John, K0FTC, John, N0TA, Tom, W0IVJ, Larry, W0QE,  and Jim, W5AP operated field day in 2012 on the property of Dennis, N0SP at 9100 feet elevation.  We operated 2A CO with the special event call W0C.  We set up Friday afternoon and Saturday morning with two stations, one devoted to CW and the other devoted to SSB/RTTY.  We used Elecraft K3 transceivers which are known for low phase noise and high blocking dynamic range.  The goal was to have the CW and the SSB/RTTY station operating on the SAME band at the SAME time with no interference between them.  To that end the station dipoles were oriented end to end, separated by about 265 feet center to center with the main lobe running east and west.  The CW station used two fan dipoles whose apex was about 47 feet high.  One covered 80 and 40 meters; the other covered 20,15 and 10 meters.  The SSB/RTTY station used a dipole with switches in it to cover 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.  It was mounted flat at 35 feet.  EZNEC calculations proved to be pretty accurate and we had no interference between stations.

John, K0FTC provided all the tents,  cots, camping gear, home made breakfast burritos (thank you Judi), and the generator along with cords, and the satellite station.  Larry, W0QE, provided the CW fan dipoles as well as the 50 foot support pole.  Tom, W0IVJ, provided the SSB/RTTY switchable dipole and feed line for it.  Jim, W5AP, provided the feed lines for the CW station as well as the SSB/RTTY K3 and logging computer.  John, N0TA, secured the 1X1 special event call as well as providing the CW K3 and logging computer.  We used N1MM as a logging program. 

It was certainly a group effort.  The weather cooperated beautifully with us: no rain; no wind and temperatures in the 80’s whereas temperatures 20 minutes away were above 100 in the valley.   We operated the whole 24 hours with the CW station logging about 1350 contacts and the SSB/RTTY station logging about 1050 contacts.  Although we were all tired when done, a good time was had by all.

Further information on antenna separation may be found at:

w0qe.com/Technical_Topics/phase_noise_and_overload_testing.html

and more pictures may be viewed at:

picasaweb.google.com/990toedtli/FDPictures