Presentation on theme: "Having fun in the field"— Presentation transcript
Slide1
Having fun in the fieldSlide2
Tonights
presentation
Death by
powerpointPlease ask questionsWhy get involved?WWFFVK5 Parks Award
EquipmentOperating tipsSlide3
Do you
enjoy the great outdoors and travelling to beautiful locations around Australia, whilst enjoying the hobby of amateur radio?Slide4
Do you
suffer from extremely high noise levels at home?Slide5
then operating portable might be for you!Slide6
Don’t collect wallpaper?Slide7
Why get involved?
Fun
Noise floor
Plasma TV, solar invertersExperimentationAntennas, home brew
txPile ups and DX
Great way to see our beautiful countrySlide8
Why get involved?
Combine other interests
Bushwalking
birdwatchingPhotography4WDing
Caravaningyour partner
Family picnicSlide9
Hand in hand with other
programs & activities
Summits on the Air (SOTA)
Beaches on the Air (BOTA)LighthousesJohn Moyle Field DayVHF/UHF Field DaysSlide10
Promote our hobby
Talk to onlookers
Explain what you are doing
Sell the hobby of ARAsk if they would like to say ‘hi’ on airTalk with National Parks staffCarry promotional material with youSlide11
World Wide Flora & Fauna program (WWFF)
VK5
National & Conservation Parks
Award (SANPCPA)
Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award (KRMNPA)
What parks programs exist?Slide12
About WWFF
National & non-commercial program
draw attention to the importance of protecting nature, flora & fauna and to encourage the development of radio skills, especially in portable operations
Operate from designated nature parks/ protected nature areasGlobal award program National programs45 participating countries
Australia (VKFF) Various National Awards offered.Slide13
About WWFF
WWFF Directory
Each park issued with a unique identifying reference number
ITU allocated prefix, FF for Flora & Fauna, and a unique identifying number, e.g. VKFF-001In Australia qualifying parks are mostly National ParksProgram has expanded in Victoria, South Australia & ACTState Parks, Coastal Parks, Marine National Parks (VIC)
Conservation Parks (SA)Nature Parks (ACT)Slide14
What the hell does
’
44’ mean?
During a WWFF QSO you may hear reference to ‘44’.The first digit ‘4’ represents the four elements: earth, water, air, and fire
.The second digit ‘4’ represents the four directions: north, south, east, and west. Slide15
Global WWFF Awards
GLOBAL
Awards
44 QSO’s required2 hour operating time.QSO’s can be spread over multiple activations.Mobile is acceptedM/M accepted
Marine Parks.A/M not acceptedRepeaters, IRLP, Echolink not acceptedSlide16
Australian (VKFF) program
10
QSO’s required
Reduced from 44 QSO’s due to our remoteness & number of amateurs30 minute operating time.Reduced from 2 hoursSlide17
Chasing WWFF certificates
GLOBAL
Everything is done on online (via WWFF
LogSearch)Free as PDF (emailed)AUSTRALIAOnlineFree as a PDF or PNG (emailed)$
5.00 printed & postedSlide18
VKFF program progress
Since March 2013…..
About 1,300 certificates in total issued
About 280 overseas recipients.About 70 Australian activator certificatesAbout 450 Australian Hunter certificatesRemainder – other VKFF certificatesSlide19
VKFF program progressSlide20
VKFF program progressSlide21
Top VKFF Activator and Top VKFF HunterSlide22
WWFF Log Search
WWFF on-line database
Commenced 16 Feb 2013
Activator logs uploaded by National co-ordinators6, 951,967 QSOs in the databaseFrom 11, 133 different references114 DXCC’s
Figures accurate as of 17th
June 2016 Slide23
VKFF
Activation Weekend 2015
Sat 28
th & Sun 29th November 2015Inaugural eventOver 50 ActivatorsAll States/Territories (excl. VK7)90 different Parks activatedSlide24
VKFF Activation Weekend
2016Slide25
VKFF
Team Championship 2016Slide26
VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award
Commenced April 2013
No formal SA Parks program prior
Promotes portable activity from SA’s National Parks and Conservation Parks21 National Parks272 Conservation ParksOther parks do not qualify, e.g. Recreation ParksWorks on a points systemSlide27
VK5 National & Conservation Parks Award
Activators, Hunters, SWLs
Not just limited to VK5 participation
National Park = 2 pointsConservation Park = 1 point1 x QSO required as ActivatorActivators claim points
ONCE per calendar yearHunters claim points ONCE per UTC dayMobile operation not allowed
Repeaters, IRLP, Echolink not allowedSlide28
VK5 Parks Award
– certificates
Activator
HunterSWLPark to ParkUniquesActivated/Worked all VK5 Park RegionsCurrently no database
SpreadsheetsFree – PDF or PNG file$5.00 printed & mailedSlide29
VK5
Parks Award progress
Since March 2013…..
Over 350 certificates issuedBrian ZL2ASH (first outside of Australia)Danny ON4VT (first European)Slide30
3
rd
year anniversary
Saturday 2
nd & Sunday 3rd April 2016Around 30 activatorsAbout 75 different parks
All across South AustraliaSlide31
What equipment do I need?
Transceiver
Antenna
Power supply Other sundry gearSlide32
Transceivers
Yaesu
FT-857d
Yaesu FT-817ndElecraft KX3Wouxon X1MYaesu FT-857
Icom IC-706Slide33
Antennas
HF
Dipoles
verticalsVHF/UHFSlide34
Power source
SLAB
LiPo
LiFePOSlide35
Sundry equipment
Squid poles
Watch
Pens/pencilsCamera/videoFirst aid kitSunscreenMozzie repellantSit mat/cushionBothy bagWhistleGPS/compassMaps
Water/foodAppropriate clothingSpare clothing (in the car)Slide36
How do I fill up my logbook?
The secret is the antenna
Try different bands
Place your intentions on as many forums as possibleConsider the time of day/know when the bands are openSolar figures/propagation conditionsDX cluster/parksnpeaksConsider setting up an SMS goupTry a group emailUse the local repeaterSlide37
Spotting & Alerting
p
arksnpeaks
hamspots.net/wwffDX clusterSlide38
Operating skills/practice
Call for park activators
Then for QRP
Then for portable/mobileThen for DXThen for those that can hear you, but with difficultyAnd finally, for everyone else (now the fun starts!)Slide39
Operating skills/practice
Do not queue jump
Do not call CQ on a frequency until you know the frequency is not in use
Always remember the DX Code of ConductSlide40
Useful links
www.wwffaustralia.com
www.wwff.co
https://au.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/wwffaustralia/infoSlide41
Useful links
www.vk5parks.com
https://
au.groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/sanpcpa/infoSlide42
Useful links
www.parksnpeaks.com
www.hamspots.net
Various Facebook sitesWWFFVK5 Parks AwardVKFF/SOTA
Field RadioSlide43Slide44Slide45
Beware of the ‘portable bug’Slide46
Questions ???
