Field Day Diary- Greg Greenwood, WB6FZH
June 23rd, 2007- 10:00AM to 5:30PM
This year's ARRL Field Day Activity was designed to offer a casual operating environment for any radio amateurs that wanted to enjoy the operating event. No effort to win the contest, just to practice our communication skills, and enjoy the day. Nothing was required but to show up and enjoy yourself. We had some cold water, drinks, fruit and chips, and most of us brought lunch.
We enjoyed listening to hams around the country trying to contact eachother on shortwave, exchanging their ARRL Section location, and operating class (per the Field Day Rules) to receive credit for the exchange.
Many hams that frequent HF shortwave frequencies have been concerned this year if the radio propagation conditions would be good enough to even communicate at all. Propagation or the ability to send radio signals to specific parts of the earth, has been poor the last few months, as part of a naturally occuring annual 22yr cycle related to the Sun and other electromagnetic phenomena.
WB6FZH, Greg, packed his van the day before complete with military transit boxes full of radio equipment and supplies. This set-up is part of his ARES/MARS/Field Day/Operating Event equipment for portable radio stations, antenna supports, accessories and even a field desk. Since we have not had to deploy it for the worst case senarios planned, he has deployed the set-up to Redding for Boy Scout Jamboree on the Air, Field Day and other operating activities every year or so.
Greg invited all Radio Amateurs to the site at 11:00am. Greg arrived about 10:00AM and started setting up the tables, equipment,etc. and was about to use one of the many tree branches to support the multi-band G5RV antenna when Evelyn, N6TKX and Jim, N6TKY arrived. After Greg missed the limb a few times with the line he hoped to pull the G5RV up with it became a group effort. Thank goodness, Jim, N6TKY and Evelyn, N6TKX, helped and the antenna was up and working!.
The power source for the day was a fully charged 12V automotive type battery. Several times the needed 5 hr power supply capacity was in the charged battery. Pre-made power cables were plugged into a fused power distribution point. The VHF, 2 meter station and the HF station, with extra power access for cigarette plug, ARRL molex, Power Poles, polarized RS 12 p/j, bare wires,etc. The 2 meter/70cm gain vertical housed in 1/2" PVC pipe, was "duct taped" to a tree, next to the 2 meter operating position, and was able to reach the solar powered repeaters just fine.
The G5RV cable was connected to the MFJ-941D 300W antenna tuner/swr bridge, and tuned to 7.2 mhz. The antenna was 1:1 match and the power input was set at 100W. A few signals throughout CA and NW USA were heard on 40 meter band, contacts with the San Juaquin Valley and Oregon were made immediately.
Next the tuner and radio were moved to the 20 meter band, where the TCARC K6SDD Club station stayed until about 4:00 PM. Signal reports were exchanged and log entries made for Field Day 2007 participants in WISCONSIN, OHIO, IOWA, British Colunbia, Canada, IDAHOE, CA, OR and WY.
Other Club members visited the site to joined in the festivities. Terrie McNeil, KD6GCQ and Bob McNeil, KA6ZVR came up from thier B & T Enterprises business on Washington St. Robert Jackson, KB6YTD, came by inbetween other activites and got behind the microphone for a while too.
Snacks, lunches, drinks and a good time were had by all. At 4:00 pm, everyone helped carry the transit boxes and other items back to Greg's van. We enjoyed our outing in the pine trees close to the Washington St. parking lot, with the sun filtered through the trees, we even got a little sun tan, but no burn.
The plan is with enough interest next year, we will try and have a larger, longer outing on private property, and make a bigger effort to communicate during this annual emergency communications exercise. Thanks to all that participated, and who read this and consider joining the effort in 2008.
73- Greg
The preselected location in Lowden Park, Weaverville, CA.
The Field Day 2007 Station.
Robert Jackson, KB6YTD, at the microphone at K6SDD/6. The "HF Station in a box" (WB6FZH) with tuner was connected to a G5RV antenna.
Terrie McNeil, KD6GCQ at the microphone, with Jim Harrigan, N6TKY, listening to Bob McNeil, KA6ZVR
Evelyn Harrigan, N6TKX, at the microphone of the VHF station, with OM Jim Harrigan at the K6SDD HF station.
This annual activity simulates an emergency exercise in the local park.
TCARC will set-up in this area of Weaverville's Lowden Park.
Greg Greenwood, WB6FZH, will be setting up the battery powered radio station and ready for visitors at 10:30am, on Saturday, June 23rd. Local Ham Radio operators and the public are invited to this casual operating event that will be communicating with other "Ham Radio Operators" around the USA while testing their ability to communicate from temporary locations. This "Radio Activity" is designed to simulate providing communications during a disaster.
Depending on the radio conditions, shortwave radio communications around the Northstate and the USA are anticipated. Also in use will be VHF communications to contact local stations directly or via the TCARC mountain top solar powered repeater stations.
This is the Alternate Location, one block South,
next to 311 Washington St., WB6FZH QTH, a vacant lot.
The Portable Radio Station Set-up
The Refreshments
The Plan
The "Back-up Plan"
WB6FZH FD 2005 1960s Vintage 75W PEP SSB radio and 12' Whip
Stations contacted in W.Texas, Maryland, North Carolina, Arkansas,
South Dakota,Illinois,
Michigan, Maui/Hawaii, South Texas, Montana and Sacramento.
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We are often away from home, operating portable Ham Radio Equipment from an emergency power source, with temporary antennas
The ARRL Field Day Event is an important day to Radio Amateurs, it is a reminder that we need to keep our equipment and supplies ready for deployment under any circumstance. We operate Hand-held radios, Mobile Radios, Portable Radios, and stations at a temporary Fixed Location too.
Here in Trinity County, at TCARC, we have radios in our Emergency Communications Unit (Trailer) that can be deployed to various locations. You can visit on the web The TCARES Website that has information about the Trinity County Amateur Radio Emergency Service.
If you are already a Ham Radio Operator, "Field Day" is an annual opportunity to participate in this operating event. Further, it is a reminder to review your supplies, and check-lists for emergencies. Especially your "72 hr Deployment Kit" that you have already pre-packed with an inventory and positioned with a list of items that need to be added to it on your way out the door.
If you are not an Amateur Radio Operator you can see, Amateur (Ham) Radio is not just morse code, vacuum tubes and shortwave anymore.. There are satellites to relay from, portable battery sets you can build youself to take hiking with a thin wire as your antenna, slow scan television to send a image across the county or the world, voice, data, packet, morse code, radios for your purse, pocket, mobile or table top at home all for you to communicate with. MORSE CODE IS NOLONGER A REQUIREMENT FOR LICENSING!
The members of the Trinity County Amateur Radio Club invite you to their meetings on the 2nd Wednesday of every month in Weaverville and other locations throughout the year. The TCARC may be contacted through PO Box 2283 in Weaverville,CA 96093 or E-MAIL from their website.
The members would be happy to help you obtain a license. Now, in recent years you nolonger need to be a part-time rocket scientist with lots of pens in your pocket, and calculator on your belt to be licensed... just the desire to communicate and serve your community. Simple self-study books are availiable for about $20.00 and a great deal of information is "online".
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Last Updated: July 12, 2007
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