AdanVK1: 11 SOTA Activation: Rob Roy VK1/AC-031 (17 May 2015)

11 SOTA Activation: Rob Roy VK1/AC-031 (17 May 2015)

Mt. Rob Roy is close to Tuggeranong, in the South of Canberra and is located in the Rob Roy Nature reserve. At 1099 meters, the summit is higher than any of the other “Canberra hills” - it is 209 metres higher than Mt. Majura. It was a beautiful day with no wind.

Gate nr. 1 of 2. Nice morning walk out with the YL.

How to Get There

Access is via Orange Thorn Crescent in the suburb of Banks. There is a small clearing for parking.
Once you have parked, head uphill on the sealed road (Banks track) straight up the hill with the reservoir to your left. This section of about 500-600 metres is pretty steep, but once that is behind you the worst is over. The sealed bitumen gives way to an unsealed track, keep going uphill, following the Rob Roy Link Track signs.

Once you pass through the Rob Roy Nature reserve gate, turn right, following the track uphill.
Then, after about 1.5 Km, you veer off the main track to the left, at a rock cairn started by Andrew VK1NAM, heading further uphill. After about 10 minutes of bush walking, you should see the summit trig point surrounded by rocks.

Special Permissions or Arrangements

No special arrangements are necessary.

Summit Information

Mt. Rob Roy’s summit is at 1099 meters above mean sea level and it is worth 2 SOTA activation points. Its Maidenhead locator is QF44nm. There are a few trees around the summit (no horizon view) and quite a few loose rocks. The trig point makes for a good anchor point if you use a squid pole/mast.

Summit with Trig Point, rocks and trees.

Contacts Made

The day was pretty special - my first DX! Conditions were great on 10 meters, such that I made 6 contacts into the USA. A special thanks to Ray W7USA, Jim N6KZ, Barry N1EU, Tom W7RV, Rich N4EX and Peter WA7JTM for chasing! The distance record probably goes to Barry N1EU who as operating from near Albany, NY. That is 16280 Km..!

According to Spaceweather.com, the Sunspot Number on the day was 103, and if the RX side had a 5-element Yagi to do the heavy lifting, then my 5-Watt FT817 and link dipole could be heard into the Western coast of the US (based on the VOACAP propagation prediction). I still shake my head in amazement at how far 5 Watts can go. It is pure magic.

Andrew 1DA and Andrew 1NAM were out and about, on Bullen Range and One Tree Hill respectively, and we managed to make easy Summit to Summit contacts. I also had contacts with Matt “Mission Control” VK1MA in Canberra and Mike VK6MB in faraway WA.

All contacts were made on 10 Meters, 28.45 SSB.