07/23/2004 | KA1VBU The Winterstown, PA Contest Group


Field Day!! That was the cry of a couple of hams from the White Marsh facility of Collins Radio now known as (Rockwell Collins). The question is who we team up with. After a month worth of consternations we decided we were going to do it our selves! How hard can it be to set up an emergency communications site and make as many contacts in 24 hours? Right?






Our mission was to get a few of the 12 operators at our work involved and see if we could do it, on the fly like might be the case in an emergency, so the mission was on. We had location!! The field behind my house was selected instead of a public place because we wanted to perfect all of the skills with support near incase of a foul up. We notified the BSA troops in the area, sent out 3 press releases and invited our state senator, congressman, and County Commissioner. High elevation no obstructions, everyone had radios, everyone would bring an antenna. I had the generator and tent so we were done! Once the planning was done, about three, fifteen minute sessions. We looked at the cost and split it between 5 of us. My wife made the official T shirts with embroidered call signs and names so we were ready







The day arrives and we set up. The contest begins. Ooops the generator that I ran earlier that morning wouldnt run. So we were off on battery power while I put my mechanics hat on. It seems that the gas I put in the generator had water in it and that flooded the carburetor. After a half an hour worth of decontamination, we were off and running on petrol. This was the only hang up of the whole day.





The next thing to do was to erect my special antenna. This was the secret weapon. A helium balloon supported vertical antenna. I always like building an antenna and thought it would be fun to make a temporary unit that could be tossed at the end if desired. Yep Red, White and Blue with Old Glory being displayed!





About two hours after everyone was on the air making QSOs I decided I was ready to give it a shot. Wow it worked great. We were able to rule a pile up and I was able to scrape a couple of 160meter contacts. Dave was excited about the 80meter CW performance. We ran a 3A + GOTA station and managed to grab 725 contacts






We were able to be on the air for 19 hours, got a newer but less active ham involved again, and our County Commissioner Doug Kilgore was able to attend. We are now brain storming for another round next year. It was great participating with the 2004 Field Day events. -- KA1VBU