This year I did FD with a local multi-club group here in EPA. I've
done it with them several years now because of a couple of good
friends and because they have a site and power.

We had clear-but-warm weather, not losing any time to rain/thunder/
lightning. But cool drinks and a fan were essentials!

We were in 7A + GOTA, with 100-watt class rigs for 160 through 2
meters, plus satellite, at a local park. Power was Onan genset that
ran the whole period on one (quite large) tank of gas. Logging was
N3FJP networked software.

In previous years we've had one CW capable station, and all the rest a
mixture of 'phone and digital. Usually the lone CW station made about
2/3 as many contacts as the rest of the setup combined.

Last year (2009) we were 5A and made 528 CW QSOs (a new record for the
site) with our single CW setup. The 'phone and digital folks made
about 700 QSOs last year IIRC.

This year (2010) we had 2 CW capable HF stations (one full time, one
part time) plus a part-time 160 station that did a handful of CW
QSOs.

We set a new group record of over 750 CW QSOs - more than double the
total number of 'phone QSOs by all the other setups combined. The old
528 QSO record was broken before FD was 12 hours old. There were
periods when I was working them more than 1 a minute in S&P mode.

When all the results are in, our CW total may be a new group record
for a single mode.

All HF stations ran 100-watt-class mid-line xcvrs and wire or vertical
antennas. The CW-only station rig was an FT-897 and the CW/SSB rig
was
an FT-100D. Other rigs ranged from an IC-746PRO to a TS-2000 to an
IC-740.

The GOTA station made 110 'phone QSOs.

Somebody brought digital stuff but never hooked it up.

We hit the air at exactly 1800 UTC Saturday and quit a little early. I
got a couple of hours sleep in the wee small hours. I was home by 1900
UTC Sunday. Still putting stuff away, though.

Wait till next year!

How did others do?

73 de Jim, N2EY

On Sat, 3 Jul 2010 13:03:24 EDT, N2EY wrote:

This year I did FD with a local multi-club group here in EPA. I've
done it with them several years now because of a couple of good
friends and because they have a site and power.

We had clear-but-warm weather, not losing any time to rain/thunder/
lightning. But cool drinks and a fan were essentials!

We were in 7A + GOTA, with 100-watt class rigs for 160 through 2
meters, plus satellite, at a local park. Power was Onan genset that
ran the whole period on one (quite large) tank of gas. Logging was
N3FJP networked software.

In previous years we've had one CW capable station, and all the rest a
mixture of 'phone and digital. Usually the lone CW station made about
2/3 as many contacts as the rest of the setup combined.

Last year (2009) we were 5A and made 528 CW QSOs (a new record for the
site) with our single CW setup. The 'phone and digital folks made
about 700 QSOs last year IIRC.

This year (2010) we had 2 CW capable HF stations (one full time, one
part time) plus a part-time 160 station that did a handful of CW
QSOs.

We set a new group record of over 750 CW QSOs - more than double the
total number of 'phone QSOs by all the other setups combined. The old
528 QSO record was broken before FD was 12 hours old. There were
periods when I was working them more than 1 a minute in S&P mode.

When all the results are in, our CW total may be a new group record
for a single mode.

All HF stations ran 100-watt-class mid-line xcvrs and wire or vertical
antennas. The CW-only station rig was an FT-897 and the CW/SSB rig
was
an FT-100D. Other rigs ranged from an IC-746PRO to a TS-2000 to an
IC-740.

The GOTA station made 110 'phone QSOs.

Somebody brought digital stuff but never hooked it up.

We hit the air at exactly 1800 UTC Saturday and quit a little early. I
got a couple of hours sleep in the wee small hours. I was home by 1900
UTC Sunday. Still putting stuff away, though.

Wait till next year!

How did others do?

73 de Jim, N2EY



I operated 1B-Battery using a solar panel to charge the battery.
Equipment was a 1-watt QRP rig for 40, antenna was a dipole that I
lashed together and hung up about 15 feet off the ground. Operated in
the shade sitting in front of my garden shed-workshop.

Operated only 40, everything manual -- straight key, paper log and
dupe sheet, all by myself. Temp was in the 90's so, in keeping with
the battery-solar theme, I kept myself cool with an old muffin fan
running off the battery.

Made 250 contacts between start of FD and midnight Saturday when I
shut down. All my contacts were east of the Mississippi, probably due
to my QRP and dinky antenna -- it was FUN -- every contact was an
adventure.

Had family obligations so did not get back on until a couple of hours
before the end Sunday and found 40 dead as a doornail here in Eastern
Virginia.

We did a pretty massive effort with three high power stations, two
legal limit and one near legal. We had a 40 meter beam, and 2 Steppir
antennas as well as an 80 meter dipole and an 80 meter inverted V
antenna. The Beams and Steppirs were on Surplus military masts. Power
was via a generator. Amps were a Heathkit for near limit, and a big
honkin' Ameritron for Voice 40, and a Tokyo Hi-Power for the CW
station.

Rigs were Mark 5 Field for 40 Phone and CW stations, and a venerable
but still contest worthy IC-765 for 20 Phone. We use every bit of the
allowable station circle, and have a receive antenna put as far away
from the transmitters as possible.

We set up on a Fire company fairground with two main areas. The 40
meter and 20 meter voice stations were under a pavilion, and the CW
station was in a surplus military hut on a trailer. It was air
conditioned for goodness sake. There's an enticement to work some CW.
I brought my home office hi-back chairs to keep the operators
comfortable.

Saturday evening we had a little cookout for the operators and setup
members. One of the setup guys is also a good cook, and I enjoyed an
awesome steak and grilled kielbasi, watermelon and other treats. We
all put away prodigious amounts of water and soda trying to keep
hydrated.

It's a lot of fun, although as you can imagine, putting up a station
of that magnitude is a lot of work. I'm usually exhausted by the time
we're finished. Thank goodness for the guys that come out to help
setup and tear down. We have several who like to do that, but don't
care for operating. They're every bit as important as the operators.

I generally run home and get a couple hours sleep around 4 am Sunday
morning, then another nap in the afternoon after teardown. Then I
feel "jetlagged" for the next couple days.

Michael J. Coslo wrote:
It's a lot of fun, although as you can imagine, putting up a station
of that magnitude is a lot of work. I'm usually exhausted by the time
we're finished. Thank goodness for the guys that come out to help
setup and tear down. We have several who like to do that, but don't
care for operating. They're every bit as important as the operators.

I am one of the "roadies" for field day.
I used to take part in the VHF QSO parties back in the '80s.

I was easy to find. I was the one with the 10x12' tent with
the 8' buffet table with the test equipment and tools, a
fridge, microwave and an air conditioner.

Around '87 or so, a bunch of us decided to tackle the HF
Field day activities. I told them, "I will stage things and
keep everyone focused." For a loosely organized bunch on their
first time out I think we did pretty good, we came in 10th
place for our category. *grins* Shanktooth ARC

Jeff-1.0
wa6fwi


--
“Egotism is the anesthetic that dulls the pain of stupidity.”
Frank Leahy, Head coach, Notre Dame 1941-1954

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