AREG VI5ANZAC Activation Plans

Posted on 2015-04-18 by VK5GR

As previously advised, the Amateur Radio Experimenters Group will be activating the special event callsign VI5ANZAC to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the landing of the ANZAC force on the Gallipoli peninsula in Turkey during World War One.

The AREG activation window is between 1200 ACST 25th April through to 2359 ACST 30th April

VI5ANZAC is based in South Australia which was also the home state of the 10th Battalion which was raised in August 1914. On 25 April 1915, the 10th Battalion took part in the Landing at Anzac Cove, coming ashore during the initial stages of the operation as part of the covering force. Members from the 10th Battalion penetrated the furthest inland of any Australian troops during the initial fighting, before the Allied advance inland was checked.

Photo: 10th Battalion Troops at Gallipoli – August 1915 (Information sourced from Wikipedia)

To work this special event callsign AREG will be active during the following times:

Saturday 25th April 0230UTC (1200ACST) – Sunday 26th April ~0830UTC (1800ACST)
- 7.150MHz (+ QRM) (Primary)
- 14.150MHz (+QRM) (Primary – Beaming Long Path Europe)
- 21.250MHz (+ QRM) (Secondary)
- 28.450MHz (+QRM) (Secondary)\
  - Operators: VK5CP + Many others
    40-6m MonstIR Beam – part of the VI5ANZAC station on Saturday25th/Sunday 26th April 2015

Tuesday 28th April 0830UTC (1800ACST) 1200UTC (2130ACST) – QRP Portable from Morialta Conservation Park
- 7.145MHz Split (+5kHz)
- 14.245MHz Split (+5kHz) before ~1030-1100 UTC
- 3.675MHz Split (+5kHz) – after ~1030-1100 UTC
- 146.550MHz FM (Adelaide Metro area)
- 439.025MHz FM (Adelaide Metro area)
  - NOTE: This operation is weather permitting. More information is available from Bob VK5FO who is leading this actrivation
  - Operators: VK5FO, VK5QI, VK5RR, VK5GR + Others
Wednesday 29th April 1030UTC (2000ACST) – 1430UTC (0000ACST)
- 14.150MHz (+QRM) Beaming LP Europe (subject to leaving work early)
- 7.150MHz (+ QRM) Beginning 1030UTC (40m dipole)
- 14.263MHz (+QRM) Beaming SP USA (2el Hexbeam)
- 14.150MHz, 18.145MHz, 21.250MHz, (+QRM) Beaming SP Europe (2el Hexbeam)
- With only two element Hexbeam I should be heard in Japan when beaming SP USA and Europe
- Operator: Matt VK5ZM
Thursday 30th April – 0830 UTC (1800ACST) – sometime before 2359 UTC
- SSB: 28.450, 21.250, 14.150, 7.150
- RTTY: 28.085, 21.085, 14.085, 7.040
- PSK63: 28.120, 21.070, 14.070, 7.070
- CW (maybe…): 28.025, 21.025, 14.025, 7.025
  - Note: Obviously I won’t be able to work all of these bands and modes on the night but if I can these will be the frequencies you will find us on.
  - Operator: Theo VK5MTM

Members of AREG may also activate the callsign at other times during the club’s operating window. QSL will only be via CLUB Log, EQSL and LOTW – No hard copy.

We look forward to working you all using this historic callsign!

IRLP Node 6214 now locked with a PIN!

Posted on 2015-04-12 by VK5BB

Due to inappropriate activity where the IRLP node 6214 sadface has been maliciously interfered with and manipulated to the point of triggering lockout responses from other IRLP network nodes, AREG has been forced to require operators to register for access to the node, and for registered operators to use a PIN code for access.

A most unfortunate side effect of this is that we have now locked out incidental travelers from the system and this is not in the spirit of Amateur Radio Operations. ( I am very sorry that this has had to occur, I held out as long as I could!)

Amateur radio operators who wish to use the IRLP node 6214, are requested to apply via email, with a valid email address and call sign, so as to be issued with the PIN. All applications will be recorded for administration purposes.

Applications may be made to either,

vk5bb@wia.org.au or vk5qi@wia.org.au

Security of the issued PIN is paramount and it shall not be passed on verbally to any other interested parties.

All inquiries for the PIN shall be referred to the AREG web pages.

73, Ben, VK5BB

IRLP Node 6214 Administrator

River Paddling Marathon: AREG Communications Update

Posted on 2015-03-29 by VK5GR

Attention all club members – the radio operator registrations are now open for this year’s event. Please access the registration form link e-mailed to all members via the mailing list and complete your details for 2015 as soon as possible so that checkpoint planning, accommodation and catering can all be finalized. Note: the AREG home base this year will be the Kingston on Murray Caravan Park.

AREG activation of VI5ANZAC 25th – 30th April 2015

Posted on 2015-03-28 by VK5GR

The Amateur Radio Experimenters Group will be participating in the WIA organised special event callsign activation of VI5ANZAC. The major commemoration is on the 25th April 2015, which is when Australian and New Zealand troops landed at Gallipoli, marking 100 years since our nation’s involvement in WWI.

