07/13/2009 | W3VPR Good weather, friends, great food, and Ham Radio equal a fun Field Day to remember for a long time.

Our club usually operates 3A QRP (1 phone and 2 CW stations) but this year we decided to try something a little different. Actually, it was a lot different. We decided to operate 10A transmitting at up to 100w.

Planning for Field Day 2009 actually began in May 2008. Using concepts and plans from our radio club for kids (AARC Jr. KI3DS) and others, we put together a fun-based plan for Field Day 2009. The premise was based on the idea of if we build it they will come and they will have fun (Even if we have to beat them).

We realized that in order to have a successful Field Day a few things were necessary: Good planning and no one had to die. We created a Field Day Planning for Dummies handbook for our club. The book contains checklists and templates for planning and organizing a Field Day event of any size as well as a calendar for when certain actions must be taken or completed as part of the planning process.

We all agreed that making contacts is the essence of fun for radio amateurs and in order to maximize the opportunity for maximum levels of fun, we had to have a lot of phone stations since the vast majority of our club members prefer phone. So we decided on six phone stations, 3 CW stations and one Digital station. Our club had never done anything of this size or complexity at any time in its history.

We knew we had to promote our Field Day plan within our clubs membership so we developed Field Day commercials which we showed at the start of every club meeting starting in September. Typically these commercials had a light-hearted message with a countdown on the number of days until Field Day.

In January 2009 we announced the plan to the members attending the club meeting on the 15th and received a mixed reaction.

Between January and June we heavily promoted Field Day and actively sought commitment from club members to participate in one of three phases of Field Day: Set-up, Operations, or Take-down. By mid-June we had about 50 club members and non-club members signed up.

We conducted a series of pre-Field Day training classes for operators and loggers and for the set-up and take-down crews. We double checked our equipment lists and were about as ready as we could be.

Friday, July 26 Weather forecast calls for overcast skies with a chance of rain. The temps are expected to be in the upper 80s to mid 90s. Our set-up crew consisting of 25 intrepid souls arrived at the clubhouse between noon and 1:00pm. We reviewed the set-up plan and the sequence of events that would comprise Phase 1 of our set-up plan.

At 1800Z (2:00pm) we got started. The goal was to put up three 10x20 portable garages end-to-end and use them to get out of the sun or rain while we assembled six 50ft extendable masts. Once the masts were assembled we attached the guy ropes and carried them to their designated locations, raise them and tie them off. Our goal was to have 5 shelters up and six antenna masts raised by 6:00pm.

At 2:00pm we got started. Despite missing the instructions for assembling one shelter things went quite well and shortly afterwards we started assembling the masts. Mr. Murphy made two minor visits that did not slow us down. A tremendous asset in our set-up phase was the four- wheeler and trailer we used to haul stuff to each shelter location. It definitely made set-up easier. After a 45 minute break we finished Phase 1 at 6:15pm. We provided dinner for the Set-up crew for the first time in memory. Our Food Crew set the bar pretty high and we ate good and not only at this meal. In fact, it kept getting better.

Saturday, July 27 - Weather forecast calls for partly cloudy skies. The temps are expected to be in the low to mid 80s. Phase 2 of our set-up started at 0900 and although we had a couple visits by Mr. Murphy they werent significant and we easily kicked Murphy out of our area for the rest of our Field Day. Once again the set-up crew was fed when they were done. At 18:00Z we started operating: Six phone stations, three CW stations and one Digital station were on the air transmitting W3VPR 10A MDC.

Between 2:00pm and midnight, the two shelters housing our Digital and Phone stations were packed with people visiting and waiting to get a chance to operate (Lesson learned: Get a timer and set it for 20 minutes. When it dings, everyone changes positions).

We did not operate a GOTA station because we chose to operate every station as a GOTA station: Visitors, kids and new hams were given priority to operate and make contacts. Seven-year old Tyler McDonald was one of four youth who made contacts at our site. Tyler made 7 contacts before he was done.

Our Food Crew outdid themselves for dinner: Tacos, Fajitas, and lots of other stuff plus ice cream sundaes for dessert.

Sunday, July 28 Sunday came way too fast. Just when it seemed like it was a few minutes past midnight, its suddenly a few minutes before 2:00pm or 1800Z. The horn blows and in a blink of an eye Field Day 2009 is over. Thank God its over! Where did it go? Why is it so quiet? What are we going to do now? Only 365 days to go until Field Day 2010!

After lunch, the take-down crew gets started at 3:00pm. Our goal is to be packed up and ready to leave by 6:00pm. Once again, thanks to the four-wheeler and trailer, our effort is shortened and were ready to leave at 5:04pm.

All things considered, our first foray into a large Field Day operation went very well. Our planning, while not impeccable, was a primary factor in our success. The participation of lots of folks who helped with the set-up, operating and take-down phases was another significant factor. We made 1,092 contacts (467 CW, 535 Phone and 90 Digital) in 48 states (missed Alaska and Nevada) and 73 ARRL/RAC Sections but more importantly, we had lots of fun and nobody died and none of the dire predictions of the naysayers and doubters came true. We proved the naysayers and doubters wrong. It is possible to operate a lot of stations, make lots of contacts, and have fun.

And what about Field Day 2010? If the response to Field Day 2009 is any indication, youll hear W3VPR 10A MDC next year.
-- AA3RR