10/19/2009 | W9DC This was the first FD effort for our ad hoc group of hams. Of the five who participated, only two had worked Field Day in the past (and used a computer contesting program). Two of the others had been inactive for many years. One of those two has since gotten back on the air.

Setting up at a retired fire station building, we operated 1A using a FT-890 transceiver and a 135 foot inverted L strung between a wooden training/hose drying tower and a tree across the parking lot. The vertical portion of the L was about 35 feet long, and the horizontal portion sloped upward from there to about 50 feet up at the far end. Logging and CW sending was done on a laptop computer and we used a cheap 2-stroke generator to supply power. Remarkably, Murphy decided not to visit us.

IT WAS REALLY HOT! Mid-90s both days, with the sun-baked asphalt parking area in front of the building adding to the heat. Despite all the liquid we downed, we didn't have to make many trips to the restroom :-)

We kept the station going all 24 hours and made 400 CW and 304 phone contacts. The logging software's ratemeter was often above 60/hr, and it helped energize the ops to work 'em fast. We got a lot of the available bonus points as well.

When the results come out in mid-November we will get together and begin planning next year's effort. Next time we'll remember to bring a camera so we can post some pictures like so many of the others have done. -- K3AN