International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend 2018
The Manly Warringah Radio Society (VK2MB) has participated in the International Lighthouse and Lightship Weekend (https://illw.net/) since 2003. This year we hosted our friends Lindsay VK2AMV, Dave VK2JDS and Garry VK2FGAZ from the Amateur Radio Central West Group. As in previous years, we activated the historic Barrenjoey Lighthouse, 30 km north of Sydney (lighthouse code AU0046 https://illw.net/index.php/entrants-list-2018). We met in the beach carpark at 8:30 Saturday morning to distribute the gear for the trek up to the magnificent sandstone lighthouse and lighthouse keepers cottages. Also, as in previous years, it was extremely blustery from Saturday afternoon onwards and the 50 km/h winds were “strong enough to blow a dog off its chain” (as Dave was fond of telling our HF contacts).
The location has beautiful views at night.
This is the same view (looking south) as the subsequent photo the next morning at sunrise.
The antenna used was an Off-Center Fed Dipole (OCFD) in an inverted V arrangement. The SWR with the OCFD oriented about N-W (long leg) to S-E (short leg) and the feed-point on the north-side of the lighthouse balustrade, the SWR was about 1.6 at 3.6MHz, but was 1.5 or less (1.3 minimum) on 40m to 15m.
Operations were from the comfort of the Caretaker’s Cottage using the VK2MB callsign. We used an Icom IC7300 for our HF contacts and a Yaesu FT-7900 for 2m operation. Contacts were logged using the VKCL contest logging software (http://www.mnds.com.au/vkcl/). Here is a photo of Dave operating and Garry logging.
Five diehards operated from dusk.
All the way through the night.
To the morning.
As usual there crowds of visitors walking up the hill to admire the lighthouse and surrounding view, literally from sunrise to after sunset on both days. On the Sunday the National Park volunteers were providing guided tours of the historic lighthouse, but unfortunately by midday they were forced to cancel their tours due to the high winds at the top of the lighthouse. By early afternoon, we too decided to pack our gear up and reluctantly leave this magnificent location for another year.
All up we operated voice on 80m (the lowest frequency supported by our antenna), 40m, 20m and 2m. Over the weekend the HF band conditions were quite favourable, apart from 80m QRN due to lightning storms out in the Tasman sea on Saturday night.
In total over the weekend we achieved 103 contacts. Although the ILLW is not a contest per se, we endeavoured to work each station only once (as opposed to once per band or once per time limit etc) to keep the number of contacts down (ie making the logging easier, etc).
There were a total of 54 lighthouses around Australia were registered to participate of which we worked 26 Australian light houses - a great percentage worked! We also worked three NZ lighthouses, and a sprinkling of DX contacts “just for fun” eg Noumea, Tokyo and Russia.
This year we maintained our long standing tradition and also once again worked the unofficial/fun Todd River lighthouse in Alice Springs(!) that make an effort to participate every year. Horst (VK2HL) happened to be in Alice Springs on holidays at that time and sent us this photo of their operations (below). We later worked Horst from the caravan park.
On the Saturday and Sunday various members of the Society trekked up the hill to pay us a day visit and also to act as pack horses to carry up/down all the various items of hardware and provisions that we needed to support our operations. Thanks goes to them for their efforts. As an aside we did observe that VK2GHB (by some unknown means) had persuaded a random tourist to carry up his pack for him! He must be management material!
The Manly Warringah Radio Society members that attended/operated included:
Tim VK2BT Philip VK2APL Mike VK2UCT and XYL Di Geoff VK2TGO Bob VK2RL Roger VK2GHB Richard VK2NRA Nick VK2FS and Zara Mal VK2TMF Sean VK2THT
Amateur Radio Central West Group participants were: Lindsay VK2AMV Dave VK2JDS Garry VK2FGAZ
Our other amateur friends that visited us at Barrenjoey were: Dave VK2BDA Matt VK2BAI
All in all another great experience for us all! Beautiful location, great weather (no rain!), fantastic company, oh and some amatuer radio thrown in! What could be better than that??
Here is the final log.
