[HCRA] Field Day with HCRA

Tue Jun 8 17:49:42 EDT 2010

Chuck,

I've replied to the list so everyone can get a handle on Field Day planning
as we answer your questions.

There will be power available. It will be from generators for the rigs and
there is 120 VAC available for fans, lights, etc. If you have a folding
table that would be great, we don't have any extra tables I'm aware of.

As far as setup goes we won't be starting until 6:00 AM Saturday morning. So
there is no need for the beam prior to Saturday and we won't be camping out
Friday night. (we used to start setup on Friday but because we pay by the
day for the park it was just getting too expensive). That being said we WILL
be there Friday afternoon/evening to shoot the supports for the wire
antennas into the trees. You're most welcome to stop by, say hello and get
up to speed on the latest plans for Saturday.

We will be erecting a military AB-577 50' tower that will be used to support
the VHF antennas, a tri-band HF beam and the center support for an 80/40
meter dipole. That will get built Saturday morning so your antennas will
need to be on site prior to raising the tower. As of right now we have
enough feedline for at least two VHF antennas.

I see your rigs are primarily FM. I'm reaching out for at least a multi-mode
rig on 6M and 2M to augment the VHF station. Our experience has been there
are quite a few more contacts available on SSB so if we can make it happen
it will be more fun.

We are using N1MM logger this year at all the stations. It is a free program
and you can download a copy at http://www.n1mm.com <http://www.n1mm.com/> .
Do you have a laptop that can run the program that you can bring? If it has
wireless even better as we may be networking the station computers this
year.

Stay tuned and if you have any questions don't hesitate to ask.

'73.

Jim, KK1W

  _____  

From: Carriere, Charles [mailto:charles.carriere at marriott.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 08, 2010 7:00 AM
To: Jim - KK1W
Subject: RE: Field Day with HCRA

Jim, 

Thanks for the information, and adding me to the mailing list. I have a few
questions, will there be power and  a table already in place at the gazebo?
and for the use of my beam, do you need it before I get there Saturday
morning? I was thinking of pulling in on Friday night and putting up my tent
after work but I wouldn't want to wake anyone if they were already sleeping.
Thanks for now,

Chuck KB1JFQ

  _____  

From: Jim - KK1W [mailto:kk1w at charter.net] 
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 10:10 PM
To: Carriere, Charles
Cc: westcoastbayou at gmail.com; w1mjb at arrl.net; k1jaw at usa.com
Subject: RE: Field Day with HCRA

Most excellent Chuck!

Don't worry about stepping on any toes, Dave volunteered to help out but
doesn't quite have the equipment to band captain the station. I'm sure he
will be thrilled to operate right along side you during the event.

I took the liberty to add you to the HCRA mailing list. Welcome aboard and
please use the list with any FD planning message so everyone stays in the
loop. You may have noticed we're also doing a little fishing (begging) for a
multi-mode VHF rig. It would be nice to have SSB available for the VHF
station as well, it could easily double your contacts.

We should have firmed up most everything by the end of next week but feel
free to call or email with any questions.

'73.

Jim, KK1W

  _____  

From: Carriere, Charles [mailto:charles.carriere at marriott.com] 
Sent: Saturday, June 05, 2010 10:59 AM
To: Jim - KK1W
Cc: westcoastbayou at gmail.com
Subject: RE: Field Day with HCRA

Jim,

Finally we have made contact, I most defiantly wouldn't mind working the
VHF/UHF station, as far as VHF Captain goes,  If  KB1JVB doesn't mind
seeming he was first to sign up for the station, I would like to give it a
try.  I can bring a lap top loaded with the N1MM logger w/ wi-fi.

 I have an Elk 2m/440 Log Periodic beam I can bring along, it works very
well for me when I'm out mountain topping for SOTA. I have a Yaesu ft-7800r
that can do 2m/70cm, and my VX-8r will do 2m/6m/70cm/1.25m I will have both
with me even if I don't need them.

Now the downer, I had to work Friday night so I was unable to make it to the
tailgate & meeting so this info is a little late coming, I hope it doesn't
change around your plans to much for field day. I will be working Friday the
25th 3:30pm to 12:am, but will have 26-27 off so I'm planning on both days
at field day. One last question was are we allowed to tent and say the night
during field day? 

