My love of the North West NSW region stems back to my childhood. In January 1961 as I turned the age of four, my family moved from Sydney to a wool grazing property near Tamworth NSW. Although I left that life style and joined the Air Force in 1975, the whole region is part of my DNA and I do love returning. The beautiful countryside, my love of rural Australia, and my love of Amateur Radio, in particular the opportunity to continue my use of Morse code (often simply referred to as CW and something in which I was trained when I first joined the RAAF), can be wrapped into one activity – Summits On The Air (SOTA).

Now verging on retirement, I hope to visit the region more often. The issue is the drive from my home in Canberra. For this road trip I clocked up just shy of 2000klm. I do of course take advantage of having four siblings, with one living in Dubbo, and another living in Inverell NSW that makes the trip to the region all the more worthwhile!!!

VK2/NW-001 Mt Kaputar 23 August 2026

On the afternoon of  Saturday, August 22nd, after having visited my brother and his wife in Dubbo, I drove to Narrabri. Early the next morning, I drove from Narrabri to Mt. Kaputar Lookout.

The timing was planned to coincide with the 2026 ‘Winter SOTA S2S Party’ – an annual event conducted  by fellow members of the VK1 Canberra & Region SOTA community.  This was my second activation of Mt Kaputar. You may have already seen my write-up of my previous visit, so I will try not to repeat those details.  As can be seen in this next photo, the main difference is that during the first half of 2026 the construction of the viewing platform and boardwalk from the car park have been upgraded from timber to metal. To that previous article written in 2023, I can only add the fact that VK2/NW-001 Mt Kaputar is my favourite of all the summits I have activated so far.

For 2026, the global SOTA community added  a “2m SSB/CW Challenge” with awards for the highest number of contacts for 2m SSB/CW logged.   I freely admit that I am not a big fan of this challenge as, to me,  unlike Europe with  many much smaller and closely gathered SOTA regions , this ‘Wide Brown Land’ of ours  isnt exactly conducive to offering what some might call a 2m /VHF “target rich environment” for what is, essentially,  a line of sight mode of communication.  For many remote summits, the primary mode of radio communication is via High Frequency (HF) 3 to 30 MHz.

As I was somewhat time limited, and knowing full well that the chances  of making VHF contact, even with “aircraft enhancement” (attempting to bounce the radio waves off aircraft flying roughly north /south between Brisbane and Melbourne) along a path stretching approximately 600klm back to the ACT were extremely thin. I was not  going to devote too much time in the attempt.  Somewhat surprisingly I did hear a VK1 station calling  me on 2m CW, but I couldn’t establish two-way contact. I later learned that the caller wasn’t monitoring Sotawatch-3 and therefore didn’t know my location or which summit I was activating, so the operator didn’t know where to point his directional beam antenna. Apparently he was also operating at 400 watts, while I was limited to just 10 watts with my IC-705 transceiver. At least I gave it a shot.

The wind was increasing in strength, and my 7m squid pole supporting the popular 2m “Hourglass” antenna (pictured) collapsed (no damage) and the wind also kept rotating the directional aspect of this antenna by 90° off the optimal bearing for the Canberra and region activators.   So, rather than waste any more of my limited time on the summit, I gave the 2m challenge the flick and opened up HF in order to at least qualify the summit pre- rollover (change of date GMT).

Pre-rollover I logged 8 CW contacts over the 40m, 30m, 20m and 17m HF bands. All CW. After the rollover at midnight GMT, (10am local time), I plugged in the microphone and logged a further 5 SSB and 3 CW contacts on 40m.  I continued with HF CW making contacts with VK, Japan (JA)  across 10m, 12m, and 15m. The highlight being one on 12m (24.911MHZ) into North Carolina with ‘Rich’ callsign  N4EX.

With another three hours drive ahead, I packed up and departed Mt Kaputar for Inverell NSW.

I spent a radio-free day visiting my eldest sister for her 83rd birthday in Inverell, then on Tuesday 25th August I headed for my childhood home town, Tamworth NSW.

VK2/NW-097 Flagstaff Mountain 25 August 2026

VK2/NW-097 Flagstaff Mountain is located on the eastern boundary of the city of Tamworth. It is easily located by driving all the way up Brisbane Street which becomes Endeavour Drive. The well established, but reasonably challenging walking track to the summit commences at the carpark located at the end Endeavour drive. There is an alternate start point. The Flagstaff Mountain Walkling Track originates at the nearby, non-SOTA Oxley Lookout – however the track I used is well used, and I suspect a little bit shorter… probably ‘much of a muchness’.

The hike is 2.4k up an old, well used walking path. Hiking poles, a MUST! I am nudging 70 (age) and found the hike quite OK – no need for regular stops for breath, but with backpack, and some loose rocks underfoot, I do recommend you always hike with those hiking poles! Having driven from Canberra via Dubbo and Narrabri to Mk Kaputar, spent a day with family in Inverell and driven to Tamworth that morning and with rain forecast later that afternoon, I departed on the hike at 1200 local time and logged my first 40m CW contact at 1350 local time.

I could see the predicted rain slowly moving in, so within 15 minutes I had logged 9 VK contacts – all on 40m CW (oh… and one SSB!) and began packing up. Mission accomplished. There were a number of technicians working on a communications tower on the summit. They too were packing up because of the weather, but there were no offers of a lift, and no, I did not ask!  I set off on the hike back down to my vehicle. By 4pm I was departing the carpark and had avoided the rain…. Just!

