Paul SIMMONDS (VK5PAS)
  • WELCOME
  • MY LIFE IN AMATEUR RADIO
  • WIA PRESIDENTS AWARDS
  • CONTACTS MADE
  • MY AMATEUR RADIO STATION
    • Standard licence conditions
    • My antennas
    • My previous antennas
    • My transceivers
    • My shack project
    • Old shack photos
    • My towers
    • ANTENNA/TX SWITCHER
    • Microphones
    • Communications receivers & scanners
    • My logging program
    • Rotators
    • CW equipment
    • BITX40
    • Other equipment
    • EMDRC Powerpole Dist Board Kit
  • VK5PAS - QSL CARDS RECEIVED
    • AFGHANISTAN
    • ALAND ISLANDS
    • ALASKA
    • ALBANIA
    • ALGERIA
    • AMERICAN SAMOA
    • AMSTERDAM & ST PAUL ISLANDS
    • ANDAMAN ISLANDS
    • ANDORRA
    • ANGOLA
    • ANGUILLA
    • ANTARCTICA
    • ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
    • ARGENTINA
    • ARMENIA
    • ARUBA
    • ASIATIC RUSSIA
    • AUSTRAL ISLAND
    • AUSTRALIA
    • AUSTRIA
    • AZORES
    • BAHAMAS
    • BAHRAIN
    • BALEARIC ISLANDS
    • BANABA ISLAND
    • BANGLADESH
    • BARBADOS
    • BELARUS
    • BELGIUM
    • BELIZE
    • BENIN
    • BERMUDA
    • BHUTAN
    • BOLIVIA
    • BONAIRE
    • BOSNIA
    • BOTSWANA
    • BRAZIL
    • BRUNEI
    • BULGARIA
    • CAMBODIA
    • CAMEROON
    • CANADA
    • CANARY ISLANDS
    • CAPE VERDE
    • CAYMAN ISLANDS
    • CENTRAL KIRIBATI
    • CEUTA AND MELILLIA
    • CHAGOS ISLAND
    • CHATHAM ISLANDS
    • CHILE
    • CHINA
    • CHRISTMAS ISLAND
    • CLIPPERTON ISLAND
    • COCOS KEELING ISLANDS
    • COLOMBIA
    • COMOROS
    • CONGO
    • CONWAY REEF
    • CORSICA
    • COSTA RICA
    • CRETE
    • CROATIA
    • CUBA
    • CURACAO
    • CYPRUS
    • CZECH REPUBLIC
    • DENMARK
    • DJIBOUTI
    • DODECANESE
    • DOMINICA
    • DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
    • EAST KIRIBATI
    • EAST MALAYSIA
    • EASTER ISLAND
    • ECUADOR
    • EGYPT
    • EL SALVADOR
    • ENGLAND
    • ERITREA
    • ESTONIA
    • ESWANTINI (SWAZILAND)
    • ETHIOPIA
    • EUROPEAN RUSSIA
    • FALKLAND ISLANDS
    • FAROE ISLANDS
    • FIJI
    • FINLAND
    • FRANCE
    • FRENCH GUIANA
    • FRENCH POLYNESIA
    • GABON
    • GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
    • GEORGIA
    • GERMANY
    • GIBRALTAR
    • GREECE
    • GREENLAND
    • GRENADA
    • GUADELOUPE
    • GUAM
    • GUATEMALA
    • GUERNSEY
    • HAIITI
    • HAWAII
    • HEARD ISLAND
    • HONDURAS
    • HONG KONG
    • HUNGARY
    • ICELAND
    • INDIA
    • INDONESIA
    • IRAN
    • IRAQ
    • IRELAND
    • ISLE OF MAN
    • ISLE OF WIGHT
    • ISRAEL
    • ITALY
    • JAMAICA
    • JAPAN
    • JERSEY
    • JORDAN
    • JUAN FERNANDEZ
    • KALINIGRAD
    • KAZAKHSTAN
    • KENYA
    • KOSOVO
    • KUWAIT
    • KYRGYZSTAN
    • LAKSHADWEEP ISLANDS
    • LAOS
    • LATVIA
    • LEBANON
    • LESOTHO
    • LIECHTENSTEIN
    • LITHUANIA
    • LORD HOWE ISLAND
    • LUXEMBOURG
    • MACAO
    • MACEDONIA
    • MACQUARIE ISLAND
    • MADAGASCAR
    • MADEIRA ISLAND
    • MALAWI
    • MALDIVES
    • MALI
    • MALTA
    • MARION ISLANDS
    • MARKET REEF
    • MARQUESAS ISLANDS
    • MARSHALL ISLANDS
    • MARTINIQUE
    • MAURITANIA
    • MAURITIUS
    • MAYOTTE ISLAND
    • MEXICO
    • MICRONESIA
    • MOLDOVA
    • MONACO
    • MONGOLIA
    • MONTENEGRO
    • MONTSERRAT
    • MOROCCO
    • MOZAMBIQUE
    • MYANMAR
    • NAMIBIA
    • NAURU
    • NEPAL
    • NETHERLANDS
    • NEW CALEDONIA
    • NEW ZEALAND
    • NEW ZEALAND SUB ANTARCTIC
    • NICARAGUA
    • NIGER REPUBLIC
    • NIGERIA
    • NIUE
    • NORFOLK ISLAND
    • NORTH COOK ISLANDS
    • NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS
    • NORTHERN IRELAND
    • NORWAY
    • OGASAWARA
    • OMAN
    • PAKISTAN
    • PALAU
    • PALESTINE
    • PALMYRA & JARVIS ISLANDS
    • PANAMA
    • PAPUA NEW GUINEA
    • PARAGUAY
    • PERU
    • PHILIPPINES
    • PITCAIRN ISLAND
