John Moyle Field Day 2013

[VK4ADC]

Thanks for the efforts guys & gals.

I had an enjoyable time during Saturday afternoon's 1st and 2nd segments/blocks working some 109 contacts across HF to 2403 MHz. The lack of stations at VHF and above in SE Q'ld made it difficult to gain many points there but it was a fun outing regardless. A setting-up oversight at my end limited the number of contacts on 23CM.

Did anybody else using a USB/serial adapter get a BSOD while using VKCL ? Did it relate to Win7 ??

I have put a write-up of my activity, plus some of the photos I took, on my web site at http://www.vk4adc.com/web/index.php/fie ... 6-2013jmfd

[VK3BQ]

doug, their was a discussion recently on (facebook VK ham page) about vkcl and a windows 7 BSOD,

the user had received a generic windows software update and since then, vmcl was useable, though it seemed to be related to omnirig, so, maybe try to download the most recent serial to usb driver from the chipset manufacturer, is it a SL or a prolific chipset? and a real or fake prolific?

the user also seemed to fix his issues by reducing the baud rate for the radio to the laptop (he was using a yaseu ft2000 on a dell laptop, and reduced it to 9600bps).

i used win7 (most recent updates, with vkcl 3.7) on a mac inside a virtual machine on the weekend with no issues myself.. but 9100 has built in usb ports (silicon labs chipset) so I cant help much more..

PS, great write up and pics as per usual..

[VK4ADC]

Andrew

I have two different brand & style of adapters and they both use the PL2303 chipset. I tried looking for an updated driver last week but without any real success, though the Win7 driver from MS was pretty recent - dated 2013 I think. I did a full reload of the operating system from the Asus' hidden partition mid-week and then only loaded a few programs including VKCL and OmniRig so it couldn't have been a left-over from anything previously used on the notebook. I have to admit that I was hopeful that it would be stable.

I am using the CIV set to 9600 baud already so I doubt that it is that - although it makes me wonder if OmniRig is grabbing the serial data quickly/often enough such that there is something like a buffer overflow that the SER2PL.SYS driver/s aren't handling well. Will I get the same issue under Win2K or WinXP ??? Maybe I will have to load up a HDD and find out. Alternatively an alternate chipset in the USB/serial adapter ?

I will have to see if I can find that BSOD topic on Facebook.

Thanks for the comments about the write-up on my web site. For a change nothing went too wrong - unless you count 'that coax connector' and the BSODs.


BSOD comments now in separate topic viewtopic.php?f=24&t=11346

[VK5IR]

on (facebook VK ham page)

Where is this? I can't seem to find this page/group.

PS, great write up and pics as per usual..

Where? I'd like to see this.

[VK2GOM]

http://www.vk4adc.com/web/index.php/fie ... 6-2013jmfd

73 - Rob VK2GOM / GW0MOH

[VK3BQ]

real vs fake prolific chipsets (and a new driver that broke fake chips) has caused a lot of issues recently, but this above may not be related

from this page http://www.prolific.com.tw/US/supportDo ... =85&Page=0 (you may have to login)

http://www.prolific.com.tw/admin/Techno ... fileID=232

this is the windows driver (and chipset checker) software

File Name Release Date Version File Size
PL2303_Prolific_DriverInstaller_v1.8.0.zip 2013/02/26 1.8.0 3954.38KB

Windows Driver Installer Setup Program
(For PL2303 HXA, XA, HXD, EA, RA, SA, TA, TB versions)
Installer version & Build date: 1.8.0 (2013-2-26)
Windows XP (32 & 64-bit) WDM WHQL Driver: v2.1.44.226 (2/5/2013)
- Windows XP Certified WHQL Driver
- Compatible with Windows 2000SP4 & Server2003
Windows Vista/7/8 (32 & 64-bit) WDF WHQL Driver: v3.4.48.272 (2/5/2013)
- Windows Vista, 7, 8 Certified WHQL Driver
- Compatible with Windows Server2008/Server2008R2/Server2012
- Driver also available via Windows Update (Vista, 7, . Refer to User Manual.

Installer Language Support: English (default), Chinese (Traditional and Simplified), Japanese
For Prolific USB VID_067B&PID_2303 and PID_2304 Only
Includes User Manual & CheckChipVersion Tool

NOTE:

Windows 8 is NOT supported in PL-2303HXA and PL-2303X (End-of-Life) chip versions.
Run PL2303 CheckChipVersion tool program in Windows XP/Vista/7 to check chip version.
Windows 98 and Windows ME driver support are discontinued and no longer provided.
Prolific recommends to buy PL-2303HXD (HX Rev D) or PL2303TA chip.

[VK3WAM]

Hi all,

I've put up a blog post about my JMFD 2013 adventure at:
http://waynemerry.wordpress.com/2013/03 ... field-day/

73 de Wayne VK3WAM

[VK3MEG]

great write up wayne Love the points you got next year 2 and 70 for me as well as hf

[VK3QI]

VK3ER operated from Mt Cowley near Lorne in SW Victoria.

Weather was as described by others, basically squally rain from Saturday midday until early Sunday morning with constant very high winds from the south.

Fortunately, the huge mountain ashes provide a measure of wind protection, so conditions weren't too difficult - even if they act like a wet blanket on 1.2 and 2.4 GHz.

Our score was significantly down on last year, no doubt due to the dearth of other VK3 portable stations.

Listening for the Microwave boys touring in Western VK3 was almost non-existent, the only time heard was from QF04, but very scratchy on 1.2 Ghz.

I had an excellent opportunity to constantly monitor the XPD beacon on 1296.530 which is at a distance of 133 kms line of sight. The signal fluctuated between S3 and S9 and watching the BOM radar there seemed to be significant signal peaks when there was a squall line about half way between us.

