vk9na.com

The 2m and 6m antennas just fitting between two units of the accommodation used at VK9NA. The 6m antenna was the only one for that band. The 2m antenna was a backup to the Mt Pitt and other sites and was used several mornings for meteor scatter contacts. vk9na.com

The 2m and 70cm antennas on their mast at Mt Pitt, mounted on a 6m aluminium mast in three sections. Rotation manual, direction controlled by two guy ropes due to the windy conditions this year. We left these antennas up like this overnight and each morning when we arrived onsite I was mildly surprised (but relieved) to find it all still upright and safe. When the wind became too high for comfort we dismantled this mast and took the antennas down to the lower site where the EME antenna had been taken. After setting up the antenna at the new site we were amazed to hear and work Rex VK7MO on 2m, whose signal burst through the speaker almost the second we connected the cable to the radio. See vk9na.com

Part of the station being assembled at Mt Pitt vk9na.com

The FT817 was monitoring 144.100 for any signals. During a 20 minute period, several pings were received from a station transmitting our way from the Port Macquarie area and a full callsign VK2AMS was received. As this little radio outputs only 5 watts and there were no power amplifiers connected yet, there was no option to return the call yet. vk9na.com

Michael, Kevin and Alan setting up radios and testing laptop connections for digital modes. The shelter was constructed from two tarps which were attached to the wire fence using cable ties and ropes. More about the VK9NA VHF Dxpedition About amateur radio in Australia

Michael, Kevin and Alan setting up radios and testing laptop connections for digital modes. The shelter was constructed from two tarps which were attached to the wire fence using cable ties and ropes. vk9na.com

Antenna designed and built by Rex VK7MO More about the VK9NA VHF Dxpedition About amateur radio in Australia

Looking due east on the first moonrise when EME was attempted. Worked a US station even though the antenna was only 2m above ground, and was being shaken about by wind gusts. vk9na.com

Looking from downhill at the antenna farm. The EME antenna nearly covers the width of the hill. vk9na.com More about the VK9NA VHF Dxpedition About amateur radio in Australia