Mt Canobolas 26 August 2026 VK2/CT-001

Next morning I departed Tamworth in rain and headed for the NSW Central Tablelands city of Orange – specifically VK2/CT-001 Mount Canobolas – an 8 point SOTA summit. I have often admired this summit in the distance as I traveled – this trip presented a great opportunity. So far this road trip I had managed to defy two BOM forecasts and activate both Mt Kaputar and Flagstaff Mountain. It was doing its best to deter my activation of Mt Canobolas – but I pushed ahead.

Access to the summit is a simple drive to a large wide and, tourist-friendly summit complete with wide bitumen carparking, and modern public toilet facilities – shear luxury! No GPX data needed,  the road is clearly signposted.

Weather was not great, it was cold and windy, and it looked like it might rain.

This photo shows that, despite the constant presence of a CW key, I did sometimes use SSB mode, and it also shows that there were fleeting moments of sunshine!

I made contacts using both CW and SSB on 40m, all with VK stations. The other contacts during this short activation, were all CW on 20m, 15m, 12m, and 10m to JA. I did this with my trusty KX-2 at 10 watts.

---

With the temperature dropping and me wanting to get to the motel to check in, grab a meal at the local club and get a good night’s sleep, I drove into the town of Orange.

Job Done

By 11 am the next day, I was back home in Canberra.

When I added my ‘Alert’ for this SOTA activation to the SotaWatch-3 website, it was only a question of when, not if, someone, without a hint of malice and with very good intentions just had to comment ” make sure you do lots of research on how to access the summit, carry lots of water, spare batteries ……bla bla” 😀 …… At least this kind-hearted chap and a good friend having a friendly dig at me had read my “SOTA – What Can Possibly Go Wrong” blog following my 2025 New Years Day activation. I admit that as I set out on the 2 hour drive to the summit car park, I did think “NO! NOT THIS YEAR!” …. and, I need not have troubled my mind!

The drive to Mt Wee Jasper was uneventful – save for having to slow for a small mob of sheep that had escaped their farm, and multiple kangaroos hopping along the narrow sections of Wee Jasper Road….

The hike from the car park to the summit is approximately 700 metres with a gain of 121 metres and a little steep in parts. The good news is that this is a section of the Hume & Hovell Track, so it is clearly marked and sign-posted.. No need for a hand-held GPS device… Literally ” just a walk in the park”….. but I guess not, as Mt Wee Jasper is not located within a recognised nature reserve or national park.

The summit is known as a “camp ground” with a couple of convenient park benches for seating and plenty of room for antennas. The only downside was a ‘First World’ problem in that I had no mobile reception to facilitate spotting or finding the ‘spots’ from others.

With rollover to NYD the world went mad with many (most) other activators clambering to get Summit to Summit (S2S) contacts on 2m (VHF) and 70cm (UHF). Personally, I came away unimpressed with this year’s 2m/70cm “challenge”, while yes, it is good (I suppose) for folk to be encouraged to get back on to these short range bands, they are not really conducive to remote operations in the Australian bush. I did attempt, and indeed did make a number S2S, but not knowing where to look without wasting precious minutes spinning the dial hoping to stumble across other activators, I felt like I could be far better entertained. BUT, of the only 9 contacts made post rollover, I made five 2m contacts – all S2S, just one 70cm contact, also S2S, and just three HF / 40m contacts, only one of which was CW! It is amazing just how much we over rely on the availability of the 4g/5g signals to know where and on what frequency to find other activators. What did not help were the lousy HF propagation conditions – I listened on the well known and popular SOTA frequencies, and the bands were again quiet thanks to the unpredictable solar activity. Were this not NYD and therefore not an “S2S” party on which many local operators head to the nearest summit, on a normal week day or other weekend, one could struggle to activate ( get four contacts) if it were just 2m and 70cm.

That said, I did enjoy the day with a very nice drive through the wonderful Australian bush, in a quiet area, fresh air and exercise and playing radio, it ticked most of the boxes! Suffice to say I was able to make the required four contacts to “qualify” the summit for 2025 and 2026. So I wont be back to Mt Wee Jasper until some time in 2027.

Happy New Year!

73

Bill VK1RT / VK1MCW

Mt Gibraltar stands over the NSW Southern Highlands townships of Mittagong and Bowral. I have family living in Mittagong, and I have driven through or by the town countless times, and had the one previous activation attempt cancelled by rain and wind. Today I was in town again and I made time for a very quick activation. This short report is mostly intended for the SOTA Summits database simply to update the access information. It is easy, and you can safely park your vehicle on the side of the road opposite the locked entrance gate . Pedestrian access is allowed – only the commercial communications infrustructure is secured by high fencing.

There are not many open spaces in which to set up.. I literally set up on the edge of the entrance road and used the metal post (which is used to latch open then entrance gate), to secure the squid pole….. ( it would not have prevented the access gate being opened and latched open.)

Time was short – so, just operating my trusty KX-2 on 10W, I opened up on 40m CW and had four easy contacts inside a minute or two – thanks to some regulars Gerard VK2IO, Peter VK3PF, John VK4TJ and Cliff VK2NP.

