[Elecraft] QRP field day

[Jim Lowman]

All excellent suggestions!  See other comments below:

On 6/26/2012 5:37 AM, Robert 'RC' Conley wrote:
>           * We try to collectively earn a WAS.  Not only does this create a
>      group goal (rather than competing for most contacts), it also gives folks
>      an incentive to move on from hard to make contacts and seek out other
>      contact opportunities.
I've always found it fun to try to work a "clean sweep" of all of the US 
and Canadian
sections, even though there is no award for doing so as in Sweepstakes.
>           * Don't forget the digital modes!  PSK31 has been serving us well.
>      Don't forget VHF!  A 6m opening can be a life changing experience!  Don't
>      forget local contacts on 80m.  You don't need to have a huge antenna and
>      you don't need to fight the QRN -- just make occasional passes to collect
>      locals.  Also remember that VHF isn't just 2m FM and a mag-mount.  If you
>      have a 6m or 2m SSB radio to spare, bring it, and scare up a beam or make
>      a simple quad -- your tech who would otherwise be trying to scrape up a
>      dozen 2m FM contacts with an HT will love you!  Remember: horizontal
>      polarization!
Two friends and I operated 6m/2m SSB/CW QRP one year at our QRP Field 
Day and had a
great time!  From 7,000' ASL we had a nice shot directly up the Central 
Valley of California,
with a number of large cities from Bakersfield up to Sacramento.  If we 
relocated our FD
site up another 1,000' we would also have a clear shot to LA/OC/SD and 
the Inland Empire.
But getting to that site is a challenge.  It's on a ridge at the top of 
a ski run.  It wouldn't be
as convenient to run into Wrightwood for supplies or meals, so we'd have 
more to pack in.
Also, usually it's cold and windy enough where we usually operate.
>           * Leave the big shack radios in the shack :).  One of the things that
>      can make FD stressful is having to tear down the home station, pack it
>      into a "hostile" environment, pack it back, and then rebuild the shack.
>      Many of us have our shack radios and also have several "field" radios that
>      we might not otherwise consider for FD because they are lower power rigs.
>      If you're operating a QRP field day, you can leave the home shack intact,
>      and just bring your field radios which are also more accustomed to being
>      abused.  Our FDs used to be something of a show of force, where folks
>      would seemingly bring every piece of radio equipment they owned.  Now, we
>      try to do the opposite and typically pack complete stations in laptop and
>      camera bags.  Having extra field rigs in your ranks can also be great for
>      newer members who a) may be more afraid to bring their nice base rigs into
>      the field, and b) often really appreciate the opportunity to operate other
>      kinds of radios.
Until recently I would have subscribed to this advice, but one of our 
group has brought his
K3 to the last two Field Days.  While the K3 wasn't necessarily designed 
for portable
operation in the sense of the KX3, it served our 20m station well. The 
fact that there are
so many K3s that go on DXpeditions attests to its durability. However, 
it ran off a 100-Ah
battery that was charged by solar means.  Weighing 95 pounds, I 
understand that it took
two guys to lug it to the tent.  But at 5w, it would run for a long, 
long time.

Thanks to Jessie for the ideas, and to Robert for sharing.

72/73 de Jim - AD6CW