Field Day 2010 @ Station K8CPA

This was my first time back on field day in a few years. My rig was down for the count for the past couple of years.

Overall it was a great time. I mostly operated CW this year. I TRIED PSK31 andSSB; what a nightmare!

PSK31 on 20 was just too crowded. Also, is there some sort of new law against long macros on PSK-31? I they are to be used for a reason. 20 meters was not exactly hot.

I even had more "fun" on 20 meter SSB. Some contester by the callsign of W9LO decided that I was not operating well enough...or something. Overtook my frequency on 14.323. I reported it to Laura Smith, the new enforcement council for the FCC. I know he heard me, for two reasons; because of his comments, before he stole my frequency and I had just worked someone in his area prior to this happening. I also admit that I blew my stack on the guy too. I am not proud of that; but what can one expect, this guy literally stole my frequency!

Now that I have griped about the bad stuff; here the good that happened. :)

It has been said that 160 Meters is the gentleman's band. That might be true; but I know of another places, during contests and Field Days, where the nice guys and professional ops hang out. That would be in the CW portions of 20, 40, and yes, even 80 meters. I had more fun there, than I did anywhere else during Field Day. I just tuned around and worked the strong one's and even some of the stations that were marginal here. I am a night owl by habit, so, I was up to my usual 4:00 a.m. -- I ended up in the CW portion of 80 meters. Many good stations there; it was, admittedly, a bit noisy. But I was able to pull everyone out that I worked. I also came to appreciate the narrow CW filters in this Kenwood TS-950SDX as well. WOW! talk about a God-send. I can only imagine how narrow the 250hz filter would be...

Anyhow, that sums up Field Day for 2010! I will be back next year... Hopefully! :)

I hope this entry gets approved. As it speaks the truth....