08/01/2008 | W4GR At the Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society, GARS, and Gwinnett County ARES, we get excited about Field Day. And this year was no exception. We even had a D-Star Field Day station on the air. The Club and local ARES organization join together for greater impact and sharing of resources. This introduces members of both organizations to the other, and allows the community to realize that there are organized Amateur Radio groups prepared to help once more if there should be an emergency. It was another great Field Day in North Georgia. Operated 7A and had a lot of fun doing it. This year we put up a 160 dipole, and while not making many 160 contacts, it made a great multiband antenna to use as a standby. We also used wire for 20 and 15 this year. We were trying to get away from the problems that always occur with the beams being installed hurridly and sometimes a little on the dangerous side. We were pleased with the results, but of course some say the selectivity of the beams would have helped. Votes are not counted for next year on antennas! We also tried to move the rigs closer to the antennas. Instead of grouping all the rigs together, we spread out a little more. Next year we may even spread out a little futher. Always hard to work 20cw, psk and phone at the same time. Same true with other bands. We probably fed about 80 for a barbecued pork dinner (sure, items for the non-meat eaters). We also served lunch on Saturday, and breakfast on Sunday. We were happy with the turn out and glad to see some GOTA activity and new operators at the rigs. Our hospitality area stayed busy with visitors and members conversing and looking over materials. We also did a great job of keeping some very young guest happy at a youth table. One of the guest just turned 3 and this is her third Field Day. Next year a little more training on contesting for the operators, a little more time behind the rigs, and better scheduling of operators to be sure everyone gets some on the air time. -- WA4ZXV