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Where: Poplars Camp Ground Noojee Vic. When: 23rd to 29th October 2025. What a fantastic event, thanks to Stanley vk3bot and the members who dedicated their time to camp or visit for the day. The Poplars is a camp ground around 7ks from Noojee via the Loch Valley Rd. Originally scheduled from the 22nd to the 29th of October, the event was rescheduled to the 22nd to the 23rd, Thursday, due to storms predicted by the Weather Bureau. Craig was the first to reach the campground and noticed that the area hadn't been mowed for several months. However, this didn't affect any of us because of the designated camping spots. Over the next few days, many of our members arrived and set up camp, while a few from our club decided to drop in for the day. Most days, the weather was quite pleasant, featuring some cloud cover and occasional showers over a day or two. The best part was the near absence of wind, which made it very comfortable. Many of the members also took the opportunity to explore the area and visit the Toolshed, which is an excellent venue offering amazing meals and more. We also visited the local Cafe, The Little Red Duck for some Coffee and Cake. In total, we have 15 people who either camp or visit during the days spent at the Poplars Camp Ground. Everyone agreed that this was the best Famparc Camp-Out yet, and I must admit, I've never laughed so much. It was an incredible experience, with activities like playing radio and having chats around the campfire. With some wonderful people from our club. We were fortunate that numerous amateurs were heading to Canberra for the VKFF awards, resulting in dozens of enthusiasts on the air activating parks. This provided us with numerous opportunities to establish many contacts over the days. Craig managed to work over 50 contacts... Another enjoyable aspect was the guys listening to other amateurs using the ISS onboard repeater during the many passes. We were also able to use both our Repeater Phone App and Craig's AllStar Hotspot to communicate with the club's repeater. As well as DStar nets. The campout faced a few challenges, as Matt VK1MHZ and his son Finn had a head-on collision on their way to the campground. Fortunately, neither of them was injured. Although his 4WD sustained significant damage, it was inspected and deemed safe to drive. Greg, vk3qsl, began feeling a bit unwell, and after being persuaded to go home, it took him a day or two to recover from food poisoning. Overall it was an amazing time with lots of fun, radio and antenna play etc.. Good friends and good times. Ask Patrick about this image. Anyway.. thanks to: Stanley vk3bot Craig vk3ncr Colin vk3cr Gerard vk3ger Patrick vk3apl and Corryne Bernie vk3??? Terry vk3bmx Jerry vk3vce Greg vk3qsl Pamela vk3hxx Tony vk3an Matt vk1mhz and son Finn Wayne vk3xf Harry vk3gqk and Kerrylyn

OCTOBER 18TH GUEST SPEAKER TOPIC: Portable amateur radio PETER VK3PF Parks On The Air extraordinaire DONE! Thanks to Peter VK3PF for his time at the club.. Peter covered many areas of Portable Amateur Radio operation and setup. Again.. we thank him for his time and effort. Peter VK3PF We have another amazing guest speaker and event at the Famparc Club Rooms. We are pleased to welcome Peter vk3pf, a leading parks activator enthusiast. Peter will be sharing his extensive knowledge about this wonderful hobby of working from the thousands of parks, peaks, and silos scattered across Australia. Discover numerous ideas and suggestions to enhance your Amateur Radio hobby. Peter possesses extensive knowledge about park activating, including essential requirements and excellent tips. What you need! Featuring: The basics How do I start? Software Posting Setup & much more.. Peter VK3PF is located in the Latrobe Valley, about 140 km ESE of Melbourne CBD. My home station has only simple antennas: a 80/40 m fan inverted V plus a vertical with an IC AH-2 tuner at the base. ABOUT Peter: I enjoy chasing/hunting SOTA and WWFF stations, mostly around Australia due to the antenna situation. I occasionally get out into the field to activate SOTA summits, VKFF Parks and Silos. In fact, almost any outdoor radio activity! Most VKFF Parks also count for POTA. And for something different to SOTA, there is HEMA. We also have SiOTA - Silos On The Air. Earlier in 2022, I spent quite some time studying digital mapping for the eastern third of Victoria to develop a list of candidate HEMA summits. That list is currently being checked by the VK3 coordinator, so hopefully I will have some HEMA summits to activate closer to home in the future. The typical SOTA station has been an FT-817 (5 W) to an inverted V link dipole held up with a squid pole. Of late, I have been using an Elecraft KX-2 or an IC-705 and a ZS6BKW doublet. Park activations may use the SOTA station, an IC-7300 with a portable antenna, or occasionally I use the IC-706MKIIG mounted in my vehicle with a ZS6BKW doublet. Visit Peter's website, which showcases the numerous parks in operation. Click Here Explore Peter's website for insights into park activations, featuring a report on the WWFF August Activity Month 2025, highlighting an impressive 200,000 QSOs achieved by 614 activators and 37,000 hunters. Additional images of Parks in action:

