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Toyota FJ Cruiser with hamstick antenna and K400 mount. |
View of hamstick on back of my SUV...no beam antenna here or radial wires...just pure Mobile ham radio. |
QRP is Us did field day from a location near historic Silver City, Idaho again this year. We have used this site for several years and enjoy the remoteness and quiet.
Even though we are off the beaten path we have visitors every year. This year we had the usual crew and a couple of new additions. WB7VEQ Steve brought his soon to be wife and her son. Steve' daughter Kayla came as well.
Other operators were John KD7HGS, Jim W7TF, Bob W7RLS and Don KC7U. John's wife Deb was there for moral support and she cooks a mean Dutch oven breakfast.
As in years past we operate QRP only, CW as well as SSB. We use batteris for power. Operation at under 10 watts SSB as well as CW is a real challenge.
Our antenna farm consisted of a 5btv verticle, a 80 meter trap dipole, 3 element yagi beam and a 80 meter long wire.
Power was supplied by batteries for each rig brought along by the owner of the radio that they operated.
Rigs were IC 706Mk3, IC 703, MFJ 4020, K2 and a Heath Kit 102.
Camping out in the mountains of Idaho can be cold even in June but this year it was pleasant. Not at all like last time when we had a lightning storm and rain down pour with a River Running Through It (our operation tent).
All in all a very rewarding expediton. Lots of operating and fellowship. We did not score extremely high but scored well in the enjoyment category.
Pictures posted are of the FD site at about 8000 feet elevation. Our army surplus tent is setup in the little grove of trees and we camped around the perimeter.
Notice that there are no RVs in the pictures, it is almost a 4x4 situation to even get to the site. Indeed our visitors came by Quad and motorcycle.
Looking forward to next year.
A simple set up,but it provides it's owner with Field Day smiles! YEE HAH! |
NV8E Field Day
Every year, we try something a little different and this year was no exception. I think that some of the changes made this year will be carried over to next year.
Now, let's meet the team.
From left to right: Ray Scott (N4RAJ) Terry Scott (NV8E) Herman Tibbs (KC8VJD) Joshua Tibbs (no call yet) Rick Botos (KC8MVK) Dave Hendricks (N8HSO-not pictured) |
The camp all set up. The antennas in it vary from dipoles to a 2M vertical to an 80M loop |
Terry (NV8E) with his Yaesu FT-847 on 75 meters taking them as fast as he could get them considering the poor band conditions on 75 meters. |
Rick (KC8MVK) taking a break from the FT-897 |
Herman (KC8VJD-our resident QSO animal) burning the night oil trying to keep the contacts rolling in. Just getting him away from the radio to eat is a chore. This year, he even opted to get a few CW contacts which really helped on getting us closer to a sweep |
Well, it looks like the QSO animal had to take a break.... |
But it's not over yet! His son, Joshua, under the watchful eye of Terry (NV8E) takes over and keeps it going. ^ ^ ^ We used the following equipment this year: Terry Scott (NV8E) Yaesu FT-847 with a 75M dipole Ray Scott (N4RAJ) ICOM IC-7000 with a Screwdriver Rick (KC8MVK) Yaesu FT-897 with a dipole Herman Tibbs (KC8VJD) Ten Tec Jupiter with an 80M delta loop We would like to thank Dave Hendricks (N8HSO) for coming out in the middle of the night and making a few contacts for us. We hope to have him on the crew next year. In a nutshell, we thoroughly enjoyed this year's field day and look forward to next year's event. Hope to see you all out here next year. Best 73s ! Terry NV8E |
THE PHILMONT MOBILE RADIO CLUB FIELD DAY 2006 IS DEDICATED TO PERRY BLUM W3PTB. MAY HE FIND PEACE AND HARMONY IN HEAVEN WITH GOD. MAY THE ANGELS FROM ABOVE KEEP A CLOSE WATCH AND PROTECT HIS FAMILY IN TRYING TIMES.
