07/04/2008 | W5LBB Field Day in Lubbock was at Kastman Park, operated by the Lubbock ARES and RACES organizations, using the callsign W5LBB. We had a better than expected turnout and I was really surprised that several people showed up because they had learned about the event from the Internet. I assume from the Field Day locator at arrl.org.

Saturday morning was really hopping with two VE Exam Sessions and lots of people scrambling to get all the antennas setup. Two of our stations were IC-706MKIIG "Go-Kits" that had been purchased by the City of Lubbock with Homeland Security grants. The GOTA station made use of a TS-2000, one of seventeen installed in each Hospital in our region. The newly refurbished emergency communications trailer was brought to the site, its tower and HF beam put to good use.

A little after five o'clock we had to put most of the equipment away as a lightning storm approached. Several of us took refuge in the Lubbock County Mobile Operations Vehicle. Using the MOV's satellite Internet connection we linked up with the D-STAR network using a headset and a DV Dongle. It was an entertaining way to spend a few hours waiting for the storms to pass.

Overnight it got pretty chilly, with the air being cooled by the storms. In the morning it rained. We spent most of the morning taking down antennas and stations one by one while one or two folks continued to make contacts. By noon we had the site cleared out and Field Day was over for us. Look forward to seeing everyone again next year! -- KC5ZRQ