What is Field Day? [Archive]

04-18-2002, 03:11 PM

Field Day is the weekend we practice our emergency communications skills. It is a weekend that we submit our “scores” to the ARRL to see where we stand. It is a weekend that the public can become informed as to what amateur radio is all about. But…It can be a day that we go all out as being “Elmers” to the newer amateur radio operator who hasn’t “gotten his feet wet” in the “other’ activities beside 2M repeater communications.

Our local club has placed consistently high in the numbers for several years. But this year we are going to do something different. We will probably change classes, from 1A to at least 2A. We are going to “have fun” at field day! Our field day this year will not be about scoring high. We’ve already done that! We have already proven ourselves! We’re going to have enough radios, antennas, computers, and modes that we will be able to let the newer ham experience it all! And FOOD! Yes, we will have all kinds of food!

We set up in a local park each year under a pavilion. We have tables for a swapfest. We have FOOD! And we have information. But this year, we are going to have “hands on” experience. Field Day has become too much of a contest, with just a few people doing the operating, while the others do the “labor” part of the weekend. But the newer ham needs to learn what it is all about, from putting up antennas, why one type of antenna is better than others, how to set up a station, how to link a computer to a rig, and how to ENJOY the hobby.

Let’s all look at field day in a different light this year. And you know what? The score will not be how many on the air contacts you made, but how many “personal” QSO’s were enjoyed!
http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Chief801

04-19-2002, 12:44 AM

Our club ( Mt Baker Amateur Radio Club, Bellingham, WA) has been doing this for years. We have sparked more members to upgrade by giving them that little taste of what the HF bands have to offer. I'm sure you and the rest of your members will find it very rewarding.

Good luck on Field Day and enjoy the experience!

de Gary

W7GLC

04-19-2002, 01:22 AM

Field day for me this year will consist of operating from my backyard. Several of the folks I have elmered in the past year will be over and like the two above posters, it is about having fun, not about the score. I have never submitted any reports to the ARRL because for me, it was enough to simply have fun with Amateur Radio.

73 de KC4KGU

kc6ufe

04-19-2002, 01:28 AM

Field day is a great idea. it allows all the losers, lids, hacks, and hamradio wannabees to all get on the air on the same day, stomp all over each other, and then go home satisfied that they know what they are doing. Then the next 364 days are left for the operators who dont prefer to operate on top of each other without a care.

k7dlx

04-19-2002, 02:36 AM

Now just a gol-darned minute here... http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif Who says you need a club?

For many years, my friend Jim WI7J and I have gotten together to work field day without a club. It's usually Jim and me together out on the woods, at a dam site, on top of a mountain, joined by Jim's wife (N7KEC) and a few friends. We run 2A, string up diploes, and see how well we can get along. And the things we've run across in the almost 10 years we've done this...

...The generator that ran fine the night before, only to throw a rod when we fired it up the next morning 30 minutes before the start of the contest. N7KEC ran the rental genny back into town and quickly exchanged it for another...

...The first year we decided to try computer logging. I had written a database program to dupe check, and after driving 450 miles to the FD site, finding out that I had brought all the computers and monitors but no computer power cords...

...The year we did field day in downtown Burbank, CA, and had numerous people coming up to us and asking what we were doing, most of them after 1AM stone drunk...

...The year I decided to wear a t-shirt while I ran 20 meters for three solid hours in the middle of the day, until N7KEC came up to me and asked if my neck was normally THAT red...

...The year we set up desk lamps to help our night ops, only to figure out that next year we needed to bring yellow BUG lights...

...Last year, when we decided it was time to take a break from the great outdoors, so Jim and his wife came to my house and we operated from my back porch as a 1D...

...This year, we were going to operate maritime mobile from Catalina Island, but unfortunately we couldn't get the boat that we wanted. I'm now trying to secure another site that is even better...

Field day is not about scores. It's not about the contacts you make. For me, at least, it's about the memories, and those will last a lifetime.

Make it a memorable experience.

