2008 ARRL Field Day
07/10/2008 |
N3DUE
The South Carroll Amateur Radio Group operated Field Day again at the residence of WA3FAE in Woodbine, MD using the callsign N3DUE. Alan, N3DUE, Forrest, WA3FAE, Aileen, N3YAC and Matt, KI4OUC, operated 3A using four antennas and four transceivers. The contact totals were 491 CW, 28 digital and 610 phone, for a total of 1129 Qs.
Early testing proved that even horizontal wire antennas that are not elevated wavelength above the ground still show significant directivity. An 80M dipole 90 degrees to a G5RV at the same height showed a 2 S-unit difference in the favorable direction. However, these antennas were connected to a common support and experienced interference during FD operations.
Setup proceeded smoothly, allowing antenna and rig testing to be conducted to minimize interference. The 20M PSK station once again dominated 20M and several other bands the wrong way with noise. This mode remains a thorn in our side as we try to maximize our effort using a mode that counts as much as CW. Oh well, there's always next year.
Conclusions? Antennas separated horizontally along a line perpendicular to their aiming direction have less interference than antennas that shoot through each other. This is an East coast location luxury, as almost all of our contacts were north, south and west of our location.
The upper frequencies were beginning to come alive this FD and we checked them at regular intervals. The number of contacts on 15M almost broke 100 and 6M was alive, although not as alive as on the day before FD. Our moneymaker was 40M, followed by 20M and then 80M. The 80M CW activity was very sparse the entire time. It'll be interesting to see if there are sufficient CW operators on the air in the upcoming years to take advantage of this sunspot cycle.
A lightning storm gave us a break from 8PM to 1AM and everybody charged up with some chow and shuteye. The generator came back out at 1AM and the show resumed. Safety was always job number one, followed closely by having a good time.
The antennas used were a G5RV, an 80M CW dipole, phased verticals for 40M and phased verticals for 20M. The transceivers were 3 Icoms - a 756ProIII, 746Pro and 706MKIIG assisted (or led) by an Elecraft K3. Yes, the K3 is as nice as people say it is and performed fabulously in this crowded RF environment. It never even got warm to the touch during continuous 2 hour CW runs.
73's and look for us next year. -- WA3FAE
Early testing proved that even horizontal wire antennas that are not elevated wavelength above the ground still show significant directivity. An 80M dipole 90 degrees to a G5RV at the same height showed a 2 S-unit difference in the favorable direction. However, these antennas were connected to a common support and experienced interference during FD operations.
Setup proceeded smoothly, allowing antenna and rig testing to be conducted to minimize interference. The 20M PSK station once again dominated 20M and several other bands the wrong way with noise. This mode remains a thorn in our side as we try to maximize our effort using a mode that counts as much as CW. Oh well, there's always next year.
Conclusions? Antennas separated horizontally along a line perpendicular to their aiming direction have less interference than antennas that shoot through each other. This is an East coast location luxury, as almost all of our contacts were north, south and west of our location.
The upper frequencies were beginning to come alive this FD and we checked them at regular intervals. The number of contacts on 15M almost broke 100 and 6M was alive, although not as alive as on the day before FD. Our moneymaker was 40M, followed by 20M and then 80M. The 80M CW activity was very sparse the entire time. It'll be interesting to see if there are sufficient CW operators on the air in the upcoming years to take advantage of this sunspot cycle.
A lightning storm gave us a break from 8PM to 1AM and everybody charged up with some chow and shuteye. The generator came back out at 1AM and the show resumed. Safety was always job number one, followed closely by having a good time.
The antennas used were a G5RV, an 80M CW dipole, phased verticals for 40M and phased verticals for 20M. The transceivers were 3 Icoms - a 756ProIII, 746Pro and 706MKIIG assisted (or led) by an Elecraft K3. Yes, the K3 is as nice as people say it is and performed fabulously in this crowded RF environment. It never even got warm to the touch during continuous 2 hour CW runs.
73's and look for us next year. -- WA3FAE
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