Here is a quick AAR to my Field Day event. But first a little background on FD's (Field Days).
In short there is a FD once a year to accomplish 2 things:
1) Introduce Amateur Radio to non licensed folks and,
2) To set up a station as if we were living an emergency. All stations have to be ran with batteries or generator and the antenna's have
to be emergency type like a 40 Meter dipole put up between two tree's.
A) Helped to set up for the FD Friday with about half a dozen guys. I helped set up three antenna's the first being a 40 Meter dipole
antenna between two tree's. This was accomplished with my bow, a arrow and a fishing rod. Released a arrow with fishing line
attached via tape. Once over the tree we attached 550 cord to the end of the fishing line and retrieved it.
Then we repeated this action on a tree 180 degrees opposite to the first tree. The last step was to hoist the 70 foot long wire
parallel to the earth at about 80 feet or so.
WARNING WILL ROBINSON WARNING! When you let loose an arrow propelled by a 50 LB compound bow, make sure the area where
the arrow comes down is not occupied by people
B) Next was a snap-together 10/15 meter antenna. Pretty simple and the antenna was made from aircraft aluminum so it was VERY
light.
C) Last, my Elmer and I climbed a ladder to the roof of a barn. Then climbed up a tower to uninstall an antenna array and reinstall that
same array with a new antenna attached. During our time on the roof we were given plenty of verbal help and encouragement
from the ladies and gentlemen on the grown. I asked my Elmer why was two 60 year old guys doing this, "this is kind of a job for
younger guy Lee." His response was, "Look at the peanut gallery down there...We are the youngest people here!"
D) Another ham operator installed a 20/40/80 meter emergency antenna while we were on the roof so we had in total four stations.
Field Day starts at 1400 hrs ET and ends the following day at the same time. Besides the two aforementioned goals for the day, during
that 24 hour period, we and other clubs wanted to connect with as many other hams around North America and beyond as possible. This contest of collecting contacts is done day, night and then day again. So through-out Saturday folks were setting up tents and such preparing for the 24 hour vigil.
At 1400 hrs Saturday, had me at my Elmer's radio on the 40 Meter dipole antenna we had put up the previous day. I started calling and answering hams around North America. My farthest contact was a ham in Guernsey, UK. Here in the states my farthest west was Michigan and south was North Carolina. All told, my neighbor's son "WildHair" (Call Handle) who had tagged along and I had logged nine contacts.
Doesn't sound like many however it was not the best time of day for the 40 meter band and add to this that there was a lot of traffic. Ham's allover North America stepping on themselves. LOL.
At 1700 hrs we all took a break and had an adult beverage or two and shared in on the pot luck picnic.
About 1900 hrs everyone went back to their stations and started racking up more contacts. MrsMac, Wildhair (My neighbors son who is 12 years old) and old JohnyMac headed back home. Had to feed and walk Dorothy plus I knew that MrsMac was at about at her limit of talking capacitors, transistors, repeaters and the like.
I learned a lot that books just can't teach. Like, make sure there is no vehicles or people where your arrow will land