I then grabbed one 30m contact – VK2IO/P again – operating from a VKFF park.

15m – JA opened up with another three relatively easy contacts JH1MXV, JA1VVH and JS1IFK

17m, I knew there was a JA station there – but try as I might – just could not pull the signal in.

12m – no contacts today

10 m – a quick try and was instantly rewarded with another JA station JG0AWE

I could not hang around to go back through the bands on SSB, I had to be home in Canberra by 5.30pm local time…. So QRT at 0341Z, and at 0400Z (1500 AEDT) I pointed the nose of the car south and was easily home in time!

73 and Happy Activating

Bill VK1RT

So, Aside from the obvious radio kit, what are your standard carries for a SOTA activation requiring a hike?

This is my list.

First Aid Kit
Water for planned hike and conditions, and food
A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) registered with AMSA (Note, that when you have read this, I hope that those of you who do not yet own one, will acquire a PLB and register it!)
GPS – Garmin GPSMAP 64st – fully charged (checked on departure)
Suunto Traverse GPS watch – fully charged.
Mobile Phone (Telstra) fully charged and charged whilst driving out to the start point
Samsung Galaxy S8 Tablet fitted with pre-paid Telstra 4G Sim Card – fully charged
Solar charger to suit phone/tablet
HT (Yaesu FT-60R) fitted with dual band RH-770 whip antenna
Weather jacket, sunscreen and insect repellent and a hat of course!

The rest of the pack depends on planned activation – usually;
KX2- with inbuilt ATU , (option for FT-891 and tuner to suit) and a very light-weight easily carried EFHW which covers 80m to 6m !)
Battery – if a long day, the 7.2 Ah LiPo (bit heavy at just under 1kg)- but better than two “smaller” batteries. The FT-891 option casts doubt on the one battery option. I have a 10Ah LiPo – but again, weight – it is just >1kg and of course more bulky.

This trip however was different yet again.

So what changed for the New Year Summit to Summit (S2S) fest? Because there were many local activators heading out, 2m S2S was popular – and if FM Simplex, then my FT60 is great.. but for those wanting longer range SSB, then I decided to take my IC-705 – all in one radio – so I also included the 2m Oblong Loop antenna and appropriate squid pole. I have used this many times and with back to back activations on one battery not requiring recharge.. The IC-705 does not fit in my backpack – so I have a shoulder pack that is simple to carry.

So, Where is this going?

At 0620 AEDT Wednesday January 1st 2025 I set off to activate VK2/ST-009 Mt Palerang. I am Activator #5 for this summit. As for all ‘first-time’ activations, I did a LOT of planning for the trip. Reading up on the very few (naturally) activation reports – one being an aborted (due rain) attempt just three years ago. The summit was ravaged during the November 2019 bushfires. It now has six years of very vigorous and healthy regrowth. The eucalypt saplings are now anywhere between 160cm and 190cm in height and only 20cm apart – making hiking extremely difficult and slow going. The track is hidden in most areas. Some kind soul has placed a FEW pink ribbons high on trees to mark the way – but a shame only in one area – because for 80% of the hike, without a GPS/GPX, it is guess work.

Did I mention I had left my mobile phone it the car? Yep… my careless mistake – one which I realised not long into the hike, but I decided to ‘press on’, I had my Samsung tablet well charged and with 4g connection and two GPS devices. I opened up the Garmin GPSMAP 64st only to be greeted with “LOW BATTERY” warning!.. However my SUUNTO watch was clearing the way for me and I slowly found my way to the summit.

The activation went exactly as hoped – although I was a tad late by 30 minutes or so.

So, I packed up, it was hot, took a long drink, and headed back the way I had come.. Found the first pink ribbon and confident I was heading the correct way, struck on.. Then of course, no more ribbons and back into the jungle ( so to speak)…

It was then that my day turned to something I will never forget, and why I am laying my heart and soul out in the hope others don’t make the same mistake(s)… Until this point I was trusting the track advice and directions from my SUUNTO watch – THEN ‘Murphy’ stepped in and it too failed. So – all I had to do was stick to the ridge, keep the afternoon sun to my left, and I would logically come out close to where I had started, assured I would at least get to a fire trail as four interconnected just where I had parked. The intersection was NOT visible from anywhere along that ridge line. Even heading up, it was like walking into a maze.

Suffice to say, and I honestly do NOT know how, I found my self in the wrong place – clearly disorientated and getting thirsty. I then remembered that one previous activator had climbed to the summit up a shorter but steeper route from the same fire trail – so I headed down to my right…to the east…. or so I thought. It didn’t take long for me to realise there was no fire trail ahead , just a creek bed. Well that is good – some water, so rather than turn back I went for the water….but it was dry. I honestly do not believe forgetting my mobile phone had any impact on the day. Using the tablet, I pulled up Google Maps…my heart sank – I was on the OTHER (wrong!) side of Mt Palerang.

Such as I could, I set up camp and was able to contact my wife via the tablet… She in turn sought advice from the police – I said I can activate my PLB – this was after I had relayed what I thought was my actual position based on Google Maps ( or Vasco-de Google) as I call it. When I activated the PLB the Queanbeyan duty officer called me on the tablet ( just like a phone) and advised me that he trusted the PLB locator and that I was 400m away from where Google thought I was. The walk-in team later told me my PLB was accurate to within 40m.

