My Own Little Field Day in July
from
David - KG4WBH
on
August 18, 2003
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My name is David and I had a great experience last weekend. I went on a simple camping trip to a local state park with my wife and daughter. Since my wife had expressed a lot of interest in the swimming pool at this particular campground, I knew I would have some time on my hands. I decided to tear down my HF base station and take it with me to operate with battery power for a few hours.
Well, we went with some friends that I have known for a long time. The funny thing is, they had never expressed interest in ham radio before. When I started to unroll the 40 meter dipole, they started to get interested. They helped me string it up and set up my rig as well. They also had lots of questions, which I felt was good.
I tried SSB first but didn't have any luck so I switched over to the dreaded "code" and things started to improve. It wasn't long until I got a bite! I ended up making two CW contacts during the afternoon and then I tried SSB again. I surfed around and found a fellow from Argentina making contacts. I got a DX out of this too!!! Later that day, I made another CW contact for a total of four. This may not sound like a lot of contacts, but my code speed is only 13 to 15 wpm right now so it takes a while to make a QSO. I also did a bit of rag chewing instead of the quicky contacts.
This isn't all though; while I was working the afternoon CW, a gentleman from the next site came over and told me about how he had a new respect for hams after an exercise he had participated in with the military. He told me that it turned out to be a drill for homeland defense, and once they simulated a full communication disaster, the only people with communication ability were the hams. They relied on the few hams in their units to handle all the traffic. He told me it was a success because of the ham ops.
I tried to promote the hobby in a positive manner and people noticed. There were a lot of people that would walk by and ask questions about this or that. It was really great to talk to people about it. They were intrigued with the CW part more since they think nobody uses it anymore. They were also amazed that I could talk so far with a car battery and some wire in a tree and such a small radio.
David Saylors
KG4WBH
http://www.qsl.net/kg4wbh
This link will take you to a photo of my "event."
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My Own Little Field Day in July
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by K0EWS on August 18, 2003
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Great Story! Thanks for sharing your experiences. I just realized, David, that you and I worked on the 4th of July this year, and I'm glad to hear that you used your portable experience in demonstrating ham radio for the public. I just had a portable experience of sorts myself last week, as I took my oldest son camping for the first time(an eager 10 year old) and I brought along my trusty K-1, a battery pack, and a 40 meter dipole and had at it myself. Other than Field Day, and QRP to the Field, the first time I've truly ran portable! While I didn't have the audience you did, I enjoyed the portable aspect of the operation, and something I plan to do again, perhaps in front of a few people next time. At any rate, thanks for a great story, and keep it up. Perhaps I'll run into you on the bands again soon. vy 73 es cul!
Eric
k0ews
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RE: My Own Little Field Day in July
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by N1RWC on August 18, 2003
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Cool article Dave. It's things like this that give the hobby a good name in the public eye.
I took my FT-817 with me on vacation in August, and unfortunately had antenna problems on 6 Meters, so I wasn't able to make any contacts from Ohio, but I did field a lot of questions from several other campers in the campground on the issue.
Good job and maybe someday I'll catch you on the air for a QSO campsite to campsite.
73 Matt N1RWC
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My Own Little Field Day in July
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by N3ZKP on August 18, 2003
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Thank you VERY much for a positive article about amateur radio.
What a refreshing change from the 'beat ourselves and all other hams up' articles that seem to flood eHam as of late.
Congratulations on your ambassadorship!
Lon
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RE: My Own Little Field Day in July
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by KE4NYV on August 18, 2003
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Neat story. When I was younger and got my license I used to dream about making little trips like that with an HF rig to do some operating like that. Now that I'm older I don't have the time all that often. But, I still try to get out and operate. In fact, a young club that I belong to here in SW Virginia just aquired a old unused radio station. We have managed to clean it up and make it useable for a clubhouse. Most of my friends are in college still and are hams. We have planned to go up to the clubhouse and operate all of a weekend, just for the fun getting on the radio. Kind of a mini field day, we may even try some kind of emergency power.
Thankx for the neat story. I think it's a shame that there is only a few replys to the article. But there are tons of mindless responses to the code/nocode BS and like articles. For the record, I just bought a Small Wonder Labs 40M CW QRP transceiver and I'm looking forward to getting back into CW. I learned it 9 years ago when I got my novice. I want to get back to that.
73's
Jason KE4NYV
www.ke4nyv.com
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My Own Little Field Day in July
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by N8AUC on August 18, 2003
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That's awesome!
I took my old trusty Yaesu FT-757GX camping the last time out. I didn't have the ambassador oppurtunity you had, but I had a blast on 20m CW with it. Running 10w into a dipole in the trees, I only managed two contacts, but they were on both coasts. One in California and the other in Maine. What a blast!
Next time, I'm taking a bigger battery so I can do more than 10w!
