Author Archives: vk3pf

VKFF Activation Weekend 2021

Posted on 2021/12/02 by vk3pf

Saturday 27 November 2021 I had a lunch engagement in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne at 1300 local time which I did not wish to miss. It would be an opportunity to catch up with several friends for the first … Continue reading →

Posted in SOTA, WWFF | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A long weekend trip to NE Victoria – SOTA and SiOTA

Posted on 2021/11/06 by vk3pf

I had not been out in the field to play radio much in the last few months, largely due to COVID Restrictions. The weather forecast for the weekend was looking reasonable, with the chance of wet weather on Thursday and … Continue reading →

Posted in SiOTA, SOTA, WWFF | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Four Gippsland SOTA summits and a new HEMA Hump

Posted on 2021/10/15 by vk3pf

14 October 2021 The weather had been ordinary, with several cold fronts moving through SE Australia. There had been several days with high wind speeds, which make operating radio on high mountain peaks very comfortable and potentially dangerous. Thursday 14 … Continue reading →

Posted in SOTA | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A mixed day – chasing radiosondes and a Park activation

Posted on 2021/10/10 by vk3pf

Saturday 9 October 2021 Activity out of the shack has been somewhat limited recently due to COVID lockdowns, together with some work occurring at home. I had some work being done at home which limited opportunities to head out to … Continue reading →

Posted in WWFF | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

A notable contact with VK0

Posted on 2021/10/03 by vk3pf

The latest issue of Amateur Radio magazine (Vol 89, No 5 2021) has a theme of Australian amateur radio involvement in Antarctica. A link appeared on a Facebook group to a QSL card for two contacts made on 50 MHz … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Lightweight ZS6BKW doublet for portable operations

Posted on 2021/09/24 by vk3pf

A recurring topic of discussion amongst amateur radio operators who activate at portable field locations is “Which antenna do you use?” or something similar. Each person has their own preference. I started my SOTA operations using a home built Link … Continue reading →

Posted in Equipment, SOTA | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A new VK3/VT summit

Posted on 2021/09/12 by vk3pf

Friday 10 September 2021 After a few weeks of lockdown due to COVID, regional Victoria, other than Greater Shepparton, was released from movement restrictions at midnight Thursday 9 September. I was keen to get out and play radio! I had … Continue reading →

Posted in SOTA, WWFF | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Another VKFF Hunter Honour Roll Award – 1900 entities worked

Posted on 2021/08/24 by vk3pf

The past couple of months have seen a reduction in the number of Activators who have been able to venture into the field to activate, primarily due to movement restrictions imposed by the responses of various state governments to the … Continue reading →

Posted in WWFF | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

10th KRMPNA Activity Weekend 2021 – postscript

Posted on 2021/08/07 by vk3pf

As I mentioned in an earlier post, Tony VK3XV / VK3VTH had announced a special Award for the 10th running of the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award (KRMNPA) Activity Weekend. Two special Operating Awards were sponsored by Amateur Radio … Continue reading →

Posted in KRMNPA, WWFF | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Another VKFF Hunter Award Honour Roll step achieved

Posted on 2021/07/08 by vk3pf

I reached the 1850 references worked step of the VKFF Hunter Award (Honour Roll) on 29 June 2021. There have been a small number of Activators in particular who have been “out and about”. Gerard VK2IO has been on the … Continue reading →

Posted in WWFF | Tagged , | 1 Comment