Photos courtesy Ron WA6AZN & Karen W6SO (formerly W6ASA)
THIS year we decided to do things a little different. It turned out to be a FUN and very successful Field Day for us. The "object" was to have FUN during the "contest" portion, which meant we operate if we felt like it and if not, then just have a "local" chat with whoever was on hand. It was quite interesting, AND, relaxing. This year the emphasis was on the Pot Luck, which was attended by 30 members and friends and the food was really really good. Chief Cook and Griller Jim KF6WCL again tossed the burgers and turned the dogs and except for a miscalculation of smoke direction (INTO the Pavillion instead of AWAY from it) it was a fantastic time.
Our setup this year was again at the Valley Wide Rec Center on Esplanade near State street and at the last moment, we put up 3 operating stations as follows:
Station 1, the "northern" station, was Rod's, N6CG, who brought it from home so he could operate under the W6OB call sign with us. All stations operated from car batteries. Rod used his own R7 vertical (10 thru 40) and as usual, it performed very well. Rod was the most active of all the operators and spent a great deal of time not only as a Control Operator, but as a FD operator.
Station 2, the "eastern" station, was the only position actually set up for both SSB and CW. Ron, WA6AZN again brought his keyer adapted for battery use, along with a straight key for CW if anyone wished. Ron managed to make a few CW contacts however and Jerry, AE6JJ was the only other CW operator this year. The antenna was a modified R5 vertical with the matching box removed and an SGC model 230 "coupler" connected to the base of the antenna which gave us fully automatic tuning for 10 thru 75 meters. The rig was the Kenwood model TS-430 which we have used for years now.
Station 3, the "southern" station, was the simplist in appearance, but proved to be a small headache for those not familiar with the Kenwood model TS-440 and its internal antenna tuner. The antenna for that station was the 5BTV with the top loading coil for 75 meters. It tuned up just fine on all bands and properly tune, worked very nicely. However some operators accidently pushed buttons that put it on "split" operation, or "memory" operation and it took a while for us to figure out what was happening. With the sunlight in our face, we missed those little dial readings that told the story.
Overall, ALL stations worked perfectly on car batteries that had been charged for the event. On hand were cold pop (soda pop for you out of staters) and water, and donuts for Saturday morning during and after setup and easy chairs for a few others.
Now join us in the photos below. There are a LOT of them, so give them time to load. Since it was a fun event, I have taken the liberty to put captions on some of them that seem to fit the photo. Thanks for visiting. The LDARC members.
Yep, same place as last year and looks just the same, but it not! It's now June 25, 26, 2005 and this was early Saturday morning. Notice that no one is rushing around? Yep, relaxed and easy this time.
One of the 3 verticals. From a distance, all verticals look pretty much the same. This is the "southern" station (faces south) and at the right you can just make out the RACES trailer. This year we were asked to NOT park it out in front where it kind of blocked visibility for motorists exiting the park.
Moving slightly to the right you can see the RACES trailer now. Thanks Rod for towing it over. We had very few visitors this year and most of those who inspected the trailer, were our own group.
View of the Pavillion and at this point its about 10:30 AM Saturday and most is set up and ready to go.
The "eastern" station, the Kenwood TS-430 with speaker and tuner (used ONLY to show SSB modulation, as its not connected as a tuner) and the Keyer and straight key for CW operation.
The "southern" station, the Kenwood TS-440 with internal tuner. Simple but complicated when you accidently touch the wrong buttons. Which happened several times.
The "northern" station, Rod's, N6CG from his home. This was Rod's home away from home for the FD weekend. He was also one of our main control operators for this year.
Does THIS Count? Fred, K6WIZ ;(in Red) talking to Bob, WB9IZN over "secure" communications lines. I over heard: "WB9IZN this is W6OB. Please copy 3 Alpha Orange, Over...." The QRN from the wind on line was almost S-9. It DOES count doesnt it? (ARRL said its NOT "wireless", no count!)
"QSL Bob, and good luck in the contest. W6OB QRZ?"
"ORANGE? Did he say Orange? I'd rather have a peach......!"