Here is the final log:
| VK2BV | 20180818 | 003513 | 7 | 59 | 59 | AU0022 |
| VK3WI | 20180818 | 005627 | 7 | 59 | 59 | AU0036 TONY |
| VK5ARC | 20180818 | 012017 | 7 | 36 | 59 | AU0029 Barry |
| VK3WND | 20180818 | 015143 | 7 | 59 | 59 | AU0012 John, Cape Schanck |
| VK3YSP | 20180818 | 021241 | 7 | 59 | 59 | Joe, at Castlemaine |
| VK3FOWL | 20180818 | 021329 | 7 | 59 | 59 | Julie, Castlemaine |
| VK3ILH | 20180818 | 022222 | 7 | 59+ | 59+ | AU0110 Darren, Port Albert |
| VK2JNG | 20180818 | 025352 | 7 | 59 | 59+10 | SOTA Gerard Mt Mckenzie at Tenterfield |
| VK8GM | 20180818 | 030849 | 14 | 59 | 59 | Greg at Todd River |
| VK2HX | 20180818 | 033453 | 144 | 59 | 59 | Chris |
| VK2HX | 20180818 | 034013 | 7 | 59 | 59 | Chris |
| VK2BAI | 20180818 | 034758 | 144 | 59 | 59 | Matt |
| VK3TCT | 20180818 | 041629 | 7 | 59 | 59 | John; Mildura |
| VK2MZZ | 20180818 | 042747 | 7 | 58 | 59 | Jeff |
| VK4ALE | 20180818 | 044717 | 7 | 59 | 59 | |
| VK7LH | 20180818 | 050148 | 7 | 59 | 59 | AU0046?? Ross |
| VK3ATL | 20180818 | 051843 | 7 | 59 | 59 | AU0028 Ken |
| VK6CLL | 20180818 | 055555 | 14 | 45 | 45 | AU0008 Anthony 14.195 |
| ZL6LH | 20180818 | 060148 | 14 | 58 | 59 | NZ0006 Piha lighthouse 14.206 |
| VK2KTG | 20180818 | 061146 | 14 | 59 | 59 | Wilcannia Kevin 200 ft longwire Codan7727 PA plus Bitx 14.206 |
| VK3BJA | 20180818 | 061740 | 14 | 45 | 55 | light AU0056 Chris Wilsons Prom |
| JH1CDR | 20180818 | 064328 | 14 | 45 | 56 | Japan Ken 1kW 5el beam 14.173 |
| VK2HL | 20180818 /td> | 064842 | 14 | 33 | 33 | Alice Springs – Horst | </tr>
| VK2IO | 20180818 | 065308 | 14 | 59 | 59 | AU0041 Gerard |
| VK6AHR | 20180818 | 065858 | 14 | 59 | 55 | AU0073 Ray |
| VK4GHL | 20180818 | 070457 | 14 | 55 | 57 | AU0019 Jamie |
| VK6CNL | 20180818 | 073940 | 14 | 55 | 41 | AU0010 |
| VK4BW | 20180818 | 080428 | 7 | 59 | 59 | AU0004 Dan – Burnett Heads |
| RA0QD | 20180818 | 081445 | 14 | 59 | 59 | |
| ZL6LH | 20180818 | 082054 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | David |
| ZL6CC | 20180818 | 084007 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | NZ0001 – DON |
| VK3EG | 20180818 | 084216 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | ROB – Point Hicks AU0027 |
| VK3APC | 20180818 | 084908 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | McCrae Light – AU0017 – ROY |
| ZL1XH | 20180818 | 090229 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Paul – North Shore Auckland |
| ZL1TM | 20180818 | 090454 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Andre home station |
| ZL2SEA | 20180818 | 090627 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Michael |
| VK3BD | 20180818 | 090916 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Victorian High Country – Brian – Mount Buller |
| VK3SPL | 20180818 | 091149 | 3.5 | 59 | 57 | ?? Inlet AU0032 – Stuart |
| VK3MDH | 20180818 | 091302 | 3.5 | 59 | 55 | Mark |
| VK2MCG | 20180818 | 091733 | 3.5 | 57 | 57 | Clive |
| VK4BX | 20180818 | 091950 | 3.5 | 59 | 59+20 | Chris – 20km North Gympie (South of Tiaro) |
| VK2AEJ/P | 20180818 | 092146 | 3.5 | 47 | 58 | AU0023 |
| VK3MBW | 20180818 | 101105 | 3.5 | 59 | 48 | Geelong Barry |
| VK3NLK | 20180818 | 101553 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Melbourne Nik |
| VK2BOW/P | 20180818 | 101849 | 3.5 | 59 | 59+ | Braidwood James |
| VK3AES | 20180818 | 102317 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Mt Bulla Ken FT-857 |
| VK5VGC | 20180818 | 102755 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Grant |
| VK4WJW | 20180818 | 103259 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Bill |
| VK3MNZ | 20180818 | 103529 | 3.5 | 59 | 59+ | Don |
| VK3CWF | 20180818 | 103850 | 3.5 | 59 | 59+ | Bill |
| VK3HMV | 20180818 | 104110 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Ballarat Andy |
| VK3HBR | 20180818 | 104453 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Phil – Newry near Gippsland |