A long cool night followed. I was not at all concerned – only that I did not have any water available- but help was on its way. All my resources came together and I was never in any real danger- I even managed some sleep. I was phoned at 0300 by the two-man Police Rescue team headed my way.. “We should be there by 0530..” And so they were. They gave me several bottles of water and high energy food, and in about 30 minutes later we set off for their vehicle – to my great relief NOT the same path I used to come in. It was again extremely hard going for all three of us. They even carried all my kit for me…. Oh and they were using a Garmin GPS just a few models UP from my old 64st … food for thought! On arrival at the pick up point I was assessed by a paramedic and given the green light to drive home. I was back in the arms of my very relieved wife a little after 12pm. I will be sending my thanks to the NSW Police Commissioner and Minister – these people do not get enough public recognition.

My Mistakes?

Too much kit and not near enough water. 1.3k either way is a doddle by many standards, but I did NOT consider the rather steep climb, or the heat ( which for a country kid, I did not think all that severe! And I did not foresee the wheels falling off as they did!

I am in the process of radically and critically looking at what I have been carting to and from summits. The only things I did NOT need, were the second HF radio ( yes the KX2 is small enough to fit in my pocket if I really wanted… additional antenna or any of the 2m kit… Best left at home me thinks! ( Don’t get me wrong – drive up summits – ie into the AZ are another story!)

Do I pack a smaller First Aid Kit? No!
At 68 years young ( next week), am I too old? I don’t think so – the NSW Police Rescue team were politely impressed with the pace I managed( albeit unloaded!)

In fact -when they saw my two GPS units and Internet coverage they said I did more than most – just bad luck both GPS failed on me.. Not enough water – agreed – but to carry 10 litres (10kg) water, that is a lot out of the back pack… In their view, I did everything right, but got unlucky!

The police said that I did exactly the right thing seeking water as I did. Of course, on our trek out we crossed a lovely stream of clear fresh water! Sigh!

Who Do I thank?

The list is long – Obviously the NSW Police Rescue team and the coordination through the Queanbeyan Police station – the two-man team came in from Goulburn.

The paramedics and other police who assisted behind the scenes.

And some wonderful members of the local VK1 SOTA community. After getting things in action, I thought I should try to contact one of our greatest activators and chasers – and also president of our local AR Club… I picked up the HT and called (once) over the Ginini Repeater.. Now I thought “not a hope in hell – I am deep in a valley, what hope of hitting Ginini with my little HH and whip antenna?” – well – one call was all it took. A group of my friends and fellow activators monitored the repeater and I kept my HT at my side all night. I was drifting in and out of sleep and talking to Police Rescue, so I did not call back – my one regret is I did not do so the next morning, but also two of them personally called in to my home to check on my wife and she was able to tell them I was in safe hands and on my way out of the bush.

So, my final recommendation:

When you have a close-knit active local SOTA community, I recommend that there be list of contact numbers for close family / next of kin. On occasions such as NYD we usually check in via local repeater, or email on arrival at home – but, sometimes things don’t follow the script. I was so grateful for the concern these guys showed me and my family. I knew I was OK, but sometimes convincing one’s wife that is the case is more challenging than that elusive DX!

LESS KIT – MORE WATER! ( and better luck with modern GPS technology!)

My thanks to you ALL.

Oh – how did the activation go? Despite some predictions of there being no HF due to the space weather situation, I worked Continental USA, and for a pleasant surprize ZL- it went swimmingly! Alas I realise a certain Club President and rock solid reliable chaser, managed to swamp me in the final effort for the VK1 SOTA 10m Chaser Challenge… I thought I had a comfy lead confined to mostly CW and SSB at the start of the day… Oh well, I came out a winner anyway!

An 83km drive doesn’t seem that far….. Unless you are headed out into the heart of the Brindabella Ranges to the west of Canberra. As the crow flies, Mt Ginini sits 34.7 km, bearing 249 deg from my home QTH.

Mt Ginini – altitude 1760m and an 8 Point summit – ( plus 3 points for the Winter Bonus)… The drive involves a climb of approximately 1,113m from our home here in Chisholm in the southern suburbs of Canberra. Much of the time consumed with the drive is the last section from Brindabella Road along Mt Franklin Road which is extremely narrow, pot-holed, wet and muddy with treacherously steep fall-aways with NO SAFETY RAILS. I averaged about 25 to 30 kph along that 24k section from the intersection of Brindabella Road and Mt Franklin Road. A 2WD sedan with decent clearance can get to Mt Ginini – but the roads do need maintenance.

Departing at 0800 local, and sticking to my SOTA travel routine, (see some detail in my Google Maps Timeline image…), I arrived at the summit at 1015am – ample time to set up for my 11am ( 0100z) start. With the outside temp about 2.5 degrees and a bit breezy, I rugged up! Thankfully the sun came out soon after, the big jacket could later be removed, it was a glorious day.

RF interference from all the commercial communication and air navigation equipment operating on the summit was not an issue, as I just stuck with HF. My operating position was within the “Activation Zone” which is described as being within 25 vertical metres of the published summit elevation.

The summit area is a gently sloping and open area. Being a Friday I was not disturbed by the weekend family picnics, trail bike riders and the obligatory bogan in a ute trying to defy the laws of physics negotiating the narrow, winding road to the summit. The only vehicle I encountered was on my return trip.. and that was an ACT Policing 4WD! We had just enough road width to pass – but we stopped and said a quick hello – not a bad idea on such remote roads.

