06/29/2004 | WB8RFB This year was a solo effort as my XYL (KA9QXI) was in Illinois. I set up a G5RV atop a 25' metal mast with one side anchored by a huge oak tree and the other by a stand of small maples. Ben Gay and I got to be good friends after doing all that antenna work!

I operated 1A and ran from a new Honda 2000 eui generator, which worked great once you remember to leave the air vent on the fuel cap open during run-time! Thank goodness, I had a laptop with a fresh battery in it. When the lights suddenly went out my log would have been history without it.

The mosquitoes were manageable too and the conditions were excellent on the "workhorse" 40M and 20M bands. 15 and 80 meters also provided some new sections for me too.

My main op mode was CW and several times I was able to pick a spot, call CQ and run a string of contacts. That sure helps the QSO rate. I ran with 50 watts from my Ten-Tec Scout, which has been my FD radio for the past 6 years. Simple to opearate and tune, it rarely failed to work a station heard, either on SSB or on CW. I love that little radio.

This year, I copied the CW FD bulletin from both the east coast (W1AW) and the west coast (K6KPH) and both signals were solid S7 to S9 on 40M. Good show!

Although I operate in a number of contests during the year just to work DX, Field Day has its own special flavor and stands above all other operating events. It's far removed from being considered a "contest" in my mind.

To me, it's the entire range of experience from getting outside, getting that antenna up, hearing the melodious sounds of good CW being sent at dusk, while sipping on a steaming cup of coffee with a gas lantern hissing near by, to getting that melancholy feeling when it's all over for another year.

Goodbye FD 2004 - you were a great one! Let's hope FD 2005 brings us all back together again. -- WB8RFB