This Field Day was my first real HF effort from the shack in a few years.  Also the first year since 1992 that I was not out in the field for Field Day with the radio club as FD chairperson.  

After 30 years of "Emergency Preparedness Drills" with makeshift antennas and emergency power, this year we found ourselves in a real emergency, possibly the worst since World War II.  And it was different than anything we as hams could have imagined.  (1) our home stations still work, and with commercial power, (2) we have to keep physically separated from each other to stay safe and healthy, and (3) ham radio has become a tool to keep us together and connected while we comply with the stay-at-home guidelines that are necessary to ultimately defeat COVID-19.

I worked 3 members of the NY Order of Boiled Owls - Dennis AH2O (2 bands), Tom KA2D, and Andy K2LE.  Worked 3 Radio Central ARC members - Frank KC2ZOR, Pete KB2RSQ, and Lou NY2H.  I also worked former RCARC member Art, WA7NB.

Thanks to Rick, K2RB, I got my Steppir back working, including tracking band changes from the K3.  This was also the maiden voyage for my newly acquired Micro KEYER III.  Had some hiccups wth WSJT-X, so I stuck to conventional phone and CW after the third computer crash. (MK-III handled CW and voice well).

I cranked the tower up half way - WX forecast was for "possible damaging winds", and I did not want to take any chances.  The beam played fine at 30 feet. We had a beautiful 10 meter opening Sunday.  I would have tried 10M SSB but the CW rate never let up.

It was nice having a year "off" from traditional FD but I am looking forward to a real out-in-the-field FD next year.

73 de KC2KY,

Neil

President, Radio  Central Amateur Radio Club

Member, NY Order of Boiled Owls