Friday 23rd September 2016 is the next scheduled 23-on-23 Activation Event - and the last before the October 23-on-23+MAD - providing another opportunity to activate your 1,296MHz capabilities.
Continuing the successful approach will see op's in SE VK4 focus attention on either the north or south paths during the two assigned time slots as detailed below.
Phone/CW
Start time: 10:00z / 8:00pm AEST / 9:00pm ADST
Stations in BNE and more southern stations beaming north
08:00pm - 08:30pm / 10:00z - 10:30z
QRG: 1,296.100MHz
Stations in BNE and more northern stations beaming south
08:30pm - 09:00pm / 10:30z - 11:00z
QRG: 1,296.100MHz
Digital
Start time: 11:00z / 9:00pm AEST
QRG: 1,296.225MHz (Mode JT65)
These events are designed to develop the level of activity on 23. Please do not hesitate to share with others who you know have capability and see if we can continue to grow the numbers of participating stations.
Activity is not limited to stations within SE VK4, everyone is very welcome to participate.
Unfortunately as it has been proven in the past, if the participating stations are unaware of your operation, there is a high likelihood that you wont be worked. Please take a moment to share advice of your participation, so that attention to 'exploiting' the path can be provided.
Sadly, I will be /VK2 that evening and wont be able to participate.
Will be available 1296.100 MHz & 2403,100 MHz.
73, Trevor, VK4AFL.
Ill be car racing at stanthorpe that weekend so ill try and head up to the lookout in stanthorpe
Len
VK4ALF
I plan to be on 1296.1 for the next 23-on-23. 8-)
Daryl
VK4ADM
Well after a couple of months out of the loop I will finally be back on air for the 23 on 23. I will be portable again from either my usual spot on top of Buderim or a new spot I'm trying out at McCarthy Lookout.
I'm looking forward to getting back on air.
Robert
VK4LHD
Bump.... good luck to those participating this evening.
I'm still /2 and will miss it.
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Well after trying McCarthy lookout last night I got to say it's not really the place to go for the night time 23 on 23 but willing to give it another go for the October day time activation. I will stick with the usual top of Buderim spot during the night time 23 on 23.
I only had the one contact last night with VK4AFL as he was the only Brisbane station on. VK4ALH and VK4ADM were not audible due to then pointing south and I think I did hear a whisper from VK2MAX at one stage but could not confirm if it was or not.
Still no luck with VK4KAY so may have to think about another antenna option. My 18El is easy to transport to the portable locations but lacks a bit of gain when needed. Will either be a bigger Yagi or a grid pack antenna on the card. There is not a great mobile signal in the area to run VK Logger so online liaison was a bit difficult. All up it's a nice spot for the view but not great for 23cm. The October activation will tell better if it's good for other bands. Howells Knob is the pick of the bunch for the best spots up here but we can't all play in the same spot so a compromise has to be taken.
Robert
VK4LHD
Robert
Thanks for making the effort... it's that effort of getting out there and trying that makes these activation events worthwhile.
With over 20 stations in the BNE area with 23cm capability, it's a shame that activity levels were so low.... it seems that no matter what we do, there's always a reason why they wont participate.
At least the next one on October 23 is a 23-on-23+MAD which will no doubt attract some more attention... hopefully we can awaken some of the potential.
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Hi Scott
It's interesting that some of the Sunny Coast stations can work 4AFL at S9+20 or more from home but virtually no one else in Brisbane.
From a pure technical standpoint lets drop Trevors station down to the average station. Reduce antenna gain from 27dBi to 18dBi - 9dB difference.
Drop his Tx power from 200 watts to 15 watts (IC910H etc) - 11dB
All up Trevor has a 20dB advantage over the basic station - thats just over 3 "S" points.
So drop his S9+20 (or more) by 20dB then the basic station in Brissy should be S9 up here.
How come virtually none are audible. In my caseI have terrain issues (Glass House Mountains) but when stations on the coast don't do any good it has me wondering why.
Rex
Trevor's QTH has significant advantage for the paths north and south compared to the vast majority of BNE stations. A quick comparison using any terrain analysis software paints that picture.
I know that from much study and terrain profiling, that from my QTH I am significantly compromised on 23cm to the north, relying on scatter paths to complete any QSO with stations on the Sunshine Coast.
On the AE path south to say Grant VK2MAX, my 'hot spot' is <10% the size of Trevor's, resulting in Qs that are just a couple of overs in max duration. But to the south east (ZL), my elevation has proven to deliver better results for me (so far).
From what I've seen, due to the terrain of the greater BNE area, I think that each and every station needs to be considered and profiled independently.
But as for not hearing many BNE stations on the 23-on-23... the main reason BNE stations are not heard is that of the ¬20 odd stations identified as having capability, is that they're rarely active and even these events don't attract them!
But as the format of both the 23-on-23 and 23-on-23+MAD have proven popular with those willing to make an effort... I'm at a loss as towhat it will take to get the others on!
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