Activations
Activation is the Amateur Radio term for "setting up and operating an Amateur Radio station in a temporary, portable situation". Activations usually have an underlying worthwhile purpose or theme and are organised and promoted globally by various Amateur Radio organisations. Of course, practicing Amateur Radio portable operation ensures that we are ready to provide communications to support community events and possible disaster relief efforts. We, and others like us, can literally set up a portable radio station to provide international voice and digital communications (subject to ionospheric propagation conditions) within 30 minutes of arriving at a remote, unpowered location.
We have participated in the following Amateur Radio activations:
- Schools - We activated three Primary Schools as part of our School Amateur Radio Club Network.
- Scouts/Guides - We actived the 1st Caroline Scouts and several others for the Jamboree On The Air Weekend.
- ANZAC Days - We activated differnet venues to commemorate ANZAC Day.
- Field Days - We activated remote locations for Amateur Radio Contests.
- Museums - We activated the Melbourne Museum for the International Museums Weekend.
- Lighthouses - We activated the Queenscliff White Lighthouse for the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend.
- Parks - We activated National Parks for the World Wide Flora and Fauna Award and the Keith Roget Memorial National Parks Award.
- Summits - We activated mountain summits for the Summits On The Air contest.
- Silos - We activated silos for the Silos On The Air program.
- Islands - We activated French Island for the Islands On The Air contest.
- Ships - We activated the museum ship HMAS Castlemaine.
- Ovals - We activated Hahndorf Oval with students and teachers from the Hahndorf Primary School for the Wireless Institute of Australia AGM.
- Car Parks - We activated a Bunnings car park for the Wireless Institute of Australia Public Relations for Amateur Radio Weekend.
- Beaches - We activated Chelsea Beach with a group called "QRP By The Bay". QRP means low power operation.
Testing and demonstration
To ensure that all of our equipment is ready for the activation event we practice our set-up at local parks and remote locations.
Testing an ultra-light Monoband Dipole using two 9m self-supported Squid Poles at the Oakleigh Antenna Test Range
Testing a heavy Tri-Band Fan Dipole using three 9m Squid Poles at the South Oakleigh Antenna Test Range
Testing a heavy Tri-Band Fan Dipole using two 8.5m guyed Telescopic Aluminium Masts at the South Oakleigh Antenna Test Range
Testing our Portable Amateur Radio Satellite Ground Station at the VK3HEX Antenna Test Range in Ballarat
Testing HF Maritime Mobile operation with a 10m Squidpole.
Testing 15m band vertical antenna operation.
Testing Solar Panels for portable operation at the South Oakleigh Solar Panel test range.
Demonstrating our Portable HF Setup at the Rosebud RadioFest
Demonstrating our Portable Amateur Radio Satellite Ground Station at the Rosebud Radiofest
"Antennapalooza" Held every year on a property in Drouin West.
Portable Radio Equipment
To set up a radio station in a remote location in the minimum time we needed to develop and/or use specialised equipment.
Robostick, guy reels, lightning arrestor, ground stake, safety tape and safety signs
Coaxial cable adapters, dummy load, antenna-analyzer, hand tools, gas soldering iron, tape, cable-ties
DC Power Adapters, Meters and Cables
Ruslyn pack reels, guy ropes, telescopic masts, bolts and pegs
Sunscreen, caps, first aid kit, pocket knives, headlites
Gas kettle, CQer (with pre-recorded radio calls)
12V Sealed Lead-Acid Batteries, discharge curves, 50A cables and connectors
Solar panels, cables, controllers and power meters
Safety fuse, safety switch, auto isolator and circuit breakers
Radio equipment - strapped together for easy transport
Antenna Triplexer - Connects 3 transceivers to one antenna
Guyed, telescopic antenna mast with safety signs
Operating position with laptop for logging and digital modes
Operating chairs and tables
Public relations material