I know there’s no VK6 association yet, so there’s no opportunity to activate summits in Western Australia, but I’m wondering whether there are any active chasers in VK6? A quick “All VK” search of the database didn’t reveal any, and neither did “XXX - No Association Yet”, so I’m guessing there are none.
Having tried to do a bit of chasing over the last couple of weeks, I can see that VK6 might be a slightly more challenging place to chase from than some. I think I’d get somewhere with a nice big high beam, but the antenna I’ve managed to rig hasn’t really been up to the task. It needs to be about ten or twenty metres higher, for a start. Being a bit further away from the vast expanse of tin roof would probably help, too. Above all, some directional selectivity would help. I have heard a little chaser activity from over the other side of the continent, but as most of the SSB HF activations over there have been on 40 metres I’ve not been best positioned to chase them; too much QRM in other languages, “interesting” QSB, and an antenna that does NVIS rather better than DX. I’ve also tried catching a few CW activations, but QRM has been an issue there too; lots of Morse coming out of J*, for a start…
I’m sure my antenna is more than half the problem, and now that I’ve tried to rig an antenna here I’ll have a better idea of what to try to rig next time.
Rick, have you thought of trying out a Beveridge or EWE antenna on receive to combat QRM? Also, how about making use of that tin roof by putting a vertical above it? No doubt you have thought of these, but its worth mentioning!
Hadn’t thought of Beveridge or EWE, but have given a vertical lots of thought. The trouble with the tin roof, apart from actually getting onto it without causing leaks, is the array of solar panels, aircon and TV antennas with which it is already strewn. However, next time I think some form of self-supporting vertical will definitely be high on my list for consideration, and I’ll cross the trees off the list of potential supports as they are a far more hopeless collection of arboreal chaos than I remembered, at least partly because of the steep slope of the block, but not helped by the power lines running along two sides that I’d completely forgotten…
In reply to M0LEP:
Rick, I have not heard of any vk6 chasers working east coast activators. But there could be people working EU and US activators. The timing is an interesting issue as most activations are daytime activities so you are limited to times when activations are on bands giving you access to them. I have worked the grand total of one EU activator and that was on 20m in our early evening, ie. around 0700 UTC, possibly 20m is giving you access to the same signals but you also need to consider whether it is a long path or short path you are hoping to work. I’ll be interested in your results. It requires an activator who is onsite early, or has overnighted on a summit.
While activating I have had good success working EU stations on 20m cw around 0700-0900, of course that is early morning there and you have the benefit of home stations at the other end with good antennas. I agree that with your metal roof a vertical antenna is a great dx antenna, I have used one in that situation many times before and it is a great option.
In reply to M0HGY: Thanks, Jimmy. I’ve heard VK6MB calling CQ. I’ll see whether I can chat with him some time. I suspect quite a lot of Western Australia may suffer from the same problem summits-wise as the south-east of England; a fair bit of high ground, but in long ridges with not enough prominence to have lots of summmits.
In reply to VK1DA: Thanks, Andrew. Serious DX chasing is definitely a lot more of a challenge than the casual chasing I get to do in UK. Even chasing Europe from Kenya was easier than chasing from here in WA. There I found that activations on 15 metres were the most likely to be chasable; the band was working fairly well during daylight, and generally it was daylight (or at worst just after dusk) in Kenya when the activations were happening in Europe. Here it’s more likely well past sunset by the time activations are happening in Europe, unless they’re up-with-the-larks activators. Activators on the west coast of North America actually seem to offer a better chance from here, if my rather small sample of activations possibly heard is any guide. Either way, CW stands a better chance than SSB. With the eastern Australian states there’s a short window of opportunity on 40 metres before the signals start fading out as the sun gets higher, and the distant QRM is stronger then too. With my present set-up I think I’ll need to be quite lucky with the band conditions to get home with any SOTA QSOs in the log.
In reply to M0LEP: Rick that’s all true, and we have the additional issue on 40m of the QRM from the north, usually quite strong. Timing it right for an EU activator (in any part of EU) and getting a good signal to them on 40m is quite an ask. I have worked on 40m cw dx for about 40 years and the long path opening at our sunset does not last long because of sun rising at the other end, plus signals are never strong, even for home stations at both end. Cut 13 db off the tx power and take something off for lower antenna efficiency and it really becomes tough. I think the higher bands are much more practical, but I rarely hear activators spotted on say 14062, it is usually a US or JA station I hear there instead!
The VK6 SOTA situation is unclear to me, I have not seen any enquiries or sign of current interest on the VK SOTA yahoo group. Action might be under way to get VK6 on the SOTA map, I hope so.
Re surveys we have had a recent surge in interest in assisting with VK2 surveys so we are moving ahead. I am planning an initial submission of a subset of regions, hopefully by mid 2013.
I understand that there is going to be a SOTA presentation at the WIA AGM in VK6 this month, so it might spark interest.
When using a vertical, I get into VK6 easily on 20m and 40m is quite good late in the day, and this has formed the basis for a number of SOTA QSOs with VK6’ers. I have never had a 20m QSO on the end fed I’ve been using recently, and nothing on the end fed on any band with a VK6’er.
When using a vertical, I get into VK6 easily on 20m and 40m is quite good late in the day
I’ve been doing a little listening for VK SOTA activations from Perth in the last fortnight or so. So far I’ve only managed to hear (in and out of the noise) SOTA chasers on 40 metres, and then only early in the day (within an hour or so of sunrise) or around sunset (by which time the activators must’ve been operating under a night sky). I don’t think I’ve yet managed to hear a VK SOTA activator. I’ve not seen enough VK activations spotted on other bands to make any comparison, though…
In reply to M0LEP:
Hi Rick,
Yes 40 m isn’t good to VK6 when most Eastern States activators are out and about. 20 m is usually open from VK3 to VK6 between 0000 UTC to 0300 UTC and again in mid afternoon. 15 m and 10 m can be open then but are less reliable even though this is supposedly the peak in the sunspot cycle. Remember you are looking at a path of nearly 3,000 km. The same as London to Istanbul. So a low antenna isn’t going to cut the mustard, unless it is a vertical. I have found a 9 m squid pole holding up a quarter wave vertical and elevated radials works well even in partly blocked QTHs.
The dipole at 7 m high is very good to ranges of 800 km but is inferior to the vertical for anything beyond that.
Of course a small beam, 2 or more elements, at 10 m high or more would do a good job.
You might need to go portable to a quiet QTH.
Next time I’m out on a hump I’ll take a vertical for 20 m. Hopefully the band will be open to VK6, and elsewhere.
