VK2AWN

17/10/2026

I have decided to add StarLink to my set-up to make activities more enjoyable and safer

What follows may read or sound counter intuitive but hear me out. I got a StarLink Mini to take with me for POTA activations. Taking a small satellite dish for a portable amateur radio deployment t…

10/10/2026

In poor atmospheric conditions, I’m at AU-7712 Nambucca State Forest on the NSW north coast. It started out wet but has come good.

10/10/2026

I fired up JTTY via WSJT-X 3.2 RC1 today on my Mac and it worked. I'll be in an out all day but will leave my radio on 7.090 MHz and come back to you (if at home) if anyone wants to test it. I am on the Coffs Coast and, yes, conditions aren't great but I was heard in Victoria earlier VK3TPM and had a two way with VK2BLQ in Sydney. I wrote up my experience in the following blog post.

Discover the future of digital HF amateur radio with FreeDV and JTTY. Learn about setup, features, and personal experiences in urban environments.

05/10/2026

Well, that was a pleasant surprise on a day when there's not much happening on air due to poor space weather - a new DXCC thanks to an Expedition to Wallis and Futuna Islands by F1WP.

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Explore my POTA activation attempt thwarted by poor bands, but discover my connection with FW1P DXpedition in Wallis and Futuna!

03/10/2026

Not a bad day out at m AU-2501 Baalijin Nature Park ( -2512)

03/10/2026

Today I am at AU-2501 Baalijin Nature Park ( -2512) for the day. This is the fifth activation of this park, since it was first activated in 2024. ��It is halfway between Bellingen and Bowraville in the hinterland of the Coffs and Nambucca coasts. I am at 800 metres ASL -30.49312 and 152.61838. I’ll run FT8 on the IC-7300, JPC-12 and MacBook Pro while get set up for SSB on 40 and 15. I’ll spot on pota dot app and parks n peaks.��I am spending the day here to try out a variety of antenna configurations. 73’s , Andrew, VK2AWN.

24/09/2026

I am loving the ID-5200A but the unavailability of a ‘proper’ head unit mounting bracket at launch is a PITA. Hold my b**r - here’s a temporary bracket and shorter connecting cables.
Icom UK Ltd Icom Australia Official Icom America Inc
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Since my Icom ID-5200 arrived this week, I have had the base unit side on and magnets on the back of the head unit to connect the two pieces of hardware so I could place the radio on the shelf a us…

22/09/2026

The new POTA dot app website is out in Beta. Very cool.

https://next.pota.app/

21/09/2026

My Icom ID-5200A arrived today. Here are my first impressions.

Icom Australia Official G&C Communications Pty Ltd

There’s nothing quite like a box of new kit arriving. While a new radio doesn’t have that ‘new car smell’, there is the thrill of pulling out the hardware in plastic bags, intricately designed card…

19/09/2026

A bad day out. I didn’t even get on the air.