Trojan ARC    Colby, northwest Kansas   2A entry

1484 QSOs      4128 expected score      4 primary operators

This was our second year operating in 'Micro-Lite' mode with minimal infrastructure. Our 50 year old tower trailer held our 3el tribander and 3 el 6M yagis and OCF dipole. Then we had a ground-mounted Comet 5 band vertical. This simplifies setup-teardown yet gives our equipment a good shakedown and allows us to have flexible, competitive comms.

HF conditions weren't as good as we were anticipating during the 'Glory Days' a couple months ago, but were much better than the past few Field Days. And 6 meters was.... MAGIC.  With 575 Qs on 15 and 330 on 6, we have no complaints about propagation.

With radio operations inside the air-conditioned airport terminal, we have to rely on antenna work or generator refueling to get a full dose of "Field Day ambience", but our aging bodies tell us we've made a good choice.

Neither of the club's two OOTs made it this year and with only 4 ops for the two main radios plus the (busy) 6M bonus rig there wasn't an excess of gabbing time. However we did enjoy the social side of the event.  Ex-area ham Calvin KD0OSY came down from McCook. He enjoyed setup and the first few hours of operating with us.  GL on your General Calvin.  We also enjoyed visits with OM/XYL Gregg N0XJ/Kathy N0XNJ, Gary N0XNK who also helped with site prep, and Ryan KC0WMX. Ten non-licensed folks stopped by as well.  We sure missed K0FW, half of our cw crew. Jeff's XYL was recovering from outpatient surgery and he was QRL with 'harmonic supression' if you get the drift.....  Wx was quasi-delightful; no complaints there.

We enjoyed two Qs with W1AW, and logged familiar calls from Kansas and the rest of the Midwest Division, and throughout North America. With only 4 main ops we all did soup to nuts.  Our specialties:

WY0I  Bob    6M    food procurement

KC0GLA Nathan    graveyard   rigs/interfacing

K0FJ Mike   SSB running   Winlink 2000 systems/maintenance

K0BJ Bruce  CW   graveyard

Wheat harvest, normally a bugaboo, cooperated by being late this year. CU in Field Day 2012.