[Elecraft] Field Day at Home
Tom Althoff
althoff at verizon.net
Mon Jun 26 08:06:42 EDT 2006
Nice setup Glen!
It's great to see so many Elecraft radios made it on the air for Field Day.
My hometown group gave up participating in FD this year so I decided that I
was going to take my Honda generator, put up a tent and put up a temporary
antenna on my own property to try to capture the spirit and intent of the
operation alone.
It is definitely worth doing. I am now comfortable going camping with my
wife with the knowledge of how to assemble a three room Coleman tent that I
gained over the weekend!
I wonder if we send photos of ourselves operating our Elecrafts to Elecraft
perhaps they could find the time to update their photos web page to include
pics of Elecrafts rigs operating Field Day 2006?
My K2-TA-100 ran flawlessly throughout the weekend with 238 QSO's made on
CW, 9 on PKS31 and 49 on SSB.
The antenna was a 40M inverted V set up just for FD using one of those
bright orange kite telescoping masts. That was the easiest antenna I have
ever put up. I used tie-wraps to hold the coax against the tubing to
distribute its weight and to prevent collapse of the sections should they
decide to slip down at any time. I then tied the ends of the inverted vee
with fishing line to the surrounding tree branches. One end of the V passed
by my tent only 10 ft away from the radio.
Hours before FD started I made some changes to my KPA-100. Not once did I
have any problem with the radio resetting or breaking into oscillation on
40M which was my mainstay for the contest with over 200 QSO's taking place
on that band alone. My K2/100/AT-100 integrated system is now 100%
functional and a pleasure to use.
Not sure who to contact at Elecraft but it sure would be nice to see
everyone's pics from FD. Feel free to e-mail yours to me off the
list...I'd love to see everyone's setup. Sitting in Glen's chair sure must
have been a lot more comfortable than my operating position in a humid tent
in the rain. Field day operating may have been less comfortable for me but
certainly it was no less pleasurable in any way thanks to the guys at
Elecraft! 8-)
73 de Tom K2TA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Glen Johnstone" <glen at leelynn.com>
To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2006 8:43 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Field Day at Home
>I had quite a bit of fun from home as well. I made QSOs on 20 and 40.
>Here
> is the setup...
>
> http://www.leelynn.com/images/NK1N_FD2006_Station.jpg
> http://www.leelynn.com/images/NK1N_FD2006_Antenna.jpg
>
> It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase "armchair copy". :-)
>
> 72,
> Glen, NK1N
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Kevin Rock" <kevinrock at earthlink.net>
> To: <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Sunday, June 25, 2006 4:23 PM
> Subject: [Elecraft] Field Day at Home
>
>
>> Good Afternoon,
>>
>> I took Wayne's advice and had a little fun during Field Day. I did want
>> to work with other folks for a change but the cancellation at the very
>> last minute did not allow me to find another group. So I worked about
>> 220 contacts on 20, 40, and 80 meters using only CW with a solely search
>> and pounce technique. I did get a couple hours of 40 contacts or more
>> but I did take a number of hours off to do chores and to write some
>> assembly language. It is my way of relaxing :)
>>
>> I ran the entire time on emergency power (1E) but ran from two rigs, two
>> sets of paddles, and five separate antennas from three locations. The
>> power jumped all over the place from 3 watts to 100 watts. Since I am
>> not submitting any log this does not matter. I just have fun handing out
>> points to others and seeing who I can hear. It is fun to test my CW
>> skills against the fast and slow ops. There were a wide variety of fists
>> as well ;)
>>
>> My goal was to beat what I did last year. I did that. I also wanted to
>> work with a group of folks to get the full effect of the field day crowd.
>> I did not get to do that. So a resolution for next year will be to start
>> very early to find a group who will not bail out at the last minute. I
>> also need to find a group who wants a CW operator. I was not successful
>> with finding one in Oregon. Around here you have to be careful if you
>> mention the mode. Too many folks are adamantly opposed to its use or
>> even its existence. I had no idea of the depth of feeling until I
>> mentioned how much fun I had running CW. I was never again welcome at
>> that club!
>>
>> Now to ask a favor of folks in Washington, Northern California, Idaho,
>> Nevada, Utah, or Montana. Is there any group who would have me as a CW
>> op for next year's Field Day? I am willing to travel with my radio and
>> camping gear to work with a friendly group of folks. QRP or not, it does
>> not matter to me. I just want to work CW. If there are others working
>> voice and data modes that is fine. I simply want to find a group where I
>> will not be shunned for mentioning my enjoyment of CW.
>>
>> I've met a great number of very nice folks while working CW and
>> especially after I started the Elecraft CW Net. I am sure I can find a
>> group in the Pacific Northwest who will have me for next year's Field Day
>> outing.
>> Take care,
>> Kevin. KD5ONS
>>
>> P.S. Next week we will have both nets at their normal times and
>> frequencies.
>> KJR
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