"Dad, is that you? Can you hear me ok?" Katy, daughter to Robert, our VP in the club, KG6WGY. IS he "connected" today?
Robert, our VP, KG6WGY talking to his daughter Katy on the other end. Hey, will this work for YOUR teenager? Got more string? Maybe we can do a 3 or 4 way QSO. It was amazing how the wind made the string "sing".
OK, so here IS the proof and they ARE talking with each other. Katy was surprised that this actually worked. Keep going, we have more on "secure" line of communications. Well, sometimes you had to "speak up", so maybe it wasn't as secure as it might have been.
Fred is holding up the ball of "DX string" in case we get a band opening.
The groundospheric winds never died down so there were no DX openings for the "string band".
There's a doubter in every group and Jim, KD6VLH said "are you guys kidding me. Give me that mic or speaker or CAN. I want to hear this myself!" and then he says...... "wow, it really works!"
Fred, K6WIZ has accepted the club position of "Historian" and combined a few of his own collection with items from the club from a SK. (Silent Key) In this shot upper left is a low power crystal controlled 40 meter CW transmitter using the well known (in the 50's) 6L6 oscillatr and 807 final. On its right is a home made power amplifier for the transmitter using parallel 807's in the final. A 3rd 807 is used either as a voltage regulator or part of the AM modulator used in those times. This amplifier would run "about" 100-125 watts DC INPUT, or maybe by todays standards, about 75 watts OUTPUT.
In the foreground is his home made antenna coupler. This is all about 1950 era construction. On the top right is a Kenwood TS-450 from the late 80"s to show that in only 35 years or so, we advanced to all solid state devices, 100 watts OUTPUT power, ALL BAND, and ALL mode (CW, AM, SSB, FM) as well as digital display, memories, and the antenna tuner now is built in as well. In addition it operates from 12 VDC, while the older equipment needs a high voltage power supply of about 350 volts and 600 volts, not to mention 6.3 VAC just for the filaments for the tubes. Also, a lot of adjustments as you can see.
Also on the table with Ham magazines (QST and others) was the Hallicrafters "Sky Buddy" receiver very popular in the early 50's and before, and keep in mind this is ONLY the receiver. On its left is a very old case he keeps these parts in, and in front is the "secure line" communications set with DX string available in case of string band openings. (which require much less wind)
The Hallicrafters Sky Buddy. If you've been in Ham radio before the mid 1950's you have heard of (or used) this very radio receiver. Its all vacuum tube of course and runs from 120 VAC. Hallicrafters, National, Collins and other manufacturers in this era produced lines of both receivers and transmitters and there is a lot of history related to how they got started and ended up.
Rod, N6CG busy at the beginning of the contest. He was the first of our stations "on the air", and shortly after this, we fired up on 40 CW which at this time of the morning, well, once you worked the 10 stations you could "hear", there were no more.
Richard, W6VQC being VERY relaxed. "Humm? I think I heard a few stations in there. By the way, how do you work this radio?" This was the simple station that caused us the most "trouble". The vertical really needed just a bit of auto-tuning from the internal tuner, but in pushing that button, we sometimes pressed some other button and ended up doing splits, memory channels and other stuff that needed correcting before we could get back into operation. A few times we heard "How come nobody hears me?" only to discover we were "just a button away" from being heard.
Karen, W6SO at the "eastern" station. "Hey, I like this" she said. Pick a band; pick your frequency; and talk! I really like this!" She is referring to the SGC-230 antenna coupler at the base of the vertical which senses RF present and tunes the vertical immediately when you talk into the mic. With 200 memories, we took time during setup to "test" sections of each band so the internal memories were already "waiting". This was a great station for the inexperienced ham or the technicians who rarely use an HF rig, and required no help from the control operator sitting with them. Instant band changes were great. (after the contest Ron, WA6AZN took his SGC coupler back home with him. He said something about "HIS" vertical needed it!)
Ann, KG6KFI and Ron, WA6AZN. Ron was explaining the in's and out's of FD and sometimes you could hear "I wonder what THIS button does?"