    • POLAND
    • PORTUGAL
    • PUERTO RICO
    • QATAR
    • REUNION ISLAND
    • RODRIGUES ISLAND
    • ROMANIA
    • ROTUMA
    • RWANDA
    • SABA AND ST EUSTATIUS
    • SAMOA
    • SAN ANDRES
    • SAN MARINO
    • SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
    • SARDINIA
    • SAUDI ARABIA
    • SCOTLAND
    • SENEGAL
    • SERBIA
    • SEYCHELLES
    • SINGAPORE
    • SLOVAK REPUBLIC
    • SLOVENIA
    • SOLOMON ISLANDS
    • SOMALIA
    • SOUTH AFRICA
    • SOUTH COOK ISLANDS
    • SOUTH KOREA
    • SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS
    • SOUTH SUDAN
    • SOVEREIGN MILITARY ORDER OF MALTA
    • SPAIN
    • SPRATLY ISLAND
    • SRI LANKA
    • ST BARTHELMEY
    • ST BRANDON ISLAND
    • ST HELENA ISLAND
    • ST KITTS
    • ST LUCIA
    • ST MAARTEN
    • ST VINCENT
    • SUDAN
    • SVALBARD
    • SWAINS ISLAND
    • SWEDEN
    • SWITZERLAND
    • TAIWAN
    • TAJIKISTAN
    • TANZANIA
    • THAILAND
    • THE GAMBIA
    • TIMOR LESTE
    • TOKELAU
    • TONGA
    • TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
    • TRISTAN DA CUNHA & GOUGH ISLAND
    • TUNISIA
    • TURKEY
    • TURKS & CAICOS
    • TUVALU
    • UGANDA
    • UKRAINE
    • UK SOV BASE AREAS ON CYPRUS
    • UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
    • UNITED NATIONS
    • URUGUAY
    • USA
    • UZBEKISTAN
    • VANUATU
    • VENEZUELA
    • VIETNAM
    • VIRGIN ISLANDS (BRITISH)
    • VIRGIN ISLANDS (USA)
    • WAKE ISLAND
    • WALES
    • WALLIS & FUTUNA
    • WESTERN KIRIBATI
    • WEST MALAYSIA
    • WESTERN SAHARA
    • WILLIS ISLAND
    • ZAMBIA
    • ZIMBABWE
    • MARITIME MOBILE
    • SWL cards
    • Special event QSL cards
    • My QSL Manager, Charles M0OXO
    • My QSL card printer
  • VK5PAS PORTABLE
  • VK5PAS MOBILE
    • VK5PAS MOBILE - QSL CARDS RECEIVED
    • VK5PAS MOBILE - EQSL CARDS RECEIVED
  • AX5PAS
    • Australia Day
    • ANZAC Day
    • AX5PAS QSL cards received
  • VK9PAS NORFOLK ISLAND
    • VK9PAS QSL CARDS RECEIVED
    • VK9PAS - EQSL CARDS RECEIVED
  • SPECIAL CALL SIGNS
    • VK80LAN
    • VK90ABC
    • VI100AF and VK100AF
    • VI100PEACE
    • VI5LWF
    • VK20HOME
    • VI9ANZAC
    • VI5ANZAC
    • VK100ANZAC
    • VK100ANZAC - Farina 2015
    • VI5MARCONI
    • VK5WOW & VI5WOW
    • VI50IARU3
    • VI70MI
  • VK5FPAS - MY OLD CALL
    • QSL CARDS RECEIVED - VK5FPAS
    • LETTERS RECEIVED - VK5FPAS
  • MY QSL INFO
  • MY QTH - ASHBOURNE
    • My property
    • ASHBOURNE HISTORICAL PHOTOS
    • Bushfires
    • Tour Down Under
    • Steam Ranger
    • STRATHALBYN
  • Mount Barker summit
  • Mount Barker from years gone by
  • Classic Adelaide Rally
  • ALL ABOUT AUSTRALIA
    • How big is Australia ?
    • Melbourne Cup
  • SOUTH AUSTRALIA
    • Adelaide
    • South Australia icons
    • Superloop 500 car race
    • Bay to Birdwood
    • Adelaide Crows
    • Adelaide Oval
  • WHAT IS AMATEUR RADIO?
    • History of AR in Australia
    • Patron Saint of AR
    • How many amateurs are in Australia
    • Licences and Callsigns
    • UTC TIME
    • Phonetic alphabet
    • Making a successful QSO
    • Ham jargon
    • QRZ.com
    • Broadcasts
    • Boat anchors
  • PROMOTIONAL VIDEOS
  • AMATEUR RADIO VIDEOS
  • PORTABLE OPERATION
    • Portable Hints
    • Antennas
    • Squid Poles
    • Tuner
    • Batteries/power sources
    • Bitx40
    • Other equipment
    • John Moyle Memorial Field Day
    • Beaches on the Air (BOTA)
    • Freeze your butt off
    • Field Radio
    • Great Outdoors Radio Club
    • Logging contacts
    • Fast Log Entry (FLE)
    • Pedestrian mobile
    • Bicycle mobile
    • Articles
    • Promotional material
  • MOBILE OPERATION
  • VK5 PARKS AWARD
    • CERTIFICATES
    • My VK5 Parks activities >
      • Activator >
        • 2019
        • 2018
        • 2017
        • 2016
        • 2015
        • 2014
        • 2013
      • Hunter >
