Hi, and thanks for checking out my page, please read on...

ABOUT ME

Hi, my wife and I are retired and currently travelling around Australia with our 4x4 and caravan. We intend to spend about 12 months in each state. We also like to do "Farm Sits" along the way. This is like house sitting except on farms. We love the isolation and wide open spaces of farms and it gives me opportunities to erect my portable 40m Doublet. I have been a licenced Amateur Radio Operator since 1989 and a member of the Wireless Institute of Australia since 1995. I hold a Full Call Licence (Advanced), which is the highest level in Australia.

THE SHACK

My "Shack" is in the front of the 4x4, where my Icom IC-7000 is located.

The IC-7000 microphone has been modified as per the "AB5N Mic upgrade kit", certainly has made an improvement to the sound at the recieving end. I have also added an "MFJ Super Voltage Booster (MFJ-4416B), rated at 25amps, which keeps a constant 13.8v supplied to the IC-7000. I have a 120aH AGM auxilliary battery in the rear of the vehicle which is kept charged by a DC-DC charger when the engine is running.

Below - The rear of the 4x4 showing my DC-DC charger, MFJ-4416B voltage booster, IC-7000, Aux battery with fuse distibution box and voltmeter.

The antenna is an "RT-360 Ram Tune" with a 2.4m stainless steel whip all mounted on the bullbar on the front of the 4x4. The antenna was purchased from "TET EMTRON" in Port Denison, Western Australia and I definately recommend it for HF mobile.

Below - the RT-360 Ram Tune auto-tune antenna with 2.4m stainless steel whip.

I have a 6m long telescopic fibreglass pole which I erect for adding extra wire to the end of the whip, making it an end fed long wire antenna. Other times when I am camped for longer periods, and I have enough space, I use the telescopic pole to hold up the centre of my portable 40m Doublet. The feedline is 300 ohm TV ribbon and it is connected to the top of the tuning box with the whip removed. This is the best antenna in my kit, it certainly outguns the vertical.

Below - The usual homebrew 40m Doublet I use for all my park activations.

 

Below - showing how the 300ohm feedline connects to the auto-tuner.

The front of the 4x4 is a bit limited for space, so I can't do any electronic logging. I log manually on paper and then transfer the log into my logging program (MacLoggerDX) after I have finished playing radio!!

Below - my antenna farm, Hi!!

            Black vertical - UHF CB.

            RT-360 Ram Tune (HF).

            Blue verical - 2m/70cm.

Below: My "Mini" 40m Doublet, made using 2 x 40m "Hamsticks" (mobile whips). Good for confined spaces such as caravan parks. I used this antenna when activating Mt Richmond NP VKFF-0361 and also Discovery Bay Marine Park VKFF-0746 with good results.

My wife has nicknamed it "Big Ears"!!!

  

 

My eQSL card: showing the mobile shack (4x4) and our home on wheels (caravan).

My paper QSL card:-

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The World Wide Flora and Fauna Program

      Since May 2015 I have been very interested in activating and hunting National and Conservation Parks for the WWFF/VKFF program. I love getting out into the parks and making contacts. I operate "mobile/portable", to explain - I use a portable 40m homebrew Doublet and the radio gear is mounted inside my vehicle, so my activations count for WWFF/VKFF and KRMNPA but not for SANPCPA (SA Parks award). I use a 6m squid pole to support the centre of the antenna and the feedline is 9m of 300 ohm TV ribbon. I remove the stainless steel whip and connect the TV ribbon directly to the autotuner. I do not use any baluns and I am able to tune up on all bands from 80m to 10m. My plan is to activate as many parks as I can whilst travelling around Australia.

About the WWFF Program...

The great part of this program is that the Hunter (the operator at home) does not need to do anything apart from intially registering on the WWFF website and then just making contacts with the park Activators. The Activators (the operators out in the park) submit their logs to the national co-ordinator (Paul VK5PAS) and the hunters automatically get credits for each contact. You can regularly check your park tally on the WWFF website whenever you like. 