Radio in use – Yaesu FT-891. For 10m ( 28 MHz) I was using the vertical “Flower Pot” antenna which can be seen nearest my operating table ( yeah – a table and chair? Why not? There’s nothing in the SOTA rules against that!). For the other HF bands with the help of an LDG Z-100Plus antenna tuner, I used my regular end fed half wave ( EFHW ) antenna from Nelson Antennas in the US ( I have used it regularly for at least the last four or five years… an excellent antenna for portable use – easy to set up and packs up to a light-weight and small pack — for those summits when such other luxuries are not an option, and one has to bush bash on foot to reach the summit!

This activation was hastily planned, and a group of local VK1 activators, lead by Andrew VK1AD , headed out for what we call a Summit to Summit or S2S party. A few drove up to local 1 pointers ( such as Mt Ainslie, Mt Stromlo etc), Andrew 1AD drove out to Pheasant Hill VK1/AC-021 which involves a bush bashing hike and Matt VK1MA journeyed out to VK2/ST-053 Mt Mundoonen near Yass NSW… It was great to get several Summit to Summit for the SOTA 10m Challenge. 10m was strong into JA. I attempted an S2S with Aki JR8WOW/3 on JA/WK-027. His Spot coincided with my Spot for 40m.. so I had to stay on 10m attempting to make contact . His signal was just above the noise, but being CW was readable, but he had plenty of local chasers and I could not make myself heard. So, my apologies and thanks to those awaiting my much anticipated stint on 40m! I had no luck on 20m.

Time	Callsign	Band	Mode	S2S
01:01	VK1AD	28MHz	SSB	S2S VK1/AC-021
01:05	JG0AWEE	28MHz	CW
01:06	JF1OVA	28MHz	CW
01:15	VK2IO	28MHz	CW
01:16	JH1MXV	28MHz	CW
01:17	JA1VVH	28MHz	CW
01:19	VK1CT	28MHz	CW
01:27	VK1RX	28MHz	SSB	S2S VK1/AC-040
01:30	VK1MF	28MHz	SSB
01:31	VK1MA	28MHz	SSB	S2S VK2/ST-053
01:37	VK1CHW	7MHz	SSB	S2S VK1/AC-042
01:55	VK2IO	7MHz	CW
01:56	VK3PF	7MHz	CW
01:57	VK1RF	7MHz	CW
02:21	VK1CHW	28MHz	SSB	S2S VK1/AC-042

This the first time I have got to appreciate the view from Mt Ginini, trees tend to obscure the view from the summit, and on previous occasions the low cloud and once, light snow falls, put paid to the touristy bit!

So – here are some photos – one time a telephoto lens and SLR digital might have been handy!

For those considering coming the VK1 to activate some of our many summits ( as well as surrounding VK2), do consider the weather. It has been a relatively mild winter, but we have had plenty of rain – enough to make fire trails and roads like Mt Franklin Road quite slippery.

Mount Kaputar VK2/NW-001. Elevation 4,951ft or 1509m with a prominance* of 865m is located approx 50k due east of Narrabri NSW.
( *Reference PeakVisor https://peakvisor.com/park/mount-kaputar-national-park.html

The summit is easily accessed by vehicle and it took me just under one hour (Oh, OK let’s say an hour because even in Narrabri I found my regular coffee supplier en-route!!)

One of my siblings celebrated a significant birthday in August. As she lives in Inverell NSW I took the advantage of the opportunity for a road trip via Dubbo (to visit another sibling). With Mt Kaputar in easy access and only a short diversion – I made an overnight stop at Narrabri. An early start on Friday morning, ( and yes, a lot of planning in place before departing Canberra), I was amazed at how easy it was to access this 10 point SOTA summit, and aside from the 3-point Winter Bonus, holds breathtaking views. There is some dirt road involved, but a 2 wheel drive vehicle with reasonable clearance should have no difficulties. As a child I grew up on a sheep\wool grazier property to the south of Tamworth. Television was introduced to the region in the mid 1960s and the signals were broadcast from Mt Kaputar bearing 330 derees at 150km from the homestead. It was a road trip of around 240ks, and I doubt the vehicle summit access track in 1967 was anywhere close to the road I used to access the summit in 2023! This was my first visit, but something I have wanted to do since long before I had even heard of SOTA.

As can be seen, I had the summit to myself – another bonus!

Let’s wind the clock back a couple of weeks.. Thorough preparation and planning usually results in SOTA success. I was a little worried that this being a Monday morning activation, the opportunites for S2S contacts were likely to be very limited. At the time of posting my alert on Sotawatch I could see no other alerts coinciding with my activation – ANYWHERE! Oh well. However, as is often the case, I was contacted by Andrew VK1AD who said he would head out of Canberra to Mt Coree to coincide with me arriving on Mt Kaputar. Following my disastrous attempt to work 6m on my previous activation (Mt Kembla) when I managed to convert my newly home-brewed 6m loop antenna into a “splintered array” whilst hiking to the summit, this time it was of a more robust construction – and was carefully transported by 4WD! Testing at home it, at least on paper, should work! Andrew and I arranged to open up on 6m / 50.2 MHz…. However, the foibles of RF propagation ( which is half the fun and challenge isnt it?) left me with ZERO 6m contacts.