The club has secured the window from 0000UTC (9:30am CST) Friday 24th April through to 2359UTC 30th April (9:30am CST Friday 1st May) to activate the callsign. After interest was also expressed from the Elizabeth Amateur Radio club to operate portable from an RSL hall on ANZAC day, AREG has cooperated and agreed to EARC operating the callsign up until 12.00pm CST on April 25th, so that operators from both clubs can share in the experience.

The principle goal of AREG with the callsign is to contact Turkey on HF after 12:00pm CST (0230UTC) on the 25th of April (Anzac Day) as well as provide an easily reachable signal across VK/ZL (and all points in between). A large construction project is underway at one of the club members stations aimed at installing a 3 element 40m beam and 4 element 20m beam in time for the event. The AREG also intends for it’s members to activate it as often as possible from AREG members stations thereafter within the club’s operating window on HF and VHF/UHF as far as possible.

More details of AREG’s exact plans will be released closer to the event. At this stage, members are asked to contact the committee to place their details on the club roster for activating VI5ANZAC between Sunday 26th April and Friday 1st May 9:30am.

CQ WPX & VK5 Parks Award activity underway!

Posted on 2015-03-28 by VK5GR

The VK5ARG activation during the CQ WPX Contest and the VK5 Parks award activation by VK5QI and VK5AKH are underway now from the Coorong National Park. The bands are jumping and the team is having lots of fun camping out under the stars.

iOE1VKA 20m is alive with activity during the contest, as can be seen from Mark’s SDR screen capture here. Not a lot of room on 20m when this was captured!

All the best boys and enjoy yourselves.

VK5ARG Active in VK5 Parks Award and CQ WPX Contest this weekend

Posted on 2015-03-26 by VK5GR

This weekend will see VK5ARG portable on the airwaves again with several intrepid members including Andy VK5AKH and Mark VK5QI planning on operating portable from the Coorong National Park, 175km SE of Adelaide.

CQ WPX Contest Activation VK5ARG

VK5ARG will be active in the the CQ WPX SSB Contest, which is based on an award offered by CQ Magazine for working as many prefixes as possible during the contest period.. Held on the last weekend of March (SSB) and May (CW), the contest draws thousands of entries from around the world.

VK5 Parks Award Simultaneous Activation

This is also the second anniversary of the VK5 Parks Activation Weekend event organised by the Adelaide Hills Amateur Radio Society. Paul VK5PAS who has driven the VK5 Parks Award has done a sterling job and promoting HF and VHF/UHF portable operation through this initiative giving amateurs a great incentive to get out and about and see the natural wonders of our state while playing Amateur Radio.

Operators of VK5ARG this weekend will also be making contatcs under their own callsigns during the VK5 Parks Activation, so look out for Mark VK5QI/P and Andy VK5AKH/P (and others) on the bands. For more information about the VK5 Parks Award visit their website.

Antennas will be 16m tall vertical on 160-30m, inverted Vee on 40m and 2 element hex beam 20-10m. Operating Low Power as generators are not allowed in the park. Good luck in the contest and hope to see you in the log.

John Moyle Memorial Field Day over for another year

Posted on 2015-03-22 by VK5GR

Journey’s End

The joint EARC, NERC and AREG activation of the Para Wirra Recreation Park for the 2015 John Moyle Memorial Field Day contest has been a roaring success. It was great to see so many people from all of the participating clubs come along and pitch in with manpower and equipment. Most of all it was clear that everyone who came along had a lot of fun and got to play a LOT of radio…

Thanks must also go to the Wireless Institute of Australia who granted access to the state WIA callsign VK5WIA for the event. It was great to unite all three clubs under the state banner.

At the end of the event, VK5WIA/P had worked a total of 1141 stations in 24 hours with the breakdown band by band standing at:

160m: 5
80m: 92
40m: 564
20m: 319
15m: 148
10m: 13

We now look forward to submitting our logs and seeing how we went.

Thanks Everyone

A big thank you to the contest “master”, Andrew VK5AKH, who rallied all of the equipment and man power from many sources across both clubs into a cohesive station, along with help from many others. Thanks also to all of the band captains, operators, support crew and catering crew for making the event special. A special thanks also to the rangers from the Parra Wirra Recreation Park who gave us special permission to remain in the park after hours to operate the station.

More Images

Finally, here are some more images from VK5WIA. We have created a photo gallery of the event on the AREG website. Check it out here!

Grant VK5GR has also created one last time lapse sequence to inspire us for next year!

Final Reminder

If you worked us more than 5 times, please make sure you also submit a log to the contest manager. This is a new rule for this year and it will help verify our repeat contacts.

John Moyle Field Day Station VK5WIA – ON THE AIR!

Posted on 2015-03-21 by VK5GR

The AREG/EARC/NERC portable activation of VK5WIA for the John Moyle Field Day Contest is now well and truly up and running. We have had over 20 operators so far driving the 4 stations and at the 11 hour mark we are over 500 contacts already.