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The Ferry Contest is almost here…..
In case nobody noticed the Ferry Contest is on this Sunday 12th March (10:00 – 16:00)! For those who are contemplating their preparation here are some ideas:
Preparation
Dust off the radio(s) and check their operation
Charge batteries and spare batteries
Program the suggested frequencies
Print log sheets
Study the ferry map and timetable
Read the contest rules
What to Bring
Handheld 2m/70cm Radio (+ backup radio if you have one)
Extension microphone, headset or earpiece
Extra battery
QSL cards (Ferry Contest QSL cards are available on the day)
Log sheets
Pens/Pencil
Ferry Map
Ferry Timetables
Opal Card ($2.50 all day!)
Backpack
Rain jacket (for the strange March weather)
Hat
Sun glasses
Sunscreen
Water bottle – can fill on some ferries and wharves
Snacks and/or loose change for coffee
Camera for those unique Ferry Contest Moments
Maps and Timetables
Detailed maps and timetables are available from the Transport NSW website (http://www.transportnsw.info). It is important to refer to the Sunday timetables as there is significant variation in the timing of operation from weekdays on most of the routes.
Opal Card
The Opal card will provide the most cost-effective fare structure because of the $2.50 cap. Details of the Opal card can be found at the Opal card website (https://www.opal.com.au).
Trans Tasman Low Band Contest 2016
The club has been awarded 3rd place certificate for its entry to the Trans Tasman Low Band Contest in July 2016. We operated a Multi-operator / Two Transmitter entry on 160m, 80m and 40m in SSB, CW and RTTY modes. This was a first attempt at a multi-multi operation from the club site -a great effort in co-ordination and co-operation from the club radio shack and using antennas on site. Well done to the team!
Full contest results http://www.b4h.net/vkcc/transtasman/ttlbcresults2016.php
Can this box really carry 30A?
Voltmeter on Powerpole Distribution Box
The new version of the Powerpole Distribution box looks & works terrific!
Vale Neville Amy, VK2FNJA SK. Funeral Service & Delayed Tuesday Working Bee
Neville Amy VK2FNJA sadly passed away on Saturday 24 September 2016.
A funeral service will be held for Neville at the Eastern Suburbs Crematorium, South Chapel at 10am, Tuesday 04 October 2016.
The regular Tuesday working bee may either be delayed until aroud 12pm, or possibly cancelled. Please call on a club repeater on the day to confirm.
Vale Neville Amy, VK2FNJA SK.
Oceania DX SSB Contest – Club country DX station operation
The club is planning a country DX station operation for the Oceania DX SSB Contest from 01-02OCT at a rural property near Robertson NSW, about 2 hours south of Sydney. Members are invited to join the contest operation and take this opportunity to participate in an easy international DX contest, where the DX is listening for Oceania stations – that’s us! Further information has been sent via the club email list.
https://vk2bv.org/event/oceania-dx-phone/
Contest Calendar Updates
The club events calendar has been updated with a number of relevant contests to the end of 2016. These are those relevant to Australian contesters (eg Spring VHF/UHF Field Day, VK QRP 40m Sprint) or those that are relatively easy with modest stations.
03-04 SEP All Asian DX Phone Contest . 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m. Contact Asian stations only. An easy introduction to DX contesting for the VK (even with only modest station equipment) and a good preparation for larger DX contests such as CQWW. http://www.jarl.org/English/4_Library/A-4-3_Contests/2016AA_rule.htm
24-25 SEP CQ WW RTTY Contest. 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz. The first of three of the world’s premier international HF contests, the CQ WW series. A great contest for the digital mode fans and the mic shy! http://www.cqwwrtty.com/rules.htm
01-02 OCT Oceania DX Phone Contest. 1.8, 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz. The ideal international contest for Australian stations, even with modest stations. All DX stations are looking for Oceania contacts (that’s us!). Take the opportunity to build up your DXCC count of new countries for the DXCC Award, or the Worked All Continents Award. http://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/index.htm
08-09 OCT Oceania DX CW Contest. 1.8, 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz. The companion to the phone contest the previous weekend. http://www.oceaniadxcontest.com/index.htm
23 OCT VK QRP 40m contest/sprint. 0500 UTC (1600 local) – 0659 UTC. A short QRP contest of 1 hour CW/PSK followed by 1 hour SSB. Ideal for the QRP, SOTA and WWFF operators. http://vkqrpclub.org/qrp_new/qrp1_contest_page.php
29-30 OCT CQ WW SSB Contest. 1.8, 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz. The world’s largest international DX contest, with some 35,000 participants. Watch the ‘dead bands’ come alive! An opportunity to work some new DXCC countries and work towards some operating awards such as DXCC, Worked All Continents, grid squares etc. http://www.cqww.com/
26-27 OCT CQ WW CW Contest. 1.8, 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz. 1.8, 3.5, 7, 14, 21 and 28 MHz. The companion to the CQ WW SSB contest. http://www.cqww.com/
26-27 OCT Spring VH/UHF Field Day. 50MHz and up. As the seasons change, so too does VHF and UHF propagation. Find a hill top and operate portable, or operate from home. http://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/vhfuhf/
Power Pole Kit Review
See page 45 of the September Amateur Radio magazine for a great review of the club Power Pole kit.
See http://www.wia.org.au/members/armag/2016/september/ for more information
Doug VK2DCR
Guide to operating digital modes on the remote station
Recently some trials have been conducted using the remote station on digital modes and a report on the trials in PSK, RTTY and JT65 has been published. This is a set up and operating guide to operating digital modes on the remote, and it can be used as basis for further trials using other AFSK data modes.
The guide is in the member’s section, on the remote station page. You must be logged in to the site and a current financial club member in order to access this page.