[ICOM] Field Day 2012 - final result.

[D C *Mac* Macdonald]

One operator, one transmitter at a time, and mobile 
(vehicle = human feet) comes out to 1C. Rules don't 
say anything about HOW you are moving.
 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
* 73 - Mac, K2GKK/5 * 
* (Since 30 Nov 53) * 
* k2gkk at hotmail.com *  
* Oklahoma City, OK * 
* USAF, Ret (61-81) * 
* * * * * * * * * * * 
 
 
 

 

> From: mike-2007 at elp.rr.com
> To: IC703 at yahoogroups.com; icom at mailman.qth.net
> Date: Sun, 24 Jun 2012 21:22:45 -0600
> Subject: [ICOM] Field Day 2012 - final result.
> 
> 
> In 2009 and 2010 I worked Field Day as a 1B 1-operator solar powered QRP
> station using my FT-817 and some kind of portable antenna. In 2011 I was in
> Germany, I didn't play Field Day at all. This year I wanted to do something
> different. With the completion of my Pedestrian Mobile radio earlier this
> year, I thought I would try my hand at Pedestrian Mobile. Yes - I knew it
> would be most difficult, but it would also be FUN! If it isn't FUN - then
> why do it?
> 
> Right from the start there was a question. What class was I going to be in?
> Some thought that 1B was correct. But another pointed out that part of the
> 1B rules say 1 or 2 person, but "other provisions same for class-A".
> Class-A states: All equipment (including antennas) must lie within a circle
> whose diameter does not exceed 300 meters (1000 feet). 
> 
> Nowhere did it state that the circle can move. Since I intended to walk
> much farther than 1000 feet, I didn't think Class-B would apply. Since I
> was walking, and no two QSOs were made in the same place, it looked like 1C
> was it, even if I did not use a "vehicle". Isn't that what "Mobile" means?
> In motion? So with 1C-WTX decided, I got started. I don't think I am in
> any danger of winning anything, so having FUN was what it was all about.
> 
> 
> Call sign: KD9KC
> Class: 1C
> Section: WTX
> Time on air: 10.5 hrs
> Distance walked: 19.92 miles
> Average speed: 1.9 MPH
> QSOs made: 104
> Sections worked: 49
> QSOs per mile: 5.23 
> 
> FUN: Can't be measured!
> 
> PHOTOS can be seen at: http://www.qrz.com/db/KD9KC/ 
> 
> I have a 4.98 mile loop I often walk along in the Upper Valley Region of El
> Paso for the 10 Bar-X 10m net on Tuesday evenings. This loop is located on
> the west side of town, west of I-10 but east of the Rio Grande. The area
> has many canals for irrigation, and water was flowing for Field Day. This
> loop allowed me to pass home and refill my water before starting another
> loop. I walked 2 loops on Saturday, and 2 loops on Sunday. Saturday's
> first loop was done on 15m. One of the first QSOs I made was with Germany.
> Not bad for a backpack mobile. The 5 miles just flew by, and I had 23
> stations in the log. I refilled the water again, and stepped out for loop 2
> now on 20m. 20m was in good shape, and I had about 15 stations in the log.
> But at about the half-way point I had run out of stations to work, and 20m
> was too crowded to hear the weaker ones. So with the sun setting, I stopped
> and switched to 40m. This was a mistake! After 30 minutes I didn't have a
> single 40m contact. So I decided to try 15m again. It was a struggle, but
> I found 19 more stations for a total of 54 on the first day. I arrived home
> tired and sore.
> 
> Sunday morning I got up and started the first loop around 1300 UTC. This
> loop was on 20m because there wasn't a single station on 15m at that hour.
> The first 5-mile loop found me with 27 contacts in the log. Sometimes a
> weak one was having trouble hearing me, so I would toss my drag-wire in the
> canal with the hope that the water might help. I had invited a "community
> Service" police officer to observe my operation, and he actually did catch
> me as the canal crossed the street where he was patrolling. He was
> interested in just how far I talked. I told him so far Sunday was not as
> good as Saturday when I worked HI, AK, and DL. As I finished that loop I
> just stopped for a refill of ice water, and went right back out on 15m. The
> band wasn't great, but it was building. Since I had about worked out 20m,
> it was 15m or nothing for the final loop. I was tired enough that almost
> any excuse at all would have kept me home. But I couldn't find an excuse.
> 15m really started building and I was finding more stations I hadn't worked
> yet. With about 10 minutes to go I knew I had reached my goal of 100
> contacts. And I was able to work 4 more before the end. I was slowing down
> I guess, because when 1800 UTC ticked over, I was still several hundred
> yards from home.
> 
> Toward the end, I called a few stations that I had worked previously. They
> promptly informed me I was a "DUPE". Very sorry guys. It was getting hard
> to maintain a dupe list while walking. I kind of lost track toward the end.
> 
> It was fun. Really. Next year I should have the Bicycle Mobile done. A
> bicycle is a "vehicle", right?
> 
> 
> Vy73 - Mike - KD9KC.
> El Paso, Texas - DM61rt.
> W5-SOTA Association Manager.
> NA-SOTA info: http://na-sota.org/