The 6m loop which can be seen in the right hand image above, is an Andrew VK1AD design, and his easy to follow instructions resulted ( after a couple of adjustments) with and SWR of 1.1 Good enough for a Government worker! Alas, it takes more than a good SWR…. conditions have to be right – and it was not to be our 6m day…. Chopping to 40m, I could hear Andrew calling CQ and working others 57 to 59. I had my KX-2 at 10 watts ( note for 6m I used my FT-891), I could not make contact with Andrew who advised via SMS that he had S7+ noise on 40m. However I really do appreciate the effort of Andrew to get out on a summit , and I am glad he had an otherwise successful activation. That the two of us had posted alerts, some others joined in. Matt VK1MA provided an S2S on 40m from Mt Tumorrama VK2/SW-027 (8pts) and I also swapped RF with Hugh VK5NHG who was out on VK5/NE-028 Dutchmans Stern. Thanks also to Ian VK5IS, Peter VK3PF, Gerard VK2IO, John VK4TJ, Tony VK3CAT, John VK5HAA, Peter VK1AAF and Daryl VK3AWA.

Other highlights include a 20m CW QSO with W6LEN on the West Coast of the US ( LA ) and a 10m CW QSO with JG0AWE.

I strongly recommend those considering a road trip through NSW consider taking the Newell Highway. There are several summits handy to Mt Kaputar – Mt Coryah, and…perhaps Mt Yulludunida, but I doubt I will take that one on! I’ve read the reports on that summit, and I would not take it on by myself .

After a happy family gathering, I ventured home via Tamworth and then to the Central Coast for an overnight stop at Chittaway Bay. Next morning I activated a small 1-pointer Mt Elliot VK2/HU-093. Another easy summit co-located within a picnic area… It was pretty much a ” four and done” as I needed to get home.. All in all a fun trip .

If you like a drive in beautiful mountainous country and grab an easy 10 points for views that can only speak for themselves… get out to the Kaputar National Park.

Thanks for reading!

Bill VK1MCW

I recently travelled to the Illawarra to attend a reunion dinner at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) which is located at Albion Park. Too good an opportunity to pass up…. So, on my trip home I activated Mt Kembla overlooking Port Kembla with some fantastic views…. The power lines are a part of the view… so why would I ‘shop’ them out?

An easy drive up to the carpark. Just to the left of the parking area is the start of the walking track….take the one to the left. They are not kidding with the Grade as listed as ” HARD” !

Here are some images from my hike.

While the track is very well used, it is, none the less, quite demanding in places with some tricky sections negotiating rocks, and they have even provided a nice ladder..( which I neglected to photograph!)

I had made the effort to build Andrew VK1AD’s 6m oblong loop antenna – for just such an occasion. I had it neatly tied up and secured to my backpack… BUT… silly me, as I ducked under a low branch, the antenna snagged, and snapped in two ( well, four actually..) So, I am rebuilding it with slightly thicker Tasmanian Oak dowel. Next activation I think I will strap it to one of my hiking poles rather than the backpack. Live and learn.

Arriving at the summit 45 minutes later than planned, I set up beside the trig leaving room for the 15 to 20 or so hikers who came by over the next hour. Some stopped to ask what I was doing- others showed zero interest.

Having unwillingly ruled out using 6m (I was looking forward to operating in the 50-52 MHz band for the first time (thanks ACMA!) , I decided to stick to HF only.

All contacts were made on 40m, and I was lucky to get S2S with Andrew VK1DA and Chris VK1CT.

No luck on 20 or 15 metres… I saw a Spot for a JA station on 10m.. I could just hear his signal, but could not establish comms…. The first time in a LONG time I did not reach a ZL chaser on 20 or 40m….

With a nice catch in my log, I briefly attempted to see if there were any local 2m chasers about – but only used the HT and predictably all I heard was the sound of crickets…. Packed up and carefully picked my way back down the track. Have I ever said, “never go hiking without hiking poles”? They are essential – especially coming down such a steep grade.

I got back to Canberra around 1730 local. What a great weekend! AND I reached 500 activation points!

Here are some photos of my trip to HARS.

Ever since I was introduced to SOTA in 2017, I have been keen to attend the annual gathering of SOTA devotees at Mount Hotham in Victoria. Mt Hotham used to be an official SOTA summit – but it was recently stripped of that title following some investigation in which it was found to be just short of the 150-metre vertical prominence eligibility criteria. Explaining that system to the uninitiated would take several pages…. So, before you ask why we go to Mt Hotham for a SOTA gathering, keep in mind that in the glorious Victorian Alps there are many SOTA summits within relatively easy reach of the ski resort village of Hotham Heights. With a pub, and ski club chalets that are keen for paying customers in the skiing off season, Hotham Heights is the perfect fit. Thanks firstly to bushfires, then Covid/Covid/Covid/Covid (in “The Lockdown State”)……. ad infinitum, this year’s gathering was the first since 2021.

