This weekend saw the Spring VHF/UHF Field Day 'contest' run. VK4CZ/P was activated from Walter Franklin Park, high above Kobble Creek (just 11km north west from my home station) in grid square QG62jr.

Station was a simple set-up.

Txcr: FT-857D 50MHz - 100w, 144MHz - 50w, 432MHz - 20w
Antenna: 50MHz - 3el YU7EF yagi, 144MHz - 12 el DL6WU yagi, 432MHz - 29 el DL6WU yagi


Participation was again down on past years, and in whilst many calls were made with antennas facing to both the north and south no 'DX' contacts made (although VK2MAX appeared on 144MHz just as I was packing up!!!!)

Watching the conversations on VKLogger and iChat saw much focus and attention on local participation around SYD and MEL, but nothing that encouraged further development of the paths. The future of VHF/UHF Field Days for operators in SE VK4 requires a significant development in the rules to encourage stations to actively look for participating stations from further afield.

I hope that the recent paper prepared and submitted by Andrew VK1DA and Colin VK5DK to the WIA seeking change is received and acted upon!