Field Days
Field days are organised Amateur Radio events where operators must set up their radio stations in remote locations. These field days serve to ensure Amateur Radio operators are always prepared to provide communications in support of disaster relief efforts. No site infrastructure may be used (except trees) and the stations must be set up in less than 24 hours. Field days include an associated contest to see who can score the most on-air contacts.
2014 John Moyle Memorial Field Day Contest
Running on solar power during a violent electrical storm from the summit of Mt. Donna Buang, Julie and Joe won the 2014 John Moyle Field Day Contest in the following division: Six Hour Portable Operation, Single Operator, Phone Only, HF Bands, Joe with 155 contacts and a score of 310 points and Julie with 67 contacts and a score of 134.
This year for the John Moyle Memorial Field Day Contest Julie VK3FOWL and Joe VK3YSP headed up to Mount Donna Buang in the Yarra Ranges National Park. “We arrived at the summit at dawn after spending the night at the Warby Pub. The SOTA gear had to be walked in; tables, chairs and rigs set up under the awning. Antennas unrolled and launched high into the trees with the lightening arrestor and vehicle secured to a copper ground rod – Yes we had read the weather report and had come prepared. After good success last year with one rig and an OCF Dipole we were keen to try out our new Fan Dipole and HF Triplexer with three rigs. Disaster struck almost immediately: The 40m dipole was too short. The gas soldering iron broke trying to fix it and the fishing braid slipped off the reel and flew high into the air with the ominously increasing gale-force wind. Joe, flailing around wildly with a squid pole in a desperate attempt to retrieve the line must have been a peculiar sight. Then, it started to rain horizontally. Everything had to be returned to the X-Trail and a squid pole was lashed to the awning to support the feed line. The awning started to fill with water; so it had to be lowered to an acute angle to drain properly. The contest started and we knuckled down to two consecutive 6 hour individual challenges. Half-way though Julie’s stint, in pitch black around 9pm, the storm hit us hard. Surprisingly the wind had no effect on operations. It was the huge BANG and SPLASH, as an awning pole broke under the weight of gallons of water, that finally attracted our attention. Julie said ”QRX, there’s been an explosion!” She immediately followed by “What’s your number again?”… By morning we emerged to survey the damage: Only one broken pole – easily replaced. But alas, we would never get that contest number back. Oh well, there’s always next year.”
For the full results of the contest please see: http://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/johnmoyle/
2013 John Moyle Memorial Field Day Contest
Running on the car battery in the pouring rain from a secluded hill in Gippsland Victoria, Julie and Joe won the 2013 John Moyle Field Day Contest in the following division: Six Hour Portable Operation – Single Operator, Phone Only, HF Bands, with 168 contacts and a score of 336 points.
For our first ever John Moyle Memorial Field Day Contest Julie and Joe VK3YSP found the perfect location not far from their favorite trout-fishing lake. "After fishing on the lake all day before, we left the boat and trailer in the parking area near the boat ramp. We drove around for about an hour looking for a suitable spot: It had to have two very tall trees, 20 metres apart, on a hill, with no power lines or electric fences nearby" We found it! It was the perfect spot with a fantastic view. We started rigging the 40/20/10m OCF dipole high into the trees. But then, of course, 'No one expects the Spanish Inquisition': We had to carefully explain what we were doing to the local farmers who were jumpy after some recent break-ins in the area. Eventually, they seemed half-convinced we were not a security risk and were only just crazy city folk. We set up the Icom IC-7200 on the car battery and huddled into the back of the Nissan X-Trail. Soon after Joe's six hour, single operator contest began, it started to rain heavily. Julie provided drinks, snacks and morale support: The contest rules not permitting any operational assistance. We were going fine, averaging about two contacts a minute, until the battery voltage started to dip below 12V on transmit. The engine had to be started to keep us in the running for another hour. It worked, the contest finished. We were both exhausted and exhilarated. We even had to get the antenna down in the darkness and rain, but that couldn't dampen our spirits. The battery held out, but next year we would have to get a bigger one with solar panels too. Julie was thoroughly hooked and now wanted to get her Foundation Licence so she could participate next year. This more than any other experience started our love of operating a portable Amateur Radio station together."
For the full results of the contest please see: http://www.wia.org.au/members/contests/johnmoyle/