Victorian High Country within the Mitchell River National Park.
Club members were treated to time in nature with beautiful starry nights and a warm campfire surrounded by kangaroos on the Mitchell River. Located approximately 320km east of Melbourne, the Mitchell River National Park provided the perfect spot for an overnight camping trip as well as accommodating those who could only visit for the day.
Group photo under the stars at Mitchell River National Park.
Dan VK3NDG and Tony VK3YV making park contacts using a linked dipole on 40 and 20 metres.
Of course, no club camping trip would be without its fair share of radio activity.
Members erected several antennas including an 80m dipole, End Fed Half Wave, multi band vertical whip and a linked dipole matched with several HF radios.
Members were able to sit around the fire, have a BBQ and socialise while chasing some elusive DX. Voice and digital contacts were made all around the world with as little as 20 watts including contacts from Italy, Finland, New Zealand, Ukraine and the USA.
Fortunately, as we were camped within a National Park, we could also participate in global award schemes that foster and promote radio in the outdoors including the World Wide Flora and Fauna program (WWFF) and Parks on the Air (POTA).
Dan VK3NDG and Tony VK3YV playing portable on HF with the ICOM7300.
Club members enjoying the great outdoors.
As a bonus, campers were treated to a tour of the night sky by Chris Morley VK3CJK.
Chris was extremely knowledgeable and amazed many with his explanation of the wonders of the solar system and deep space.
Overall, the trip was a fantastic success with members coming from all over Gippsland to catch up and relax in the bush and play a bit of radio.
Our lazy neighbours taking in the action.
Ralph giving orders to the troops.
On the weekend of the 16th – 17th March, the Eastern Zone Amateur Radio Club participated in the John Moyle Memorial Field Day by operating a field station under the club’s licensed call sign VK3BEZ.
One of the members was kind enough to offer up prime real estate on private property in Gormandale for the event with favourable outlooks in most directions. The annual field day was attended by several club members including Ralph VK3WRE, Dean VK3NFI, George VK3GWK, Tony VK3YV and Dan VK3NDG.
The John Moyle Memorial Field Day is a weekend long contest consisting of portable field operators and home operators or hunters. It encompasses all of VK, ZL and P2 and encourages use of portable operation for training in emergency scenarios. Competitors can enter in a variety of ways, whether it be a 6 hour window or a 24 hour block. It includes both HF and higher frequencies such as VHF and UHF and all modes including CW and digital are accepted.
The club competed in the 6 hour segment using a multi-operator station whereby club members could utilise several bands and modes at once under the VK3BEZ callsign.
Ralph VK3WRE talking to Dean VK3NFI on 1296 MHz.
Multiple radios and antennas were set up ranging from a 80m dipole to directional Yagi’s. Both the weather and the operating conditions were favourable and over the 6 hour window, operators amassed over 100 QSOs or ‘contacts’. Each QSO amounts to a certain amount of points dependant on the band used and distance of the contact, where more points are awarded for greater distances in the higher bands. Although it may be some time before we know the official outcome of the club’s performance, it was a great club exercise in field operations and contesting in a fun and social environment.