The work van is a Ford Falcon XH panel van. The RF gear consists of a remote mounted Icom IC706Mk2G. Antennas consist of a Comet triband 6/2/70cm whip and an old Terlin Outbacker - a 5 band job that I installed an
additional tapping on for 30 metres.
I have managed to work all over the world on HF whilst mobile. In VK, 10.120mHz on the 30 metre band is good for catching up with other mobile stations. The VK Travelers net on 14.116 MHz @ 0300 hours utc is another
good way to keep in touch with amateurs that are touring around the Australian country side.
Even though the IC706 is fitted with DSP (Digital Signal Processing) HF operation from the Melbourne Suburbs can be a bit restricted due to local man made noise (QRM).
I like to keep an ear out on the six metre band for any openings and have managed to work into most Eastern VK states on sporadic E (Es) as well as Mexico (XE) and Palau (T88).
My best 2 metre contact whilst mobile was to VK5AR who was portable on Mt. Bryan near the Flinders Ranges in VK5. This was using a halo antenna on SSB. I have also worked into VK5 and VK7 on 70 centimetres SSB whilst
mobile.
|