        • 2017
        • 2016
        • 2015
        • 2014
        • 2013
      • Park to Park
    • Activations with other amateurs
    • Videos >
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
  • WORLD WIDE FLORA & FAUNA (WWFF)
    • VKFF Awards
    • WWFF Global awards
    • National program awards
    • VKFF Activation Weekend
    • VKFF Team Championship
    • Top VKFF Activator
    • Top VKFF Hunter
    • Top WWFF Activator
    • WWFF QSL cards received
    • My portable QSL cards
    • My WWFF videos >
      • 2020
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
      • 2013
    • Other activators - videos
    • Activations with other amateurs
    • My favourite activations
    • DX CONTACTS
  • SUMMITS ON THE AIR (SOTA)
    • Getting started in SOTA
    • How do summits qualify?
    • What is prominence?
    • Activation zone
    • Tips for activators
    • Tips for Chasers
    • Australia's mountains & elevation
    • Accessing private property
    • Keeping land owners happy
    • SOTA in South Australia (VK5)
    • My SOTA activities
    • My SOTA certificates
    • My SOTA QSL cards
    • Certificates of Appreciation
    • My SOTA activation videos >
      • 2016
      • 2014
      • 2013
    • Other SOTA videos
    • DX SOTA contacts
    • Activations with other amateurs
    • SOTA QSL cards received
    • SOTA apps
    • Maps
    • Interesting websites
    • Presentations
    • Summitsbase
    • PEAKERY
    • Trig points
    • Stone walls
  • HEMA
    • HEMA VIDEOS
  • GLOBAL MOUNTAIN ACTIVITY GROUP
  • KEITH ROGET MEMORIAL NATIONAL PARKS AWARD
    • My KRMNPA progress
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
  • ISLANDS ON THE AIR (IOTA)
    • My IOTA activations
    • Troubridge Island - 2023
    • Norfolk Island - 2016
    • Kangaroo Island - 2013
    • Granite Island - 2013
    • Kangaroo Island - 2012
    • IOTA QSL cards received
    • VK IOTA
  • BEACHES ON THE AIR (BOTA)
  • SILOS ON THE AIR (SiOTA)
  • ILLW - LIGHTHOUSE WEEKEND
    • History of ILLW
    • 2022
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • Warburto Light
  • MILLS ON THE AIR
  • AWARDS
    • DXCC
    • New Zealand
    • QRZ.com Awards
    • eQSL Awards
    • WIA Awards
    • WIA Presidents Commendation
    • Digital mode awards
    • 2017 WIA AGM Award
    • Ted Powell Memorial DX Challenge
    • Italian Castles Award
    • VK Shires
    • Japan Awards
    • ANZAC Centennary Award
    • USA Counties Award
    • World Castles Award
  • CONTESTING
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
    • WIA Contest Champion
    • Freeze your Butt Off (FYBO)
    • WARCA
  • TIPS ON MAKING A QSO
  • SIGNAL REPORTS
  • WORKING DX
    • DX Cluster
    • DX videos & audio
    • DX Code of Conduct
    • Interesting contacts
    • DX Contacts
    • Special Event stations
    • DX articles
  • PROPAGATION
    • Sunspot cycle
    • VOACAP
    • spaceweather.com
    • Space Weather Prediction Center
    • SPACE WEATHER WOMAN 2022
    • SPACE WEATHER WOMAN 2021
    • SPACE WEATHER WOMAN 2020
    • SPACE WEATHER WOMAN 2019
    • SPACE WEATHER WOMAN 2018
    • Propagation articles
    • BEAM HEADINGS
  • COLLECTING QSL CARDS
  • QSL CARD CHECKING
    • DXCC Card checker
    • Logbook of the World (LOTW)
    • CQ Awards
    • WIA Awards
  • 28 MHZ, 10 METRE BAND
    • Sporadic E
    • 10m beacons
    • 10m repeaters
    • 10-10 International
    • 10m Contests
    • 10m band Facebook pages
    • Videos
  • 6M, THE MAGIC BAND
  • 15M BAND
  • DIGITAL MODES
    • FT8
    • PSK31 & PSK63
    • PSK Reporter
  • VHF/UHF
  • MORSE CODE - CW
  • WSPR
  • APRS
  • IRLP
  • AMATEUR SATELLITES
  • QRP
  • ANTENNAS & BALUNS
  • COAX
  • CONNECTORS
  • BATTERIES
  • PORTS
  • TOWERS
  • VSWR
  • OSCILLOSCOPES
  • ELIMINATING NOISE
  • OVER THE HORIZON RADAR
  • RUSSIAN WOODPECKER
  • NETS
    • Triple H Net
    • ANZA DX Net