Thursday 30 March 2023

I departed for Hotham Heights 30th March 2023 mid Thursday morning – destination Orbost Victoria… a distance of about 345km. However I decided to take a slightly longer route via Pambula and Eden – 438km. This was my first decent road trip in my newly acquired 2021 Ford Everest Sport and I chose to stick to the main drag as opposed to going solo over the alps – not for the very first trip and not solo. I have frequently travelled the shorter route via Bombala in the early 1980s. Why Orbost? I became familiar with the East Gippsland region of Victoria when I first joined the RAAF back in 1975 and discovered Morse Code and military radio communication while training as an Air Electronics Officer. I had a chance to get to know the region better some years later when I was posted back RAAF Base East Sale as a Communications Instructor for Air Force Navigator students – mostly voice and radio teletype. While the sending of CW had been discontinued, the students did need to learn the code – if only to select navigation beacons such as NDBs and VORs that transmitted their identifying letters via Morse code. Navigation training involved the students taking different routes out and about over NSW, Central Victoria and Tasmania -sometimes further afield, and one of the frequent reporting points on those training exercises was Mount Livingstone.

Friday 31 March. Having flown over it countless times at an altitude of anywhere between 15,000 to 20,000 feet, this time I would be driving by, and I decided to take advantage of the journey to activate Mount Livingston VK3/VG-045 – an 8-point SOTA summit. Access the summit required an easy 20-minute walk from a locked gate blocking vehicular traffic. I set up right next door to the Air Navigation compound.

I was on the summit for under an hour as I was planning to activate a second summit on my way to Hotham Heights. Logging 4 x 40m (7Mhz) contacts – 2 x CW -Tony VK3CAT and Peter VK3PF, 2 x SSB -Matt VK1MA (also inbound to Hotham) and YE0OZI/P , and 1 FM 2m contact – Compton VK2 HRX who I believe was in a park, but also heading for Hotham, it was time to head back to my 4WD and head for the next summit.

The second summit I had hoped to activate was VK3/VG-030. I found the access track very overgrown, and there was no evidence of any recent vehicle traffic, and being unable to see beyond the bonnet and what hidden obstacles might lie ahead, being an inexperienced 4WD operator, and operating solo, I took what I considered the wise, safer option, aborted this activation attempt…… (Notwithstanding the fact that though over 50 years previously, I was quite competent operating in similar conditions, in a short wheelbase 1962 Series 2A Land Rover). Maybe next time!

That evening was a meet and greet / dinner at ‘The General’, a popular local pub, followed by forming groups and planning for two big days of SOTA. I teamed up with Peter VK3PF one of the organisers of the weekend and who knows the area better than most. Joining our team was Gerard VK2IO and Alan VK3TCP. Peter was our driver and over the two days of traversing the often steep, rough 4WD tracks, I was glad to sit back and learn from a very experienced driver…… (Who may have a past involving rally driving?😊…. Thank you, Peter!)

Saturday April 1st.. and not an April Fool in sight!

We set off in Peter’s Ford Ranger at about 0800 local and headed for Mt Sarah VK3/VE-032, 1552M – 10 points. A long drive through breath-taking country. Time being a premium, we activated only on 2m FM using our hand-held radios. Bernard VK2IB, David VK3KR, Andrew VK3JBL, Matt VK1MA and Andrew VK1DA.

Our next summit was planned and executed by Peter. Notwithstanding the date, we headed to Mt Hart VK3/VT-082 – This would be the first time Mt Hart, an 8 point summit, is activated.

Mt Hart has plenty of room to spread out. I logged 16 contacts, activating both CW (all 40m) and 2m FM and one 15m SSB S2S with John ZL3MR and S2S ZL3/CB-860. Congratulations to Peter – a great decision to head to Mt Hart, and good to see your name on the database as the first activator. But – the day was just half done. We had two more summits to go – and be back in Hotham Heights for the gathering’s big dinner!

Next summit on our list is VK3/VE-066 an unnamed summit worth 8 points and a distance of approximately 22km from Mt Hart. There we conducted another very quick activation each just the required 4 contacts FM simplex.

We then headed for another 10 point summit, Mt Murray VK3/VE-025 to join the VK ZL JA – EU S2S QSO Party. Having four people sharing a summit, and all operating HF did present problems – but we spread out and I personally did not notice any overly distracting mutual RF interference. Operating my KX-2 at 10watts, and a Sotabeams linked dipole on 20m I made 19 CW contacts. DX into France, Sweden, Finland, Germany, Czech Republic, Belgium, Japan, Continental USA, New Zealand…… and… Queensland ;). A polite tap on the shoulder made me realise that some others may have needed 20m CW…. I apologise to the other CW ops in our group, that would be all three! ooops!… I am used to activating summits all by myself, and such DX pileups can absorb all normal thought processes! However, I note that we each made a similar number of DX contacts – and the others who could access the band were working the 17m HF band (18MHz) into EU while I operated on both 20m (14 MHz) and 15m (21MHz) – so it worked out quite well.

Day one of the 2023 Hotham SOTA Gathering was done – and we headed back to Hotham Heights for a well earned meal and drink at The General.. Wow.. another day of this to come..

Sunday 2nd April – and the end of Daylight Saving… Sticking with the same crew, we leapt on board the 3PF Express and set out for VK3/VG-009 (10 points) followed by Mt Pendergast. A longish drive via a fuel stop (diesel and coffee!) at Omeo. Aside from the enjoyment of activating multiple high value summits over one weekend, for me one of the best aspects of the Hotham Sota Summit is the opportunity to put names and faces to callsigns. Peter VK3PF and I have worked each other Summit to Summit (S2S) or as chasers dozens of times…. but we met in person for the first time at Hotham 2023. The travel between summits is a great opportunity to chat, appreciate the breath-taking views and tell a few tales! Great times.