Electronic Awards are available for both Hunters and Activators simply by selecting the "Apply" button (on WWFF) for the appropriate award you are seeking and the award is emailed to you to print if you like.

If you are interested in Hunting and/or Activating parks please check out these websites...

http://wwff.co/logsearch/

http://www.parksnpeaks.org/index.php

http://www.vk5pas.com/world-wide-flora--fauna-wwff.html

If you still have questions, please contact me via HF or email (see my email address at top of this page).

 

Set-up at Pooginook Conservation Park VKFF-0929, in VK5.

 

Set-up at Maize Island lagoon Conservation Park, VKFF-0827, on the Murray River in VK5.

 

 

Set-up at Vivonne Bay Conservation Park, VKFF-0811, on Kangaroo Island.

 

Two of the locals checking out my dipole...

My latest WWFF awards...

 

       

My latest VKFF awards...

 

   

My eQSL eAwards...

 

My wife's award for her invaluable help with my activations...

  

Other Awards...

  

 

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GENERAL QSL INFORMATION 

NOTE: RECENT CHANGE TO QSL INFO - PLEASE READ

I love receiving QSL's. Please QSL via bureau, direct or eQSL.

 

I will continue to send eQSL's for all contacts.

FOR PAPER QSL CARDS:-

I will only send paper QSL cards on request. (see text in blue)

Please let me know, via email or on air, if you want it sent via the bureau or direct.

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If you want to send me your card direct, then I will send my card back to you direct (no cost).

(If you include a self addressed envelope it would be very helpfull)

If I recieve a card via the bureau, I will send my card back to you via the bureau.

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(For Kangaroo Island QSL info, see below.)

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I was active on Kangaroo Island (OC-139) from the 27th of May 2015 until the 30th of August. I activated the island for IOTA and also the National Parks and Conservation Parks for WWFF. I was mainly on 20m and 40m SSB in the afternoons. My activating callsign was VK4AAC/5.

I hope I caught up with you, I managed to make 1,905 QSO's during my stay on the island.

QSL information for Kangaroo Island:- I have special cards made for island contacts. This is due to IOTA rules not allowing eQSL's. The printed QSL card will also be ok for contacts within National Parks and Conservation Parks on the island.

QSL DETAILS FOR KANGAROO ISLAND OC-139 (IOTA)

 If you are on eQSL.cc I will send an eQSL and a printed card, via the bureau, for the first contact, after that for any successive contacts I will only send an eQSL. If you want a printed card for every contact please send me an email, See below for instructions regarding sending cards direct...

If you are NOT on eQSL.cc, I will send a printed card for every contact via bureau, see below for instructions regarding sending cards direct...

Instructions for sending printed cards....

                      FOR VK/ZL CONTACTS:- If you want a printed card sent direct, advise me via email asap and send me a self addressed, stamped envelope to my address listed on QRZ.com

                      FOR ALL CONTACTS OUTSIDE OF VK/ZL:- If you want a printed card sent direct, please advise me by email asap and send a self addressed envelope and $3 USD to my address as listed on QRZ.com (please no IRC).

NOTE: If you do not need a printed card for Kangaroo Island (IOTA OC-139), please advise me by email asap.

If you are confused with my QSL instructions, just send me an email and I will try to explain.

My printed QSL card for Kangaroo Island...

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International Lighthouse/Lightship Weekend (ILLW) 2015

I activated Cape Borda Lighthouse (AU-0125) on Saturday the 15th of August and Cape du Couedic Lighthouse (AU-0126) on Sunday the 16th of August, primarily on 40m and 20m. Both lighthouses are on Kangaroo Island and I believe these were first time activations of both lighthouses. I made 105 QSO's over the 2 days, propagation conditions were not too good and the RD contest was on also. Anyway we had a great time and will try again next year from different lighthouses.