[MRCA] Field Exercises

[Robert Flory]

Hi,
Adding VHF FM sounds great.  I would like to hear that, having none of the
gear myself.

As for NVIS on the HF exercise, I think that using period-correct antennas
should be encouraged, and we will learn something.  Maybe one station on
the mountain can run Vietnam-era gear and NVIS antenna, and the other(I am
nominating myself) can run WWII vertical style.  Hopefully we will have a
mix of eras back at the fairgrounds and can see how the different
configurations work out.  I think that in the absence of geological
obstacles NVIS offers little if any advantage at that kind of distance, but
I also thought it was improbable to hear a BC-611 at 15 miles under even
the best circumstances.  2 years ago, we had a mix of antennas, with the
home base running a dipole, which works well for contacting the outside
world via ionospheric modes, and most if not all of the portables running
verticals.  

It might be fun to have an amplified speaker to connect to the rigs at the
Fairground so visitors and our group members who aren't wearing the cans
can hear them.

If anyone else has infrared signalling gear, I am QRV.

Rob Flory