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FIRST, LETS SET UP CAMP |
NOW FOR THE KITCHEN, CAN'T WORK FIELD DAY ON AN EMPTY STOMACH |
LETS RAISE THE ANTENNAS |
CAN'T HAVE FIELD DAY WITHOUT AT LEAST ONE OR TWO ROTATABLE ANTENNAS. THIS ONE IS FOR VHF AND UHF WITH BILL W3AOK AND CHUCK K3QLY ENSURING OUR FLAG IS SAFE AND SECURE |
OH THERE'S BILL! |
"SEE THE ANGLE OF RADIATION PERPENDICULAR TO THE HEIGHT OF THE...AAAWWW..NEVER MIND...JUST POINT UP THERE AND SHOOT!" |
VAST ARRAY OF INFORMATION IS ALWAYS NECESSARY AT FIELD DAY |
HERE, STEVE, WU3I, OUR COOK, ANTENNA GURU, FIELD DAY SITE ORGANIZER AND ALL AROUND GOOD GUY, SETS UP THE KITCHEN FOR OUR SATURDAY DINNER |
JERRY, N3RPW OPERATES THE 6 METER BAND WHICH DID PRETTY GOOD THIS YEAR |
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OUR GOTA STATION WAS IN TOP SHAPE THIS YEAR WITH ANDREW, KC2PMW AS OUR YOUNG HAM AT THE MICROPHONE |
CARMEN, KE3QB GETS SOME HELP FROM HIS SONS TO HANG THE 75 METER WIRE.."DADDY, IF I PULL THIS OUT, WHAT HAPPENS?" |
DESPITE THE WEATHER, OUR FIELD DAY STAYED SOMEWHAT DRY |
BILL WA3NSP PERCERVERED THRU HIS RAINY MOMENTS TO OPERATE 15 METER PHONE WITH HIS TS95OS |
WELL, FIELD DAY 2OO6 IS OVER AND TIME TO TEAR DOWN THE STATIONS AND.. |
CLOSE UP THE CAMPSITE AND.... |
TIME TO SAY GOODBYE FOR ANOTHER YEAR..73 FROM KE3QB AND TWO OF MY FUTURE HAMS. |
The turnout for Field Day this year was low. Set up and tear down process near the top of Larch Mountian went very smoothly thanks to our newly fabricated tower bases. Co-Chairs Mike Magnuson, N7ETA, and Cory Schoch, KA7IUG, reported that we earned between 1300 and 1400 bonus points. However, our total points for contacts were down from last year. We need more operators and loggers for our scores to improve. This was the first year we had a GOTA station which gave a couple of younger unlicensed people a chance to get a feel for operating.
WB7QIW, Hoodview Amateur Radio Club, Gresham, OR www.wb7qiw.org
The Whole Crew |
Tower going up with new portable tilting base |
20 meter phone hut |
Low band digital setup |
Inside GOTA hut |
West view of site |
Mount Hood off to the East of the site |
I have always wanted to share the experience of Field Day and Ham Radio to a group of excited Cub Scouts ... well, since BOTH of my Sons are in Cub Scouts, and Dad has the Ham Radio Gear .. and it's the graduation / promotion weekend for the local Cub and Webelo Pack.. Heck, you can't make up a planetary alignment any better than that !!!
So, for the first time ever, I'm Solo on Field Day - Well, as "Solo" as you can be with about 20 Scouts, not counting their Friends and Family along for the promotion ceremony... The event was held on Fiesta Island, in Mission Bay (San Diego, California). Mixed in with competative games, food, fun and sand, passing out awards and event pins and patches, a taste of Ham Radio to round things out .. and for many, a new way to communicate outside of the cell phone. Even better, some of of the participants in this Pack knew a bit of Morse Code !
Firsts for the Kids - Helping out with the antenna setup and assembly, connecting the radio and the keyer, learning what and how to log, and most importantly - their very first two way radio contacts (other than my own Sons that is !), and in a few cases, even to other Scouts that were participating in Field Day - which sets the stage nicely for JOTA in October !!!
Firsts for Dad - Strange as this might seem (for those that know me from the VHF/UHF Contest circles), my first HF Mobile Operation, and first operation at or about Sea Level (I'm always on a hill, or have been until recently - when the hill was the just the spectator stands at my old High School in the June 2006 VHF Contest - see the soapbox for details).
Very cool stuff, the Kids were amazed (as was Dad) as propagation changed from one state to another, especially on 20 and 40 meters. The antenna was a heavy duty 33 foot tall telescoping fiberglass "kite pole", supporting about 40 feet of copper wire wrapped loosely in a spiral on the way up to the top. Three counterpoise wires, about 30 feet long were used in conjunction with and Icom AH-4 and IC-746Pro to make the contacts.
We operated about four to five hours from Fiesta Island, packing up after the Kids and Adults packed up to go home Saturday Night. Operation resumed for about another hour from Mt. Soledad in La Jolla (about 825 feet ASL overlooking the Pacific Ocean) before heading home.
We had Officials from the Mission Bay Aquatic Department, Local Police and Sheriff Departments, as well as local LifeGuards stop by, visit, offer encouragement and even participate with the Scouts ! I had other Hams stop by and chat about their "good old days" at both locations - always nice to see that it's still a recognised hobby and event !!
Looking forward to next year, and more fun in the sun !!
