[ARC5] Field Day musings...

[Kenneth G. Gordon]

So, I went out to the local fairgrounds Saturday to see what the local ham 
club was doing for FD. 

I took along my AN/GRC-109, a large box of crystals, my bug and my 
phones since it had been hinted at to me personally that I might be able to 
operate the stuff for a bit.

I laid the '109 out on a table when offered the opportunity. Several 
commented on it: "Gee, what a neat antique." etc, including the fellow with 
whom I had been discussing this gear, and who had used one like it in Laos 
"back then".

I then asked if I could operate a little CW....receiving a blank stare in return.

I finally left in disgust, went home, fired up the generator, and operated as a 
1E station for a bit: 89 minutes to be exact, and made 54 contacts, finally 
having to turn the genny off since we had guests coming for dinner that 
night.

Listening on the bands for the local group's signals proved to me that they 
weren't particularly active, apparently making one contact about every 15 
minutes or so.

I am more than a little ticked off.

I may work towards finding some like-minded folks here in the area (so far, I 
know only one) who would join me in an effort to operate together next year 
using our "antique" gear.

Kenneth G. Gordon W7EKB

"Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."--- John   Wayne