Ric W7WWB

N3XJT

04-19-2002, 03:06 AM

I, this year, am getting away from the club thing. I have run successful FD's over the past years with the club, but this year, I am going to try something a little different. I am awaiting a reply from the local boy scout troop, to see if we can make this a learning experience. Start early on Saturday morning, teach them how to build antennas, (we are "simulating" emergency situations), then put them, (antennas and scouts) on the air. While I get ready for dinner (the plan is to have deep fried turkey again). After dinner, teach the merit badge requirements for their Radio badge.
Plus teach them the different modes we use, such as: SSTV, PSK, MFSK, SSB, FM, AM,APRS, and oh yea..CW.
Not to mention, the different "vehicles" we as amatuers use: HF, VHF, UHF, and the ONLY repeater we are allowed to use...Satellites. Show them the differnt means of power generation.
Yes, I want to make this fun for the scouts..as well as myself..and the other people that are helping me out.
And if the scout troop decides not to participate...
I still will, with a little help from my friends.. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

ke4pjw

04-19-2002, 03:49 AM

Field Day 2001 was the turning point of the hobby for me. I had never actually seen anyone work the HF bands. My friend Sean KG4NRC and I went to a couple of the local clubs FD outings, it was A LOT of fun to watch these old guys do their stuff. After 7 years as a Tech, I felt the need to upgrade. I have been more active on the air than I ever have been thanks to Field Day.

w6th

04-19-2002, 05:29 AM

Don't #let it all get to us. #Be happy with what we have today. We may not be here tomorrow and all the worry is for nothing. I always say,"Everything happens for the best". #A little birdie sat on my window this morning and said " cheer up, things can get worse", I cheered up and sure enough things got worse.

kd7qkh

04-19-2002, 08:39 AM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (kc6ufe @ April 18 2002,18:28)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Field day is a great idea. it allows all the losers, lids, hacks, and hamradio wannabees to all get on the air on the same day, stomp all over each other, and then go home satisfied that they know what they are doing. Then the next 364 days are left for the operators who dont prefer to operate on top of each other without a care.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
That seem to be how true tricksters view April Fools Day. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

I am new to the ham circuit (have only had my ticket since March 15, 2002) and am looking forward to meeting some of the local people at a field day, or swap meet. My schedule precludes showing up at meetings, so weekends are my only option.

Today was earthquake drills. tied up the biggest 2 repeaters in the area. I found some new repeaters to work!

Glenn
KD7QKH/AE

04-19-2002, 12:26 PM

1st- Thanks QRZ for using the topic I submitted. It is good we have this medium in which to express ourselves.

2nd- Thanks for all the comments! Ham radio is not about everyone being programmed to do the same thing. Other than the licenses, the simularities stop! We are all different. We like different bands, modes, operations, times, etc.

3rd- Sure there have been some comments that are negative, some that are positive. Then there have been some where someone set back and thought it through, then put it on the internet for others to see.

4th-Operate Field Day how YOU want to. That's why there are so many classes. And yes you don't even have to operate if you don't want to. But remember this...we live in a country that says we must have a license, and operate with "common sense" rules. Other than that, we are free to do as we please. Many people don't have that freedom. Many people cannot even show by example to others how to enjoy such a great hobby and service! Have a great Field Day!!!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

kf3dy

04-19-2002, 02:53 PM

I must agree, do field day the way you want, that is what makes it fun. I have ran with a club and with a club, both are a blast. We normally run 3A and sometimes the rigs are not all tied up, so if they want to operate, they can go ahead and do it.
We enjoy this time not only to operate, but for getting us all together. Some of us take our campers and get the old camp fire going, while others just want to operate. Personally, I enjoy trying different antennas.
You can also learn a lot from Field Day. Listening to each others opinions and ideas.

I am 28 years old and my Birthday at times falls on Field Day (June 25th) so this is like a Birthday present to myself. I was licensed since I was 15 and have yet to miss a Field Day.

The first Field Day I was at, there were many Elmers that showed me so much about antennas, how they operate, what works the best, and got to meat a lot of interesting people.

