07/03/2007 | N2SE 10-70 Repeater Association, Inc N2SE Field Day 2007

Saturday, June 23 2007 at the Campgaw Ski Area in Mahwah, New Jersey blossomed crystal clear, dry and pleasant, in contrast to the normal Field Day weather of thunder and lightning, deluges, tropical heat and awful humidity! 10-70 ended up setting up for an 8A station - 3 CW, 3 phone, 1 digital, and a VHF station, plus the requisite GOTA station. The ops were ready, setups kept simple and easy to operate in keeping with the theme of Field Day, and 10-70 was off and running promptly at 2 PM EDT. Points-wise, as usual, the CW stations were king, with the three stations bagging well over 800 QSOs. 80 and 40 were in particularly fine shape, with the West coast hit regularly and often on both bands. 40, in addition, hit Hawaii in the wee hours. 20 meters, surprisingly, remained at least somewhat open through most of the night as well. In the overnight hours, all three CW stations and 20 phone were in two adjacent tents, antennas just feet apart, and yet interference was minimal, thanks to some good filtering on 80 meters, and some superior transceivers - a new Icom IC-718, an old Kenwood TS-440S, and an old Yaesu FT-101ZD doing the overnight chores. One interesting thing was that we actually had a surplus of CW operators through the period, the first time I can recall that in 17 years of 10-70 Field Days. CW was run by KB2SFS (80), WB2AWQ (40), and N2CG (20).

Two of the three phone stations, the daytime 20 CW setup, and the GOTA station were all clustered in one area, and once again interference was minimal. 80 was the big phone band, being active all night long. The GOTA station had a number of visitors, all of whom did some operating with us. The digital station roamed 20 and 40, and with just 10 watts or so made a decent number of QSOs. Our regular VHF op took ill for the weekend, so we had to cobble something together, and managed to put up a quickie 6 meter beam and an Icom 746, to make a good noise on VHF. Among the first QSOs made by N2SE were the requisite 5 alternate power contacts, done by a solar panel/battery power combo and a QRP rig set up by KA2TAM. Phone duty was headed up by W2MLS (75), KC2JPA (40), and N2XSE (20). VHF was spearheaded by KC2NHY, digital by KC2GIK, and GOTA by KC2PJL. Message and publicity duties were handled by WA2MWT, and on-site public display by KC2MAG. Power for all was provided by a magnificent diesel-powered generator loaned to us by the Mahwah, NJ OEM group. KC2HRG kept all this commotion well organized, overseeing the general operation.

More than just a radio operating event, Field Day has become to 10-70 a big social event as well, and this year was no exception. A nice barbecue was in the offing Saturday evening, and all ops plus some spouses took a well-earned breather to partake of a variety of goodies done over charcoal by our head chef (and club Prez) Paul KC2CJW. In all some 50 or so club members participated, making for a fun, well run, and well-staffed Field day setup. 10-70 definitely rules in NNJ!

Howie Holden -- WB2AWQ