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Reviews For: The Last Big Field Day

Category: Books/Manuals/Videos/Pod-WebCasts on ham radio

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Review Summary For : The Last Big Field Day
Reviews: 5MSRP: 20.00
Description:
Here's the deal. The call sign W3AO has appeared in almost every Field Day log since 1999, when the group began an unbroken run at the top of the QST Top 10 box. Members of the Potomac Valley Radio Club and Columbia (MD) Amateur Radio Association assemble an awesome operation, with phone, cw and digital in all bands, satellite, VHF/UHF and all the bonus points a group can rack up. Their entry class is usually in the low to mid 20's. With top contest operators behind the controls, year after year their score is head and shoulders above everyone else.
Product is in production
More Info: http://arvideonews.com/
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0054.6
K3AN Rating: 2011-12-04
Good and Bad Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
The W3AO operation was covered nicely. Well-lit, good editing, quality sound (except for the drone of the generator in the introductory clip). I was amazed to learn they still used DOS computers and the DOS version of CT (is there a Windows version?) in 2006! I also learned that "50A" was a big-time fudge. Finally, it becomes obvious that such an operation requires a generous "sugar daddy" or two. Custom-built Yagis? I AM impressed that they get it all set up in less than 24 hours.

The Pacific Palisades 1971 segment, done as dry comedy, was a waste of the effort to assemble it, and a waste of the laser's energy to burn it onto the DVD. I think you had to have been there as one of the members to get anything out of it now.

Five and zero average to 2.5, but I'll round it up to a three.
DD5LP Rating: 2011-10-22
Addictive! Time Owned: 6 to 12 months.
I recently played this Video and a couple of others from Gary (ARDF and High altitude balloons from the Space lectures DVD) to my local club (ccarc.org.au). These videos had the members concentrated and asking for more. They generated discussion on the subjects and requests for follow up information on all of the subjects covered. It's rare that the group is so enthusiastic and it cost me very little effort to make this happen. The professional and a little humorous way that Gary put his commentary on the videos helped a lot. We've all seen the various clips of events that members have produced of contests and field days but these DVDs are professionally planned, created and edited and IT SHOWS.
I have just ordered a further three DVDs from the collection at www.arvideonews.com for the next time.
N6PAZ Rating: 2011-06-07
Cool video. Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.

Purchased the video based on the YouTube preview. The video was well made and I enjoyed it. Good job to ARVN.
K2MIT Rating: 2011-06-04
A good video Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This was a very well made DVD. It's about 43 minutes and when it was over I could not believe how fast the time went; it kept me glued to my laptop.


Based on the rules at the time (my interpretation), they were not 51A but it was very impressive nonetheless.

Highly recommended.
ZL3HAM Rating: 2011-06-04
An excellent DVD Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This DVD is a well produced video account of the largest Field Day so far and may not matched ever again.

The included Bonus film of the 1971 Palisades ARC Field Day, originally shot on Super 8, is a comic approach to filming. Nowhere near as good as the main program but then Gary Pearce K4NAQ didn't produce it.

Overall an excellent DVD and well worth having in your collection and showing at club meetings.