If you haven't tried Field Day give it a try. If you don't want to operate, there are a lot of interesting people to talk to and learn from.

Heck, I even thought 1 year of trying to run Field Day mobile!

73 de Corey KF3DY

n7uo

04-19-2002, 03:14 PM

Twelve times a year, my club get's together to skull out the events of the past month, and look forward to the next one. #There is nothing that pulls the club together more than the Field Day event. #Members in wheel chairs, handicapped in many ways, or just not provided an opportunity to HF it, are there and dedicated.

Field day incorporates the joy of setting up a station for the first time, every year. #Skulling out the problems and collectively solving them is the premier focus of the event. #And the operating, yes, the operating! #Having your membership scattered across the event site trying to out operate each other is great.

Clubs plan all year for this event, probably more than any other event, and the pay off is should a real catastrophic event occur, we are convinced that we are prepared, as a club, to serve the community with emergency communications in an effective manner.

Is it a contest? #well, (blush) #if you get points for each contact, a record is kept, those records are submitted, and a standing is announced, I suggest it smacks of a contest. #It's an internal contest between the SSB and CW operators, and it's a contest between HF and VHF. #

Indeed, it's like many other club related events, a few do most of the work, and the others arrive when dinner is ready and quietly depart after a filling culinary experience. #Some are there hours early to get the site prepared, and remain to remove the equipment and antennas. #But they all arrive, and you get to meet them, their families, and their friends. # # #It's an opportunity to "show and tell" the community about the hobby, and it's an opportunity to share an event equally among the membership.

I can't think of an event I look forward to more than the field day experience.

Frank/N7UO

w7act

04-19-2002, 05:52 PM

As a member of Jefferson County Amaturer Radio Club (W7JCR) we use Field Day as a Trainning Exercise for existing Hams and as an introduction to Ham Radio to the General Public. Many of the members of our group live in a Rural setting out here on the Olympic Peninsula here in Washington and in the event of a natural or man made disaster we realize the need for Emergency Communications and Field Day gives us the opportunity to practice our operating skills in setting up, maintaining, and operating said stations if and when an actual Emergency.

We are fortunate in the fact that many of our members are also members of ARES/RACES, Search & Rescue, and are EOC Techs with local DEM. We are also lucky in the fact that as a result of our working relationship with local government we are able incorporate much of the county's resources into the exercise.

The actual Field Day Site is located at a local State Park where we have Fir Trees standing 200 to 300 feet tall and when we get our home brew antennas strung up it's quite a sight.

Our Site is open to the public and we encourage other Hams as well the General Public to visit, see, and operate. In the past we have set up and operated a Novice Station on 10 Meters and on the other Bands have run APRS, SSB, CW, Satalite, all the Digital Modes, Packet, and RTTY.

In Response to those who cast stones at Field Day let's just say this is a way that Reponsible Amaturer Radio Operators can show that we are not part of the 11 Mtr Riff Raff out there spreading the Hate and Discontent.

04-19-2002, 08:27 PM

Field Day is nothing more than a chest thumping event for contesters. The emergency aspect is gone, most clubs plan this weekend for months, it is hardly a readiness drill. A club always want its score to be published in QST near the top of its category, as a sign of club strength.

This is why a group of us have left one of the oldest clubs on the east coast. The event was no longer fun with them, but more of a job. Now we have a great site on the appalachian trail where hundreds of serious and day hikers pass by and ask us questions. We make fun the top objective of FD followed by good food and then comes serious radio. Our group has never submitted a log to the ARRL, everyone scribbles his or her own notes about contacts. Everyone is welcome, not just those who help set up or tear down, and no one is turned away.

Give it a try, eliminate the logging and submission to the ARRL and watch how the fun factor grows. The public can still know what you do, hams learn some new operating skills, and best of all score is not a factor so the level of fun is high.

