2009 ARRL Field Day
06/29/2009 |
W4GR
The Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society, GARS, and the Gwinnett County ARES hosted another great Field Day this year. We were at Rhodes Jordan Park. We had over 100 attending the 24 hour 8A operation. Our hospitality table logged over 50 first time visitors and prospective members.
We started with breakfast off site, then about 9am started hanging wire antennas. With a great ground crew, we had 8 wire antennas, 2 beams on portable structures, 2 generators, a computer network for logging, 4 -10x20 tents and the ARES mobile communications trailer all ready to go before 1:00 when we broke for lunch. Hotdogs and a bunch of trimmings.
2:00 seemed never to arrive, but it did. We were off to a great start. 6 meters was open just before 2: but took a dive when the clock struck. But it wasn't long before we heard some additonal openings. 10 meters was really hit and miss. Seemed never to stay open for more than just a few minutes. Rich and a crew went down to a clear spot for a satellite attempt. Clear spot means hot spot in GA this year. A good effort, but no Satellite. The other HF bands were as expected and provided a lot of contacts.
6:30 Randy and kitchen crew, brought out the BBQ and banana pudding. We worked through the night. There were report of scattered thunder showers, but they missed us. Earl had breakfast burritos ready at 7: am and we were ready for a few more hours of operation. Of course about 1:30 we decided to warm up the left over BBQ and had BBQ sandwiches and chips for lunch.
We concentrated on bonus points. This year we assigned to task of making sure we "did what we could" was assigned to one member. Ralph did a great job.
A local newspaper showed up and took some photos and a few quotes. We also handed them some of the ARRL materials about FD. A nice story about our operation. http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&ArticleID=61510&TM=192.731 or http://tinyurl.com/mt7syv
The Mayor and some other municipal folks came out to see what was going on.
Brian took some great photos which are available here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/n4trb/ Some of the photos are from last year and a QRP event several months back.
Oh, a visit from our Section Manager, AF4FO, and spouse at about dinner time. Always great to see Susan.
The Field Day Chairperson was David Adcock, KA4KKF
The bonus point team lead was Ralph Pickwick, KJ4CNC
The hospitality team lead was Jim Massara,N2EST
The computer network, software and scoring lead was Hal Collier, W4IGE
The Food team lead was Randy Collins, N4COR
Breakfast prepared by Earl Whatley, AF4FG
Thats about it.
Norm, for Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society -- WA4ZXV
We started with breakfast off site, then about 9am started hanging wire antennas. With a great ground crew, we had 8 wire antennas, 2 beams on portable structures, 2 generators, a computer network for logging, 4 -10x20 tents and the ARES mobile communications trailer all ready to go before 1:00 when we broke for lunch. Hotdogs and a bunch of trimmings.
2:00 seemed never to arrive, but it did. We were off to a great start. 6 meters was open just before 2: but took a dive when the clock struck. But it wasn't long before we heard some additonal openings. 10 meters was really hit and miss. Seemed never to stay open for more than just a few minutes. Rich and a crew went down to a clear spot for a satellite attempt. Clear spot means hot spot in GA this year. A good effort, but no Satellite. The other HF bands were as expected and provided a lot of contacts.
6:30 Randy and kitchen crew, brought out the BBQ and banana pudding. We worked through the night. There were report of scattered thunder showers, but they missed us. Earl had breakfast burritos ready at 7: am and we were ready for a few more hours of operation. Of course about 1:30 we decided to warm up the left over BBQ and had BBQ sandwiches and chips for lunch.
We concentrated on bonus points. This year we assigned to task of making sure we "did what we could" was assigned to one member. Ralph did a great job.
A local newspaper showed up and took some photos and a few quotes. We also handed them some of the ARRL materials about FD. A nice story about our operation. http://www.gwinnettdailypost.com/main.asp?SectionID=6&SubSectionID=6&ArticleID=61510&TM=192.731 or http://tinyurl.com/mt7syv
The Mayor and some other municipal folks came out to see what was going on.
Brian took some great photos which are available here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/n4trb/ Some of the photos are from last year and a QRP event several months back.
Oh, a visit from our Section Manager, AF4FO, and spouse at about dinner time. Always great to see Susan.
The Field Day Chairperson was David Adcock, KA4KKF
The bonus point team lead was Ralph Pickwick, KJ4CNC
The hospitality team lead was Jim Massara,N2EST
The computer network, software and scoring lead was Hal Collier, W4IGE
The Food team lead was Randy Collins, N4COR
Breakfast prepared by Earl Whatley, AF4FG
Thats about it.
Norm, for Gwinnett Amateur Radio Society -- WA4ZXV
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