2014 Spring VHF/UHF Field Day : 22/23 Nov

[VK5AKK]

Greetings part time hill dwellers!
Now that distance is a factor again I plan to take part in the contest as a home station, but only on 2 & 70.
Will have FM for the locals and SSB for the DX.
Please point your beams at Adelaide and see if we can do some business.
Cheers
Phil
VK5AKK PF94ix

[VK3LL]

Hi Peter (3QI) - do you know where Ian VK3AXH/p be operating from? Buninyong perhaps? I'll need to pack some attenuators.

Colin (5DK) and Phil (5AKK) - we'll definitely keep the VK3KQ/P antennas swinging in your direction on a regular basis! Many thanks.

VK3KQ/p will be operating from QF12VG (Very Good)
Ralph

[VK3ZTE]

I'm thinking of giving this a go from home, but can someone advise me re the need for QSYing? Is it necessary these days, having established initial contact, to move to another frequency to complete the exchange? That's my impression and if indeed it is the case, I will probably have to stay out of it since my Tx and Rx are independent and it would take me too long to practically QSY both in the heat of a contest. Thanks in advance to anyone who cares to clarify this for me. cheers Grant VK3ZTE

[VK3ALB]

Hi Grant,

Some will work you on .150 for a quick contact especially if it's in a slow period of the contest, some will ask you to QSY and others will remind you to QSY because it's the calling frequency.

Not sure what equipment you have that causes you to move TX & RX separately but you're worried about a quick QSY you could try sitting above .150 and calling. As it gets busy folks tend to spread out and away from .150.

Things get REALLY busy on .150 at the first moments of the contest and then every three hours thereafter. I would say that most of the time you'll be fine grabbing contacts on .150.

Point towards Colac, we'll work you if we hear you..

[VK3QI]

Ralph,

From or very near to Buninyong.

Cheers

Peter VK3QI

[VK3QI]

Phil 5AKK,

We will be on the lookout for you on 2/70, especially late in the evening and after sunrise. I think we have pretty much worked you each contest on those bands over the last 7 years, so let's try again.

Our beam heading is half way between Ballarat and Mt Macedon for you.

Cheers

Peter VK3QI (VK3ER/p) QF22DM15

[VK3KQ]

Well I think there will be some good numbers this year. Winter to Spring has seen some subtle enhancements but alas no 24 or the mighty 47Gig.
Masts and set up has been refined. Looking forward to catching up with all on the weekend. A prayer to the almighty! No bloody tornados or Hurricanes this weekend.
Good luck in the contest and may the good numbers be with you.
We have planned for a great weekend so lets all enjoy it!

Damian VK3KQ

[VK3ZTE]

VK3ALB, thanks Lou. Equipment is homebrew but I'll give it a go. Many thanks for the advice. cheers Grant

[VK3HY]

Sad to report that I won't be out in the FD at the weekend due to a sudden and unexpected family bereavement.

Gavin, VK3HY

[VK4BZ]

What are folks doing in SE Qld?

I'm thinking of sitting up at Mt Mee (near the cafe, of course...gotta have a good coffee) for a couple of hours on Saturday with 70cm - on cw...and ssb (I suppose I'll have to use phone as well!). Of course, this is assuming SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) has no other gardening plans for my Saturday.

Am I going to be on my Pat Malone or are other VK4s going to do anything?

[VK3WE]

I'm only QRV on 10GHz, happy to provide some numbers from QF32se.

text or call me on 0407 536361,

good luck everyone,

73
Rhett VK3GHZ

[VK5ZD]

Has anyone else noticed that the rules for the upcoming spring contest have not yet been posted on the WIA web site?

[VK4ADC]

Iain

Has anyone else noticed that the rules for the upcoming spring contest have not yet been posted on the WIA web site?

Yep, I re-checked that yesterday and it seems Roger VK2ZRH is the interim contest manager for the VHF/UHF FDs but hasn't added/published the Spring rules as yet.

I just checked the SEQld forecast for the weekend given my ability to generate rain and storms during my FD outings :
Brisbane : 23 to 33 degrees , Partly cloudy. Slight (20%) chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the west in the afternoon and evening. Winds northerly 15 to 20 km/h turning northeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning.