Normally, you never see this guy in the photo's because he is taking them. It's none other than Ron, WA6AZN sitting at the "southern" station. Hey, he had to do "something" at the site to look busy, right? This photo could only have been taken by Karen, W6SO. What? NO CW? Actually, Ron has gotten rusty lately and during his CW operation at the other station, he actually had to tell one ham to QRS! Can you imagine that? (QRS means: Please slow down) As most courteous hams do, the other station slowed down and Ron was able to copy him just fine. Richard W6VQC watching.
"Contest? What contest? I'll get back to it as soon as I finish reading this".
Richard, W6VQC "relaxing" during the contest. At one time we could hear hundreds of stations calling "CQ Field Day" in the background, but 2 or 3 of us would be sitting over at another table having our "own" chat. It was FUN!
No Field Day would be complete with Anthony, N6SHZ working 20 meters.
"Is that US or somebody else?" "How come its jumping all over the place?" "you got the right channel?" "Is the antenna connected?" "Wow, a picture!"
Using the ATV (Amateur TeleVision) equipment from the RACES trailer Jim, KF6WCL on the front left, and Foy, KK6UM on the right, our RACES EC, test out the converter. ATV takes place on the 70 cm band (440 MHz). It was enough to demonstrate we had the capability and counts as points.
KC Jones, W6OB again granted us permission to use his call sign for this years Field Day so Richard, W6VQC had signs at each station to remind us we were using HIS call sign, not our own. W6OB is nice and quick both onSSB and CW.
Because not all control operators are Extra class licensed, we had this handy reminder to keep us "In the designated Band". There is NO CW portion shown because Ron, WA6AZN and Jerry, AE6JJ are both familiar with the band limits on CW.
Jim, KF6WCL in foreground checking the ATV rig, and Mike, N6QG holding the camera and looking at the associated antenna during initial setup.
Kenny, WA6LUH on the left admiring the "picture" and maybe wondering how it worked from that jumble of wires and stuff, and Tabitha , KE6VHQ on the right coming over to see what they were doing.
Rod, N6CG picking us his "dupe" sheets.....again. He would leave his station for some reason, and someone would need the dupe sheets from that band, and walk off with them. Afterward, he would sit down to his station and the dupe sheets were gone, and it was time to go look for them again.
Richard, W6VQC with daughter Katy. Getting close to "Pot Luck" time and the food is coming in and it looks really really good!
Mryle, KC6GIW on the left, spouse to Kenny, WA6LUH and Lyla, KE6TYC right, spouse to Jerry, KC7CUX as the pot luck is about to begin.
Lyla on left, and Shirley, spouse to Jim, KD6VLH. Their "guys" are here somewhere.
Don, AA6JP standing, and Jean, WA6OUH seated. To the right is Tabitha's mom Loel, and Tabitha on the very right. In the far background are Zacherie (with Tabitha) and Jessica (with Mike, N6QG)
Foy, KK6UM left talking with Jim, KD6VLH on the right. The contest is over and its pot luck time. The grill has been lit and is just about ready for the hotdogs and hamburgers.
Eleanor (KE6UBC) with hubby Rod N6CG watching to make sure Jim, KF6WCL gets that grill "just right".
A few more have arrived and the group is growing. On the table to the left you can see pot luck items, including chips, pickles, mustard and catsup, baked beans, potatoe salad, green salad, just to mention a few items.
"Right in the middle of my W1 contact this KG7 comes on with an S9 signal, and then got wiped out with a VE6 who was even louder, and then this KL7 station from Alaska asked for a radio check and then XE2 asked if anyone was on frequency and it was the wildest pile up you ever heard!"
Hey, Hams don't tell "FISH" stories you know.
The wind never quit during the day but we had a great time. Here is Mike, N6QG on the right with his family, Sue, and daughter Jessica. Jessica is always fun to listen to on tuesday evenings during the net. The pot luck HAS begun....!!!
Hey, just look at all those goodies to eat! We had a total of 30 persons present and lots of food to choose from. Everyone did a great job.
Just another view of the goodie table. At the far end are cookies and chips and.......... and cold pop (soda) in the coolers.
And here come the first batch of burgers and dogs. If you enjoyed them, and we know you did, they came from Smart-N-Final.