Jamboree On The Air this coming weekend. Melbourne Region JOTA - Oct 18-19, 2025 JOTA Calling Frequencies: Please QSY off the Calling Frequency once you have established a contact. Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA, is the largest Scouting event in the world. It is held annually the third full weekend in October. JOTA uses amateur radio to link Scouts and amateur radio operators around the world, around the nation, and in your own community. This Jamboree requires no travel, other than to a nearby JOTA site. World Scout HF Calling Frequencies As per www.jotajoti.info/jota , 3rd September 2020. Australian Scout HF Calling Frequencies: Band SSB (phone) 80 m 3.650 MHz 40 m 7.090 MHz 20 m 14.190 MHz 15 m 21.190 MHz 10 m 28.590 MHz 6 m 52.160 MHz Scout Amateur Radio Victorian Repeaters: VK3 ScoutNET: The VK3 ScoutNet is an ongoing project built by dedicated amateur radio operators involved with the SRESU. They have made the network available to assist amateur radio licensed Scouts and friends of Scouting to communicate via relatively simple amateur radio equipment across the Melbourne metropolitan area and beyond. Please remember to leave a 2-3 second break between your overs and invite new operators to join your conversations. VK3 ScoutNet – Linked Repeater Network Callsign Location Rptr Output Rptr Input CTCSS Notes VK3RSU Mt View 439.925 434.925 91.5 Hz VK3RAJ Upwey 439.750 434.750 91.5 Hz IRLP 6372 VK3RSA Emerald 439.650 434.650 91.5 Hz VK3RSB Mt St Leonard 439.550 434.550 91.5 Hz Jota Flyer:

What's on in October 2025. LOTS! OCTOBER 11TH GUEST SPEAKER TOPIC: 3D PRINTING (presentation all done thanks to Paul) Paul VK3BV Paul vk3bv, will be demonstrating his talents with 3D Printing, from design to finished and printed product. Paul will demonstrate how to start from nothing, then using specific software for 3D Printing, design a product. He will then use the clubs new 3D Printer to create a finished item. We hope to make something that all attending members can take home and use along with the Radio gear. We do ask for a small donation towards the club. TOPIC: HOTSPOTS If time permits during Paul's presentation, he will also showcase and demonstrate his various Hot Spots for Amateur Radio. He might also be able to construct one or at least assist in its construction, and he could provide a 3D printed case, among other things. Sample Image Only OCTOBER 18TH GUEST SPEAKER TOPIC: PARKS ON THE AIR PETER VK3PF Parks On The Air extraordinaire Peter VK3PF We have another fantastic guest speaker and event at the Famparc Club Rooms. We welcome Peter vk3pf, one of Australia's top Parks on the Air enthusiasts. Peter will be sharing his extensive knowledge about this wonderful hobby of working from the thousands of parks, peaks, and silos scattered across Australia. Featuring: The basics How do I start? Software Posting Setup & much more.. Peter VK3PF is located in the Latrobe Valley, about 140 km ESE of Melbourne CBD. My home station has only simple antennas: a 80/40 m fan inverted V plus a vertical with an IC AH-2 tuner at the base. ABOUT Peter: I enjoy chasing/hunting SOTA and WWFF stations, mostly around Australia due to the antenna situation. I occasionally get out into the field to activate SOTA summits, VKFF Parks and Silos. In fact, almost any outdoor radio activity! Most VKFF Parks also count for POTA. And for something different to SOTA, there is HEMA. We also have SiOTA - Silos On The Air. Earlier in 2022, I spent quite some time studying digital mapping for the eastern third of Victoria to develop a list of candidate HEMA summits. That list is currently being checked by the VK3 coordinator, so hopefully I will have some HEMA summits to activate closer to home in the future. The typical SOTA station has been an FT-817 (5 W) to an inverted V link dipole held up with a squid pole. Of late, I have been using an Elecraft KX-2 or an IC-705 and a ZS6BKW doublet. Park activations may use the SOTA station, an IC-7300 with a portable antenna, or occasionally I use the IC-706MKIIG mounted in my vehicle with a ZS6BKW doublet. OCTOBER 22ND CAMP-OUT TOPIC: FAMPARC CAMP-OUT It's on again.. The best event of the year.. The Famparc Camp-out. Located at the Poplars Camp Ground around 10k's from Noojee Vic. Join your you famparc friends for a wonderful relaxing time away in this tranquil location amongst the beautiful Noojee bush. To find out more about this amazing event, Click Here for More. Well... What a month! Meetings, Guest Speakers and best of all the Famparc Camp-Out. Ensure you participate in this fantastic event organised for your enjoyment by the best club ever. Remember to visit your club's website for the latest updates and news!

