23-on-23 + MAD: Sunday February 23, 2020

[VK4CZ]

23-on-23 + MAD: Sunday February 23, 2020

Since the monthly 23 on 23 falls over a weekend this month this triggers a MAD (Microwave Activity Day) for the Brisbane VHF Group members and an invitation to participate to anyone else in range.

I have requested info from all our “usual suspects” as to who and where and what bands will likely be activated.

I’ll post anything I receive onto this message string and invite anyone reading this to do this themselves as well.

See you all on the air

Kevin VK4UH for BVHFG

[Posted on behalf of BVHFG]

[VK4EA]

I’ll be at a high point near “The Gantry” D’Aguilar State Forest. Will have 2m/70cm/23cm/3cm/1.25cm.


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[VK4AFL]

I will be available on 23 cm & 9 cm from home QG62OM.

73, Trevor, VK4AFL.

[VK4OE]

G'dday everyone!

Weather permitting, my plan is to again activate Kamarun Lookout, QG61NU, all bands from 1.3 GHz to 76 GHz. Available liaison "channels" are 146.50 or 146.55 or 439.00 FM Simplex; the Mt Glorious 147.00 2M repeater, 1296.150 or 1296.175 USB, or text messaging to 0428 191066.

Are there suggested starting times for the different bands, or is the management of it all "fairly free".....?

Having fun (well, esoteric fun) is what it's all about!

--Doug, '4OE.

[VK4CZ]

The initial planning for this was to ensure that it accommodated the the Sunshine Coast ARC BBQ lunch at Mary Cairncross Park [Maleny] - scheduled to operate from 10am through 2pm - so that as many of the SCARC could experience and have an opportunity fro a uWave QSO.

This is an opportunity we shouldn't let go!

My suggestion is that we aim to be on air from 10am [Home stations & some /P] then continue until the last stations are worked. - allowing time to get home.

As my drive will be just over 2 hours, I will be off air by 3pm allowing time to get home and unpack, dinner and crash as I'll need to be in the office at 7:30am on Monday.

This way there should be both Home and Portable stations for the SCARC to work!

[VK4CZ]

I aim to activate Gus Buetel Lookout QG62cp10

Bands to activate: 1.2, 2.4, 3.4 & 10GHz
Liaison via 2m, 70cm, HF and mobile phone

[VK4CZ]

The WX for next weekend forecast is pretty RS with > 90% chances of rain.

I will keep a watch, but Elders WX has proven to be pretty accurate... day by day commitment updates will be provided

[VK4GHZ]

I believe there was some email list going around to a select few, so some details may be on an invite only basis.

As a gate crasher, I might set up and blow the dust out of the dual-band 5.7 GHz / 10 GHz transverter from the top of the drive way. Those will be the only bands active. Mt Coot-tha and Mt Gravatt definitely workable, if anyone can reveal who might be operating from there?

The money spent on a 5.7 Kuhne system + 8W PA years ago deserves one QSO at least.
Come to think of it, the 10 GHz 10W PA has never had a QSO either!

Will monitor 147.00 repeater on a hand held for liaison, although I seem to recall in 2012 there was a major fuss (and resistance) with using Mt Glorious to co-ordinate VHF+ activity. The main objector did not want to interrupt the routine of the biggest users of the repeater: two elderly base station operators discussing their health issues - even though these two were within simplex range of each other, and happy to QSY. Maybe that situation has changed?

I personally think FM repeaters (that sit there idle 99.9% of the time) are good for activity day liaison. They offer wide omni coverage which translates to modest on-site requirements, as you can often wander around with a hand held whilst setting up your own site. Either that or most people have a spare 10W 2M FM rig and mag mount 5/8th begging to get some use.

Moving forward, I would actually suggest consider using the wide area repeater network (146.650 in greater Brisbane + linked to many others). Aside from extended coverage, it's an easy way to expose existing FM only hams to microwave activity.

But, I don't want to start rocking boat, and Heaven forbid if other casual VHF operators over hear the liaison traffic, and develop an interest in microwaves!

To whomever started the email list: please do NOT include me on future email lists if this is the new 'norm'.
I will not get involved with this backwards step.

[VK4CZ]

Please also ensure that your /P profile is updated on VKSPOTTER [emoji848]

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[VK4GHZ]

Given the uncertainty in that very few have bothered to advise about their activity, I have decided to do other things instead.
It would consume a significant part of tomorrow in dragging the [unused for 6 years] gear out, blowing the dust off, checking everything and reaquainting myself with it all. I'm afraid the reward vs the time investment does not add up.

Back to the tiling.

Thanks to those who did bother to post though.

[VK2AZ]

The Wyong Field Day occurs on the 23rd in VK2 so probably not a lot of MAD activity from here.

There will certainly be activity from the Western Sydney group from 8 till 9PM on the 23rd.

See you there. (Wyong and 23cm)

[VK4CLG]

Hi All.
Sorry for my late posting here. Lack of time and a lost password hasn't helped but at least the password has now been solved. (Thanks Adam)
At this stage our club group (Sunshine Coast ARC) Should be on air from around 10:30am from Marry Caincross Park to work all the home stations and early starters but if there are to be a few stations on later in the afternoon say 1pm onward our plan is to change location and move up the hill to Howells Knob and work the portable stations from up there.
We should have a couple of other with us, VK4WS, VK4WT and maybe VK4ALH all working different bands so it should be a good turn out from our end.

We should have a good mix of bands from 1296 right up to 24Ghz. Will also where best keep an ear on the FM repeaters 147.000 and be on VK Spotter so long as the laptop battery lasts. I don't have a VK4LHD/p account with VK Spotter yet so I will just change my Grid locator in Spotter for the weekend.
Just hope the weather Gods are on our side and leave the rain for another day.

Robert
VK4LHD

[VK4CZ]

Current activity map.... a fair distance between stations for a change

[Updated map includes VK4MJF and fixed VK4CDI/P]

[VK4CLG]

Well I would like to say thanks to everyone who took part in today's MAD. We had a lot of fun up at Marry Caincross park despite the rainy weather.
Just a bit of a heads up. The next weekend MAD should be the 23rd May so just 3 months away and I'm hoping for this one to be a big one for SCARC as we will have available to us the Special Event Call Sign VI250COOK and we already have plans in place to head up to Howells Knob and work the special event call so if you want something a little bit different in your log books then don't miss this one.

Robert
VK4LHD

[VK4AFL]

Tnx to the portable stations today nearly all who said they were going out did despite uncertain wx which in the end was not a problem. I had 9 contacts on 23 cm & 6 on 9 cm all with very good signals but lack of home station support continues to plague MAD & FD events.

Adam if you want to sell that 5.7 GHz equipment contact me.

If anyone wants a test or simply a contact on 23 cm/9 cm I am always keen.

73, Trevor, VK4AFL.

[VK4CZ]

Despite the poor WX [15c and raining], VK4MIL, VK4UH and I activated Gus Buetel Lookout QG62cp. Between us QSOs were made all bands from 1.2 - 10GHz.

And for me, the first QSOs on the 3.4GHz tvtr created from a repurposed GARC [VCOM] panel, Stealth 20W PA and 90cm offset dish. Lessons learnt:
Stealth amp certainly works - everyone I attempted with heard me
GARC panel works but is deaf - even with all of the recommended mods
90cm offset dish is sharp - 10degree each side and S9 signals are almost lost

Next 23-on-23 MAD Saturday May 23, 2020. [emoji106]



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