I have moved my homebrew ADS-B 1090 MHz 1/4 wave ground plane antenna from indoors to outdoors above my garage roof. The Raspberry Pi SDR running PiAware is now located within three metres of the ADS-B antenna. The coax cable feedline is low loss 50 ohm RG58 Cell Foil approximate three metres in length. I…
Wednesday 11 January 2017 – 8:00 am (21:00 UTC) joining the VK VHF DX Net from Tuggeranong Hill 855 metres ASL for VHF Aircraft Enhancement propagation (AE). Purpose of today’s SOTA activation is to: experiment with low power 500 mW (QRP); qualify Tuggeranong Hill with the FT-817ND power output set to 500 mW for QSOs…
Saturday 24 April 2016, planned SOTA activation of Mt Coree VK1/AC-023, 1421 metres ASL Maidenhead Grid Locator QF44JQ Brindabella National Park VKFF-0054 Last Sunday I activated Mount McDonald VK1/AC-048 789 metres ASL situated close to the eastern flank of the Brindabella Ranges. Today I’m activating Mt Coree a prominent granite mountain in the Brindabella Ranges…
SOTA – Coax cable signal loss at 432 MHz Using good quality RG58AU MilSpec coax at 144 MHz is a compromise of weight saving versus RF losses and the ability to coil a 5 metre length of coax to fit in the SOTA back pack. Yes I hear you, considering the losses in RG58AU it’s…
Sunday 10 April 2016, planned SOTA activation of Bobbara Mountain VK2/ST-044, 753 metres ASL Maidenhead Grid Locator QF45HI Today’s plan is to activate Bobbara Mountain on 2m and 70cm SSB using a FT-857D at 45 watts on 2m and 15 watts on 70cm. I hope to work Bernard VK3AV and Ron VK3AFW both regular SOTA…
Easter Monday 28 March 2016, planned SOTA activations of three peaks in the vicinity of Yass township, NSW Bowning Hill VK2/ST-042, 798 metres ASL Maidenhead Grid Locator QF45JF Spring Hill VK2/ST-036, 876 metres ASL Maidenhead Grid Locator QF44NV Mt Mundoonen VK2/ST-053, 810 metres ASL Mundoonen Nature Reserve, Maidenhead Grid Locator QF45ME After a hoot of…
Easter Monday 28 March 2016, planned SOTA activations of three peaks in the vicinity of Yass township, NSW Mt Mundoonen VK2/ST-053, 810 metres ASL Mundoonen Nature Reserve, Maidenhead Grid Locator QF45ME Mount Bowning VK2/ST-042, 792 metres ASL Maidenhead Grid Locator QF45JF Spring Hill VK2/ST-036, 876 metres ASL Maidenhead Grid Locator QF44NV Today Al VK1RX and…
Tomorrow morning, Sunday 10 April I plan to activate Bobbara Mountain VK2/ST-044 on 2m and 70 cm, to coincide with VHF Dx Net from 2200 UTC (8 am local). I will call CQ SOTA on 144.160 MHz or 432.160 MHz USB. Please check SOTAWatch for live spots. I plan to operate from the summit for…
Sunday 20 March 2016, planned SOTA activation of Mt Perisher VK2/SM-007, 2054 metres ASL Maidenhead Grid Locator QF43EO, Kosciuszko National Park VKFF-0269 Yesterday Al VK1RX and I activate three SOTA peaks in the Kosciuszko Nation Park, Mt Nungar, Blackfellows Hill and unnamed VK2/SM-036 aptly named March-fly Mountain. We completed the activation of SM-036 with just…
A correspondent has asked about the tripod mounting arrangement I use for the Arrow dual band 70cm/2m Yagi. Photos: © Copyright 2016 Andrew VK1AD The SLIK F153 aluminum lightweight tripod is designed to support a camera, however when I spotted the tripod in a local camera store, I immediately visualised a lightweight VHF/UHF Yagi, suitable…
Get out of the Radio Shack and Live Life 