2007 ARRL Field Day
08/10/2007 |
W5MPZ
With temperatures climbing close to 100 degrees in the lower elevations of the state, Ed KA8JMW, Brian N5ZGT, Brian's father Pat KE5AMF, and Ed's brother and daughter Rich and Kathy decided to head north to the mountains of New Mexico. Our class 1A station was set up deep within the Jemez mountains, consisting of an Icom IC-756, deep cycle batteries, a multi-band dipole strung between pines about 40 feet high, and 100 watts. This was a special Field Day for Brian, as it was adjacent to the site of his very first Field Day 15 years ago. Needless to say, when the Field Day bug bites, it bites hard.
Station assembly and antenna raising went smoothly, and we were on the air right at 1800Z using W5MPZ, the callsign of Sandia National Laboratories ARC. Not many stations were heard for the first few hours due to conditions, but by evening-time the band was beginning to sound like a Field Day was happening. Most of our Q's took place on 20, though many contacts were made on 40. 15 and 10 afforded surprising activity, much better than 20 at times (in terms of QSO rates).
We weren't out for blood by any means...just for a fun, laid-back time in the mountains on Field Day weekend. Ed, Rich and Kathy wasted no time relaxing under the cool shade of the ponderosas. Brian and his dad slipped away for a few hours on Saturday to do a bit of fly-fishing on the Guadalupe which feeds the Jemez river, catching and releasing a bunch of small stream trout. A brown bear was even spotted about 100 yards from our camp.
When the clock struck 1800Z again we called Field Day 2007 a success, tore down the station and camp, and were on our way back to the Albuquerque within about 1.5 hours. Field Day is a fantastic event that affords many opportunities: getting on the air, getting away from it all, relaxing, catching up with old friends, and much more. 2007 definitely allowed us to do all that, and 2008 is already gracing the calendar!
73,
Ed James KA8JWM, Rich James, Kathy James, Pat Mileshosky KE5AMF, and Brian Mileshosky N5ZGT (ARRL Vice-Director, Rocky Mountain Division) -- N5ZGT
Station assembly and antenna raising went smoothly, and we were on the air right at 1800Z using W5MPZ, the callsign of Sandia National Laboratories ARC. Not many stations were heard for the first few hours due to conditions, but by evening-time the band was beginning to sound like a Field Day was happening. Most of our Q's took place on 20, though many contacts were made on 40. 15 and 10 afforded surprising activity, much better than 20 at times (in terms of QSO rates).
We weren't out for blood by any means...just for a fun, laid-back time in the mountains on Field Day weekend. Ed, Rich and Kathy wasted no time relaxing under the cool shade of the ponderosas. Brian and his dad slipped away for a few hours on Saturday to do a bit of fly-fishing on the Guadalupe which feeds the Jemez river, catching and releasing a bunch of small stream trout. A brown bear was even spotted about 100 yards from our camp.
When the clock struck 1800Z again we called Field Day 2007 a success, tore down the station and camp, and were on our way back to the Albuquerque within about 1.5 hours. Field Day is a fantastic event that affords many opportunities: getting on the air, getting away from it all, relaxing, catching up with old friends, and much more. 2007 definitely allowed us to do all that, and 2008 is already gracing the calendar!
73,
Ed James KA8JWM, Rich James, Kathy James, Pat Mileshosky KE5AMF, and Brian Mileshosky N5ZGT (ARRL Vice-Director, Rocky Mountain Division) -- N5ZGT
Photo Gallery
-
Our simple yet fu...
-
Enough chit-chatt...
Back
