McLean's First Field Day
Bob Rice (KG4RRN)
on
January 8, 2009
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Hi all,
I sure wish that I could have planned better the Field Day disaster that was in McLean, VA. But hey, if I were the Captain of a sinking ship, I would already be sunk.
The day started out clear and sunny, with expectations that everything would go smoothly, of course, not prepared for the upcoming thunderstorms which also put on quite a lightning show to the south of the Field Day station... I got all of the radios covered in plastic bags, and the ladder tower survived, but the canopy which succumbed to a 40 mph wind did not, and so I called in the BOBsalvage crew around 9:30 pm on Saturday evening to remove all except the ladder tower which I dubbed: "the stairway to RF heaven".
I was still sorting out cables radios and sundry parts on my front porch at 12:00 midnight.
The next day, I called my tower-man, and he drove over from Maryland to release the heavenly body, from the ground. I have several pictures on my website, because I did no operating, was too busy with visitors, rigging an inverted V antenna for HF on a painters' pole, and getting the load balanced on the generator, something to think about next year, as well as the price of gas.
But look at it this way too, $5.00 for a gallon, and how many hours of electricity will that provide to communicate with the world?
So, I'm off to the Planning Dept. for next year.
I believe my website has a few sundry details to fill in, so go to: www.geocities.com/kg4rrn
I have no official F.D. report for the ARRL, but I did make one D-STAR contact, after someone inquired how digital voice worked.
Just after I had the HF radio tuned in was when the thunderstorm hit...and killed an otherwise great Field Day.
Hope someone gets a good laugh out of this; it was tiring to do all this by my lonesome.
NEXT TIME, NEXT TIME, IT WILL BE PERFECT!!!
BOB, KG4RRN
73
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McLean's First Field Day
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by K9ZF on January 8, 2009
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Hey, it wouldn't be field day without at least one good thunderstorm:-)
I love field day. No matter how many years you do it, you always learn something new every year.
I had a blast this year working 6 meters from my Rover station I brought along to help out the club.
Looking forward to FD 2009,
73
Dan
--
Amateur Radio Emergency Service, Clark County Indiana.
K9ZF /R no budget Rover ***QRP-l #1269 Check out the Rover Resource Page at:
<http://www.qsl.net/n9rla> List Administrator for: InHam+grid-loc+ham-books
Ask me how to join the Indiana Ham Mailing list!
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RE: McLean's First Field Day
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by G3LBS on January 8, 2009
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Looking at your website it's a good job you had those two hefty guys holding the ladder because the guy ropes look like they wouldn't hold up a pair of pants.
My first field day was in England in 1956 and it was also my introduction to beer and fish and chips. My Mom and Dad had to fetch me home I haven't touched a drop since!
Buffalo Gil W2/G3LBS
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McLean's First Field Day
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by K1CJS on January 8, 2009
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This is why, Bob, more field day stations aren't being set up. The next time, unless you've got guaranteed help (that means people who WILL be there) it isn't practical to do much more than set up one station and one antenna.
I get together with a group of guys that have been 'blackballed' by one ham who runs the local club. It usually ends up that we've got a pretty good station going for the event, at least three operating positions--and we ALL know we can count on the others to show up, and to have fun doing it!
The other guy has the club people do the work--it has to be done his way and ONLY his way or he blackballs you--and those people have less than an enjoyable time. Is it any wonder why the group I'm with now keeps growing while the other just phutzes along with less people every year?
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McLean's First Field Day
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by KB2DHG on January 8, 2009
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Been doing Field Day for 20 years. had some reall wild storms and some real wonderful weather... It is ALL part of the experence. Remember, Field Day is a practice of communications in EMERGENCY situations. So performing in advers weather conditions is all part of it.
I love Field Day and look forward to it every year. BUT I do admitt, it is so much nicer when the weather is grand!
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RE: McLean's First Field Day
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by N0UY on January 8, 2009
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Field Day methods are supposed to be a reaction to situations that come up out of the blue. Heck, Murphy has been coming to “Field Day” since the first one I would imagine. This is part of what makes it interesting and what keeps a lot of us coming back year after year. If you want perfect, good luck with that one.
I agree that FD by yourself should be scaled down to something you can handle alone. I like setting up with just a few others so it doesn’t get political. Although, I you want to operate with me on FD….you better bring something to contribute besides just a smile. I hate it when someone stands over my shoulder waiting for me to get off the paddle so they can take over. I don’t mind sharing my set up but when they didn’t even bring as much as a sandwich for themselves I got to wonder what they were thinking.
I love Field Day and I am thinking of doing the Winter Field Day this month. I must be crazy because I’m in Northern Minnesota.
cul Ray
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RE: McLean's First Field Day
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by KB2FCV on January 8, 2009
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I've had good weather and bad weather over the last 20 years of field day. Some of the bad weather events I remember 1 or 2 years where it was a steady downpour for the morning setup. Despite the weather we still got a tower and 3 dipoles up. Thankfully we had a break or two when we needed it.
Some of the thunderstorms we've had have been spectacular - alot of lightning that lights up the night sky. When it's that close we've generally taken cover and disconnected everything and are in a safe place oooh'ing and aaah'ing.
