The South Carroll Amateur Radio Group enjoyed Field Day 2010 at Woodbine, MD, about 25 miles west of Baltimore, MD. Aileen N3YAC, Matt KI4OUC, Alan N3DUE and Forrest WA3FAE operated the 3E station on 80M through 6M. Five antenna systems were used, an 80M dipole, a 40M sloper, 2 phased verticals for 40M, 2 phased verticals for 20M and an AV-620 vertical for 20M – 6M. Transceivers were an Icom 706MKIIG, a 746Pro and a 756ProIII along with an Elecraft K3.

Conditions were not as expected at this point in the sunspot cycle, with 20M dying out early Saturday night. Our usual money band is 40M CW but this year 80M SSB was the place to be. Noise levels were at their usual Summer highs, but we experienced no thunderstorms, even nearby, leading to a lower than usual noise floor.

Inter-station interference was low to non-existent, giving a much needed break to the operators. That good fortune is a little science, a little luck. I hope we can figure out what we did right for next year.

CW speeds seemed overall to be a little bit lower, with the average speed being around 18-20WPM, as opposed to 25WPM in past years. Most of the operators seemed to be either fast or slow, with nobody occupying the middle ground. Courtesy was good and many people stepped aside to let a weaker station make the QSO.

Phone was the usual grind, with 20M such a cacophony at times that QSOs were impossible. Good rig filtering and antenna siting, along with a good set of ears, seemed to make the difference.

We look forward to next year's exercise. 73 to all.