The other interesting propagation event was on 6mx working three (3) VK4 stations on 6mx at 1155z VK4ATH, 1207z and 1307z VK4OE and 1208z VK4WIZ.

We know that there was a significant solar disruption that might have caused auroral effects, but these signals lacked that auroral flutter or buzz - just normal signals. VERY UNUSUAL FOR THIS TIME OF DAY, 3.5 and 4.5 hours after sunset! (and certainly not backscatter).

VK5SR/p (306kms) was loud and clear on all bands from 6mx to 2.4Ghz on Saturday afternoon and VK5OM/p3 (342 Kms)was a good signal on Sunday morning from 6mx to 1.2 Ghz.

Thanks to all stations who worked us!

Cheers

Peter VK3QI for VK3ER/p

[VK4XA]

G'day folks,
Gary - VK1ZZ and I activated Mt Surprise, Far Nth QLD as VK4XA/p for the JMFD this year.
Equipment used was an Elecraft K3 and a 4 element Tri - Band Yagi @ 10 metres + a G5RV at the same height.

We operated in the HF, Phone only category and ALL our contacts but for 3 were on 40 & 20Metres and we ended up by making 525 contacts for 1150 points.
(Out of interest, we only made 2 contacts on 80M and only 1 on 15M, with 10M being a dead loss for us this year.)

We didn't think that wasn't too bad of a score for only 2 operators with 1 radio and basically only two bands working.
We were surprised at the amount of overseas operators that participated in handing out the correct serial number sequences for the JMFD and that said that they would be submitting logs, whilst the vast majority of our contacts where with fellow Australian hams it seems that more and more O/S hams are becoming interested in our JMFD too.
I believe that this is a good thing.

Our next outing will be the Shires contest in June, we will be at the same place, Mt Surprise, which is in Etheridge Shire, Far Nth QLD.

[VK3MEG]

gary - VK1ZZ and I activated Mt Surprise, Far Nth QLD as VK4XA/p for the JMFD this year.
Equipment used was an Elecraft K3 and a 4 element Tri - Band Yagi @ 10 metres + a G5RV at the same height.

you guys were a great signal into vk3 nice to work you so many times
catch you in the next contest

[VK5IR]

The Elizabeth ARC activated VK5LZ from Para Wirra Recreation Park, 40 km north of Adelaide.

We were active on all HF bands, phone only.

We have come first place in our category for the last two years straight.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxmaqxLI2w4

[VK2TJF]

My 2013 JMFD experience.

Found a nice spot near the Kanangra-Boyd National Park where we set up camp. We (my son and I) strung up a full sized G5RV and a squid pole. Thankfully, we were supplied a beehive cap by one of the members of CARC so we had the squidpole operating effectively. I think most of our contacts were made on the stick instead of the 5RV and I don't think we'll take that back out again, it simply was too much trouble to erect! But this was our first decent attempt at a contest.

We were going to operate single ops for 6 hour blocks but with the first contact our logging software failed so we reverted to a paper log and decided to run multi-op for 12 hours. we did that in hour long blocks and when it came time to cook dinner we decided to take a break. Well. That break involved a beer or two and watching the fire for a bit...and that's where our operation fell over! In any event we managed to hand out a few numbers. I found that contesting probably isn't my cup of tea. We both found our portable station operated effectively. The young bloke is even keener (as much as a teenager can be when there isn't a girl involved) to upgrading after making contact with a maritime station somewhere up near the Persian Gulf. I learned not to trust computers (again) and logging software! The weather was favourable. A little windy and as a result my car still smells like wood smoke! A little shower overnight which caused me to pull the swag over my face.

Next morning we packed up and headed down to the river, making a couple of mobile contacts as we went. We walked to the suspension bridge built by the engineers and made our way back the hard way apparently across the river. Had lunch and by that time the contest had finished, apparently everyone had put their head down because the bands were DEAD! In any case, the supplier of the big sausages I had found proved to be worthwhile because they turned out to be like the sausages in the olden days! Full of fat! My favourite! Oh, this is supposed to be about radio isn't it?

Brilliant weekend I thought, even if we weren't terribly successful in our endeavours!

[VK5ZD]

Hi all

Here's a video of the VK5LZ experience at the Para Wirra Recreation Park.



73
Iain

[VK3YE]

And here's the video of my pedestrian mobile efforts on 40 & 20m.

This is what I was doing if you worked me Sunday morning (and why you probably couldn't hear me if you didn't).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF3RO89U_MM

[VK4EA]

Here's 14.5 minute montage showing some of the fun the Redcliffe and Districts Radio Club enjoyed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8yaLDKes2Y

[VK4ADC]

Nice video presentation. It looks like it took a lot of editing to get it down to around 1/4 hour length.

The generator must have been a beauty to power all of the rigs, linears, lights, accessories etc. 5-10KVA ??

[VK4EA]

Very humble generators, cheapie Aldi Taurus's x 2 with pi filters (X2 caps) to quench the spark plug noise, powering linear power supplies topping up 200 Ah deep cycle batteries. Everything runs off the big f@#k off battery, nicely provides the peak current needed to keep voltage constant, thereby the solid state amplifiers run clean.

Those generators just go and go. On the 15 litre tank, we easily get 13 hours, basically one 20l jerry can each for the entire contest, well the time we were awake

[VK4GHZ]

+1
Great videos from all.
It's always nice to put a face to a callsign, and interesting to see how things are being done.

[VK4BZ]

Well done, Pete.

How could you fail, though, with such a great line-up of stars - all handsome blokes and a gorgeous Mum (Marcia)!