[AReU] Antenna Testing at Davis Park today.

[Tony Stone]

For the folks that didn't make it I can definitely say that it was HOT!!!!

That didn't slow the folks down much however. Jim (N0FPP) brought
a large cooler of spring water that was ice cold. I had a few bottled
waters on ice also plus a few bottles of Gatorade for the really tough
times.

Ed got there early (very-very early) and stood guard over the pavillion
"up on the hill". I arrived about 7:40 AM with some breakfast for Ed
(W7LGD), Rod (KC4MMR) and I. I also had a thermos of coffee to
get us cranked up.

I had a G5RV from an estate sale that worked like a champ. I hooked
my little Elecraft K2 to it through a tuner and got into the
Intercontinental
Traffic Net on the first call with 10 watts. Rod had a 40 through 10
meter trap dipole that was "brand new" and "just out of the box".
It was boxed up around 1962. It looked like it just rolled off of the
factory floor. It also performed very well and Rod talked to Brother
Jay in Pensacola with a 5 by 9 signal on 40 meters. Jim had a center
balum and a couple of nice looking traps for a 20 and 40 meter
dipole. He was in the process of getting it tuned up when I had to
leave. I heard that it came out fine.

We will have plenty of choices of antennas for the Field Day site
this year. If we keep the radios manned full time we will surely
do as well or better than last year.

By the way, the 6 meter band was "wide open" this afternoon. I made
4 contacts from home in just a few minutes. I hope we have an
opening like that on Field Day weekend.

73

Tony