  • QRZ.com
  • QRZCQ
  • ACMA
  • WIRELESS INSTITUE OF AUSTRALIA (WIA)
    • History
    • Callbook
    • WIA AGM Hahndorf 2017
    • WIA AGM Norfolk Island 2016
    • WIA AGM Canberra 2015
    • WIA National Field Day 2010
  • RASA
  • ALARA
  • WOMEN IN AMATEUR RADIO
  • VK5MAZ MARIJA - MY WIFE
    • QSL cards received
    • VK5 Parks Award
    • WWFF
    • Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award
    • SOTA
    • eQSL
    • VK100AF and VI100AF
    • VK80LAN
    • MILLS ON THE AIR
    • BOTA
    • Silos On The Air (SiOTA)
    • Other Awards
    • Contesting
    • DL1DN QRP contact
    • Videos
  • WELL KNOWN AMATEURS
    • Florence Violet McKENZIE
  • HAMS I HAVE MET
    • Northern Corridor Group WA
  • SILENT KEYS
  • BELGIUM 2014
  • GET TOGETHERS
    • ANTENNAPALOOZA - 2017
    • SERG CONVENTION >
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
      • 2014
    • BRL GATHERING >
      • 2019
      • 2018
      • 2017
      • 2016
      • 2015
  • RADIO INTERVIEWS
  • PRESENTATIONS & EVENTS
    • 2022
    • 2021
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2014 >
      • SOTA & PARKS Symposium 2014
      • SOTA & Parks practical day
    • 2013
  • FACEBOOK PAGES
  • LETTERS RECEIVED
  • HAM PHOTOS
    • G4AKC Dave
    • VK9JA Norfolk Island
  • QSL CARDS FROM FELLOW POLICE OFFICERS
  • AHARS
  • STRATHALBYN AMATEUR RADIO GROUP
  • PACIFIC DXers
  • OUT AND ABOUT IN VK5
  • SCHOOL RADIO CLUB
  • VKS-737 RADIO NETWORK
  • ANTIQUE RADIOS
    • AIRZONE N3102
    • AWA
    • HOTPOINT
    • KRIESLER 11-20A BAKELITE
    • MULLARD
    • RADIOLA
    • SCHARNBERG STRAUSS
    • STROMBERG CARLSON
  • HISTORICAL RADIO SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA
  • OLD COMMUNICATION RECEIVERS
  • SHORT WAVE LISTENING (SWL)
    • SHORT WAVE EXPLAINED - VIDEOS
    • Broadcast Listeners Licence
    • My SWL receivers
    • Yaesu FRG7
    • My SWL antennas
    • My SWL QSL cards
    • What is a QSL card?
    • Reception Report tips
    • SINPO / SIO code
    • Useful websites
    • Broadcast QSL cards received
    • Amateur radio QSL cards received - VK5003SWL
    • Amateur radio QSL cards received - SWL L50000
    • Amateur Radio Awards
    • Letters received - VK5003SWL
    • WIA membership
    • SWARL
    • ARDXC
    • NASWA Journal
    • DX Monitor
    • Southern Cross DX Club
    • Amateur radio videos
    • Broadcast station videos
    • Audio files - Commercial broadcasters
    • Audio files - Amateur radio
    • World of Radio
    • World Radio TV Handbook
    • FSL ANTENNA
    • SWL pages on the Internet
    • Documents
    • Newspaper articles
    • Other articles
    • New Zealand DX Times
    • DX Guides
    • Latin American DXing
    • TECSUN
  • SHORT WAVE BROADCAST STATIONS
    • 4KZ INNISFAIL, QUEENSLAND
    • ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO
    • AFRICAN PATHWAYS
    • ALL INDIA RADIO
    • ARMED FORCES RADIO & TV NETWORK
    • AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION - ABC
    • BANGLADESH BETAR
    • BAY ISLANDS RADIO
    • BBC WORLD SERVICE
    • BEIBU BAY RADIO, CHINA
    • BIBLE VOICE BROADCASTING
    • CFRX TORONTO, CANADA
    • CHINA HUYAI BROADCASTING CORPORATION
    • CHINA NATIONAL RADIO CNR2 BUSINESS RADIO
    • CHINA NATIONAL RADIO CNR6
    • CHINA NATIONAL RADIO, CNR7 THE GREAT BAY
    • CHINA NATIONAL RADIO, CNR8
    • CHINA NATIONAL RADIO CNR13
    • CHINA RADIO INTERNATIONAL
    • DEUTSCHE WELLE
    • DIMSTE WEYANE TIGRAY
    • ECHO OF HOPE, SOUTH KOREA
    • ECHO OF UNIFICATION
    • FEBA RADIO INDIA
    • FEBA RADIO PAKISTAN
    • FEBC RADIO INTERNATIONAL
    • FURUSATO NO KAZE, JAPAN
    • GHANA BROADCASTING CORPORATION
    • HCJB, ECUADOR
    • HOPE RADIO PALAU
    • KARI NATIONAL RADIO
    • KBS WORLD RADIO, SOUTH KOREA
    • KHBI, SAIPAN
    • KNLS ALASKA
    • KOL ISRAEL
    • KOREAN CENTRAL BROADCASTING STATION KCBS