73 -
Late in the game, but fortunately my XYL came to the rescue with a camera - this shot is at the Fiesta Island location. |
Looking to the East from Mt. Soledad, in La Jolla, Ca. It just doesn't get much nicer than this ! |
.. and looking to the West from Mt. Soledad in La Jolla, Ca at Sunset .. a perfect and fitting end to a great day ! |
kq6ee was at San Gabriel Peak (6000+')during the Field Day on LOWER POWER. I did most of the UHF and VHF (from 6m to 1.2G). But this time, I brought my HF antenna. Ham Radios are alway fun. Plan for next year already!!!. 73
Here is my antenna setup. |
Many people (hiker) asked me what I was doing. I should set up a info. table at the mountain peak |
My radios setup was very simple |
Another view of my setup along the bench. |
Field Day is alway fun and to test the radios, antennas and so on. |
It almost seemed like a contradiction this year for the Ozarks Amateur Radio Society (w0oar). We had chosen for our Field Day 2006 location the historic Adamson Cabin.
The rustic cabin that was originally constructed in 1845 was about to see a new kind of resident. One bearing laptops, radios, power supplies and our own local wi-fi network.
With antennas up, radios at the ready and the generator running there was just time for a last check on our provisions.
With the cabins central breezeway converted into our communications center the day was begun. We were able to operate 4a this year with four stations in the breezeway and our GOTA station and Talk-in station setup on the porch. We had opted to leave the antenna trailers behind this year and instead push home built antennas. This added to the fun and to the adventure since a gentleman named Murphy tends to also attend these events.
As evening set in and relief operators took their turn we were all having a great time. We so far had had an uneventful field day – that is until about 4 am when we refueled the generator. Our fuel supplier had evidently not been the best for we spent the next hour changing fuel filters and flushing out the bad gas. Did this stop us???? Of course not!!!!! Improvise – Adapt – Overcome !!!! ( and don’t buy cheap gas ).
With dawn also arrived our day crew. ( strategy planning session before taking over ).
We also had an honored guest arrive. The actual key from the German U-Boat U-505.
With another field day behind us and the
equipment packed for return to it’s humble shacks,
the entire OARs club wishes 73s to all and
we will be listening for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The Chesapeake Amateur Radio Service held 2006 Field Day at Deep Creek Locks Park in the city of Chesapeake, VA. A great time was had by all who attended. We also had local city officials attend our event. Our members and families were treated to one of the best field day dinners that they have had in years. Already there is talk about 2007 Field Day.
The Command Center for Field Day 2006. Also food headquarters! Pictured in the center was our wireless network center. We set up a seperate large monitor for the public to view a map of the contacts we were making during Field Day. |
Gavin, KD7GJB (Pictured) and John, KI4MYZ made sure that our network stayed up during Field Day. Could not have done it without them! |
Ricky Lee, KC4RIC, set up his Kenwood D7 to operate APRS for Field Day. |
Dennis, KI4ORF, is one of our newest hams in Tidewater. He got to learn a lot about the advantages of having a roter for 6 meters on Field Day. |
The Kitchen Crew, Paul, K4PRB, and Dennis, K4DKR, got to work early. |
Leo, KC4LEO, another of our new hams got to have fun putting together a beam antenna. |
Barry, K5VIP, Bill our VP, WF4R, and Leo, KC4LEO, continue putting the final touches on the antenna. |
Phil, WB3IEC, guarded my "child". My Kenwood TS-850. |
At 12:30 Sunday morning we were racking in some contacts as you can see. |
Barry, K5VIP, and Tom, KI4HNF, put the final touches on our beam. |
Jim, KG4WOJ, recently back from second tour in Iraq is showing his daughter how much fun CW can be on 80 meters at 2 am. |
Our Solar Powered Station. |
Our solar panel |
Jim, KG4WOJ, started a thoughtful debate on the other uses of a Direct TV antenna dish. Made several UHF contacts. |
Side view of the satellite TV ham antenna. |
Barry, K5VIP with help from Paul, K4IRL and Gavin, KD7GJB and Dennis, KI4ORF, worked to get us more contacts before the end late Sunday morning. |
Ted Ambrose, Chesapeake Fire Department and CERT leader for the City of Chesapeake stopped by with the proclamation from Mayor Dalton Edge declairing Amateur Radio Week in the city of Chesapeake. |
Assistant Chief Elliott along with our Field Day Chairman, Bob, N4RAZ decide to ham it up for the camera. |
Dennis, KI4ORF was introducing Chesapeake's newest councilmember, Rebecca Adams to Amateur Radio. |
How do you operate this radio again? |
Rich, N5RAG, our treasurer slept in style. |
Ricky Lee, KC4RIC, piled up PSK31 contacts for us. He also says come join us for 2007 Field Day if you are in town. 73's |
Leo, KG4PWC, took care of Old Glory for us. |
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