Some of the other 'inclement' weather is when it gets dreafully hot. we're talking 5000% humidity and 100 degrees. We've had some of them were we've had to make 4 or 5 runs for water and ice and fans a' plenty.
No matter what the weather I look forward to it every year! 73, James KB2FCV
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McLean's First Field Day
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by G0GDU on January 8, 2009
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From my experience i guess it could have been much worse.
I think the heavy duty "ladder line" might be a bit over the top or at least could have been it had succumbed to a lightning strike.
73
John
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RE: McLean's First Field Day
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by N2EY on January 9, 2009
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Congrats on going out and trying!
The following may seem simple and obvious, but in over 40 FDs I have seen the same mistakes made over and over by too many hams:
Some tips for next year:
1) Make a realistic plan. Remember that everything takes longer than you think, things break down, people don't show up, stuff gets forgotten. Plan accordingly.
2) One station that works and makes QSOs is worth a lot more points than ten stations that don't.
3) Rain, lightning, and wind are normal for late June where you are. It's also normal for it to be hot and humid during the day, then cold and wet at night. Plan accordingly.
4) Do as much ahead of time as possible. Simplify stuff as much as possible. Start planning and preparing for FD 2009 *now*.
5) Get a notebook and write everything down. Don't trust your memory. Start with the basic plan, add to it as ideas and info comes in. Include what you learned not to do in 2008. Make up checklists for "the day" so you don't find yourself with a rig and no power supply, antennas and no feedlines, etc.
6) Do NOT shortcut safety! Your ladder mast is great, but if it fell in the worst possible direction, what would it land on? Are the guys and guy anchors adequate? Is it grounded? Can the feedlines and rotor lines be quickly disconnected? (Undoing 5 or 8 wires with a screwdriver isn't "quickly"). Gasoline must be handled safely, too.
Good luck!
73 de Jim, N2EY
....done every FD since 1967...
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RE: McLean's First Field Day
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by W7ETA on January 9, 2009
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Thanks for the "article" Bob.
It looks and sounds as if you are having way too much FUN with ham radio.
73
Bob
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RE: McLean's First Field Day
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by RFDANNY on January 9, 2009
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I can't imagine that K1CJS would be associated with a group that has been blackballed from a local ham radio club.
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McLean's First Field Day
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by AD7WN on January 9, 2009
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Got a good laugh out of this article :-) Reminded me a lot of my first field day, back in 1955. Set up on a high volcanic rock hilltop, we got one lightning storm after another. Spent most of the 24 hours with the antennas disconnected from the rigs, feedlines dangling lightly in the dirt. But even then, we had a lot of fun. Nice article :-)
73 de John
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RE: McLean's First Field Day
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by N5YFC on January 11, 2009
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We have had all the storms, lighning, winds. heat etc until a few years ago when we moved our FD site to the local Observitory building. This is a octogan building that houses the a big telescope here. Now we are in a A/C building with all the comforts of a small comercial building. We used agenerator to power the rigs. There are trees all around this place so that takes care of the antennas, that worked well untill someone came up with the idea to run QRP on battery. Now the setup is about an hour and no need for a generator. The only thing we reason we disconnect antennas is because of lightning.
now FD is fun again
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RE: McLean's First Field Day
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by N3QT on January 13, 2009
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Hey Bob:
My first field day experience was at a local high school. Unfortunately, there was a dance recital scheduled the same day.
It was unknown until we were asked to shut down the 6m station; however, the Audio Visual crew's 49MHz "mission" commo gear was wiped out. Don't you love the AV-Club types on a Mission? (I was one. I can write that....)
Imagine the Monty Python like disruption we inadvertently caused. "Que lights & music in 4,3,2 ... /~CQ CQ CQ 6...~/ ... kids flying off the stage in the dark, "AHHHHhhhhhhh....".
No one saw that one coming nor could anyone plan for it. We did the right thing and shut down for the remainder of their show. Alas, it makes a great story that "gets better with age".
That's what it's all about.
73, N3QT
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McLean's First Field Day
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by KG4RRN on January 21, 2009
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Thanks for all the flowers guys, it was interesting, must be a slow news day,it only took several months for this article to hit the website...
Had to re-design the old website but will try to get the pics linked again,
can't let my FD station accomplishment go unnoticed..haha...
I have relocated to the Cumberland Valley in Pennsylvania...lots of small 20 foot TV towers on houses,
and some big ones too, and lots of clean air, no hot air from inside the beltway, and maybe some new friends...goodby cruel government workers, hello country bumpkins !
Now that is--- a breath of fresh air !!!
I got change, but that's about all that's left...change that is....
...mmmm..mmmm...mmmm... cowpies....
Bob KG4RRN/3
Franklin County,PA.
P.S. The local yocals are on UHF here, as well as the FD.
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RE: McLean's First Field Day
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by N3QT on January 21, 2009
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...another one got away alive!!!
{Blasted, shucks, phooey...}
Happy for You (read: jealous as #$%^)
N3QT
Loudoun County VA.
73
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