    • KSDA ADVENTIST WORLD RADIO
    • KTWR, GUAM
    • KYOI, SAIPAN
    • MASHAAL RADIO
    • MYANMAR RADIO
    • NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMMISSION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
    • NATIONAL UNITY RADIO, SOUTH KOREA
    • NHK WORLD, JAPAN
    • NIHON SHORTWAVE BROADCASTING CORP, JAPAN
    • NIPPON NO KAZE
    • NORTH KOREA REFORM RADIO
    • PAKISTAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION
    • PEACE AND PROGRESS, RUSSIA
    • PEOPLES BROADCASTING STATION GANNAN
    • PEOPLES BROADCASTING STATION HULUN BUIR
    • PEOPLES BROADCASTING STATION QINGHAI, CHINA
    • PEOPLES BROADCASTING STATION XINJIANG
    • PEOPLES BROADCASTING STATION XIZANG, CHINA
    • PYONGYANG BROADCASTING STATION
    • RAADIYYONI DIREE SHAGGAR
    • RADIO AFGHANISTAN INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO ALAZM
    • RADIO ALGERIENNE
    • RADIO AUSTRALIA
    • RADIO AUSTRIA INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO AZADI
    • RADIO BAGHDAD, IRAQ
    • RADIO BEIJING, CHINA
    • RADIO BERLIN INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO BUCHAREST, ROMANIA
    • RADIO BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
    • RADIO BULGARIA
    • RADIO CANADA INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO CHANNEL 292
    • RADIO DABANGA
    • RADIO DAP LOI SONG NUI
    • RADIO DX NORFLK ISLAND
    • RADIO EDUCACION, MEXICO
    • RADIO ETHIOPIA
    • RADIO EXTERIOR DE ESPANA
    • RADIO FARDA
    • RADIO FINLAND
    • RADIO FOR PEACE INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO FOR THE PRINT DISABLED
    • RADIO FRANCE INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO FREE ASIA
    • RADIO FREE EUROPE
    • RADIO FREE NORTH KOREA
    • RADIO HABANA, CUBA
    • RADIO IRAN INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO JAPAN
    • RADIO KOREA
    • RADIO KUWAIT
    • RADIO MADANG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
    • RADIO MANARA INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO MARTI
    • RADIO MAZARIS SAMAY
    • RADIO MOSCOW
    • RADIO NACIONAL DA AMAZONIA
    • RADIO NDARASON INTERNATIONALE
    • RADIO NEDERLAND, NETHERLANDS
    • RADIO NEW ZEALAND
    • RADIO NIKKEI
    • RADIO NORWAY
    • RADIO PEKING
    • RADIO PORTUGAL
    • RADIO PRAGUE INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO PRAHA
    • RADIO PYONGYANG, NORTH KOREA
    • RADIO REBELDE, CUBA
    • RADIO ROMANIA INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO RSA, SOUTH AFRICA
    • RADIO SADAYE ZINDAGI
    • RADIO SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO SLOVAKIA INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO SOFIA, BULGARIA
    • RADIO SWEDEN INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO TAIWAN INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO TAMAZUJ
    • RADIO TAPEI INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO TARMA, PERU
    • RADIO TASHKENT
    • RADIO THAILAND
    • RADIO TIRANA, ALBANIA
    • RADIO UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL
    • RADIO ULAN BATOR, MONGOLIA
    • RADIO VANUATU
    • RADIO VERITAS ASIA
    • RADIO VLAANDEREN
    • RADIO VOZ MISSIONARIA, BRAZIL
    • RADIO YUGOSLAVIA
    • RADYO DENGE WELAT
    • RADYO PILIPINAS
    • RAI, ITALY
    • REACH BEYOND AUSTRALIA
    • REPUBLIC OF YEMEN
    • RTM MALAYSIA
    • RTM SARAWAK
    • SAUDI ARABIA
    • SHIOKAZE - SEA BREEZE
    • SHORTWAVE AUSTRALIA
    • SINGAPORE BROADCASTING CORPORATION
    • SOLOMON ISLANDS BROADCASTING CORP (SIBC)
    • SOUND OF HOPE, CHINA
    • SWISS RADIO INTERNATIONAL
    • THAZIN RADIO, MYANMAR
    • THE OVERCOMER MINISTRY
    • TRANS WORLD RADIO
    • TRANS WORLD RADIO BONAIRE
    • TRANS WORLD RADIO INDIA
    • UNIQUE RADIO AUSTRALIA
    • UNITED NATIONS RADIO
    • VATICAN RADIO
    • VOICE OF AMERICA, USA