Introducing a new CW award for 2025 Unfortunately a we missed the Phone version of this event. Been and gone ! However the CW event is still coming on the: 11th Oct 2025 CW Contest A new plaque, sponsored by Klaus VK3IU (ex 4F1RWW and ex member of DX1RPI Inc) is being awarded for the highest scoring entrant from Indonesia, the Philippines, East Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, or East Timor in any of the CW Single Operator LOW Power categories.We wish all contesters in these regions the best of DX luck in their efforts to be the inaugural winner of this new award! You can find further details Here!! Thanks to Peter vk3ij

Amateurs worldwide have picked up images on the initial passes today. Start your captures now! Series: ARISS Series 29 - World Space Week Images: 12 images using PD120 encoding Frequency: 145.800 MHz worldwide. Submit your images for a certificate to our gallery at: ariss-usa.org/ARISS_SSTV/ A note from the team about the recent changes to the event plan: "Given the significance of the 68th anniversary of the launch of the world's first satellite on October 4 1957, Sputnik-1, our ARISS-Russia colleagues elected to extend out the World Space Week SSTV event to October 9 and added 6 new slides to the SSTV event. We thank our Russian team for hosting this SSTV event on the ARISS Radio Click here for Tracking Details Thanks to Stanley vk3bot

As the president, my goal for the club is to ensure everyone enjoys their time here. A while ago, I introduced a Coffee and Cake Morning to the numerous events organised by the club. After more than a year, I am very proud to say how much this has grown, with more members attending each time. I would just like to express my gratitude to everyone who makes the effort to attend. Thank you! Like many attendees, I truly enjoy seeing all the smiling faces around the table. Well done to you all. Coffee and Cake Monday 29th Sep. 2025 Roundabout Cafe South Frankston. Craig vk3ncr Famparc - President.

Alpine Rally of East Gippsland WHEN: Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th November 2025 We need radio operators to volunteer for the Alpine Rally. The Alpine is the oldest surviving motorsport event in Australia and the second oldest rally in the world! It will be based in Lakes Entrance with stages being held in the Bruthen, Nowa Nowa and Orbost areas. It is primarily for pre-1968 and pre-1981 2WD naturally-aspirated production cars. You can expect to see the likes of Ford Escorts and a Mustang, Holden Geminis and a Monaro, Datsun 1600s and 180Bs, Porsche 911s, a Triumph Stag, a Leyland P76 and many other cars. WICEN has been requested to support the event with car tracking and backup communications for the rally officials. We will need a few dozen (or more) radio operators who enjoy being in the bush, can operate on 2 metres FM portable and like to see the older classic rally cars. If you are interested in volunteering, or would like to find out more, please contact Chris Morley. Chris Morley WICEN Event Commander morleycs@gmail.com 0417 583 239

