07/29/2003 | WA2DFI BSA Explorer Post 599, Phoenix AZ
Field Day Location: Heber, AZ
Class: 2A

We made over 1000 QSOs on HF. Thanks to all of the operators. We even got Craig's brother Kyle to belt out a few CQs on the GOTA station, even though he didnt actually get to work anyone.

We had demos for APRS, Packet Radio and ATV, thanks to WA9OXY and KD7FNH. It was cool watching the operators at the SSB station via the ATV radio link from the other end of the porch!

We had a visitor information table. Thanks to WA9OXY for setting it up.

We had visitors. Warren from the Salvation Army SATERN came by to check out our FD setup. Two reporters from the local newspaper also came by and took copious notes and lots of pictures for their article about our operation.

We had signs to the site from the main road, thanks to Craig's handiwork.

We had awesome antennas: two tribanders, an 80m Zepp and a 40m dipole, along with a VHF beam and a VHF/UHF dual bander. The AB-577 rocket launcher worked phenomenally well for our first tribander after a slow installation, as we were learning how to put it up. The early arrivals, KD7NZK, AC7UW, AC7FK and WA2DFI had the "fun" of figuring it all out.

The other tribander was a real problem. After nearly being unable to raise the antenna due to tree interference, the antenna was finally raised about dark. A quick check with the antenna analyzer revealed serious trouble - near infinite SWR on 10, 15 and 20m! After a quick dinner of Pizza in Heber, we hooked up the analyzer again and ran the "distance-to-fault" function. As best we could determine, the feed-line was open at the barrel connection 15 feet in the air! Since there was no way we were going to lower the antenna again unless we had to, we set up a Darwin Award entry by "guying" an extension ladder to the mast. WA2DFI climbed up the ladder to change the barrel. I am sorry to report that we did not qualify for a Darwin Award, but we did replace the feed-line and that corrected the problem!

We hung a 40m dipole off of the low tribander, and an 80m Zepp (dipole fed with open wire) off of the high tribander on the rocket launcher. Craig got to try out his new "antenna launcher" 2" wrench on a tree at one end of the Zepp. The conclusion was that it is too big and heavy. (Imagine that!) The Zepp worked like gangbusters!!! WA2DFI could run stations on 80 CW and 40 CW with ease.

During the day Saturday, AC7FK, AC7UW, KD7FNH and KD7FQI decided that we needed another 80m dipole for the GOTA and/or SSB station. They whipped one up in record time and pulled it up into the trees. By dinnertime Saturday, we had a 5th HF antenna! KD7ROD and N8BLM put it to good use that night on the GOTA station, and KD7FNH and KD7NZK used it early Sunday morning on the SSB station.

AC7FK, our computer maestro, got the network all up and running and the logging software configured on the three computers (SSB, CW, GOTA) and even gave us a mini-tutorial on this new software. It worked exceptionally well, and both HF stations could "see" what the other was working.

KD7NZK and WA2DFI were having a contest within a contest to see who could make the most QSOs during FD. The jury is still out as to who won. We will see when the entry is prepared for submission to ARRL.

And don't forget the food! WB7QGJ set a standard that will be hard to beat next Field Day! Bacon and pancakes, burgers and dogs, grilled chicken and French toast were all on the menu. Way to go Steve! Good food makes all the work, heat and no sleep all worth it.

On the trip back to Phoenix in the Valley of the Heat, both WA9OXY and WA2DFI had car problems, but that is another story....

Until next year,
73 -- WA2DFI