[Elecraft] Field Day at Home

[Russell Ruby]

No CW groups in Oregon ?  Don't be so presumptuous :)
Just start turning over rocks - you might be surprised at
what you find !

For the second year, the "Solder Monkeys" operated club call W7FC for a
full 24 hours (actually this year we also tried the "start your setup
at 1800 UTC" and get an extra 3 hours on Sunday thing)  as class 1A
battery powered QRP CW "in the field" at a campsite just outside Corvallis
Oregon using mostly an Elecraft K2.  Backup rigs this year were an Elecraft
KX1 and TenTec PM3A.  But this year we didn't get around to using the
PM3A - the K2 was just too much fun to operate.  Keying choices ranged
from straight to bug and iambic.   Anyone interested in CW would have
been welcome to participate.   With enough help, I suppose the group
might consider trying class 2A with a GOTA station - but all QRP CW
naturally :)   One of the group had to leave in late afternoon to go
help set up a 25 inch reflector telescope on Mary's Peak (highest point
in the Oregon Coast range at 4097 feet) for an overnight viewing venture.
He scouted a bit for FD locations and gave an optimistic report.
Now that provides an interesting possibility for next year.  A view of
galaxies, nebulae, and alpine greenery with your FD.   I'll take
that cup of tea !

russ  - K7EF


On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 13:23:20 -0700 
"Kevin Rock" <kevinrock at earthlink.net> wrote:

>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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