Hey Members, I found this Youtube clip that may be of help to you... I know it will help me when travelling. I know it's not about Amateur Radio.. but with a few members using Wifi when out and about, this will save you a heap of data usage. Save LOTS of data on Starlink by changing these settings! Using these setting changes, you will drastically reduce the amount of data you are using on your Starlink connection. The 10gig plan or the 50gig may be good for you once you make these changes. Cheers. Craig vk3ncr

What did you do recently ?? Again Famparc Members out and about playing Radio.... Stanley vk3bot Craig vk3ncr 15th - 19th Sep. 2025. After the terrific weekend away with a few Famparc members and many other Amateurs at the Shepparton Hamfest, Stanley and Craig met up at Whroo Vic. Craig stayed until Thursday with Stanley leaving on the Friday. We had an absolute ball.. Campfire, Eating, drinking, chatting and playing radio. Phone coverage is a little average however we did manage to use Repeater Phone to chat on the Tuesday Famparc 8pm Net. Greens Campground Greens Campground has large camping areas set around a circuit track. Some have fire pits with barbecue plates.  Drop toilets are located in the back/centre of the campground.  Although spacious, Greens Campground is a fairly basic campground. Campers will need to bring their own camp tables and chairs.  Greens Campground is located within the Whroo Nature Conservation Reserve, around 9k from Rushworth Vic. Rushworth is a top little town offering a Supermarket, Cafe/Bakery, fuel and more. The Whroo Nature Conservation Reserve is also a POTA and WWFF park, so whilst camping within the campground, you can also activate the park. Pota AU-0206 WWFF VKFF2229 Craig managed to work around 30 stations between Monday and Wednesday, and could of easily worked dozens more.. but we preferred to sit and talk around the campfire. Stanley also did well working many stations on multiple bands. Craig running 10watts via IC705 and 40M OCF Famparc 4:1 Balun. Stanley running around 100 watts via Yaesu 991A and Famparc UNUN 64:1 40M End Fed. The park is well protected from Wind and has some beautiful views as you can see from the images/video below. The road in has around 6k of sealed road with around 3k of well made gravel. Easy for 2WD, and caravans. A great spot for another Famparc Camp-Out . How's this for a beautiful view from my camp. Craig. vk3ncr Click on image for location map. From Famparc to Greens Campground Whroo Vic