| VK5PAS/M | 20180818 | 105209 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Mobile East Adelaide – Paul |
| ZL2LH | 20180818 | 105423 | 3.5 | 24 | 59 | NZ0017 – TOM |
| VK2MOP | 20180818 | 105734 | 3.5 | 59+ | 59+ | Denelequin – John |
| VK3MVS | 20180818 | 110224 | 3.5 | 59+ | 59+ | Paul – 20k North of Melbourne |
| VK3OHM | 20180818 | 110643 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Marc |
| VK2OP | 20180818 | 111105 | 3.5 | 59+ | 59+ | Coffs Harbour – Peter |
| VK3MEG | 20180818 | 112001 | 3.5 | 58 | 57 | Steve – 40k W of Melbourne |
| VK3FMKE | 20180818 | 112221 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Keith – Eastern Melbourne Codan 6801S Marine |
| VK3LTL | 20180818 | 112940 | 3.5 | 49 | 59 | Ballarat – Andrew |
| VK3BJA | 20180818 | 115145 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | John AU0056 |
| VK5CJL | 20180818 | 115754 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | AU0094 Andrew |
| VK3VVC | 20180818 | 120015 | 3.5 | 59+10 | 59+20 | Alan – Victoria Goldfields |
| VK5FMLO | 20180818 | 120216 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Michael |
| VK6BMM/P2 | 20180818 | 120546 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Mel |
| VK3ECH | 20180818 | 120655 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | ROB Echucha |
| VK5HOG | 20180818 | 121035 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Deane |
| VK5DDD | 20180818 | 121350 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Owen – Peterborough |
| VK3UCD | 20180818 | 121818 | 3.5 | 59 | 59+10 | David – Maryborourgh |
| VK3AXF | 20180818 | 122201 | 3.5 | 59++ | 59++ | Ian – Mawhood |
| VK2XE | 20180818 | 122352 | 3.5 | 59+ | 59+ | Greg |
| VK6CSW | 20180818 | 122823 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Clive – Nth Perth |
| VK2LT | 20180818 | 123330 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Les |
| VK4ITT | 20180818 | 123459 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Rob |
| VK5BWR | 20180818 | 123841 | 3.5 | 41 | 47 | AU0021 |
| VK5LSB | 20180818 | 124528 | 3.5 | 55 | 59 | |
| VK3FRCS | 20180818 | 124807 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Rob |
| VK5JN | 20180818 | 125201 | 3.5 | 59+ | 59 | John |
| VK4AS | 20180818 | 125518 | 3.5 | 59+ | 59++ | 40K S of Brisbane – Claus |
| VK5ZIM | 20180818 | 125808 | 3.5 | 49 | 44 | |
| VK4GHL | 20180818 | 130114 | 3.5 | 45 | 59 | AU0019 – Roger |
| ZL1AZ | 20180818 | 130337 | 3.5 | 51 | 57 | Dennis |
| VK4FTCM | 20180818 | 130549 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Tony |
| VK3ZIP | 20180818 | 130902 | 3.5 | 59 | 59+ | Gippsland – Zorro |
| VK3BSG | 20180818 | 131204 | 3.5 | 59+ | 59+ | Erik – 75K S of Bendigo |
| VK2SRC | 20180818 | 131548 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Reg – AU0006 |
| VK4SYD | 20180818 | 131819 | 3.5 | 59+ | 59+ | Rob – 20K S of Brisbane |
| VK2MTJ | 20180818 | 211330 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Terry |
| VK2EP | 20180818 | 211836 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | AU0031 – Tony |
| VK2MTM | 20180818 | 212440 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Gordon – Grenfell |
| VK2TKB | 20180818 | 213643 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Kevin |
| VK2SON | 20180818 | 214231 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Lez – Orange |
| VK2NMO | 20180818 | 215137 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | Chris |
| VK3IH | 20180818 | 223150 | 7 | 55 | 53 | cape liptrap au0037 |
| VK2MTC | 20180818 | 223744 | 3.5 | 59 | 59 | greg cooma |
| VK4MQ | 20180818 | 231005 | 7 | 59 | 59 | Bruce |
| VK2FOMG | 20180818 | 231926 | 144 | 59 | 59 | Via VK2RAG repeater from top platform of lighthouse |
| VK2GHB | 20180818 | 235907 | 7 | 59 | 59 | Roger |
| VK2MZ | 20180819 | 004955 | 7 | 59 | 59 | 7080 |
| FK8HA | 20180819 | 021408 | 14 | 59 | 57 | Patrice – Noumea |
| VK3WND | 20180819 | 025516 | 7 | 59 | 59 | AU0012 Cape Schanck |
| VK3OLS | 20180819 | 030152 | 7 | 58 | 58 | AU0011 Tony, Cape Otway |
