07/13/2009 | K8SCH Field Day 2009 was a great time with the OH-KY-IN Amateur Radio Society. We got a good bit of operating in, a LOT of learning, and we were able to introduce more newcomers to Field Day than we have in a long time. We operated from Mitchell Memorial Forest in Cleves, OH, just outside of Cincinnati.

We operated as 2A OH, with a SSB station, a CW station, a 6 Meter station, and a GOTA station, which used the callsign N8YC.

We began setting up our shelters around 3:30pm on Friday, followed by a scrumptious dinner of hot wings and sandwiches.

Saturday we were busy building dipoles and sending them into the trees. Thus came our learning curve: don't knock the 20 meter beam on our money band...we will definitely bring it out again next year. I was trying to keep it simple this year, but that idea bit us worse than the mosquitos!

Dinner was fabulous...our chef had various meats, and the club members and their wives brought covered dishes. Then...the granddaddy of all dinners...the annual steak dinner at midnight! This included garlic bread, sauteed shrimp, onions, and mushrooms...it was one of the best feasts I can remember.

OK, back to radios...we made about 400 CW contacts, about 380 SSB contacts, and about 50 each on 6 and the GOTA stations.

Thanks to everyone who came out and helped or participated in any way! -- KA3MTT