[GCARC] Field Day 2026 After Action Crosstalk article update

[Jim n2gxj]

Hi all,
I just got finished with reading the newest issue of Crosstalk, and after
re-reading my own work, I think that I should add a bit of an expansion to
my Field Day article that was published.
When I originally wrote the piece that was printed, my thoughts were of the
mindset that I was writing a quick one-pager, as we had already discussed
much of the day’s happenings at the July pizza night that was our General
Membership meeting last month.  Now, I think that I should add a bit of
expanded information.
This year, there were actually two trailer-mounted crank-up towers in use,
one by Al Arrison KB2AYU, working 10-meter digital and phone, and the other
by Eric Morris N2BRJ for his 20-meter digital team.  This was in addition
to Tony Starr K3TS ’s assemble-on-site crank up tower. There were numerous
campers and tow-behind trailers used as shelters this year, a significant
change from what had in the past had looked like a tent campground.
Getting these shelters to the Clubhouse site involved some considerable
planning and effort.  For example, in the case of Al, and Eric, they had to
drag both their tower trailer and then their shelter trailers to the site.
And in the case of Tony, it required significant on-site assembly and many
helping hands to get his pair of Yagi and dipole tower mounted into the
air. This speaks of a certain level of dedication and commitment to the
Field Day spirit.
At least two (of which I am aware) of the shelter trailers were
purpose-rented for the event, those being the ones used by Greg K3GC and
Mary Lu K3MLC Ciraula for their 15-meter phone effort, and by Chris Prioli
AD2CS and his 20-meter phone team.  Of course, as I already mentioned, Tony
Starr K3TS had his trailer there, as did John Zaruba K2ZA, and Glen K22BUO
and Melissa KE2BWZ.  Bill Price NJ2S ran his 40-meter phone effort from
within another rented vehicle.  This time, it was a standard U-haul®
Econoline-type cargo van.  Bill went so far (again this year) to bring in a
cherry-picker boom truck to raise his antenna into place – courtesy of
another electrician friend.
Going back to the topic of Eric’s efforts for a moment, I would like to
mention that he had a really interesting-looking antenna array at the top
of his tower.  Not only did it look interesting, but it operated great.
Eric had graciously allowed me to sign up work with him on the overnight
operating crew, and with that antenna, the band stayed open making contacts
all night until the morning crew he’d scheduled arrived to give us a
break.  Loved every minute of it!  I would like to know more about this
particular antenna, if Eric is willing to share his thoughts and knowledge
regarding the antenna setup.  I have never seen one quite like that one,
and I find it quite interesting.
Another interesting point that we talked about at the meeting, but I failed
to bring out in the short Crosstalk write up was the fact that each of the
15-meter, 20-meter, and 40-meter phone teams utilized the Club’s new
homebrewed notch filters to reduce interference from the CW operations on
each of those respective bands.  This was the first time that the filters
were used for 15m and 40m phone operations, while the 20m phone team used
the prototype filter during the 2025 Field Day event.
And then there was the custom flag sporting this year’s field day logo that
you may have seen flying at Greg and Mary Lu’s trailer.  And the custom
T-shirts that members of Eric’s crew, including Phil Nunzio WA3RGY and
Lenny Rust W2LJR and myself were sporting when over at Eric’s station.  And
the custom POTA-themed welcome sign outside of Glen and Melissa’s camper.
If you missed the pictures shown of these during the pizza night, we’ll
have Jeff Garth W2ZBN get them up on our web page, if they’re not there
already.
Needless to say, there was a lot more to be seen and said than I could
possibly cover in any article of reasonable length.  Also, there had to be
a good number of new things tried, with lessons learned, and technological
differences that showed up this year.  If you experimented with some new
technology or tried some new equipment, or experienced operating on the air
for the first time at our GOTA station, we’d love for you to share your
experiences.  Drop a note to me via email letting me know about your field
day experiences.  I will then be better able to share that information with
the Club at large.
Thank you again for a very successful field day!
Jim Wright, N2GXJ