[600MRG] 630 meters and Field Day in North Texas

[John Langridge]

Howdy -

This email is really directed to the list members that might be
located in North Texas and the surrounding areas...

A few field day groups in the North Texas area *may* be QRV this
weekend on 630 meters, passing some formal message traffic as a back
channel on phone, CW and possibly even winlink if we can get our act
together.

I suspect that much of this activity will occur during the day on
Saturday, taking advantage of excellent ground wave.  I've recruited a
couple of operators to help in the area and because I will be
supervising one or two sites, those should be on the air in some
capacity at some point on Saturday afternoon.  There are a few other
sites that are purported to be working on something but I've not had a
lot of communication with them so we will see what happens.  I may try
to visit those sites and lend a hand if time and energy allows...

If you are in the area, whether operating from home or from a club
site, please try to join in... the more the merrier.. If you are at a
local field day site and maybe you are thinking that you didn't notify
UTC of a possible intent to operate on 630m from your site, check with
me as I may have notified them on your club's behalf last year for the
site you were at last year.  It won't be valid for a new location this
year, however, so keep that in mind.

Field day is a great outreach opportunity and sometimes a good chance
to play with bigger antennas than might be possible at home.  And
there are still plenty of people out there that think that 472 is some
new UHF band (I gave a talk to a group thinking this going in - boy
were they surprised!)  Since often times field day sites have a lot of
people sitting or standing around, you probably will have success
finding someone to help... Put them to work erecting a 630m antenna
and get it on the air...You may recruit a future MF operator...

There are a few wild cards: the weather and site noise conditions...
Those are limiting factors no matter where or when one is operating
and will be dealt with on a case by case basis.  If its a wash out in
the area, so be it...Be safe.

Phone will likely be on 476 kHz USB.  Winlink would use the same
channel and be "on demand"... CW will probably be on or near 474.5 kHz
where I usually hang out.  check lower as well...

I do expect to be QRV Saturday night from home in some capacity for a
bit, probably CW...Note that this year, field day QSO's are not
permissible for points, per the ARRL...


73 and I hope to run into some of the local guys this weekend in
person or on the air...

John KB5NJD