22 November 2014. Checked SOTAWatch this morning and found alerts for fellow VK1 activators, so I decided to take a short drive to Mt Stromlo for a chance to pick up valuable S2S points. Activator alerts:
- Simon VK1FAAS – VK2/ST/001 Mt Cowangerong (Captains Flat Wx Radar) 8 points
- Andrew VK1DA – VK1/AC-008 Mt Ginini 8 points, Namadgi National Park
- Mark VK1EM and Andrew VK2MWP joint activation of VK2/SM-049 Mt Tumanang 8 points, Tallaganda National Park
Gerard VK2IO mentioned last evening he would be in the VK2/NT region and Ian VK5CZ in South Australia is planning to activate VK5/SE-016 (unnamed).
My aim is a quick activation, I didn’t fancy messing around with the squid pole and 1/2 wave dipole on 30 degree day. I decided to try the ‘cute’ antenna, as named by Glenn VK3YY, actually a Diamond RHM8B telescopic whip antenna designed for QRP rigs such as the FT-817. The antenna mounts on the FT-817 front BNC connector, making the radio top-heavy. In the slightest of breeze it’s important to hold on to the radio case. The antenna requires a good return path to ground, unfortunately I was sitting on a wooden bench, I suspect my body was assisting. Will the FT-817 combined with the loaded whip make the grade?
Here are the results for an improvised activation using a whip antenna. Note the Band and Distance all at 5 watts into the antenna, much less being radiated. 😉
Time UTC | Callsign | Summit Ref | Summit Name | My Summit | Band | Mode | Distance km | Comments |
22:59 | VK2IO/P | VK2/NT-025 | VK2/NT-025 | Mt Stromlo | 7MHz | SSB | 746 | Gerard S2S VK2/NT-025 S51 R45 |
23:09 | VK1EM/2 | VK2/SM-049 | Mt Tumanang | Mt Stromlo | 14MHz | SSB | 64 | Mark S2S VK2/SM-049 S58 R51 |
23:09 | VK2MWP/P | VK2/SM-049 | Mt Tumanang | Mt Stromlo | 14MHz | SSB | 64 | Andrew S2S VK2/SM-049 S58 R51 |
23:30 | VK5CZ/P | VK5/SE-016 | VK5/SE-016 | Mt Stromlo | 14MHz | SSB | 979 | Ian S2S VK5/SE-016 S51 R51 |
Pingback: SOTA – VK1AD portable 70cm update #24 – Mt Domain | Get out of the Radio Shack and Live Life
The good old cute antenna 🙂
That’s an interesting antenna, might have to get one for my 817!