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Hi! I’m Andrew, VK3FS. I’ve been an amateur radio operator for just over 40 years and I’m based in Mount Martha on the Mornington Peninsula. This site showcases some of the stuff I get up to, with the odd review and how-to. 


 

 






Field Day Microwave VHF UHF Contest












Microwave


 

 






Moving above the higher bands can be challenging. It’s a lot of fun though. There’s a whole new world of experimentation and hands-on. If you’re in an elevated position or like going portable, give this aspect of our hobby consideration.


 

 


More on Microwave








3FS antenna view












Contesting


 

 






There’s nothing better than heading out and making a few contacts on a field weekend either with the local radio club or flying solo, especially when 6m is open! My contests of choice – the John Moyle field day and the VHF/UHF field days.


 

 


More about contesting








WSJT-X and FT8












WSJT-X and FT8


 

 






If you’ve lost interest in the HF bands, why not give FT8 a go. It’s super easy to get going, and with an ever increasing range of software becoming available to assist in QSOs and logging, it leaves more time for making contacts!


 

 


More about FT8 and WSJT-X








Image of 75cm Offset Dish for 3cm












10 GHz (3cm)


 

 






For whatever reason, everyone has a favourite band. It may be the characteristics or challenge of getting on a band that appeals to some operators. 10 GHz is one of those bands, and when it comes to antennas, accuracy is everything!


 

 


More about the 10 GHz band


Amateur Radio
First licence in 1981 as VK3XFQ, then VK3KIR, I'm now VK3FS.
Licenced UAV pilot
All good hobbies need a licence, and flying drones is no different! I'm CASA certified.
Well, it's a living
Since 1984 I've been in the broadcasting industry. Production in TV and on air on ABC Radio.






VK3FS blog


 

 	









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  • Do you contest with the IC-705? The Icom IC-705 is a relatively new radio when it comes to OmniRig. So new in fact that I had to rewrite an IC-9700 ini file so that the Omnirig software would see the 
    Author Imagevk3fs
    14 March, 2023
  • Real-time DX notifications on your device - HamAlert is an app available for both apple and android devices.
    Author Imagevk3fs
    08 February, 2023
  • Here are two cheap 1296 MHz Antennas - well one is a lot cheaper than the other. There is no comparison in cost when it comes to building your own from available parts.
    Author Imagevk3fs
    22 January, 2023
  • There are two types – one you can’t do much about such as power line interference and the neighbour’s solar installation, and one you can.
    Author Imagevk3fs
    19 September, 2022






Some handy links 


 

 






6m tropo








VK Spotter
VKspotter gives radio operators a real time portal into band conditions. This tool is invaluable to anyone working 6m and above.








Hey What's That path profiler








Path profiling
Heywhatsthat.com is a great tool for path profiling. If you want to know what you can see from a particular spot, this is your site. Great for microwave outings too.








3FS Hepburn Troppo








Tropo Forecast
William Hepburn's reference site for global tropo. You'll know all about this if you tinker in the higher bands. This link will take you to the AU/NZ forecast








The Sun








SolarHam
SolarHam provides real time Space Weather news and data from various sources, all in one location for easy navigation.








More VK3FS radio antics.


 

 






How to track 2m Interference












Tracking VHF Interference


 

 






Whether it’s an annoying buzz or hum, radio interference can certainly diminish enjoyment of our hobby. Finding it and getting it fixed can be one of those challenges that can really try us, but it need not be. This is the story of my local QRM and how I fixed it.


 

 


Tracking VHF Interference




















Microwave


 

 






Experimenting with microwave is not only a lot of fun, it can be a terrific learning experience. From 2.4GHz up, there’s so much to build and experiment with. The black boxes stop at 1296MHz, so transverters and sequencers are norm as you head up the spectrum.


 

 


More about microwave








Photo of Leo Bodnar Icom IC-9700 Reference Injection Board












Fixing the IC-9700 drift


 

 






The Icom IC-9700 is a brilliant radio with just one flaw. It drifts! If you’re just using the radio on voice, then chances are, you haven’t noticed. The frequency drift issue has had many talking about this instability since the radio’s release back in January 2019. For such an expensive transceiver, how could Icom have overlooked something as fundamental as frequency stability?


 

 


Leo Bodnar ICOM IC-9700 Reference Injection Board








Picture of the Icom IC-705












Icom IC-705 Review


 

 






The new Icom IC-705 All Mode Transceiver which is a QRP rig is now out in the wild. As an owner of an IC-9700, in some ways, this radio is very similar in operation, but in other ways, it’s so very different.


 

 


Icom IC-705 Review








Photo of the Leo Bodnar IC-9700 Locking board












IC-9700 Locking Board


 

 






The Icom IC-9700 is a brilliant radio with just one flaw. It drifts! If you’re just using the radio on voice, then chances are, you haven’t noticed. The frequency drift issue has had many talking about this instability since the radio’s release back in January 2019. For such an expensive transceiver, how could Icom have overlooked something as fundamental as frequency stability?


 

 


IC-9700 Locking Board








9cm Transverter












SG Lab 9cm transverter


 

 






This is the second SG Lab transverter that I’ve purchased. Ther first was Hristiyan LZ5HP’s 2400 MHz transverter which has worked flawlessly since day 1. Located in Sofia, Bulgaria, SG Lab makes all sorts of microwave and RF products for commerical applications therfore they’re well positioned to make amateur radio products.


