A
portable station was set up on Eagle Rise approximately 60km from
Brisbane and just outside the town of Laidley; 1 x camper trailer, 1 x
large tarp and operating from two 6x3ft tables back to back (under
large tarp) and one smaller 3x2ft table (under camper trailer annex).
Antennas
were erected on the Friday afternoon by 4QH, 4SN, 4MN and 4FAKE and
although we were only initially intending to set up some of then, a
decision was made later in the day to get them all up. This would allow
every one a sleep in prior to the start of the contest or to spent the
time refining the operation of the various antennas. Good move as the
12 element 2m yagi when assembled has excessive SWR; totally unusable.
Some tinkering and thinking and a timely suggestion from 4BYX saw a
stub constructed which at least allowed its use the next day. All other
antenna's were assembled, erected and proved usable without a hitch.
Antennas
erected were an inverted V, an all (HF) band trapped vertical, a 3
element triband yagi (20, 15 and 10m), a 6m half wave vertical, a dual
band vertical 2m / 70cm, a 12 element 2m yagi, and a 16 element 70cm
yagi.
Three
operators sleep over on Friday night to secure the site (4QH, 4SN and
4FAKE) with the remaining personel arriving well before the 01:00 UTC
starting time.
Bands
and Modes operated were: CW / Digital / SSB 80m, 40, 20m one side of
table 1 (4SN, 4BYX); SSB / FM 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m, 6m (4QH), SSB / FM 2m
and 70cm (4MN, 4BYX, 4FAKE) adjacent on table 2; SSB 80M, 40m on table
3 (4FAKE, 4HS). Band conditions were generally good except on VHF / UHF.
Unfortunately,
initially heavy and then constant rain settled in from around 2-3pm and
stayed with little respite until well after midnight.
The
kitchen area was sited at one edge of the large tarp; the wrong
position as we discovered when the rain set in. Drainage point from
tarp and from there in under the area of the tarp to where the kitchen
and CW / Digital / SSB station was located. Low headroom and the flow
of run off made preparing and cooking meals an interesting exercise.
The
lighting arrangements we employed were a beacon for a multitude of
insect life from what seemed like, miles around. Not, amazingly, around
the flood light set up to provide a constant load for the generator;
too yellow, which is a point to be noted for the next similar operation.
Sleeping
arrangements were crowded on the Saturday night as most (3 out of 4)
decided to camp in the camper trailer annex due to wet and very muddy
conditions. Wayne (4HS) made (the very sensible decision) to bunk in
his Suzuki leaving the annex floor to be shared by 4SN, 4QH and 4MN
(three's comfortable, four's too much of a squeeze. The owner of the
camper trailer (4FAKE) had the permanent bed high above the squishy
floor. At some point in the night 4QH left the building citing
"intolerable noise". The remaining occupants were unsure as to his
meaning but appreciated his gesture non the less.
Early
Sunday morning. Very, very messy but thankfully no rain falling
although the weather map showed the possible threat of a little
drizzle. The decision was made to pack up and make our exit before any
additional rain trapped us on the hill until the weather broke - maybe
weeks from now. Pack up started around 6am and despite the usual
drama's (lost allan keys, missing spanners) arrived back at 4SN's place
around 10:30am (where I left my vehicle for the weekend - small 2 wheel
drive which could have been an early casualty on the trip down if
parked anywhere higher than the road at the bottom of the hill, an
undesirable and insecure spot).
Paper
logs were merged and recompiled into the required format by 4SN.
Because of the early pack up time, the section entered was revised to
6hr Multi-Multi which was probably only contested by 3 or 4 (VK4)
groups so the Club may do OK even allowing for the reduced time. VHF /
UHF generally was a waste of an operator; 38 contacts in all most in
short blocks with long gaps in between.
Everybody
who attended put on weight and grew in statute; not because we ate to
excess or swelled with pride but because of the wet mud which was
attracted to whatever footwear was worn, even barefoot was tried with a
similar result. A good time, if not as long a time as we originally
planned for, was had by all and the trip down the slippery slope was
only mildly interesting and safely navigated.
Thoughts
for next years contest: due to lack of participation in digital modes
and VHF / UHF we not contest those sections. If we run a similar
operation in 2013 as we ran this year, it would mean an operator
available to run an additional HF band. An early request to the powers
that be for fine and dry conditions, for a change, may also be
appropriate.
Author : Peter VK4MN
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