NA0PW -- Pueblo West Amateur Radio Club, Pueblo West, CO Our new club successfully presented its first Field Day exercise on June 26 & 27 in Pueblo West. Twelve licensed club members, one unlicensed member, and two licensed guests contributed to the successful event.

Those who attended were Bill Ewing (WA0KAQ), Jane Ewing (KA0USA), Andy Lloyd (ND0P), David Ewing (KC0RNI - guest operator), Ralph Schuster (KA0RER), David Yeater (non-licensed member), Bill Fortune Jr. (W0NHF), Bill Fortune III (KB0RPD), Ed Force (NI5R), Kirk Kelley (KD0LDH), Neal Tew (KD0MBL), Ty Luck (KG6WSI), Dennis Watson (KB0YLK - guest operator), Jim McConnell (NE0DA), and Dan Broadbooks (NG0T).

Two stations were set up in the Cheers Plaza shopping center, both using solar panels to charge batteries. NE0DA's motor home used two 75-watt solar panels mounted on the roof. It also featured a propane generator to run the air conditioner and keep the unit cool. This station was used for the SSB and CW modes. The rig was an IC-706 hooked to a vertical for 40-10 meters and made 119 CW and 26 SSB contacts. Dan (NG0T), who enjoys and is very proficient in CW contesting, showed why CW is a preferred mode for low power FD contesting and was responsible for all of this station's CW contacts.

WA0KAQ and KA0USA set up a station in their 15’ travel trailer, and its batteries were charged by three 60-watt ground mounted solar panels. A generator donated by Pueblo West Rental Center ran the air conditioner. The station was used primarily more for teaching members how to operate PSK31 than as a contest station. It consisted of a Yaesu FT-897D transceiver, and MFJ-1279M Deluxe Sound Card Interface, an MFJ-945E mobile antenna turner, and a homebrew jumpered Inverted "V" antenna cut for 40, 20 and 10 meters. At least 9 different operators used this station, the majority of them never having used the mode before, and none of them had used the FLdigi software. Depending on the amount of time they had available to operate, all of them made at least one contact, and the rest had several contacts each.

David Ewing, KC0RNI, son of WA0KAQ & KA0USA, upgraded his license to General last month in anticipation of our Field Day. He came from Westminster to join us, and operated PSK31 for the first time. In short order, he was soon instructing others on how to use the mode and the software. This station produced 78 PSK31 contacts by a variety of members as they learned the new mode, and 14 CW contacts made in the early morning hours by WA0KAQ.

KA0USA put together a nice information table where visitors could learn about amateur radio and about our club. A dozen companies supplied catalogs, flyers and other information about their products, and information from the ARRL was also available. Visitors also found free iced tea, ice water, lemonade and cookies to take their minds off the hot weather on Saturday.

Member David Yeater framed the Pueblo West Metropolitan District Board's proclamation that proclaimed the last week in June as Amateur Radio Week in Pueblo West, and the club's new charter as an ARRL Affiliated Club. Both were interesting display pieces on the table.

Due to sunless conditions on Saturday afternoon following a brief period of lightning, the three 60-watt solar panels did not produce enough current to run the PSK31 through the entire night. About 5:00 a.m. the battery voltage was dropping to about 11.3 volts on transmit despite using an MFJ battery booster, so it was decided to change the radio's power source to a bank of four 18 Ah batteries. The batteries powered the laptop computer and radio for the remaining 7 hours.

No Field Day or other ham event would be complete without a ham to man the talk in station. Bill, W0NHF, our oldest and longest licensed member, was there to handle that task this year. He set up his station in the motor home using battery power in case anyone needed information or directions to get to the event.

Was the event a success? Did it meet the organizer's expectations? Definitely! Everyone seems to have had a good experience at Field Day, the first such event for the majority of the members. The members worked together as a team in everything they did, and whatever was needed they unselfishly supplied. They were ready for new experiences, and no one seemed to leave disappointed. With one event under its belt, so to speak, next years' Field Day Committee will have something to build on and a chance to make it even better than this year's exercise.

73, Bill, WA0KAQ