[K3PZN-List] FD Planning - QTH ?

[Curt Milton]

First I don't pretend to have many answers, but I do
have some questions!  

As I understand it, working with input from the club,
Andy and I will bring 2 'proposals' to the club for
consideration.  

Motivations - would be nice to have more fun and even
less work than last year!  

Plan A.  Essentially status quo, operate from the EOC
(aka FTC, the place we meet and have a shack in place)

pro's are a partial set of antennas in place (maybe
sufficient for 3 of our N transmitters).  has shelter,
power and modern-necessary facilities for 24 hours of
human habitation.  

con's are the limits for mounting the rest of the
antennas we need (odd shaped lot, lack of natural
supports having good height ....).  its not an ideal
location for drawing the public nor non-ham family
members.  

sense of 'adventure' is lacking, it's esssentially
'another contesting opportunity'

Plan B.  location TBD.  desire is for some good
natural antenna supports, and some means to facilitate
human habitation.  

while i dream of a nice state park in the midst of
Carroll County will nice trees and facilities - well
it doesn't exist!  

i suspect we do want to be somewhere in Carroll so we
can promote amateur radio, and invite visitors to a
convenient place (??)

OK here is where i am almost clueless, but i did get a
few ideas in chatting with W3JJH (clearly retired from
FD planning and execution):

a. Freedom Park - down in a hole, not good for
VHF/UHF.  yes we bring our own means of habitation. 
been there, done that.  

b. Gamber Fire Carnival Grounds - centrally located,
has structures in place.  we used to do FD there for
minimal or no expense.  we stopped because of fees
charged.  i could find our how much our church spent
for its picnic there.  i dont know how affordable this
option will be.  a pro-negotiator with connections
could help bring this into our budget ?  (or is there
another similar facility in the county?)

c. Bear Branch?  i just know its a place where
telescope liking people gather in northern Carroll
County ....

d. Springfied Hospital Grounds.  higher elevation than
freedom park, we bring our own means of habitation
similar to Freedom Park.  

e. ??

i know some folk miss the family picnic opportunity
under a pavilion some place.  

i know it was suggested we consider a split squad
arrangement of a QRO set-up and a QRP battery setup.
this could be co-located or separate QTH's. but i am
not aware of a nice park a few minutes away from the
EOC for the latter (if we indeed wanted frontier and
non-frontier experiences both).  

i really think once we establish a location, it will
be easy to work the other details.  

your interest and imagination appreciated.  

73, curt



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