[OZAPRS] Alice Springs & VK8 APRS

[Norm, VK3XCI]

G'day all,

I have some relevant experience here!

In my days as a rural mail contractor, VK2XCI, I fiddled with VHF in the car and 
HF at home due to lack of a reliable internet connection. Equipment was very 
basic. 10W on 2m to a 5/8 mobile whip on the ute, FM828 without a preamp at 
home, 5/8 whip about 30' of the ground. old PIII box running UI-view and AGWPE 
driving an FT-107 on 30M. (The 107 was the weak link as it drifted.)

I regularly got packets thru Ron VK3ECV in Mildura, from Mount Hope in the 
Western Division of NSW when the FT107 drifted thru the net frequency.

Also walked around a bit doing fencing and stuff with an Icom 215. (handbag 
style early 70's 5Watt 2M portable) Elevation and antenna was the key! Stubby 
bad (antenna that is, stubby of beer good!) 1/4 wave whip ok, 5/8wave home brew 
best but a pain to cart around!

Ron VK3ECV has some relevant as well, HF and VHF. He did VHF from a motorbike 
for the Port-to-Port Cycle classic. Surprised he hasn't popped up. You there Ron??

My suggestion is 2M handheld with a full size antenna as high as possible on the 
backpack. Use a little TT3 or OT1+ with a relevant GPS. (Kenwood HT if you've 
got one!!)

2M to 30M set up in the support vehicle. Key is a sensitive 2M receiver, low QRM 
from the vehicle and plenty of HF power.

Good luck, I shall be watching!!



73 de Norm, VK3XCI
Mildura, Australia
The Wintersun City
QF15bt.

Andrew Gilbett wrote:
> Hi Everyone,
> 
> Thanks for the input, The closest that I shall be to HF backpacking
> will be an Yaesu FT817ND. This poses the question, would 5 watts be
> sufficient on 30m to get in on a nightly basis?
> I briefly checked a map and it would appear that we would generally
> only be about 10-20 km from the cars and as there are some mountains
> around that we walk over.
> Also what are peoples experiences using APRS via ISS & PACSAT as that
> is another viable option and I would imagine that I could get away
> with a handheld, on the good passes... comments?
> I do intend to have a 30m APRS setup in the support vehicle anyway as
> we shall be driving across the Simpson Desert on the way back.
> 
> I am still interested in comments and peoples experiences.
> 
> Thanks :-)
> Andrew Gilbett
> andrew.gilbett at gmail.com
> 
> 
> 
> 2009/12/10 Terry Neumann <tfneumann at internode.on.net>:
>> Joseph Burford wrote:
>>
>>> The issue here is that neither 30m or 40m are going to be practical
>>> for someone walking/hiking. Not unless we go back to  WW2 style and do
>>> back pack radios :-)
>>>
>>> 2m handheld at a few watts with a largish whip is probably the best
>>> you are going to want to take when hiking. As others have said a low
>>> power setup like this will probably need to be heard by a good local
>>> digi or temp digi in the support vehicle to be of much use. Obviously
>>> the issue of not having a local iGate is something else to factor in.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Joseph
>>>
>> G'day Joseph,
>>
>> It could well that this is exactly what they have in mind but I can't be
>> sure ....
>>
>> HF backpacking is very big in USA - not aware that much is done here in VK.
>>
>> Have a look at:  http://hfpack.com/
>>
>> Nice to 'see' you again,
>>
>> 73
>> Terry
>> VK5ATN
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