[ARC5] Field Day musings...

[Robert Nickels]

On 6/25/2013 7:12 AM, David Stinson wrote:
> If a band was open it was a solid wall of signals from one end to the 
> other.

That was my recollection too, Dave, although I figured maybe it was just 
the "fog of age" ;-)   Nowadays I hear regular QSOs going on during FD 
and think "that didn't use to be possible".    (Must be all those 
schmantzy filters!)

I remember clearly my first FD, as a Novice, when another kid who was 
licensed at the same time set up his HRO-60 and Knight T-60 on a folding 
card table and hooked it to one of those "WRL Wonder" base-loaded 
verticals.  With no more ground than the stake it was bolted to, we 
didn't get out very well, and when it got dark we tossed a tarp over the 
works and hit the sleeping bags.   We woke up to the sound of CW from 
the real ops - and a bizarre sight.  During the night the heavy receiver 
had forced two of the card table legs into the soft ground to the point  
the whole station had slid off and was now upside-down on the ground.   
Future FDs produced somewhat better results - and better plans!

Common rigs in use in the mid-late 60s were the Heathkit monobanders, 
SB-33, my NCX-3, and the main CW op would haul his beloved Valiant and 
SX-101 out.   (along with a good stout table). FD back then was as much 
about socializing and chow as families usually showed up -  the XYLs 
just considered it a picnic where the OMs were a bit preoccupied ;-)

And  one guy always pulled in with his homemade travel trailer that 
included a wooden rack-mounted VHF station (AM of course).  Some oddball 
Howard receiver, converters, and a couple of equally unusual Lettine 
transmitters.  He'd lash a couple of homemade yagis to an extension 
ladder that he'd clamp alongside and always managed to add a few QSOs - 
- quite a few when six was open.

Too bad everyone didn't have audio/video recorders in their shirtpockets 
back then,  but maybe the memories are better.

73, Bob W9RAN