I think most things have been cleared up for me, working today 7:00am to
3:30pm but if you have any questions you can call me at 265-8310. 73 for now
Chuck KB1JFQ

  _____  

From: Jim - KK1W [mailto:kk1w at charter.net] 
Sent: Saturday, May 29, 2010 10:26 PM
To: kb1jfq at yahoo.com
Cc: 'Wes'; 'Jim W'
Subject: Field Day with HCRA

Hi Chuck!

Welcome to Field Day, the HCRA way. I just received a copy of your email
from Jim, K1JAW and want to welcome you to our Field Day planning.

First, of course you are welcome to participate in our Field Day. I see
you're not yet a member but that isn't a requirement for anything you would
like to do at Field Day. I'm sure you've be now checked out the FD
information so far on our web site, but if not you can see a snapshot of the
event plans so far at: http://www.hcra.org/fd2010.htm.

We have one member that has volunteered to operate VHF at Field Day, Dave -
KB1JVB. The station so far, at least until your email, has been planned with
using an Icom IC746 on 6 and 2 meters, coupled to a 6M and 2M beam mounted
on an AB-577 50' tower. The station location is planned for the gazebo and
there were no plans for housing other than the gazebo.

I don't know if you've operated VHF/UHF at any Field Days in the past, if so
you may have more input into the process than the rest of us. In years past
we have used 6M, 2M and 70cm, nothing higher. We don't have much available
for antennas, the plans are for a small 2M beam and we're shopping around
for a loaner 6M beam. Do you have any easily available antennas for these or
higher bands? We're quite flexible with our operation and can accommodate
most anything you would want to try. 

Logging will be electronic, the plan is for band captains (will you be the
VHF captain?) to supply a PC running N1MM logger. If you're not familiar
with this logging program you can learn more at http://n1mm.com/. Although
it may look complicated at first we'll just be using only a small subset of
the program. We're also contemplating networking all the logging PC's via
wifi. Matt/W1MSW, the FD co-chair and log manager, is the guy to talk with
concerning logging.

Whew, long message so far - sorry! In a nut shell the answer is YES, come on
down! We will supply a tower, coax for two antennas, generator power and
possibly a rig and two antennas if you need them. We have some operators and
I'm sure more will show up if there's a VHF station on the air. Of more
importance is we offer support for your efforts with a large cadre of
experienced operators, loggers and installation mechanics. Even if this is
your first Field Day you won't be left high & dry trying to figure out and
do everything yourself.

Our next club meeting is this coming Friday, June 4th. This is our annual
Tail Gate party, elections and final FD planning. If you can make it to the
Feeding Hills Congregational Church that would be great. Again, club
membership is not necessary to participate. It's our hope that you will like
what you see, pitch in and join the fun and eventually become a member. Oh,
one more thing - hot dogs and soda at the tailgate parte as well, how can
you go wrong.

We're looking forward to your participation and thanks so much for offering
your equipment and time. If you have any questions at all please respond to
either me, Matt or Jim and we will do our best to get them answered for you.
I've copied them on this email so just a 'reply all' will get your questions
answered. Have you considered joining the HCRA mailing list? Take a look at
http://www.hcra.org/mailing_list.htm for details about the list. It is
usually pretty quiet on the list but as Field Day draws closer you can
expect to see all the last minute plans falling into place. You don't need
to be a member of HCRA to join the list, your interest in amateur radio is
all that's important.

'73 for now and hope to see you at this Friday's meeting. Please be sure to
come forward and introduce yourself so we can get you integrated into the
planning.

Jim, KK1W

From: Chuck Carriere <kb1jfq at yahoo.com>
Subject: 2010 field day
To: k1jaw at yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, May 27, 2010, 10:13 PM

Hi Jim,

My name is Chuck KB1JFQ, I am not yet a member of HCRA but would love to
partake in Field day, I would like to be an operator if possible, I'm not
sure how many operators you are allowing, and I can bring my own gear, I
have gear for 2m/6m/1.25m/70cm/10m, also can operate satellites. I would
like to be able to tent the event if it's allowed, any information would be
greatly appreciated as this would be my first Field day, Thanks in advance.
73 Chuck KB1JFQ