Undertaking portable amateur radio sessions is something which I find to be very enjoyable and something which I have had a real passion for over 20 years. For some people, this could simply be as easy as grabbing a radio as you head out the door; for me however, I have found that some more planning and research is required to get the most from my portable amateur radio sessions.
When I am planning a portable amateur radio session, my first step is to arrange a suitable day and time. I am happily married and as we have a couple of young children, ensuring the domestic front is happy goes a long way to ensuring I can have a good time. I like to try and arrange my outings around times when it fits in with my family the best. Only you know your own domestic situation and can assess the best way to do this. All too often I hear of domestic situations where one person’s hobbies or interests have a negative effect on the household. Normally I aim to have at least one portable amateur radio session a week if I can, normally a Saturday or one night during the week, however this can change based on the above. Of late I have been taking my children for more walks and quite often I take my amateur radio kit with me, in case I find a suitable location, as they are now slightly older, they will often be happy on the play equipment while I am doing some amateur radio.
I have also recently had a change of jobs, and this has seen me working from home most of the week, whereas in the past I could often undertake a session during my lunch break, this is now much harder.
Once a suitable day and time has been found the next step is to check the weather forecast for that day. During my involvement in the amateur radio / radio scanning /ultralight DXing hobbies, I used to undertake quite a bit of out and about scanning, which involved sitting on hill tops, lookouts, mountains and so on, from doing this I learnt two VERY important lessons:
- Sitting in the sun for hours at a time is not fun and this reduces your enjoyment of the hobby.
- Sitting in the cold for hours at a time is not fun and this reduces your enjoyment hobby.
Based on this I like to make sure the weather will be suitable. While the cold can be overcome with extra clothes, being too hot is much harder to control and in extreme cases this can be quite bad for your health (dehydration, sun stroke and so on). Storms and other weather extremes are also not fun to be out in, so I like to try and avoid these if possible.
During our Australian summer, bush fires are a very real risk and given most locations are prime fire spots, the fire danger rating (FDR) and a safe access / escape are very important to consider. The local sunrise / sunset is also checked, and this helps with planning a suitable time to leave home to be at the chosen location to maximise any advantage from these different times of the day.
Next you need to decide on a location, I like to have a mix of new locations and some proven ones. Some are quite close, and others are quite a distance to drive. The things I consider when deciding on a location include:
- Distance to drive (The cost of fuel is a factor in this, as is the amount of time I have for my session)
- Access (some areas are locked after hours or have other access restrictions)
- RF profile (Some locations are better due to distance from high power transmitters)
- Comforts (Shops, toilets, etc.)
- Personal Security / Safety
My planning really starts the night before or early in the morning when I prepare everything I am going to take, charge batteries and pack up my gear. My normal kit consists of this:
- Radios (1, 2, 3 or more in my carry case)
- Batteries (Fully recharged and also some spare alkaline AA's and AAA’s)
- Head phones (I prefer the ear bud type and these are easier to carry)
- Log book / sheets and pen + spares
- Torch (I am now using my phone / torch in my radio)
- List of all frequencies
- Multi-tool
- Food and drinks
- Band-Aids and a small first aid kit.
- Mobile phone
- Identification such as a driver’s licence (which you should be carrying anyway if you are driving)
In the past I have used digital camera bags and hard ABS type cases, these types of cases / bags each have advantages and disadvantages. ABS cases standout and make it look like you are carrying expensive equipment, which might not be a great idea in some remote locations. Soft cases on the other hand do not provide enough protection in some circumstances. Based on my experiences to date, I have settled on a hard case which I can either carry with me by hand, place inside my backpack or leave this in the car and grab a radio or two to carry with me.
Before leaving home, I check my kit and confirm I have everything I need. When I arrive onsite, I do a quick recon of the area to make sure it is safe, no dodgy people around and I feel comfortable. Then I do a quick scan of the bands and now I can sit back, relax, and get serious about logging. I also try to eat something and drink to keep my fluids up. I like to also get some photos each time I go out for the report on my blog. If I am going portable, I like to try a few different spots and interact with anybody I see, even if this is just a passing hello on a track.
On returning home I make sure I spend some time with my wife and children before checking my loggings and entering these into my frequency database.
It would be great to see more people undertaking portable sessions and posting about these. Some photos of your sessions would also be great.
Tested / Researched Radio Locations - Tasmania - Updated January 2025
Cataract Gorge / Gees Lookout: Distance from Launceston CBD: 10 minutes + 10 minute walk Facilities: None. Nearest public toilet are Gorge grounds or CBD. Notes: Access is via a rough dirt / gravel track. Lookout has a weight limit and grated open floor so you need to be careful not to drop items down.
