2014 Summer Field Day

[VK3BQ]

Ohs approved brush cutting shorts too Ralph )

[VK3BA]

Today was one of those times when all the planets lined up: good weather, excellent conditions and a prepared & tested portable station. Easily my best ever VHF Field Day with high activity.

Olivers Hill proved its worth for VK1, VK5 and western VK3. However it's not particularly good for eastern VK3. VK7 would also be a problem until I found the value of Mt Dandenong to bounce the signal off.

Many participants will hear themselves in this video:

Peter, if there was ever an encouragement for newbies and F-Calls to get amongst it, this video is it. We (VK3ALB/P) heard you very well, in fact we thought you were a lot more than a QRP station. Excellent work and a great model for those that are interested and about to participate

Cheers,

[VK3LL]

Ohs approved brush cutting shorts too Ralph )

Of course Andrew, you should be able to see them in the video along with our approved PPE face protector, respiratory protection, gloves and hearing protection....

What you saw was the track being cut to down where the "Power Station" was located (yes Nik, your video gave us the idea). We used this track only a couple of times for refuelling, but we felt it was worthwhile so we could see if there were any snakes lurking in the grass for a poor unsuspecting VK3 contester walking past (I think I was wearing my snake resistant trousers). We even gave it a name. We called it, wait for it.... "Generator Track".

Seriously though, one item of safety clothing I always remember to pack are my lead-lined underpants - essential when Damian fires up his 1.2G and 2.4G monster RF PAs.

Cheers,
Ralph VK3LL

[VK3QI]

Ralph, at your age, lead lined probably isn't necessary!

Great video, especially the stress testing of the EMDRC masts!

Cheers

Peter VK3QI

[VK3BQ]

1hr kitchen timer and gopro (except the battery went flat about half way around) for rotating time lapse (have to lift the bar!)

[VK3BQ]

got a chance to edit up the decent camera pics. and found this gem

mike, peter and jack having a dinner break in the friday night sunset.

[VK4TS]

That sure is a nice photo...

[VK3BQ]

my blog of the event, http://www.vk3bq.com/2014/01/17/summer- ... -day-2014/

thanks

[VK3BQ]

Last post on field day.

A tour of the vk3er/p site

[VK3PY]

Nice picture, guys. "Dinner" looks a little sparse, and rather dry. Meanwhile, back at VK3UHF.............

Chas
VK3PY

[VK3BQ]

Only 3??? Was that before lunch Saturday

[VK3BQ]

Results released.

Summer VHF-UHF Field Day Results

The results of the Summer Field Day are now on the contest web page

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

Well done everyone.

[VK4ADC]

Interesting... A quick look shows VK4OE, VK5KBJ & VK5TE in both the 8 hours and the 24 hour portable results. I thought you could only be in one section ???????

[VK5ZD]

You can enter both the 8 and 24 sections but you can't win both.

[VK3PY]

The rules allow that entrants may submit scores for both the 24 and 8 hour sections. If they dip out on the 24 hour section, they might get the consolation prize in the 8-hour section. As a rule, we at VK3UHF enter only the 24-hour section because that's the duration of our operation. FWIW, my opinion is that entrants should choose the game they want to play in advance, and stick to it.

I think the rules are a little too generous in this regard. Entrants who can only spare 8 hours or less to operate should not be competing against those who set up full-blown, 24-hour stations which then truncate their score to the first 8-hours. Genuine 8-hour entrants are unlikely to have the time or resources to compete against their 24-hour counterparts.

Chas
VK3PY

[VK5ZD]

... truncate their score to the first 8-hours.

Doesn't have to be the first 8 hours; you can pick the best 8 hours (VKCL does this for you).
You can only enter the 24 hour section if you operate for more that 8 hours.

[VK3MEG]

got my certificate in the mail today WOW didn't expect that.

[VK3PY]

Quoting Iain VK5ZD:

Doesn't have to be the first 8 hours; you can pick the best 8 hours (VKCL does this for you).

Quite right Iain. My error there. Even more reason why 8-hour only operators are at a disadvantage compared to 24-hour entrants who submit their best 8-hour effort in that category.

Chas
VK3PY

[VK4GHZ]

I was curious as to why the "number of logs received" wasn't mentioned, as in recent years.



Looks like interest in this contest peaked three years ago, and is now rapidly declining.

The "number of logs received" figures published in the past have been misleading anyway.
Learn why here.

As with anything, resistance to adapt and a lack of innovation = sure death.

[VK3BQ]

what is frustrating as a portable station is the "boycotting" from a home point of view though

don't enter a log, if the rules are your gripe.., but at least be a B end for those who have made the effort.

im referring to the west from where i sat! (in the comfy fold out chair).

now all we need to do is get those vk5's who were active to point east