Hi All,
below is an edited version of the details I received from Mal Alexander, SCO
WICEN NSW regarding this years Nav Shield
If anyone is interested in attending please let me know. The base camp is
around an hour from Goulburn.
Cheers,
Phil VK1PL.
==================
Hi and welcome to this years NavShield team,
it looks like we have a fair mix of experienced and new members, and should
work well. It's great to see the newer members get involved.
Some backgound, the Bushwalkers Wilderness Rescue Squad (BWRS), a sister
VRA Unit, has conducted the prestigious NSW Emergency Services Wilderness
Navigation Shield since 1989. WICEN first assisted at the event in 1997 and
has done so each year since. The event has been held at a different location
each year. The challenge for BWRS is to find a new location each year.
WICEN's challenge is to investigate, design and operate a communications
solution that changes from year to year.
Have a look at the BWRS website for an insight of the squad and the
NavShield event. http://www.bwrs.org.au/
>From the first event that WICEN attended at Devils Rock in 1997, our
operation has evolved from 4 simplex radio points to portable amateur
repeaters, packet networks, and then into provision of commercial radio
channels that the event official use, along with back up amateur voice
communications. Along with the annual BWRS Barrington Tops Search and Rescue
Exercise, WICEN now has extensive experience in providing communications
solutions in difficult locations.
Our team this year consists of the following operators. A warm welcome is
extend to Phil VK1PL, Deputy State Coordinator WICEN ACT who will be joining
us for the event.
List of probable attendees at present are....
Mal Alexander VK2YVA
Steven Heimann VK2BOS
Barry McNeil VK2FP
Mike Biber VK2FSES
Phil Longworth VK1PL
Shane Stephens VK2FBEU
Joe Peters VK2JP
Danny Clark VK2FDCA
John Harper VK2FCOM
David Dickford VK2JDD
Kevin Purves VK2KEV
Compton Allen VK2HRX
As previously notified, the event will be held near "Black Springs"
(between Oberon and Goulburn), on the weekend of 2nd / 3rd July.
WICEN will need to be in operation by 08:00 hrs. Most operators arrive the
night before to set up. This does leave some scope for some operators to
arrive Saturday morning, as long as your location has at least one operator
on air by the designated time.
I won't be allocating final tasking until all locations and requirements
are known, but it appears that we have sufficient operators.
BWRS have designated a base camp area. It has to accommodate event
officials, WICEN, competitors and their support staff. Often there are some
400 competitors. Arrivals on Friday night have been known to create bush
traffic jams! The Base is always accessable by 2wd, otherwise many
competitors would be unable to attend.
Once BWRS designate the distant radio points (known as Radio Check Points
or RCPs, usually 3) we can conduct a radio survey to investigate and test
communications. We would need 3 or 4 operators with 4wd to assist, although
the Base can be manned with 2wd operators. The survey is also open to
members who are not actually attending the
main event, all help is gratefully received.
I expect the radio survey date to be advised soon.
Once we test on the survey, I will be able to provide the briefing notes.
If you are interested, I can give you a sample of last years notes to see
the format of what you will get this year.
The notes will include travel directions. Also I will indicate what
non-amateur gear is needed, and WICEN will supply these resources.
Teams can pool together to ensure sufficient 12V batteries, a generator,
masts, antennas and amateur radios. If your team does not
have a particular piece of kit we will try and find it for you.
The map needed is 1:25 000 Gurnang 8029 -1N, but you should not bust a
boiler to get one, as we will get a few from BWRS. I also use the
OziExplorer mapping system and will provide waypoint files and important
tracks for the event.
You may want to check the coverage of the following repeaters to your QTH,
as we may be able to hold discussion nets prior to the event.
Linked Network 439.825 Kurrajong, 438.275 Berowra, 147.175 Berowra.
and
A stand alone portable repeater, currently located at a high point in
Sydney's South West 439.875 connected to EchoLink Node 258976
Final Note: as always, the location info is "need to know"only, and not to
be relayed outside WICEN, as competitors would get an unfair
advantage if they knew, as they are only told the location the weekend
before the event.
Regards
Mal Alexander, VK2YVA.