    • VOICE OF AMERICA ASHNA USA
    • VOICE OF AMERICA DEEWA, USA
    • VOICE OF FREE CHINA
    • VOICE OF GREECE
    • VOICE OF HOPE, AFRICA
    • VOICE OF INDONESIA
    • VOICE OF JINLING, CHINA
    • VOICE OF KOREA, NORTH KOREA
    • VOICE OF MALAYSIA
    • VOICE OF MONGOLIA
    • VOICE OF NIGERIA
    • VOICE OF THE ARABS
    • VOICE OF THE BROAD MASSES
    • VOICE OF THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
    • VOICE OF THE MARTYRS
    • VOICE OF THE PEOPLE, SOUTH KOREA
    • VOICE OF THE STRAIT, CHINA
    • VOICE OF TURKEY
    • VOICE OF VIETNAM
    • VOZ ANDES, ECUADOR
    • WBCQ - WORLDS LAST CHANCE RADIO, USA
    • WEWN, USA
    • WINB, USA
    • WRMI, RADIO MIAMI INTERNATIONAL
    • WRNO, USA
    • WSHB, USA
    • WTWW, USA
    • WWCR, USA
    • WYFR
    • YUNNAN RADIO, CHINA
    • ZAMBIA NATIONAL BROADCASTING CORPORATION
  • SHORTWAVE - WEATHER & OTHER VIDEOS
    • WWVH and WWV
    • VNG TIime Signal
    • CHU Canada
    • Russian Navy
  • MEDIUM WAVE DXing
    • Antennas
    • Radio Garden
    • QSL cards received
    • Stickers received
    • Videos
  • ULTRALIGHT DXing
  • SCANNING
  • CB RADIO
  • HAM RADIO PODCASTS
  • INTERESTING WEBSITES
  • NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
  • INTERESTING PUBLICATIONS & MAGAZINE ARTICLES
  • MAC USERS
  • HAM HUMOUR
  • MUSEUMS WITH RADIO COLLECTIONS
  • POLICE
    • South Australia Police
    • SA Police history
    • In Memoriam
    • National Police Memorial
    • Victoria Police Museum
    • Old police stations
    • In the line of duty
    • Old Adelaide Gaol
    • Old Fremantle Prison
    • Other old gaols
    • Other Old courthouses
    • J Ward Ararat
    • Z Ward Glenside
    • Pleasant Creek
    • Ned Kelly
    • Historic police vehicles
    • Police videos
  • HISTORY OF DETECTIVES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
  • POLICE PATCH COLLECTING
    • My trade list
    • Australia >
      • Australian Capital Territory
      • Australian Federal Police
      • New South Wales
      • Northern Territory
      • Queensland
      • South Australia
      • Tasmania
      • Victoria
      • Western Australia
      • Other
    • Belgium
    • Bermuda
    • Canada
    • Christmas Island
    • Croatia
    • FINLAND
    • France
    • Germany
    • Italy
    • Kenya
    • Malaysia
    • New Zealand
    • Norfolk Island
    • Niue
    • Romania
    • Singapore
    • Solomon Islands
    • Sri Lanka
    • Sweden
    • Switzerland
    • Torres Strait
    • United Kingdom
    • USA >
      • Alabama
      • Arkansas
      • California
      • Colorado
      • Connecticut
      • Delawere
      • Florida
      • Georgia
      • Idaho
      • Illinois
      • Indiana
      • Iowa
      • Louisiana
      • Maine
      • Kentucky
      • Maryland
      • Massachusetts
      • Michigan
      • Minnesota
      • Nebraska
      • Nevada
      • New Jersey
      • New Mexico
      • New York
      • North Carolina
      • Ohio
      • Oklahoma
      • Pennsylvania
      • Rhode Island
      • Tennessee
      • Texas
      • Virginia
      • Washington
      • Washington DC
      • Wisconsin
      • Wyoming
      • USA other
  • WEATHER
    • Lightning
  • FAMILY HISTORY
    • SA Genealogical Society
    • My Dad
  • CHRYSLER VALIANT VH
  • 4WDing
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
    • Jan Wegener videos
    • Birdlife Australia Photo Awards
  • BIRDS
  • BUSH WALKING
  • ASTRONOMY
  • GEOCACHING
  • SCALEXTRIC SLOT CAR RACING
  • HOTELS
    • South Australia
    • Victoria
  • WINERIES
  • BREWERIES
  • OVERSEAS HOLIDAYS
    • Norfolk Island
    • Canada, Alaska & San Francisco
  • AUSTRALIAN HOLIDAYS
  • STURT FOOTBALL CLUB
  • WOOD FIRED OVEN
  • JUST FOR LAUGHS
  • MY FAVOURITE MUSIC
    • Songs I grew up to
    • Jackson BROWNE
  • INTERESTING VIDEOS
  • BLOG/INTERESTING INFO
  • CONTACT ME (VIA EMAIL)
  • HAM ALERT

