Operating in the Field

Spring Field Day 2007 - Mt Coree

(6 & 2m, 70, 23 & 13cm)

A 24dBi gridpack for 13cm enabled us to work Adrian VK2FZ over 268km.

Working Adrian VK2FZ on 2403Mhz from Mt Ginini in the ACT over a distance of 286km for a new VK1 distance record on that band.  The transverter output was 25W to a 24dBi gridpack shown below a 70cm 16el yagi and 23cm 40el loop yagi on top.

This contact is described on vk1od.net and appeared to be pure tropo scatter as no enhancement was detected, signal levels registering RS 5x1-2 were recorded.  It’s quite a difficult path despite the relatively short distance because of Adrian’s location in the inner suburbs of Sydney almost at sea level.

Andy VK2AES and myself operating in the Spring 2008 VHF Field Day from Mt Coree - Greg VK1AI took the photo looking west across the Brindabella Mountains.

The two 1.2m dishes both used Andy’s Cavity Backed Dipole feeds, the dish above the vehicle for 23 and the dish in the foreground for 13cm. In total 6, 2m, 70, 23,13 and 3cm bands were activated on the day.

The 3cm system can be seen on the tripod aimed towards Mt Canobolas near Orange about 220km to the north.  We worked Dave VK2TDN that afternoon, Dave was running less than 100mW.