73 de N8AUC
Eric
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My Own Little Field Day in July
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by WR8Y on August 18, 2003
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YOu are doing what I want to do! Here in Georgia in the summer it's too hot to be outside much (well, for a transplanted Michiganer, anyway.)
As soon as it cools off, I'll be going out with the DX-70 and a dipole on 20 to 6 meters. THere are numerous state parks around here to operate from, and I thought I'd go on tour with the county hunters!
(I'v been working on a quickly-erectable mast system (about 15 feet) that will be clamped to the box of my Ranger. SHould be able to set up in 15 minutes or so.)
Good article!
WR8Y
Mark
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My Own Little Field Day in July
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by W4ROT on August 18, 2003
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David,
I have nothing but envy for you sir with your 4 contacts, you have owned the world with your portable station. I wish you many more "little field days", and before long, I hope the same for myself. Good deal...Now I know what Santa does in the summer!
w4rot
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RE: My Own Little Field Day in July
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by VK3KCG on August 18, 2003
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This is a great story, proactive public education will help save this hobby from decline.
Maybe every so often our radio clubs can stage open days at the local park (with local Government approval)
with some HF equipment and wire antennas.
Community events usually get free publicity in community newspapers.
Incorporate it with a "Sausage Sizzle" and make some money for your club to be put back into recruiting new Ops.
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My Own Little Field Day in July
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by KD4TOQ on August 21, 2003
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Great article. I have been a ham of and on since 1972. I have gotten interested in operating out of the shack in the last couple of years. I bought a Yaesu FT817 and have assembled a 1 box radio station. I get a lot of pleasure taking it down to the beach or off to a picnic area near a local river and setting up on a table and just enjoying the weather and the casual operation. I always get a few interested folks who want to chat a little and ask a few questions. It is a great way to spend a day. I recommend it to any ham. You may find that it is a great addition to your ham activities. I certainly have. 73's
Mark
KD4TOQ/VK4DGG
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My Own Little Field Day in July
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by AF0H on August 23, 2003
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Great! A friend of mine KA0GXC and I did the same thing on 6/21/03. An Icom 703 on low power to conserve battery power, a 40-meter folded dipole made from twinlead, and my 20-meter ground-mount vertical was the consist of our station. A folded dipole made from twinlead is about the smallest and lightest antenna (full size) around and super easy to hang. My vertical collapses into a chunk of tubing 1 1/2" dia. and 5-feet long - I drove a 2-foot piece of mast into the ground and put a 3-foot ground-rod next to it. Took very little time to put these up (20 min. tops), used solar panels to help recharge the batterys, and had a great afternoon. Had some BBQ, lots of soda, and a lot of enjoyment on the air. Made 18 contacts, 1 canada and the rest here in the states, but ran 20 and 40 cw/ssb. I recommend this type of event to every ham. Once you do it, you too will be hooked!
73 de
AF0H - Rob
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RE: My Own Little Field Day in July
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by NN6EE on August 24, 2003
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Gentlemen!!!
If "BPL" goes thru then ALL of US will have to go on "Our own mini-Field Days" to work anyone from some obscure mountain-top or whatever if we plan on using HF!!!
Scary isn't it???
Jim/nn6ee
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My Own Little Field Day in July
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by KD4HTW on August 25, 2003
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I plan on holding "my own Field Day" next year as the club I'm a member of had so many guys attempting to operate that not everyone had a spot. So I'll setup in the yard and invite the neighbors over to see and take the mic even. the kids will love it.
Mitch KD4HTW
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RE: My Own Little Field Day in July
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by N4ZYV on August 26, 2003
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Great story. Ham radio needs more guys like you.
I went out to a local (not my city but a nearby larger city) field day this summer and what a bunch they were! So wrapped up in getting as many contacts as they could, they would ignore anyone who walked up and got testy when any questions were asked. Can't take time from chasing those contacts to promote the hobby and what a great impression they made.
I did, however, find friendly, open folks in the novice tent.
If their operation was supposed to be a private affair just for them, they should not have advertised it as open to the public.
I won't be back for next year. Maybe do my own thing in a local park. I will be much friendlier.
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My Own Little Field Day in July
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by SM5SRR on August 27, 2003
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NEAT!
Would not surprise me a bit if at least one person joined the hobby after that.
73, Eskil/SM5SRR
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My Own Little Field Day in July
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by KE4ZHN on August 29, 2003
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Very cool Dave! This is what being a ham is all about. Many people are awed by ham radio if they just get the chance to see it in operation. Making contacts off a battery and a wire in the trees is a great way to show folks how simple it can be to enjoy some fun DX with very little resources to work with. Great homebrews by the way, keep up the good work man!
73 and good dx Rich KE4ZHN
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My Own Little Field Day in July
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by N0RTU on November 22, 2003
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Hello David!
A great article and a wonderful experience to say the least!
thanks for the "prod" that keeps us interested!
73
Mike
N0RTU
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