[ARC5] Field Day musings...

[Richard Knoppow]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Robert Nickels" <ranickel at comcast.net>
To: <arc5 at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 8:14 AM
Subject: Re: [ARC5] Field Day musings...


> 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

     Gil's cartoons of field day on the covers of QST are 
wonderful.  The ARRL has a collection of Gil cartoons which 
can be ordered from its web site.   I used to take these for 
granted but when I started looking through my collection of 
old QSTs I begain to realize just how talented he was.  I 
think some of the repeating characters must be ARRL "gang" 
members. A fellow with an exagerated jaw shows up in nearly 
all, I suspect F.E.Handy. The cartoons show the kind of 
socializing you are talking about.  I sometimes go to the 
W6JW field day (missed this year), its much like you talk 
about; kids and XYL's about and lots of food.
     I don't much like contests so I don't enjoy the 
high-pressure contest part of FD. I listened for a while on 
Saturday; a few very strong signals and lots of hash.  I 
prefer shmoozing.


--
Richard Knoppow
Los Angeles
WB6KBL
dickburk at ix.netcom.com