 

 


9cm SG Lab transverter








SOCIAL media


 

 







 

 	















YouTube










        








If you’ve ever been hunting that elusive DX and wish you’d get a notification on your phone or tablet when the bands are open?… then HamAlert is what you’ve been waiting for!<br /><br />More at http://bit.ly/3HJoo3Z<br /><br />00:00 | Intro<br />00:16 | What is HamAlert<br />00:50 | HamAlert setup<br />01:42 | Where to get HamAlert











                    














And now for something different - Sporadic E propagation in 2 minutes (ish).  If the comments are encouraging, there'll be more 2 minute-ish videos! Feel free to suggest topics.<br /><br />Sporadic E propagation is a type of radio wave propagation that occurs in the E layer of the ionosphere. The E layer extends from about 90-120km above the earth’s surface. Here's how it works<br /><br />More at http://bit.ly/3Ymaxao<br /><br />00:00 | Intro<br />00:08 | What and where is the E layer?<br />00:40 | 1475km Es 2m contact with VK4OX<br />01:05 | How E clouds are formed and work











                    


























                    














Looking at getting onto the microwave bands? Here's one way. The 6cm or 5.7 GHz amateur radio band is accessible to standard and advanced licensees in Australia. It’s the higher of the two WiFi bands that doesn’t seem to suffer the noise problem like its poor 2.4 GHz or 13cm cousin. Antennas are cheap and readily available in the form of dishes and panels. So if you’re keen to dip your toe into the microwave, then take a look at this video.<br /><br />You can find out more at https://3fs.net.au/microwave/getting-on-the-5-7-ghz-6cm-microwave-band/<br /><br />00:00 | Intro<br />01:00 | 6cm band<br />01:52 | 6cm activity in VK3<br />02:20 | Antennas for 6cm<br />04:11 | Transverters for 6cm<br />05:34 | Sequencers and relays<br />06:14 | Kuhne recommendation for sequencer setup











                    














Power backup comes at a price. Choosing quality over junk.<br /><br />Power gates, power paths, power plus, power mini, there are so many names for devices that switch to a battery for power when your mains supply fails.  <br />These devices are suited to both shack and portable use. Some have solar panel inputs without the need for solar regulators as it's all built-in.  Choosing quality power switching over junk is super important.<br /><br />With our planet warming, long days of extreme temperatures put a greater demand on electricity grids increasing the risk of failure, not to forget the extreme weather.  <br /><br />This video will give you an idea of where to start for your shack 12v backup. <br /><br />More at  https://3fs.net.au/amateur-radio/12v-shack-backup-choose-quality-powergates-over-junk/











                    














One of the best things about our wonderful hobby of amateur radio is going portable. Here's a record of event video for a 10 GHz day out in VK3. Rob VK3KRD and Heath VK3TWO found their way to Mount Macedon, Gavin VK3HY went to Johns Hill Reserve in the Dandenongs, and I went to Krowera lookout in the Strezleki ranges to the southeast of Melbourne. There was some 3.4 GHz activity too. The path was 151km. 
More at https://3fs.net.au/portable-operation/10-ghz-portable-over-150km/
00:00 | Introduction
02:20 | 10 GHz (Dish)
08:22 | Gavin VK3HY's 10 GHz station
14:20 | 3.4 GHz
20:31 | 10 GHz (Horn)
30:20 | Google path animation











                    














When you find yourself on a solar weather website and you see three measurements front and centre on your screen, have you ever wondered what they actually mean? 
Solar Flux Index, SFI, Sunspot Number, SSN, and Area are three indices used to measure solar activity along with the R and Kp values. Let’s take a look at what these values mean to amateur radio.
More at https://3fs.net.au/space-weather/
00:00 | 6m VK3 to JA Opening March 19 2022. VK3BDL Dogpile
00:46 |  What is SFI SSN and AREA
01:40 | SFI - Solar Flux Index
03:41 | SSN - SunSpot Number
04:12 | Rudolf Wolf - Swiss Astronomical Historian
05:33 | Smoothed Sunspot Numbers
06:30 | Area
08:08 | Numbers for good DX
08:38 | Solar Flares and Radio Blackouts
09:13 | Planetary K index (Kp)
09:39 | Radio blackouts - R1 R3 and R5
10:51 | D Region absorption predictions (D-RAP) charts
11:09 | DX Numbers summary - what to look for











                    














Our Sun could be on the verge of one of its strongest cycles since records began, so if you're an amateur radio operator it may pay to strap yourself in. The Termination Event is a new idea in solar physics, outlined by Scott McIntosh and Bob Leamon in a December 2020 paper in the journal ‘Solar Physics’. 
Extreme space weather can cause problems for communication networks including amateur radio as well as satellites such as GPS, power distribution networks, and aviation. Understanding the Sun and its cycles is key to predicting space weather.
Keep a watch on your favourite solar weather site as it's shaping up to be an interesting few years.
More at https://3fs.net.au/space-weather/
00:00 | Scenario 
00:30 | Introduction
01:55 | Solar cycle
02:19 | Terminator Events
02:45 | Reasearch findings











                    














13cm is a noisy microwave band if you’re in the heart of suburbia, or in any major centre anywhere in the world. Learn how to reprogram the Local Oscillator frequencies of your 13cm SG Laboratory transverter. 
Recently, amateur operators in Sydney decided to move the calling frequency from 2403.1 MHz to 2301.1 MHz in an effort to get away from the noise generated by WiFi. 
Read more at https://3fs.net.au/amateur-radio/how-to-program-the-sg-laboratory-13cm-transverter-local-oscillator/
00:00 | Introduction
00:55 | VK2 changes 13cm calling frequency
02:28 | SG Laboratory 13cm transverter
03:41 | 4 selectable local oscillators
04:05 | LO calculations
04:53 | Software and hardware requirements
05:34 | Local Oscillator programming process











                    








    




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VK3FS station location and surrounds at Mount Martha


 

 	















VK3FS