06/29/2009 | K3WQ This years theme: Back to Simplicity. Why? Because last year was fiasco!

In 2008, I set up a vintage Heathkit station. Then it rainedhardon Saturday night. With high winds blowing, and water everywhere, I tore down that high-voltage station quickly. By 9 oclock, Field Day 2008 was over for me.

So this year I used a modern transceiver set up in the carport and hung a single dipole from a tree in the front yard. It was all so quick and easy. I made 71 contacts on three bands, and took time out to grill dinner Saturday evening.

Scanning the log, I see most of my contacts were in the northeast. I guess that dipole, being pretty close to the ground, provided near vertical incidence skywave (NVIS) propagation. But no matter! I had fun anyway.

Dave -- K3WQ