06/30/2003 | WX9WX CQ Field Day, Whiskey X-ray Nine Whiskey X-ray... try saying that three times or 10,000 times during a contest. The new "F" category facilitated a first time FD operation by N1SF Radio Club from a station built to support emergency communications between State Farm Insurance and government disaster preparedness and recovery agencies.

The WX9WX station consists of a TEN-TEC OMNI VI+, SGC Power Cube, and a B&W 160-10 end fed "roof sloper" at ninety feet. During FD, the OMNI VI+ controlled the band and mode logging of the latest DOS version of CT.

The primary goal of our operation was to determine the WX9WX station's operations capabilities (and flaws) during an extended period. With poorer propagation conditions, and thunder storms rolling through the local area Saturday night, we manged to complete 200 good contacts, mostly on SSB. We did observe a temporary high VSWR on 20 meters during and shortly after a one and one half inch downpour, probably due to "ponding" of rain water near the low end of the sloper.

We did not attempt to establish a GOTA station, but encouraged our unlicensed and Technician class members to "sit at the mike" and make contacts with a control operator.

Even with the poor conditions, FD 2003 provided a great experience for N1SF Radio Club members operating WX9WX.

73,

Gary -- AB9M