Microwave Activity Day, SE Qld, 23 Feb 2020

[VK4ADC]

For those of you in proximity to SE Qld, an email from Kevin VK4UH received today :

"
Hello everyone

So we have our MICROWAVE ACTIVITY DAY (MAD) next Sunday 23rd Feb 2020 since 23/23 falls over a weekend.

To spread ourselves around the local geography in a sensible way requires some info on the plans of everyone else - as usual!

Perhaps we could start by seeing who is planning to participate and what sites they are considering. Also what bands they might take out?

Trevor 4AFL has indicated he will be active from home

Col and I have discussed running separately or even going combined up to Mt Woolvi to the North if there were sufficient stations on to make that drive worthwhile.

Is anyone considering going to:-
BORDER RANGES
KAMAROON LOOKOUT
GUS BEUTEL
HOWELLS KNOB
TOOWOOMBA
MT GRAVATT

The last thing we would want is for two stations to appear at the same site

Could everyone do a “Reply All” to this group to indicate if they might be participating portable or even from home, where they might go and what bands they have available

If you can think of anyone else who should also receive this message, that I have missed from my ad-hoc distribution list, then please forward it on as an invitation to participate. Or send me their contact info.  Does anyone have an address for Bruce and Mick?

Scott I don’t have any contact info for Andru 4KAY or anyone else to the south - can you help with that?

Don’t forget the BVHFG meeting that’s coming up Wednesday 26th Feb at Chermside Library. A Photo presentation on the VK4IF/p FD contest activities from Mt Mowbullan is planned and a display of the 10GHz EME system amongst normal activities

Looking forward to hearing from everyone

MAD - also a contact sport!

Kevin VK4UH

"

Several replies have been emailed to the original "group" and it looks like there will be a few portable 'takers'  operating on different microwave bands, 23cm and upwards.
Probably most portable outings subject to weather.

[VK4ADC]

My email out  Sunday AM :

"Hi all MAD people
 
I have had a brief listen a few times across the morning so far on 1296.1, 2403.1 and 3398.1 (all SSB) , 146.500 FM and also variously swept across 2M FM looking for MAD liaison activity – and heard nothing.  
Lack of an actual ‘published’ net control frequency and then absolute start timing of the activities – plus the inclement weather around here – makes me think that contemplating my involvement today is a waste of time. I’m just glad I hadn’t prepared any gear for portable.
 
Maybe next time...
 
Doug VK4ADC"

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Emailed info from VK4UH :

"23/23/MAD Feb 2020

WELL WE HAD A GOOD DAY YESTERDAY!

The plans to activate Mt Wolvi did not eventuate.  A night spent in hospital (as a patient), with a very poorly-timed kidney stone, stole all the preparation time on Saturday.  Last minute changes and some “attenuated intentions” saw Col VK4MIL and I VK4UH combining efforts with Scott VK4CZ at the Gus Butel Lookout near Esk.  My first time to that Site.

The Wx was atrocious. Cold windy and wet.  Thank goodness for Col's efforts to make a microwave operating cave - brilliant 

The only view we had of the horizon was after we had pulled the station down and of course the rain stopped 

Scott 4CZ worked 2m 23 and had his first contact with home brew gear on 3.4GHZ with a modified GARC panel

4UH/p set up 2.4 3.4 5.7 and 10GHz all of which worked well despite the terrible conditions and the ”tarp condom”

All the VK4RBB beacons were received at end-stopping signal strength

2,4GHz
Doug VK4OE/p Kamarun lookout

3,4GHz
Doug VK4OE/p at Kamarun lookout
Stefan VK4CSD/p Brisbane then again from Mt Gravatt
Roland VK4FB Home in Brisbane
Trevor VK4AFL Home QTH Brisbane

5.7GHs
Doug VK4OE/p Kamarun lookout
Stefan VK4CSD/p Brisbane 

10GHz
Doug VK4OE/p
Peter VK4EA/p Mt Mee (with the 4x4 radio group)

Some paths were clearly being influenced by rainscatter with obvious distortion and spreading (overcome by the use of FM) and some paths showed marked QSB suggesting obstructed paths but all worked well with almost all signals  and reports received in excess of S9

After this passing summer I can hardly remember what being cold felt like - but I remembered yesterday.  Memories of mountain-top portable operation back in Wales.
Hands so cold you can't feel the spanners.

We found liaison on 2m 146.500 and 146.550 useful where we had 2m coverage, backed up by text messages where we did not.

Disappointed we did not mage to contact the SC (ed : Sunshine Coast Club)  radio event on any microwave band but Scott did manage on 23 I believe. 

Not quite sure who should get the “wooden microphone” award this event?
Scott 4CZ who left his 10GHz transverter on the bench (we had another so didn’t matter) or Mick 4NE who came up 24 hours early for the event (good to be keen sometimes)

Thanks to Scott for coordinating the mapping for everyone - that was really useful . And for sharing his portable site.

We all have to swim with the tide to meet the challenges.  Plans have to change at short notice but the important thing is surely to try!  It’s unhelpful to be too precious about starting times.  Perhaps easy from home but not so when portable stations have to drive for several hours and set up in bad conditions 

Kevin VK4UH/p"