We arrived at VK3/VG-009 about 0945 local or 2345 UTC. We each took turns to enter the Activation Zone (AZ) to be ‘chased’ by the others – for a change we did this on70cm FM, and we each were able to log four unique calls from chasers before rollover. Come the change of day, some S2S on 2m FM as well as success on 40m CW and SSB…… an easy 10 points.

Mt Pendergast VK3/VG-022. (8 points). Back to why we are here… to activate as many summits as possible. A after a short drive to Mt Pendergast for another quick activation on 2m FM – resulting in five contacts VK3JBL, VK3KR, VK2HRX VK3/ZS5AYC and VK3/ZS5APT including S2S to two other summits.

.

Next stop Brumby Hill VK3/VG-012 (10 points) You can see it marked on the map above (due south of Pendergast) a distance of 21km. This is arguably the easiest 10 SOTA points I have ever accumulated… I was happily admiring the view out the window when Peter pulled up at what I thought was just a small intersection of trails….. it was actually with the activation zone of the summit!

A mixture of bands and modes for this summit.. Three 2m FM simplex VK3KR, Adele VK3/ZS5APT and Sid VK3/ZS5AYC all activating VK3/VG-011, 1 x 40m ssb/S2S to Stuart VK7FADZ who was activating VK7/SC-001, and one 10m ssb/S2S to Peter VK3ZPF on VK3/VC-038.

Moving right along, we headed for VK3/VG-011 Mt Nunniong (10 points). As I opened this blog with a slight aviation theme, for this summit we needed to enter a short holding pattern until the group ahead of us had all finished their activation of Mt Nunniong. (We had only just worked them from Brumby Hill ….) It gave us time to set up our HF antenna. I happily activated this summit CW with 6 QSOs on 40m including one with my good friend Garry VK2GAZ,

Back on the track and head for second last summit of the day – Mt Bindi VK3/VG-017 (8 points) … It was getting late in the day – thankfully for us there was another group of four still on a nearby summit VK3/VG-064 – Compton VK2HRX , Matt VK1MA, Andrew VK1DA ( all 20m SSB) and Allen VK3ARH 2m FM.

Last stop – VK3/VG-018 Mt Nugong (8 points) – getting very late – but again a big thanks to the same team still on VK3/VG-064 – four more quick fire contacts on 2m FM.

Tired and hungry we headed back to Hotham Heights. We arranged to meet some of the other guys at another popular venue, Dinner Plain just 10ks out of Hotham Heights. A great feed – then back to Hotham… Tomorrow I had to drive home to Canberra…. but not without grabbing one last summit for the weekend!

Monday April 3rd. Up early, everyone heading home had “chores” to do. Each room had a small list of duties – aside from vacuuming out one’s own room and empty the bins, I also scored cleaning one of the small shared bathrooms. It was tiny – and only took a couple of minutes.

By 0830 I had packed everything into the Everest and said my many goodbyes and thanks (even there I am sure I fell well short!). Heading through the township of Bright (where I stopped for breakfast and coffee…(of course!) I headed for Mt Stanley VK3/VE-126.. a six point summit, but the summit that would push me over the 100 Activation points starting just three days ago. I set up for HF and inside 20 minutes I had 7 CW contacts on 80m and 40m ( all S2S) and one 10m SSB contact. The best part was getting S2S with each of my weekend travelling companions Gerard VK2IO, Alan VK3TCP and Peter VK3PF.

Summary of Activations

Date	Summit	QSOs	Points	Total
2023-03-31	VK3/VG-045 Mt Livingstone	5	8	8
2023-03-31	VK3/VE-032 Mt Sarah	5	10	18
2023-04-01	VK3/VT-082 Mt Hart	16	8	26
2023-04-01	VK3/VE-066	4	8	34
2023-04-01	VK3/VE-025 Mt Murray	19	10	44
2023-04-02	VK3/VG-009	16	10	54
2023-04-02	VK3/VG-022 Mt Pendergast	5	8	62
2023-04-02	VK3/VG-012 Brumby Hill	5	10	72
2023-04-02	VK3/VG-011 Mt Nunniong	11	10	82
2023-04-02	VK3/VG-017 Mt Bindi	4	8	90
2023-04-02	VK3/VG-018 Mt Nugong	4	8	98
2023-04-03	VK3/VE-126 Mt Stanley	8	6	104

Peter made the comment in an email long before this weekend in Hotham that it was possible to come away with over 100 activator points… I thought “fat chance”….. Well Peter – of course it was never in doubt!

I arrived home late Monday afternoon after an unforgettable experience. I made new friends, learnt a LOT about working a summit shared with several other operators, about navigating the steep and narrow trails requiring a 4WD and it reinforced what a wonderful hobby amateur radio, and in particular SOTA is. I can not wait for the next opportunity to visit Hotham!

Huge thanks to Brian VK3BCM and Peter VK3PF for making this weekend possible and making it happen – you guys put in a lot of work and kept us all updated during the lead up to the event – and the success is again testament to your efforts.

73

Bill

VK1MCW