07/08/2005 | W6SF FIELD DAY IN THE CHERRY ORCHARD
Again, the Stockton-Delta ARC made its annual run to be Best in SJV on Field Day. The weather gods smiled on us this year with moderating temperatures. The propagation gods (always a playful group) played all sorts of games with us, teasing us with wide open bands, and then closing them down with noise shortly thereafter.

Once again the Precissi family permitted us to invade their cherry orchard. So, arriving in time for an 8am start, about a dozen members hauled Charlie WB6NVBs crank up tower into position, and under loud, but expert, guidance from Charlie, soon had it nailed down and the first set of guys in place. John KD6FVA had other members assembling the clubs 4 element tribander. Out came the analyzeradjustments were made in search of the ever illusive 1:1 SWR. Lifted into place, Dave KG6SVF found himself cranking 5 foot lengths of tower supports into place until 2 more sets of guys were attached, and the tribander stood at 48 feet (or more). The 80 meter dipole was hauled up the tower and into position.

On the west side of our site, Paul N6KZW went to work assembling his 33 foot 40 meter vertical. Now, we all know that verticals are known for radiating a signal equally poorly in all directions. Paul did not read that particular book, because he built one hot antenna!

While all this was going on, ground rods were being driven in, batteries from Dave N6LHL were unloaded and hooked up, and two radios warmed up under the branches of the old walnut tree. It was now 10:30am, and we had time on our hands for the first time in years before Field Day started.

At 11am we were off and running with John KD6FVA and Bev KG6EFD on one radio and Eric W6INP and Lynette KG6UII on another. As the day wore on and operators and loggers were rotated, the contacts began piling up. Soon Dave KD6DZK, Bill WA6DQA, Paul N6KZW, Jack KA6LNO, new member Josh KD6NIG, and Dave N6LHL were bringing in calls. Ted WA6RIV and Charlie WB6NVB went after some cw contacts and copied the ARRL message. At noon, Bev KG6EFD and daughter(Jessica) provided operators with cold cut sandwiches. It was great to see new teen age ham Joel KG6ZAR, and another teenager, Jessica McElroy, bringing in a number of contacts. Frank KG6EYC jumped in during the night to keep us plugging away.

Bev and Jessica took a break to provide operators with a great dinner of hamburgers, hot dogs, salad, and (hold onto your hat) strawberry short cake.

All this goodness and success could not last. Early on Sunday morning, Murphys law went into effect, and the tribander stopped working. The crew waited until dawn and hauled all 48 feet down again, made a repair to a loose wire and cranked it all the way back up again. 80 meters opened up, and believe it or not Shirl AA6K found 10 meters also open. He started running stations for the rest of the day, hardly stopping for coffee.
What a great way to spend a week end for folks who enjoy radio.
My apologies to anyone who earned but did not receive an acknowledgement for their contributions, work and participation above. Your help made this Field Day successful.

-Dave N6LHL -- KD6FVA