[MRCA] Aberdeen AAR

[B Smith]

Aberdeen, nothing like 2 or 3 days of military surplus flea markets 
and playing radio. This year the WX was much better than CAVOK except 
for high winds. During the meet I personally did not experience any 
radio equipment failures but when  I drove up from Chickenland in the 
M151A1 but did experience a maintenance problem  with the Mutt and had 
to pull over as a bolt had backed out on one of the engine manifold 
clamps, at first I thought the fan blade was  hitting something as the 
clack,klick  , klick, clack,clack,klick,clack click,clack sound was 
very loud, (sounds like a "Walter Mitty" explanation), anyway a 
closer inspection in the engine compartment revealed a loose manifold 
clamp and a small hole where the bolt was missing and  exhaust was 
escaping.  Tools in hand and after a  careful search in the engine 
compartment - - - I found the bolt, inserted it and tightened  and we 
were fully operational again. Its great driving down the road in the 
Mutt and watching the civilian cars  go by and kids with their faces 
pressed to the window and you could make out the words "jeep" by 
watching their lips.

 I arrived late Thursday and most of the event was in full progress. 
Dave Kormanicki - KB3ELD  and Mark Weidmayer, KD3ZK were all ready set 
up as well as the "Phantom of Smyrna", Bernie W3OWE  and  W2OBR  Ole 
Buzzard Rich, and Joe  Meagher W3KJT had all ready gone around and 
found all the good deals.  I arrived before Jeff Ciccone KG2BZ pulled 
in with a trailer and on board was his  restored M151A2 with a fresh 
CARC paint job. My personal radio goals  for the Rally was to check in 
to USAF MARS nets  using the  "field antenna and emergency power 
category" and to check in Saturday into the Moose and Squirrel net and 
the later work WAR and AIR during the cross band event. I did do my 
nets but was unable to work WAR and AIR, too much QRM and just was not 
radiating enough power to break through. I tired the SGC-715 and then 
reverted to the PRC-47 using the AT1011 30 foot whip with a 60 foot 
ground radial but failed. It was interesting during the WAR and AIR 
attempts to hear the hams transmitting on the military frequencies 
which were out of band I guess that is what you get when you loosen 
the license requirements.  For display I set up on the bonnet  a 
PRC-71 and a GRC-109 receiver, the GRC-109 is a great Rally and Event 
receiver as it allows visitors to play with the set's knobs  and tune 
in some "short wave". In the vehicle I used the SGC-715 on the rear 
facing FAC seat and had the PRC-47  which is permanently mounted on 
the  left side of the vehicle.  Aux transportation was a 20 inch bike 
which was equipped with the PRT-4 and PRR-9 for local commo. Personnel 
in attendance in addition to the above were:  Mr. Pat Lombardi KC2RNN, 
Steve Finelli N3NNG, Tom Bryan N3AJA, Ray Fantini KA3EKH(Both Ray and 
Tom brought Ruski sets) and a special surprise was Mr. John Kidd 
VK3FPRC from Austrialia, W9NWQ stopped by to say hello as well as 
Logan Mitchell Sr, KC6UZF, Dean KK1K and Jim W1JHM(hope I got that 
call correct). Jeff's Dad, Emido WA2FSX - - I am sorry to say is in 
the hospital after surgery.   During the meet we monitored 29.6  using 
the Red Flag portion of the 524, Jeff used his 442 to monitor 51.0 and 
the Maryland State Police, the State of Maryland used a little  common 
sense and  retained their low band system which is not digital etc. 
etc.  29.6 Mcs FM is becoming a very popular frequency for meets and 
may become as popular as 51.0.  Overall a great event. with plenty of 
radio gear for sale my biggest purchase was finding legs for my BC-654 
so now I will not have to fabricate them.

Z