FIELD DAY 2009
N6CG
Field Day 2009 held in June each year, was fairly quiet as these events go. Saturday set up went well although two of the verticals needed a helping hand. The one "match box" had been repaired and had not been installed on the vertical until well into the set up. Rod (N6CG) was our Field Day Trustee this year again and brought his own station with him. Follow the photos below for an overall quick tour of our outing. The weather for Saturday was actually under 100 F but for Sunday, it was 105 F all day long. You will find some stats at the end of the photo sequence.
Click here to add text.
Our usual sign. This year there were VERY few who stopped by to ask what this was all about. Those who did, had no idea about Ham Radio so we had to "tell the story" of why we were doing this, which is to show to the community we (Hams) are prepared to set up and operate a radio station that can communicate with others Hams throughout the country on a moments notice. Typically, the station operates on batteries, and is "ready to go" well within an hours time.
Here is a view of our pavilion from across the main street. (Esplanade). This was taken a time before set up and the white box is not there for our Field Day.
This is before the event begins, and there are only a few of us around. During the day, we had a visitor or two now and then, but never a big group. Over the course of the day until next morning about 10 AM,there were about 30 visitors over all, all but just a few were Hams.
Rod, N6CG was our primary operator for the whole field day, and scored the most points overall.
Here, his station is "tuned and ready to go". First band to be used? Why, 20 Meters of course.
Rod's vertical antenna, the "Famous" R7, a 7 band vertical that performs very well.
Typical of the other two stations in use, is this Kenwood TS-450, a 100 watt HF transceiver. Although capable of operation from 160 to 10 meters, we used mainly the 10, 15, 20 and 40 meter bands.
This is our 2nd transceiver, also a Kenwood, the model TS-440. Like the other rig, it was used very little this year. Im sure the high temps did not help. Over 100 degrees Saturday and 105 Sunday. Both Kenwoods operated from a car battery, well charged and fairly new..
Our pavilion late Saturday, fairly quiet. Rod can be seen operating his station on the left side. As the day progressed, the bands opened and closed and it became a matter of "chasing the band" to get contacts. When 20 got slow, 15 opened and Rod tuned up on that band, made some contacts and then found it was time to change bands again.
SUNDAY AROUND NOON.
This is the time for the Pot Luck and guests are arriving with their "goodies" The BBQ has been fired up and is getting ready for the hot dogs and ham burgers. The Field Day equipment is packed up, antennas taken down and ready to store away until next year.
Above is the first of a number of photos of the Sunday group. I have not put captions in for many of these. Time now to just enjoy the photos.
These three and one or two others, are the "year after year" group that always are in there putting up the antennas, hauling chairs and tables, setting up the radios and we would be lost without them. Left to right (as though you didn't already now) are:
Richard, W6VQC, Bob, KE6FDF, and Rod, N6CG. Be SURE to thank them for all their efforts. Without them, Field Day does not happen.
Ed, KI6DCB on the right, with his son on the left. Ed and Karen volunteered to be our Field Day Chairs this year. There is a LOT work to make Field Day work. Fortunately, from previous years, we have a fairly well defined list of items that are needed and some procedures to make it easier, but even so, there are many details. Few who visit our site realize that arrangements and cost for the "Porta Potty" had to be made well in advance, and even with our precision planning, the unit was delivered to the wrong spot ahead of time, and turned the wrong direction.
Next comes the reserving of the pavilion. They are "First come, first served" and you might be surprised to see how many people show up at 3 AM to "Claim" a pavilion. Ed and Karen "stayed the night" to hold the pavilion, a rather "choice" location being near the main road and away from other pavilions.
Next, early Saturday morning, the antennas are brought in from storage, assembled and coax laid out from each of them to the pavilion. Pipes are hammered into the ground and the verticals are held in place by the pipes. Coax is hooked up, brought to the radios, also brought in early Saturday morning, and made ready for checkout. After storage for a year, spiders and other insects sometimes "make themselves at home" in the antenna sections.
Vehicle batteries are brought to the benches (they are heavy too) hooked up to the radios and quick checked. An antenna analyzer is used to make sure the newly installed verticals are working prior to connecting to the transceivers. If we didnt do this, there would be the possibility of doing damage to the radios.
Next is some quick "on the air" testing to be sure we are "getting out". This is followed by lots of paperwork, like Operator Sign In sheets, "Dupe Logs" to make sure we dont talk to the same station on the same band more than once, and we also use the Dupe Sheets to keep track of our score. Then its off to actual operating with those now and then cans of Pepsi or Coke or bottled water, and even donuts brought in by various Hams. Finally, time for the Pot Luck.
A last look at the Pot Luck table, or at least one of the tables. Hot dog and hamburger buns, chips, dips, relish, mustard, catsup, potato salad, letus, and just about anything that goes with a pot luck, including desserts of various kinds. If you leave hungry, thats "your" fault. Plenty of liquids as well,
Thank you everyone for all your help in making our field day fun and eventful and taking the time to share time with each other. Below are some stats of the event to be submitted to ARRL. Results of our "place standing" (this is NOT a contest) will be published in QST's December issue. Remember, we were:
November Six Charlie Golf, Three Alpha Orange
"N6CG, 3 Alpha Orange"
FIELD DAY STATS:
Contacts by BAND: Bonus Points:
40 Meters 57 Emergency Power (battery) 100 pts.
20 Meters 53 Set up in Public Area 100 pts.
15 Meters 28 Visit by local official 100 pts.
10 Meters 29 Report submitted by web. 100 pts
Total: 167 Total: 400 pts.
Low power multiplier X2
Total: 334 for contacts
400 for bonus points.
Total: 734 points.
Thank you everyone and especially for our "chief operator" Rod who scored the vast majority of points for contacts according to log entries. Nice job Rod.
Submitted: Ron, WA6AZN, President.
