[FieldDay] Field Day 2002 - R.I.P.

[fieldday@mailman.qth.net]

Hi to the List.

Have to tell everyone that I finally got everything put away and other things 
reinstalled and checked out.  Will be headed off to the sack shortly.   

This was my second annual one man field day.  Hope to have some pix to share 
shortly if anyone wants a look see.  It was a lot of work, but everything 
went off perfectly.  Band activity here was mostly on 40 sideband.  75 was 
going for a short while with a small FD cluster around 3900, but for the most 
part, it sounded like 10 which was also dead for the most part. I was so 
concerned about 75 that I thought I had a bad rig and put another one on 75 
to check it out.

I was loaded for bear this year, but the bands just didn't seem to be that 
goon here inNorthern Virginia.

True to form it was a more or less boatanchor station setup, all quite old 
and some even glowed in the dark!  The rigs were pre tuned on 75 and 40, with 
a third for bandhopping on 20, 15 and 10.  Had more rigs, but no table space. 
 Each rig had its own antenna tuner and the works was fed into two coax 
switches, allowing instant selection of any antenna for any rig.  Rigs in use 
were an SR-160 for 75, FT-101B on 40 and a TR-7 as the bandhopper.  The 
antennae were a G5RV, Windom and an 80 meter dipole.  (Thank Heaven for the 
EZ-Hang!)   The generator was a 1500 watt Onan, built in 1944.  The old gal 
hummed the whole time, burning about 12 gallons of gas and about a half quart 
of oil.

WX was fantastic, to say the least.  A bit hot, but there was plenty of shade 
so it wasn't bad until teardown time.  I am still dragging from that!

Here's hoping everyone faired well and we'll try again next year.

73 and good night!!!

John,  W4AWM
1B  VA