KB0YYO
07-10-2008, 08:01 PM
I was able to go to my first Field Day. FD 08
We were in Tooele Ut at the Truck stop chilling out with no load for a few days, just listening to my 8900 and talking to several of my Ham friends on the air. FD was mentioned and this perked my ears up a bit. FD here already?
One of the members of UARC ( Andrew) needed some equipment moved to the FD site.
The Better half and I decided to see if we could help. so I dropped my trailer.( I drive an 18 wheeler). Got directions to where the equipment was and moved out.
I was told by a local ham the the road to the FD site was knarly .
We loaded monitors and cables, tables and such and followed the UARC member Andrew out. .
We headed for Payson Lakes UT . FD site. W7SP. 2A
8200 feet in elevation. Thin air takes it's toll on you in a hurry.
To say the road was Knarly was an understatement. We were, I later found out, the only SEMI truck to make it to the site . Other truckers came in their cars and pickup trucks over the years.
Locals are used to seeing campers and motor homes and horse trailers, but to see a Freightliner chugging up hill was new to them.
We stayed for 2 days. I was introduced to FD , making new friends,trying out new foods,and to of course, see how contesters "get er done." (Now I know why many hams rattle off their call so fast an untrained ear gets confused.)
They had a portable 85 foot crank up tower. lots of coax and long wires and inverted v's set up.
FD was to me a new experience,A chance to learn, experience and observe operation of different radios and operators. Each ham there had their own way of gettin on the air.
I saw how the need to improve , repair, modify, was handled by watching a balan be built in a matter of minutes, installed and it worked. An Mty plastic water bottle and some 12 gauge wire and a bit of duct tape.
Hams were eager to show off their own mounting system for tuners, radios and modifications to antennas on their campers, cars and motorcycles.
The learning process was over whelming to say the least and I didn't take enough notes it turns out.
FD to me and my better half was a success to say the least for us. It strengthend my desire to continue to be HAM and to up grade my ticket.
Thank you Hams all over the world for being the giving helping people you are. I am proud to share this hobby with you..
Remember, another word for Elmer is Teacher
KB0YYO
Gordon
We were in Tooele Ut at the Truck stop chilling out with no load for a few days, just listening to my 8900 and talking to several of my Ham friends on the air. FD was mentioned and this perked my ears up a bit. FD here already?
One of the members of UARC ( Andrew) needed some equipment moved to the FD site.
The Better half and I decided to see if we could help. so I dropped my trailer.( I drive an 18 wheeler). Got directions to where the equipment was and moved out.
I was told by a local ham the the road to the FD site was knarly .
We loaded monitors and cables, tables and such and followed the UARC member Andrew out. .
We headed for Payson Lakes UT . FD site. W7SP. 2A
8200 feet in elevation. Thin air takes it's toll on you in a hurry.
To say the road was Knarly was an understatement. We were, I later found out, the only SEMI truck to make it to the site . Other truckers came in their cars and pickup trucks over the years.
Locals are used to seeing campers and motor homes and horse trailers, but to see a Freightliner chugging up hill was new to them.
We stayed for 2 days. I was introduced to FD , making new friends,trying out new foods,and to of course, see how contesters "get er done." (Now I know why many hams rattle off their call so fast an untrained ear gets confused.)
They had a portable 85 foot crank up tower. lots of coax and long wires and inverted v's set up.
FD was to me a new experience,A chance to learn, experience and observe operation of different radios and operators. Each ham there had their own way of gettin on the air.
I saw how the need to improve , repair, modify, was handled by watching a balan be built in a matter of minutes, installed and it worked. An Mty plastic water bottle and some 12 gauge wire and a bit of duct tape.
Hams were eager to show off their own mounting system for tuners, radios and modifications to antennas on their campers, cars and motorcycles.
The learning process was over whelming to say the least and I didn't take enough notes it turns out.
FD to me and my better half was a success to say the least for us. It strengthend my desire to continue to be HAM and to up grade my ticket.
Thank you Hams all over the world for being the giving helping people you are. I am proud to share this hobby with you..
Remember, another word for Elmer is Teacher
KB0YYO
Gordon