If this event was truly a drill the ARRL would not list it on the contest calender[

W2SUQ

04-19-2002, 09:05 PM

Field Day 2001 was the turning point for me. I had just passed my code test and went strait into Field Day. I was horrible. But, a club member told me that next year, I'll be just as fast or faster. I've been 100% CW since then and am really looking forward to this year.

Last year was my first, this year I'm running it. Listen for N1FD this year!!

Hope everyone has fun.

Cheers!!
-Brian
73 de W2SUQ

w6th

04-20-2002, 01:30 AM

W7WWB, your verse sounds as mine when I was very young. #Back then it was all battery operation and no electric, like 1 1/2, 22 1/2 and 45 volt batteries to run our home brew radio's. #Talk about fun, well couldn't beat it today with all the modern stuff. #Today they use campers and you name it for comfort. #Well good luck young man and may we both work the modern fieldday. #Gotta go my steak is done, 73.

MAB2003

04-20-2002, 03:12 AM

I do not know much about field day infact this will be my first time going to field day and from what i hear i know it will be a fun and great experience and field day needs all the help it can get and NN3V will get you alot of info on it infact he is doing alot of work and contributing alot of his own free time to field as should we al because from what i heard it is going to be really great and e-mail me at kg6ktz@amsat.org with any questions and i will try to answer them as best as i can thanks alot

KG6KTZ http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

04-20-2002, 04:08 PM

Hey I am a new ham as of 4-1-02 and am ejoying it thoroughly. I have a dual band handheld and am going to our Field Day just to see what all I can learn from the big dogs. I know there are some that have elaborate rigs and some are like myself and just carry around my hobby on a beltclip. I got involved with Hams because of my Skywarn and realized what an asset I would be to learn as much as i can for my community.....So I am looking forward to my first Field Day...(and the food)...KG4SMW http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

k7dlx

04-20-2002, 10:30 PM

KG4MSW:

Congratulations, first, on your license. Welcome to the best all-around group of people I know.

Second, ENJOY Field Day. And when you say you're going to try to "learn from the big dogs...", remember, you're a HAM just like all the rest of them. You're not learning from someone greater than yourself, just someone with more experience.

My first field day, in 1983, I sat and watched the more experienced hams operate for a while. Then, in the middle of the night, I got up the nerve to ask if I could sit in on an HF operation - they were more than happy to let me, and I fell right into the excitement of "racking up the points."

Remember, it's not a good field day if you score the most points. It's not a good field day if you operate the most hours. It's a good field day if you HAVE FUN doing it.

73! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Ric W7WWB

n2br

04-21-2002, 11:41 PM

O-yes FieldDay our local repeater group 147.135 gets together and has a ball,We get the antennas and light set up and when time starts we work as many contacts as we can.Our FieldDay Cook W4SRX cooks up hamburgers bakebeans hotdogs and the works and when it get done this bunch is ready to EAT.We enjoy haveing new hams that never get to work HF or 2/6 meter ssb and we but them on the air and let them work till they drop.Then at the stroke of midnight the old die harts go to work on ssb and CW till mrn comes around and there no more hamburgers or bakebeans then it time for ham-eggs and the works.But we also get in some good ham radio tradeing at fieldday too,I have traded more gear on fieldday than any time of the year.FieldDay is Fun and Everyone should get together and Have a Blast.Hey listen for us this year will be on HF 2/6 meter also from EM76

From Bob N2BR Algood,Tennessee Putnam County EM76

w6th

04-21-2002, 11:59 PM

To me, field day is set forth as the ARRL has been stating for years. #Most should take this serious and to better your skills. Fun, yes it is and also increases your skill. Here is what the ARRL says is the object of field day:
# # Object: To work as many stations as possible on any and all amateur bands (excluding the 30, 17, and 12-meter bands) and in doing so to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. A premium is placed on developing skills to meet the challenges of emergency preparedness as well as to acquaint the general public with the capabilities of Amateur Radio.

