06/25/2007 | NC8D "Bitten by the bug" was an appropriate slogan this year. A few years ago my station was hit by lightning and I never really set it back up. My wife bought me an FT-857D to replace the smoked TS-120, and I got a new G5RV to replace the antenna that my elmer N8JE had built for me. Then I retired from the Marine Corps and moved to New York.

The majority of my HF operating has always been Field Day. This year our company ham club didn't reach critical mass for Field Day so I was going to miss out this year. Thursday I decided that I'd drag my station out of the box, throw some wire in the trees, and operate 1B in the back yard. My thought was that I could move the station from the back yard to a corner of my office--rather than put it back in the box--and run the wire into the house later.

Well, it worked. I ran 1B WNY on batteries under the patio umbrella with the G5RV about 30 feet in the air. I wasn't sure how far I could get with a "cloud warmer" when I heard a station in West Texas calling "CQ Field Day" on 20 meters. I gave my call and was pleasantly surprised when W5QGG answered by repeating my call and becoming my first contact of the weekend. The original intent of Field Day was fulfilled. I now know where I can communicate on a moment's notice with a station set up in less than three hours.

Over all, I had a fantastic weekend. Field Day is a good time to get together with friends, but I loved running Field Day on my own and think I've been "bitten by the bug." It makes me want to try my hand at other contests. I'd like to thank K1CRA for letting me get the last-minute equipment I needed and N3FJP for writing the Field Day logging program. They both made my first solo field day experience rank right up there with my first ever Field Day. -- NC8D