2012

Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th August 2012

Picture
Another lighthouse weekend has unfortunately come and gone.  This year, 2012, was the 16th anniversary of the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (ILLW), and coincided with the 160th anniversary of South Australia’s oldest lighthouse situated at Cape Willoughby on the easternmost point of Kangaroo Island.
 
A team of seven operators from the Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society ventured to Kangaroo Island, Australia’s third largest island, and operated from remote Cape Willoughby, using the special call sign of VI5CW from the afternoon of Friday 17th August through until the morning of Monday 20th August. 
 
The group consisted of Paul VK5PAS, Sasi VK5SN, Mark VK5VW, David VK5KC, Hans VK5YX and his wife Lesley VK5LOL, and Trevor VK5ATW.  Not to omit the other important members, our XYL’s, Marija, Ash, Michelle, & Joy, who kept us fed and watered.
 
Early on the morning of Friday 17th August, 2012, eight of us journeyed to Cape Jervis on the Fleurieu Peninsula, about 108 kms south of Adelaide to board the 8.30 a.m. ferry.  Three of the group were smart enough to catch the later ferry at midday.  Enroute to Cape Jervis we encountered some blustery weather, including hail which was not a good omen for things to come.  
 
The 45 minute journey aboard the Sealink ferry, across the 11 km stretch of water called Backstairs Passage, made for some interesting times.  The weather was particularly inclement that day and the trip quite rough.  Fortunately only one case of sea sickness resulted though.
 
Our adventures didn’t finish there.  After arriving on the island at Penneshaw, the 30 km dirt stretch of Willoughby Road to the lighthouse was quite challenging at times with mud, large sheets of water, and big pot holes.  Fortunately no one became bogged and the view along the shrub lined dirt road to the lighthouse was spectacular.
 