# # I will be operating mobile with IC 718 and a Slinky in a vertical position, cw of course. GL.

04-22-2002, 08:57 PM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (MattBeers @ April 21 2002,00:02)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">It's very sorry to see someone so negative on FD. #I hang with a bunch of serious contesters, and believe me it is NOT a big deal for contesters. #So much for the "chest beating" comment.

I do not give you three cheers for dumping the logging, and scoring part. #I give you one. #Why? #Well, if it isn't about the score, why are you doing it the third weekend in June? #I mean, there are LOTS of stations out there active on that day. #If you really want "emergency preparedness" you three/four/eight/however many hams ought to agree that on any given Friday, any of you can declare "emergency preparedness" weekend and you're in the field the next day.

If the only reason you're doing it on FD weekend is because that's when the bands are busy enough, then it seems to me you're about 90% of the way toward treating it like a contest. #90% of the contesters out there don't expect to place high, they just expect to enjoy the madness. #So, you're contesting, whether you turn in a log or not.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Negative on FD, hardly. This is not the only weekend we hike our gear up the AT and set up. We do this 8 times a summer and only a few in the winter.

Once you have been to a FD where some old farts tell you "you can't operate 80 meters, this is my radio" you will know where I come from. Same FD one guy walks around in a hardhat telling us we are talking to much and not operating enough, points we need points. Same FD again one blind club member is told he should stay away from the antennas, you might get tangled and keep the dog out of the pavilion, no real answer why! How would you feel if I told you to keep your eyes away from the pavilion? How about just down right degrading remarks!

As far as your giving me one cheer I could care less, its not about the cheers, just having fun!

Oh yeah, lets see the other options on FD a members only function, or a FD held at someones house (invite only), just maybe drive 70 miles to find out the group has called things off.

How many staions will we set up this year, don't know. Who is bringing what radios, don't know. Who is going to show up, don't know. I do know we will be on the air, with a bunch of radios, and maybe 20 people will show up.

Is it about contesting, not really but if you want to think that, fine you're right in you're own mind, really wrong though. It's about fun! And the advertised weekend gives everyone a good reason to get out without getting grief from wives or girlfriends. It is also a nice warm weekend to watch young fit girls hike by on the AT and ask for water.

04-23-2002, 12:41 PM

Well, I don't know about all the pros and cons, but I do know that I have always enjoyed Field Day, whether I participated by myself, with a few friends, or with a club.

Sometimes I wish it were earlier in the year so it wouldn't be so hot, but I live pretty far to the south, so naturally I would see it that way. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Hope to hear some of you guys on Field Day!

Charles, N5PVL

WB9YBM

04-23-2002, 03:33 PM

"Real" emergencies can happen any time, any day--unlike field day, where people know a year in advance when it's going to take place. This makes me question how realistic of a test of our emergency preparedness is field day--really? It would make much more sense for our local emergency coordinator (or whoever takes care of emergency communication coordination in our respective areas) to just randomly call us, and say something like, "our emergency preparedness test is going on RIGHT NOW, so get your butt out here NOW!". What really brought home to me what a joke field day's become is when I've noticed more guys worrying asbout who's bringing the beer and then standing around a barbecue, instead of simulating emergency readiness.

KE6MGB

04-23-2002, 04:39 PM

Overall Field Day has been a great experience for me. Of course, there are always those in the club who only care about points, but aside from that, it's fun. I'm looking forward to it this year.

Rod
KE6MGB

wb2tqc

04-23-2002, 05:10 PM

I guess if I was to describe Field Day I would say it is a "Gigantic advertisment contest training eating camping excercize" #It IS fun for the most part. It puts the hobby out in "The Field" where people can see it. It teaches newbies the importance of working together as a team. Even if it's only to help flip the burgers. People laugh, get angry, eat, make up and remember. Is it an Emergency Preparedness Excercize?? No. Would the experience help in a REAL emergency?? Sure would. The contesting part puts alot of people on the air. In the house or in the field. It gives everyone a large contact base to work with. #Are there some Hams who are ANAL about it??? You only have to be a member of this forum to know the answer to that. Everyone of us who operates a Radio, or who string antennas through the trees is a potential Emergency Communications tool. Field day is just a means of taking that potential, mergeing it with others, taking it out to the field, showing it off and having a GOOD Time. #So have a Good time already, 73, and Good Luck in the Contest.

