This year’s Spring VHF/UHF Field Day enabled the Manly Warringah Radio Society to put into action some of our new field equipment which has been purchased as a result of club funds and the recent grant from ARNSW.  We all wish to thank ARNSW once again on such a great initiative to the development of Amateur Radio.

The field station this Spring field day included:

  • our new antennas for 6m, 2m, 70cm, 23cm;
  • our new ICOM IC-7300 operating on 6m;
  • A pair of masts. 10m and 6m;
  • ICOM IC-7000 on 2m – provided by Greg – VK2XE;
  • ICOM IC-7000 on 70cm – provided by Nick – VK2FS;
  • Yaesu FT-817 and 23cm Transverter provided by Nick – VK2FS.  Nick you have a very interesting PTT switch for the transverter;
  • Power provided by a pair of 12 volt batteries;
  • Solar panels provided by Tim – VK2BT after a regulator swap out.  Good story to be told here.

The field station was located at the Terry Hills oval this year at maidenhead locator QF56OH.  Our normal field day location near the Terry Hills weather station was hosting a BMX club Christmas event and was a little crowded.

Setup commenced around 10.30am at the oval and the station was slowly assembled as we were using new antennas, an additional mast to previous field days, and required some modifications to antenna mounting brackets using tape and extra washers furnished by Tim who visited Bunnings on the way to Terry Hills. 

During setup, operations, and take down, the following participated or assisted in their own way. Many thanks for all the extra hands and feet as it makes it much easier with many hands to share the various tasks. 

Attendees:

Greg – VK2XE,
Nick – VK2FS
Rod – VK2ZZM and dogs
Charlie – VK2GMT
Richard – VK2NRA
Mal – VK2TMF and Samuel
Tim – VK2BT
John – VK2ZWD
Phil – VK2XPL

During the day, the operating team consisting of Nick, Tim and Greg made a total of 41 contacts shared between the 4 operating bands including a few contacts on 23cm with the longest contact being 269km to Mt Stromlow in the ACT on 144Mhz.  We also managed to have a few contacts with Dave – VK2JDS (188 km) located west of the mountains and with Gerard –VK2IO at Mt Banks. 

The final result was we had about twice as many contacts and resulting points as we obtained in the Winter VHF/UHF Field Day.  I feel that the station, antennas and the day was a great success and I personally look forward to the Summer VHF/UHF Field day in 2018 and hope that we can grow the participation rate and have many more operators next time.

Greg – VK2XE

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