[MRCA] Gilbert MRCA Event AAR

[Ray Fantini]

What was supposed to be achieved by this project?

The MRCA annual Gilbert event in cooperation with Red Ball Military Vehicle Collectors show was this past weekend. Some of us set up Thursday the 24th but the first “official” day was Friday the 25th with the event ending Saturday the 26th.
The event included exhibits of military radio equipment in the Howell building and a Field exercise Friday for Man pack portables in and around the Beltsville Lake State park with the opportunity for remote stations to take part. Saturday included a remote field operation on the 7087 Military RATT net.

What was actually achieved?

I arrived early Thursday morning and set up the crew tent, unloaded the truck at the Howell building, and unloaded the M151A1 mutt. Looked around the flea market and saw a couple things, a RU/GF Set up with all the control, junction and relay boxes but was way pricy at $750 There were a couple old UPX-7 IFF sets that were unmodified that I wanted to go back and offer $20 each just to have them. The same person had an APR-4Y receiver that she sold to N2IA with a couple plug in heads. Lots of GRR-5 receivers in the $200 price range and tons of accessories for VRC-12 systems but not any RT-524 radios themselves. Several R-422 receivers but no transceivers. There was a Trimpack GPS unit with all the accessories including the vehicle mount for $300 and wanted to make an offer on it but never got back around.

Fridays 5403.5 Net:
Started with K3TZJ Ron running an RF-350K from his home QTH, N3KCB was on a PRC-74B up at the Dam at Beltsville, Tony tells me he copied almost all stations local and distant. A testament to the PRC-74 and its front end. KA3TIN back at the Howell building at Red Ball running a Transworld, KK1K on a PRC-515, he forgot the big antenna and had to run with the whip, N2IA who wanted to use a PRC-104 but it failed and he went to his backup radio a PRC-70, maybe the first time a PRC-70 came to the rescue over a PRC-104, WA3GFZ operating a Yeasu back at Red Ball, KE8ULR from his home QTH in Ohio running a Sunair GSB-900DX never discount Sunair for dependability. KC2VIL checked in, N3OP also checked in as a mobile.
KW1I and W1NZR were there on an MSR-8000, K1HF was there but had antenna issues with KD2GIY on a PRC-515 and KB3SBC Walt coming in last on the Transworld at MRCA Base. KA3EKH was NCS.
The 3885 AM Net was fun; I decided to run my Sunair PRC-108 with the whip and did have contacts with N3KCB and KK1K at the lake but was not able to work the other stations.
The 7087 RATT Net next morning was weird, I worked K8WXQ and W8ZJT without issue, K9WT was in there and we exchanged contacts but I was unable to copy K3TZJ NCS, funny thing is that I had no issues working Ron the day before from Beltsville State Park but had no copy on him from the Fair grounds. And I did manage to stomp all over a QSO or two not knowing when he was transmitting. Sorry about that, WB2JWU.  K1HF had plans to run a PRC-47 with attached modem and a Mite Teleprinter during the net but the PRC-47 crapped out right before the net started. I was supposed to drag out an MD-522 and UGC-74, but I chickened out. I did get together with an owner of a GRC-142 shelter at the event and although it was not ready to roll this time, will be working with him on getting that up and operational for next year.
KD2GIY provided a cross-band repeater that bridged 146.58 to 51.0 and that was fun along with a lot of operation on 51.0 FM at Beltsville and the Fairgrounds. Do not know if we accomplished a 51.0 FM connection between Beltsville State Park and the Howell building back at Red Ball, so maybe that’s a goal for next year.

What aspects of the project work?

We had fourteen local and distant stations that took part in the 5403.5 Net, about half a dozen in the other nets. Teletype from the field did work although I never got a clean copy on NCS.
Think we had seven or eight people set up displays and selling stuff in the Howell building. The weather was good on Thursday and Friday, Saturday had rain starting in the early afternoon.

What didn't work and why?

Once again, the threat of bad weather chased most people off by noon on Saturday. It started raining around eleven that day. Had issues with the Sunair PRC-108 and its antenna mount. Will work on resolving that, also will work on getting the MD-522 and UGC-74 out into the field.

What would you change if given a second chance?

Weather! will also plan on bringing electronics tool kit and multimeter for emergency repair of my or others equipment on site. No idea how to get more people out to take part but will keep trying.

Submitted by Ray F/KA3EKH

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