De WB2TQC

KE6MGB

04-24-2002, 03:24 PM

I do think some of the members should take FD as being more fun than "serious". Clubs should be more interested in promoting Ham Radio not just worry about the points. Sure, it helps to get ready for emergencies, but let's not over do; have some fun out there. Mainly have fun! Get people involved.

JMHO

Rod

n9kpn

04-24-2002, 11:11 PM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (WB9YBM @ April 23 2002,09:33)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">"Real" emergencies can happen any time, any day--unlike field day, where people know a year in advance when it's going to take place. <SNIP>It would make much more sense for our local emergency coordinator <SNIP> to just randomly call us, and say something like, "our emergency preparedness test is going on RIGHT NOW, so get your butt out here NOW!".[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
WB9YMB is right, it would be much better if field day were a random event; different times in different areas.

One of the things wrong with field day is the amount of time people "prepare" for field day. #In QST last year there were stories about field day activities. #One group hired a crane to raise their tower. #In another instance the battery an operator had planned to use was shot and he went out and bought a new one at the start of field day. #Now let's put this into a REAL situation. #It is 2 AM. # A tornado, flash flood, earth quake, or whatever has just happened. #Just where are you going to get a crane at to raise your tower? #How about buying a battery? #Field day is NOT about how many contacts you can make (like a contest) but how you can operate in the field. #Instead of hiring a crane to raise your tower, how about building antennas out of wire and scrap metal? #A sling shot, fishing line, and a roll of wire would make for a better emergency antenna rather than having a crane raise one up for you in an emergency. #As for power, your emergency batteries should be charged RIGHT NOW. #You should NOT discover that your batteries are bad and then go out and buy them for field day; you should have known their condition already. #Running on a generator is fine, as long as you can start the generator NOW and not have to worry about getting fresh gas, change the spark plug, etc. to get it running.

With EVERYONE having field day on the same day and everyone making contacts on the same day sort of skews the real number of contacts. #Why not try making the same number of contacts early AM on a Monday? #The numbers won't be there. #Field day can be a fun event but it should be true to its purpose; to be prepared. #It should not be about the points.

ke4sky

04-25-2002, 03:10 PM

Yes, Field Day IS a contest, it IS social, and it's supposed to be "fun," #but it can ALSO be a good exercise for ARES / RACES, etc.

Field Day is NOT a SET, but it is an INSTRUCTIONAL opportunity to enable new ops to learn how to set up in the field using emergency power, teach generator safety, learn how long your batteries will last and how to safely erect an antenna in the field, in daylight, with Elmers to supervise, BEFORE you have to do it for real in the dark and rain.

Normally I could give a fat rat's hind end about contesting, and anybody who knows me will agree that I'm not a contester. #But the only contest do DO work EVERY year is Field Day, because it's our greatest Elmering opportunity to attract young people to the hobby. #Every year we get a new crop of scouts come out and several usually will later become licensed. #It gives the new Techs a chance to taste other modes than FM and it's really fun to watch them make their first DX contact. #Alot different from 2 meters on a repeater.

We always have a novice-tech station with 2-meters SSB and 10 meters, and usually have a little home brew antenna party lesson. #While most field day activity is HF, we've always gotten enough Q's on 2 meters to make it worthwhile and in Virginia and MDC sections in particular you will hear alot of VHF activity.

Field Day IS both fun and educational. #Yes, we will eat well, and it will be a nice family-oriented, social activity. #That's what it's supposed to be. #Save the real "dirt radio" practice for your SET. #After Field Day your newest operators will be much better prepared for the annual SET in October, and for anything else which comes along.

I'm NOT a contester, but I enjoy and support Field Day.

