07/22/2004 | KR7Q The Curmudgeons. a group of hams from four counties in NW Washington State mounted their first ever field day effort this year. Most of the group had never participated in field day before. The primary goal of the event was to have fun. That goal was achieved. The Curmudgeons set up field day operations at Howard Miller Park on the Skagit River in Rockport, Wa. A 30 tower and rotateable (triband) dipole, along with a 135 off center fed dipole , a 80 meter dipole and a 40/ 20 meter delta loop made up the antenna arsenal for HF. Moxin antennas were used in the attempt to make that elusive satellite contact.
The curmudgeons worked hard on preparations and the public relations aspect of this event. Two , one half page articles were published in the Skagit Valley Herald. One article was to notify the public of the event. The second article featured front page pictures in the Sunday edition of the paper. The Saturday article can be viewed at http://www.skagitvalleyherald.com/articles/2004/06/25/news/news05.txt
Several of the Curmudgeons brought the special equipment required to demonstrate to the public, APRS and SSTV. A public information table was set up, along with plenty of info on ham radio. A group teens camping in the same park expressed interest in the activities of the Ham Radio Curmudgeons and the field day activites. Many of the other campers in the park visited the operating areas and asked questions.
The ARRL field day message was copied on CW and on Phone (HF). All the radio equipment was powered by battery or generators. The RV type site, worked well because many of the XYLs came along and even participated in making contacts on the GOTA station. Just under 300 contacts were made during the two day event. A night crew of operators was not available, so all contacts were made during day time hours. The Curmudgeons tallied up nearly 1800 points with a 2A class entry.

Field Day ops: K7LVJ, N7HPE, WX7J, WA7UGB, KD7TJT & KR7Q
Curmudgeons on site in support: W7AFY, AA7HQ, AC7SI, N7PZD
Repeater support and antenna consultant: WA7NAN- not able to be present for FD, but provided communications (Via the WA7NAN repeaters) for planning and antenna design ideas. -- KR7Q