07/05/2002 | K4NRW K4NRW - New River Wireless Association (NRWA).

This was our first Field Day as New River Wireless Association! Operating K4NRW in a State Park allowed us to introduce amateur radio to two couples visiting the Park. One from Charlotte, NC and the other from Massachusetts. Also showing up towards the end were about fifty kids in a youth group from out of state. I think we earned our bonus points for public location!
We operated from the top of Big Walker Mountain in Wytheville, VA (4,000 feet in elevation). It was an awesome Field Day site as you will see from the pictures. It was a hot day and chilly night but we didn't care we were hamming it up!






We had a great turn out. About ten NRWA members participated and six other hams came by just to check it out!


We operated using emergency power from a 5KW generator that ran like a top the entire 24 hour period. We operated the 80, 40, 20, 15, 10, 6, 2 meter and 23cm bands. We expected the VHF and UHF bands to be really hot from our mountain perch but the bands didn't cooperate.
15 meters was a different story, the operators said it was jumping the entire time. Several new hams and some old timers who had not gotten on HF really enjoyed the GOTA station. That was a great idea to get them on the air or back in the swing!

It was a fun weekend and one that our members will remember for a long time.

Thanks to Wiley Traylor, AA5FA and Missy, KE4UUF for capturing all the fun in pictures.

For more NRWA FD 2002 pictures visit our webpage at http://www.qsl.net/k4nrw

Mike Knight, President




-- KC4Q