73 de KE4SKY
Virginia RACES State Training Officer

k6ncx

04-27-2002, 07:40 AM

Despite the protestations of various and sundry, Field Day IS a contest, Field Day IS an emergency operations exercise, Field Day IS a training opportunity, AND Field Day IS as big party. At least, Field Day is all of these things (and more) for someone.

Field Day is what you make it, and what I make it.

Have fun. Learn something. Teach something. Have fun.

n3gad

04-29-2002, 08:57 PM

I have never particpated in any field day activities but for the last 5+ years have lived on a 5 acre piece of mountain property that is nowhere near a power line.. every watt of power used here is either from solar cells or a wind turbine. not long ago the local power utility was down for 14 hours and i was the only house that i could see (i can see lots) that had lights. i am putting this here to just make you all think of how your shack would be running during a long blackout? i am not saying to unhook from the grid (although in the southwest it is a real possibility)...what i am suggesting is a good backup power supply- buy yourself 2 or even 4 golf cart batteries (trojan T105's)...stay away from the 'deep cycle' 12 volt units at the local auto parts outlet.. not good.. a small charger or even your power supply can keep them up and you are ready for the next power outage... add a small panel or wind turbine later and use natural power-- power lights and other small loads too. something to think about- my qrz listing describes my homebrew power system-73

chris-N3GAD
solarman@netmdc.com

04-29-2002, 11:09 PM

A long blackout? I would be out looting with HT in hand.

N8PCA

05-01-2002, 01:52 AM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (user88992 @ April 29 2002,16:09)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">A long blackout? #I would be out looting with HT in hand.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Really??!! If this is true then you are criminally minded and are worth no more than something that my dog leaves in my back yard. I really hope YOU are joking!!

05-01-2002, 03:05 AM

Yes, it was a joke. I like the motto "You loot, we shoot!"
all the while keeping the HT in hand.

KB9BVN

05-03-2002, 08:07 PM

Field Day is what you make of it. Some guys like to contest the whole time, other hams like to work as if in an emergency situation, others use Field Day as a great day to mingle with friends in the nice WX, and play a little radio.

Personally, the QRP club I belong to has a certain competitive rivalry with another QRP club many states away so we get together (some drive in from as far as 700 miles away), sling up some antennas (last year we had a 500 foot loop up about 50 feet) and work a lot of QRP CW and SSB all on battery and solar power. It's a blast. We have FUN and fellowship and we get a lot of memories and good food out of the deal.

We run our ops from a state park in Ohio (Ceasar Creek) and in 2001 we had 4 rigs on the air, about 60 visitors, and more than 15 ops stepping in. We ran CW, SSB, Packet, and covered about all bands but the microwaves.

Everyone brings stuff and we have one great time.

Field Day can be a blast if you let it.

73 de KB9BVN/QRP
Flying Pigs QRP Club International

Flying Pigs QRP Club International (http://www.fpqrp.com)

N8PCA

05-04-2002, 03:32 AM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (user88992 @ April 30 2002,20:05)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Yes, it was a joke. #I like the motto "You loot, we shoot!"
all the while keeping the HT in hand.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Bad joke. Really bad.

05-04-2002, 08:50 PM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Bad joke. Really bad.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

Spoken like a true ham. #Unable to laugh at anything other than dit's and dah's.

05-06-2002, 08:22 PM

KD5SHW

05-07-2002, 07:52 PM

Our amateur radio club is setting up out at a local lake. I don't know if we could make the ARRL list or not but I know we're gonna have bunches of food. Anyway being a new ham I'm looking forward to operating on the HF bands.

Peaceout

N8PCA

05-08-2002, 11:45 PM

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (user88992 @ May 04 2002,13:50)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE"></span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Bad joke. Really bad.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>

Spoken like a true ham. #Unable to laugh at anything other than dit's and dah's.[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Damn your small minded!! Do you feel "Big and powerfull" when you try to belittle others?? A sign of a small and weak minded person. Only such a person would make such a moronic post any way.. why are you hiding behind a meaningless number? who or what do you fear?? I thought so.