Back of the Gold Coast : 20 to 37, Hot. Partly cloudy. Slight (30%) chance of a shower in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Winds northwest to northeasterly 20 to 30 km/h. Overnight temperatures falling to between 19 and 22 with daytime temperatures reaching 32 to 38.

Pick around the middle of those forecasts and it still means a reasonable probability of rain.

I am planning to go to Beechmont Plateau, QG61OV55NN, and to run 50, 52, 144, 146, 432, 439, 1296, 2403, 3400, 5760 and 10368, SSB or FM as appropriate, on Saturday only, starting at 0100UT and operating for the following 8 hours - or until the batteries go flat after the solar charging has ceased. I am hoping that others will also be operating else it will be a long boring spell in the heat - and maybe rain.

[VK3YFL]

While regular Field Day participants (hopefully) understand the rules, it is a shortcoming that the Spring rules haven't been published as per tradition for a couple of reasons.

I always take a hard copy of the rules with me on Field Days in case I'm challenged about what I'm doing and so can refer to the rules to show it is a legitimate activity.

And if we are trying to encourage newcomers, I'm sure they would be better prepared with the publishing of rules explicit for the Spring FD.

Weather's still looking good and so hope to work plenty of stations, whether in the field or at home.

Bryon
VK3YFL

[VK4OE]

Greetings to all!

Subject to possible variations in the weather (which, forecasted from three days away, may be OK on the Sunday), I propose to be operating for a couple or three hours from Mt Gravatt in Brisbane (QG62MK) on the Saturday evening after about 7:00 p.m, then re-commencing on the Sunday morning from the Border Ranges National Park (QG61NP) in Northern VK2 from around 6:00 a.m through to the end of the contest period.

All bands from 50 MHz to 76 GHz will be available for use. On the 'busy' bands, SSB operating frequencies will, as usual, be the main calling frequency of .150 on each band with frequent QSY'ing to .175 or other places in part of each band close to there. I will usually also be keeping an eye on 146.5 MHz and 439.0 MHz FM simplex channels, which often also serve sometimes as liaison frequencies for microwave operating.

Regarding liaison, mobile 'phones (Testra, at least) don't work at the Border Ranges site - they hear just too many base stations - so greater reliance will have to be on SSB and/or FM on 2 metres or 70 centimetres for liaison.

All QSOs will be appreciated and enjoyed!

Cheers and 73,

--Doug Friend, VK4OE.

[VK2ZRH]

VK4ADC posted:Yep, I re-checked that yesterday and it seems Roger VK2ZRH is the interim contest manager for the VHF/UHF FDs but hasn't added/published the Spring rules as yet.

Slightly puzzled, I took a look at the VHF-UHF Field day page on the website, which looks like this in my browser:

My beady old eyes can see "Spring Field Day - fun is in the air!". I guess you're looking for a PDF to download. I see the webmaster has yet to post it. It will be a PDF of the Spring FD announcement from October AR. I'll get that done.

I stepped in last week because i saw nothing was happening.

In any event, the WIA Board decided that, from the Winter 2014 FD, the Division 1/Division 2 rules would continue over three FDs - Winter and Spring 2014, and Summer 2015 - after which the Board will review the situation.

A willing victim, sorry, volunteer has recently put up his hand to take on the Contest Manager (Division 1) role - to be announced shortly.

We're working on making it "business as usual".

[VK5SFA]

Hi Everyone,

VK5SFA/P will be operating portable from the Mount Barker summit over the 2014 Spring VHF/UHF Field Day 22/23 November. (PF94lw)

Primarily beaming to VK4 VK2 VK3 & VK7

QRV on 6,2,70 & 23 CW FM & SSB. Will have HF as well. Has there ever been any liaison frequency on HF? Say 40 Metres?

Hopefully the Tropospheric / Sporadic E Gods will be kind to us all! Good luck.

73's Steve

[VK2ZRH]

PDF of Spring Field Day rules posted last night at: http://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/

Have fun in the contest.

[VK3VFO]

Hi All,
I am planning to go out portable somewhere in Gippsland running 6M , 2M , 70CM , 23CM , 2.4 GHZ , 5.7GHZ .

VK3VFO
Nick
Operating from QF31

[VK3ALB]

Hi Nick,

Good to see you have 5.7 sorted