Freeland’s Lookout - Trevallyn: Distance from Launceston CBD: 9 minutes. You can park at the very top. Facilities: Sealed parking area and viewing hut. Gates locked after sunset but able to park on the road and walk in. Nearest public toilets are at Cliff ground, Lions park or Riverside Woolworths shopping centre. Notes: One of my regular Ultralight DXing locations, this site has good access and views of the CBD and Tamar valley. Some UHF commercial two way equipment in a hut and close to a FM broadcast station so these bands do have issues at times at this location.
Newstead Reserve (off Amy Road): Distance from Launceston CBD: 10 minutes. You can park directly out the front. Facilities: Large open space and children’s playground. Nearest public toilet is Punchbowl reserve or Newstead shopping centre. Notes: Being in the middle of a residential area this is fairly heavily used. Some paved areas but mostly open grass.
Punchbowl Reserve: Distance from Launceston CBD: 12 minutes to main car park. Facilities: Very large bushland park with children’s playground, duck pond and lots of walking tracks. Public toilets located near BBQ area over a foot bridge. My preferred location is the bottom park behind the duck pond. Notes: Excellent location and offers multiple possible spots. Top of the cliffs can be accessed via Blamey Road or a walking track. During summer snakes are a common sight.
Talbot Road Lookout: Distance from Launceston CBD: 10 minutes Facilities: Car park and lookout tower. Nearest public toilets is Punchbowl reserve or Newstead shopping centre. Notes: Views from the lookout tower are amazing towards Mt Barrow and down the Tamar River.
West Tamar Trail: Distance from Launceston CBD: 5 minutes Facilities: Multiple walking tracks. A viewing platform over the Tamar River. Nearest public toilets is Tailrace Park, open during daylight hours. Notes: Very busy track and well known for snakes in summer.
Tailrace Park: Distance from Launceston CBD: 7 minutes via West Tamar Road Facilities: Car park, playground, BBQ, public toilets (open during daylight hours), boat ramp, multiple walking tracks, a viewing platform over the Tamar River. Notes: This park is very busy during summer and offers many possible locations.
Queechy Lake: Distance from Launceston CBD: 10 minutes Facilities: Car park, small playground and seats. Nearest public toilets is Punchbowl Reserve or Newstead shopping centre. Notes: One of my favourite locations growing up. Has good potential, which is yet to be fully explored.
Brady’s Lookout: Distance from Launceston CBD: 20 minutes via West Tamar Highway + 5 minute walk. Facilities: Public toilets open during daylight hours. BBQ and seating area. Multiple seats around the lookout and at the top viewing platform. Notes: One of my preferred locations, a good distance from town but still easy to access. Highway noise can be an issue so headphones are recommended.
Mt George / Georgetown: Distance from Launceston CBD: 45 minutes via the East Tamar Highway Facilities: Car park and lookout tower. Nearest public toilets are in Georgetown. Notes: Steep drive to car park and then a short steep walk to lookout towers. Good views from the top. A number of mobile phone, commercial two way and FM broadcast stations have towers at this location.
Low Head: Distance from Launceston CBD: 52 minutes via East Tamar Highway and Georgetown. Facilities: Car park and light house, extensive walking area around this and down to the rocks / water’s edge. Nearest public toilets are in Georgetown. Notes: Most northerly point on East Tamar side of the river. Has a good take off towards mainland Australian. Gates locked after 6pm.
Mt Barrow: Distance from Launceston CBD: 1.15 hours via A3 Facilities: Small hut at the very top. Nearest public toilets are Myrtle Park hall. Notes: One of my all-time favourite locations. Road is 4WD only but passable when not snowing in a 2WD with caution. An amazing Ultralight DXing location. A number of commercial two way, UHF Television and FM broadcast stations have towers at this location on South Barrow Peak and North Barrow Peak.
Devonport Bluff: Distance from Launceston CBD: 1.15 hours. Facilities: Multiple car parks, beach, playground, Light house. Public toilets and a cafe / shops are close by. Notes: I have only undertaken one day time Ultralight DXing session from near the light house, this was very enjoyable.
Round Hill Burnie: Distance from Launceston CBD: 1.40 hours Facilities: Two lookouts and a climbable lookout tower with views towards Bass Straight and mainland Australian. Nearest public toilets are in the Burnie city area. Notes: A number of mobile phone, commercial two way, UHF television and FM broadcast stations have towers at this location. I have only undertaken one day time Ultralight DXing session from this location, weather conditions meant I had to cut it short.
Table Cape - Wynyard: Distance from Launceston CBD: 2.05 hours Facilities: Two lookouts, sealed car parking, walking tracks, Light house. Nearest public toilets are at Wynyard or Boat Harbour Beach. Notes: An excellent Ultralight DXing location, I have only undertaken one day time session from this location.
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