Table of Contents

John Moyle Field Day 2016

Notes for the participation in the 2016 JMFD, from Sawyers Valley Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade station.

Target Bands

Primary bands:

Other bands to consider:

Radios

Primary Radios:

Radio Owner Bands Modes Power Supply Notes
IC-706MKIIG VK6NK 160m-70cm All Mode 12VDC
RX: 1.8A
TX: 20A
FT-897D VK6NK 160m-70cm All Mode 12VDC
RX: 1A
TX: 20A
IC-7400 VK6WK 160m-2m All Mode 12VDC
RX: 3A
TX: 20A
IC-718 VK6WK 160m-10m SSB 12VDC
RX: 1.3A
TX: 20A
SRM9200 VK6NK/VK6WK 2m FM 12VDC

Other Radios to consider:

Radio Owner Bands Modes Power Supply Notes
X1M VK6NK 80m-10cm SSB 12VDC
RX: 0.35A
TX: 1.2A
5W TX
IC-720A VK6NK 160m-10m SSB 12VDC
RX: 0.9A
TX: 20A
TYT TH-UVF9 VK6NK 2m/70cm FM Battery HH, 5W TX
RTL SDR Receiver VK6NK DC-Daylight All-mode Laptop Able to monitor an entire band
May require additional shielding around up-converter
Will need antenna to suit

Antennas

Primary Antennas

NVIS Doublet

Multi-band doublet, fed using ladder-line to an ATU. Suitably sized (>20m per side) should provide good performance for 80/40/20/15/10m. At tree height, this should also work well as a NVIS antenna for local to medium range contacts.

Vertical

Multi-band vertical, using an ATU. This will need a substantial ground plane to achieve efficiency, however should provide a low radiation angle suitable for DX. If longer than 5m it should cover 20/15/10m. It may be possible to increase the length by hanging a wire from a tree or combining some aluminum tube with a pool-pole. Alternatively, a 9m fibreglass squid pole may also make a suitable support.

Other Antennas to consider:

Antenna Band Notes
Station folded dipoles 2m/70cm
Yagis 2m Need mounting somehow
Yagis in vk6wk's shed various Need poles and guys

Power Supplies

The current draw will be up to 40A if both radios are TXing concurrently. This doesn't include powering other systems, such as laptops. It may be worth running the 706 and 718 at lower TX power and ramping up to full power if the QSO requires it.

Both Icoms use the same 6 pin power connector. Power leads (with fuses) should be constructed to allow for a quick setup on the day.

Power Source Size Notes
Station batteries 12V heavy condition is unknown; may contravene field day rules?
Bobcat batteries 2x6V large condition is unknown
Wheelchair battery 12V 74Ah condition is unknown, takes a charge
Brigade generator 240V large use via batteries to smooth supply if needed
vk6wk's generator 4kVA sinusoidal use if necessary
Vehicle (Light Tanker?) for charging

Feeders

Bands Type Notes
any RG213/U12V heavy ex shed stock, N Type fittings, various lengths; need adaptors

Logging

JMFD rules state that multi-operator stations much maintain a separate log for each band. This implies a separate laptop for each radio, although paper-logging could be utilised for low volume bands (2m?).

VKCL should be used for recording logs entries where possible. It can be downloaded from http://www.mnds.com.au/vkcl/.

Schedule

Other Notes