06/26/2006 | K3WQ Mount Vernon, VA, was again the site of what is now dubbed the Second Annual Drumheller Family Ham Radio Field Day Party. On Saturday, I arrived at my brother and sister-in-law's house at 1600 UTC and had K3WQ ready for action two and a half hours later. On-the-air activities this year included not only HF SSB, but also PSK-31, SSTV and 2-meter SSB as well. Friends and family members dropped by, all of whom were fascinated by the use of a computer for PSK and SSTV. Many asked questions about radio, computer technology, licensing and call signs.

HF operation was restricted to the 20-meter band, which didn't provide reliable propagation this year. Activity on the 2-meter band was very low. And then there was the rain that drenched the northeast all weekend. Despite this, we contacted as many or more stations than last year--and had fun doing it!

Our goal is to try something new each year. Tentative plans for 2007 include balloon-deployed antennas for the low bands. Anybody know of a source of inexpensive weather balloons?

73,

Dave -- K3WQ