Upon our arrival at the Cape Willoughby lighthouse, we were informed that Cape Willoughby had experienced 55 knot winds (100 kmh) that morning, making it the windiest place on record in Australia.  This made the erection of antennas quite a challenge.  David VK5KC & Trevor VK5ATW made the 102 step journey to the balcony of the lighthouse and secured some ropes to the railing, some 22 metres from the ground.  From here we were able to erect a dipole antenna.
 
Our accommodation was the ‘Thomas’ and ‘Seymour’ cottages located at the lighthouse.  These are the old lighthouse keeper cottages constructed in 1927, which have been beautifully refurbished and are self contained and offer five bedrooms.  They provided very comfortable accommodation for our three night stay.
 
During the blustery Friday, we established four operating stations at the lighthouse in what could only be described as trying conditions. 
 
The first operating position was located in the old  weather station, about 15 metres from the lighthouse.  This consisted of a Yaesu FT450, 100 watts, and a broadband folded dipole which was attached to the railing of the lighthouse in a sloper configuration.  This was our main operating position.  The refreshing voice of Lesley VK5LOL was often heard from here.  Mark VK5VW and I also operated regularly from here, as did others from our group.  Operating conditions were quite difficult at times, as this small room constructed of granite and sandstone, did not offer great acoustics.
 
The second operating position was located in the back porch of the ‘Thomas’ cottage.  This was the domain of Sasi, VK5SN, who was active on PSK31 on 20 and 40 metres.  Using a Yaesu FT857d, and a vertical and an OCF dipole, he made about 30 PSK31 contacts to a variety of countries, including Australia, USA, Poland, France, Papua New Guinea, Reunion Island, Turkey, and Russia.
 
The third operating position was located in the back porch of the ‘Seymour’ cottage.  David VK5KC & Trevor VK5ATW, were highly sought after on 2 metres from stations on the South Australian mainland.  A total of 60 stations were worked on SSB & FM on both 2 metres and 70 cm.
 
The fourth operating position was in the ‘Seymour’ cottage.  Hans, VK5YX, used an Icom 7000 and a multiband HF whip on his 4WD parked out the front of the cottage, and made a number of contacts on 80, 40, & 20 metres.
 
With the performance of the broadband folded dipole being quite poor on 20m, on the Sunday afternoon we erected a 20 m dipole and this made a considerable difference to our success on 20 metres.  An extremely large ’pile up’ resulted into Europe. 
 
During the 3 days we were active on 20, 40, and 80 metres on HF, and also on 2 metres and 70cm.  A total of 511 QSO’s were made around Australia and overseas.  A total of 30 different countries were worked on 20m and 40m, including Asiatic Russia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, European Russia, Federal Republic of Germany, Finland, France, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Italy,Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Poland, Puerto Rico, Reunion Island, Scotland, Slovenia, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, United States of America, and Wales. 
 
A total of about 39 different lighthouses around the Australian coast were worked in all states except for the Northern Territory.  Five different overseas lighthouses were worked.  These being the Punta Gorda lighthouse, California, USA (40m SSB); the Punta Higuero lighthouse in Puerto Rico (20m PSK31); the Los Morillos lighthouse in Puerto Rico (20m SSB); Castle Point lighthouse, New Zealand (20m SSB & 80m SSB); and Bean Rock lighthouse, New Zealand (20m SSB).
 
Some of the highlights of the weekend were speaking to a number of pedestrian mobile stations in the United Kingdom, an on air interview with Ashley Walsh from ABC 891 Radio, and a special tour of the Cape Willoughby lighthouse.
 
Unfortunately due to the weather and road conditions out to the lighthouse, visitor numbers were limited.  However we were lucky to be visited by Wren Lashmar who previously worked at the lighthouse for a total of 15 years, and a lady whose husband was a SK amateur operator.  They found our operation and our small display which we had erected on the hobby of amateur radio interesting.
 
The weekend was a terrific success and most enjoyable, and all of us are looking forward to next year, and another possible trip to Kangaroo Island. 
 
Special thanks must be mentioned to the Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources staff at the Cape Willoughby lighthouse, including Adele and Quentin.  They made us feel particularly welcome and showed a keen interest in our operation.  Also our thanks goes to the Department of Transport Energy and Infrastructure, who kindly allowed us to attach antennas to the railing of the lighthouse.
 
More information on our trip can be found at our website at http://simmopa.wix.com/capewilloughby and on our QRZ.com page.
 
Best 73 and thanks to all those who gave us a call.
 
Paul, VK5PAS.

Picture

Interview with ABC Radio

Videos.

Article from 'The Islander' newspaper

Picture

Article from ALARA news, written by Lesley VK5LOL

Picture
Picture
Picture

Article from AR magazine.

Picture
Picture

QSL cards received

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.