Jim put the griller on the west side of the pavillion this year thinking the smoke would drift to the north, but as unexpected as things are, the wind came from the west and several times the pavillion, with all of us in it, got covered in smoke. Usually that "honor" goes to Jim, KF6WCL.
The "other side" of the table. Just another shot of things. If you missed this event, put it on your calendar for next year as we intend to "do it again"!
See what you missed if you wern't here? BIG hot dogs and BIG burgers too!
There were seconds for all. Hey, how about another pot luck, TOMORROW!
A last look at the many items on the tables. We really enjoyed this Sunday afternoon. This was the most fun!
And now, time to says THANK YOU.........
The club wishes to thank EVERYONE who participated in Field Day 2005, be it an operator, logger, set up or take down or pot luck participant and of course our guests who came. It was a fun experience for all of us and a time to relax and take it easy instead of "getting those points.". It was suggested we submit our score and we will do that. We might be in last place "contest" wise, but we were in FIRST place with the fun and friendshipping, and of course the pot luck. The food was great and thanks everyone for bringing it.
I do want to thank a few people who really participated well beyong what is expected and helped bring the event to a successful end.
Richard, W6VQC, who brough his vehicle over and loaded the tables and chairs from the center, hauled them home and then brought them to the field day site for unloading. He did that twice, before and after the event as the center was not open on the weekend so arrangements were made for Friday and Monday to load and unload. Richard also stored the club antennas, batteries (which he kept charged), and some of the club HF radios, not to mention the "caution" tape, coolers for the soda and ice and a dozen or more other items without which, it would have been a mess, like those signs telling you our call sign, the frequency list, pencils, paper, logging sheets, dupe sheets just for example. Richard put a LOT of effort into FD and when you see him next, be sure to thank him. He was also "on scene" for long periods of time to help out where he could. We almost walked his legs off him at one point and I was worried we might be pushing him too much. He's a trooper and thanks Richard. It would not have been the same without you.
Jim, KF6WCL of course, who spent time doing the "errands" of gathering the dogs and burgers and plates and such, not to mention that cold water you drank or the cans of pop and ice. The Grill and dogs and burgers are his speciality. Little details we often take for granted but are thankful that "someone" remembered to get it done.
The "set up" and "take down" crew as always, and in particular, Bob, KE6FDF who I don't think has missed a year yet. If I arrived on site and he was not there, I would assume I was at the wrong site. You new guys as well, thanks for the additional help. That sledge hammer for driving in the supports for the verticals is getting heavier each year. (or the ground harder)
Rod, N6CG who was on-site operating the longest of anyone and his desire to make the contest portion something of fun, but practical value as well, and who suggested we submit our results and we will do just that.
Thank you Control Ops who arrived on time per your sign-up and we didnt have to remind you either, and all the operators who came over to have some fun and participate in FD. For our Technician Licensed hams, its the one time each year you can sit down to an HF rig and "play" with it and have some fun.
Thanks to all those who came for the Pot Luck and supplied the "goodies". The food was GREAT! Why I'd bet you guys could get together and start a restaurantt business if you wanted. Thanks for bringing the family members with you as well, and letting us get to "know you". For many of us on the Tuesday evening net it was the first time we actually got to meet and see Jessica, instead of listening to her "3rd party traffice" at the other end of N6QG's mic.
As a final remark, I want to let everyone know that I think you are the finest group of hams (and FRIENDS) I have ever known and what a pleasure it is to be a member of this club with you. I am sure Dr. DeForest is smiling at us as we represent his name in ham radio.
Thank you, EVERYONE!
Ron, WA6AZN
Final Results as submitted to ARRL. (we can ammend if needed)
QSO's 201 SSB (counts 1 point each)
8 CW (counts 2 points each)
Power Multiplier 2 (150 watts or less)
Score: 434 (201 + 16 =217 X 2 = 434)
Bonus Points:
300 Emergency power (100 X 3 stations)
100 Set up in Public Place.
100 Information/display table
50 Submitted via web
200 Non-traditional mode (ATV, 100 points for 2 "demos")
