07/04/2009 | W7FD Soap Box for 2009 Field Day 2009
How many field days have we participated in? Well for one member of Comstock ARA it was about his 40th, for one member it was his first. It still did not make any difference; we all had a great time. Four of us managed to get away from the rigors of the daily work or retirement to make the 180 mile trip from Reno Nevada down to the mountain spot just South of Mammoth California. At 7400 the weather was comfortable, with the exception of the mosquitoes wanting to operate as well. Site for Field Day was operated as a 1E station from a travel trailer (see picture) using a 3 element beam up 20', a inverted V for 40 & 80 and a balloon wave long wire for also 40 & 80 meters. (See picture of inverted and balloon ready for launch)
The newest member of group Dale W7URL, went from having no license, to being an Extra in just over one month. Only working two meters until Field Day gave the rest of the group a great person to indoctrinate into HF radio.
Conditions for Field Day were better than last year and we had a better score as well. Plans have already been started on how to have a better time next year. Looks like a bigger operating area, with maybe two transmitters next year? Who knows, it was all FUN. See you in 2010.
All pictures by W7FD Don Freeman
-- W7FD