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.