As many of you know that are engaged with club activities, we have had many things happening, Speakers, Q&A, Outside activities and more. what's Next? Shepparton Hamfest. Click Here After the Shepparton Hamfest, a few club members are heading north for a few days of camping and radio play. We are hoping to go to a place called, Terrick Terrick National Park. From Shepparton to Terrick Terrick National Park. 128k From Shepparton you head west to Mitiamo Vic then north to the Park Entrance. There are basic faculties at the camp ground, Toilets and that's about it. but enough room for a few campers with either tents, trailers and limited space for Caravans. Terrick Terrick N.P is also a POTA (Parks on the Air) site. AU-0236 So if the weather is looking good, why not come upfor a few days and kick back, relax and play radio. Check with Craig vk3ncr or Stanley vk3bot for further information. ANOTHER OPTION Stanley and I look to be heading to Greens Campground Whroo .. Details Here.. From. Shepparton to Greens Campground Whroo This is also a POTA Park available for Parks on the Air.. Stanley vk3bot, expects to head up on Sunday as he is not attending the Shepparton Hamfest, however I am (Craig vk3ncr) so I expect to arrive on Monday. Hope to see you there.. Craig vk3ncr Stanley vk3bot HOW DOES ALLSTAR WORK? How about we have a chat about Allstar and seeing that our own club repeater is now connected to the Allstar system (Node 66111) why not learn on how this simple yet amazing technology works and how you can connect to our repeater from almost anywhere on the planet? The clubs website already has a help page on this amazing technology, click here , however how about a chat on a Saturday afternoon. So keep an eye and an ear out for our next Speaker covering the operation and use of AllStar. WHAT'S THIS POTA THING? Many say that the ham bands are very quiet, well have you tried activating a park? Parks On The Air POTA. Parks on the Air (POTA) is an international radiosport award program that encourages licensed amateur radio operators to visit, enjoy and operate portable equipment in a variety of parks and public lands, always respecting other park users and local regulations. POTA issues awards to participants based on a wide range of criteria including the total number of radio contacts made, number made on each amateur radio band , and for different modes of communication including voice, CW, FT8 etc. There are allocated Parks and reserves around the globe, with many here in Australia, and many just on your door step. Famparc is arranging to have a guest speaker to explain the fun of POTA as well as other forms of Park Activation such as: WWFF , World Wide Flora and Fauna in Amateur Radio.. SOTA Summits On The Air SIOTA Silos On The Air So also keep an eye and ear out for this next club activity. COFFEE AND CAKE MORNINGS Don't for get our regular Coffee and Cake Morning at a local Cafe... We have a great time chatting about anything and enjoy each other's company. If you have a favourite Cafe that you would like the club to try, just make mention to Craig vk3ncr We are always keen to try a different location. FAMPARC FEILD DAYS Every so often a few members find a site to play radio, it can be a park, a club members home, or anywhere really.. We recently visited Devil Bend Reserver on the Mornington Peninsula where we experimented with a recent purchase by Daryl vk3hbp. Greg vk3qsl assisting Daryl vk3hbp. If you'd like to go out and play radion in a park, let's go for it. I'm sure you'll find some members to assist. FAMPARC CAMP-OUT OCTOBER 2025 It's on again, the Famparc Camp-Out... We have held 3 so far and many members have taken the time to either join us for a few days or simply drop in for the day. We have had an amazing and relaxing time, sitting around the camp fire, playing radio or simply taking in the bush. Ken vk3mjf... getting the fire going Click Here for More So why not join your fellow Famparc Members and come cam More to come !!! Keep watching this Blog for other update and additions..

What did you do today ?? Again Famparc is out and about playing and testing.. Daryl vk3hbp Ken vk3mjf Craig vk3ncr Ken came over to Craig's place and we set over to meet with Daryl at a POTA Reserve, Nyora Nature Conservation Reserve AU-0289. In between Nyora and Poowong.. we have worked this park before and although small it has a great take off back to Melbourne.. Nyora Nature Conservation Reserve  AU-0289 Craig managed around 30 stations from vk1, vk2, vk3, vk5, vk7. Using his IC-705 with the Famparc 40M Endfed antenna. Daryl, also managed to contact club members on our club repeater... The club repeater is turning out to be an absolute treat for club members and is getting plenty of use. The POTA contacts were non stop.. who says the bands are dead are simply not using their microphones!!! We were all amazed the amount of contacts pilling up one after another. And all with 10 watts. From there we headed to the for a drink and excellent lunch.. Sorry no pics of the POTA site.. just too busy working stations. And of course we then decided to had to another great radio spot, just out of the tiny town of Loch. This was about a 10 min drive from Poowong.. Did I say how good the weather was !! Pefect! Loch for a Coffee and Cake.. After that a quick drive to another brilliant lookout.. Not a workable POTA park, but still great fun to again play more radio.. Much better than sitting at home watching Netflix! Ken vk3mjf Cape Horn Lookout 220 meters above sea level. We had a heap of fun here.. I worked North Cairns on 20Mtrs... Mobile. And then with Daryl's 2M Beam setup we work the Famparc Repeater with full quieting.. Height is Might! So while we have a few regular members on the air, we then tried SSB, FM, DV (Digital Voice / DStar) Simplex . Cape Horn Lookout Loch All signals and contacts were excellent.. with some members trying modes for the first time. Members Worked: Jerry vk3vce Stanley vk3bot Mick vk3vh Terry vk3bmx Our club vk3ruv repeater is amazing and is a great place for members to congregate. The Digital Voice mode was amazing with absolute no noise and crystal clear. How this for a take off point for radio. So overall.. the clubs Repeater is getting a great workout, plus a few of us used such a wonderful day to get out and play radio.. Perfect for IC-705. Chat soon. Craig vk3ncr