07/03/2008 | N2XJ An undeniable part of "the magic of Field Day" is staying up all night snatching contacts out of the ether. Band conditions weren't wonderful, but that doesn't mean that working the night shift on a warm summer evening isn't an incredible amount of fun.

This year, son Dan (KC2RKB) and I decided to forego the 1D home station in favor of more time with the N2XJ team -- a more authentic field experience. And while setup and daytime operating were great, there's nothing as mystical as tents and wires and radios under a starry sky. We caved in and wandered on home after midnight; but hats off to the NPARC operators who pulled all-nighters and racked up the points. Hope you rediscovered the spirit that got you into the hobby in the first place! -- WS2Z