Solo Field day

[kf6rdn]

I've been going back and forth, either doing a couple to a few hours solo, or going up to where the local club usually operates.
Usually I try to help them out, with setup using my radios/modes etc, but with my hours I have not been able to go to any of their planning meetings, so I'd just be showing up, hoping to get a couple hours operating.

I want to get a couple hours solid operating, so I was thinking about grabbing my radio, sigma 5 vert antenna, a marine battery & a generator along with an icechest of water and going up on a hill for anything from a couple hours to a few or when I get bored.

Yeah I know, kinda late to decide, but isn't part of the idea of field day to be half assed prepared? http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

Trying to think of where to go, don't want to drive more then 40 mins to a mountain, was thinking of the Camp9 area, but it's been ages since I've been there. (This is directed more at locals of course)

Does this type of operation fit anyone else that wants to join me?

It's probably also going to be hotter then snot...

[N1MLF]

WX not real promising here in Maine.. That'll prolly curtail some ops but we'll see. I might hook up with the St Croix club or solo from home.
Best luck to all..

JW

[w8cbc]

I'm doing essentially the same thing, and I haven't entirely decided where I'm going to set up either. There are some possibilities. I'll find out tomorrow afternoon if they're fit I guess.

[kf6rdn]

Back in my "CB daze" I used to do alot of hilltopping, I want to find a nice high hill, where I can setup without being bothered. I don't rememeber where those were, or if they've been built on since.

Also need to pick up things, like a port table, umbrella or shade of some sort.

In between all this, I have to get ready for a week vacation next week, and play VB all day sunday.. lol
My verticle is good for 10-20,the way the bands are I might ned to bring wire for 40, which means I'll need to find a place with tree(s) as well. Either that or use my moble ant.. MAybe use the wire as radials for the car and increase efficiency of that if I can find trees.

[N5KRC]

It's not too late to decide what you want to do...

I'm looking at Field Day as an excercise in emergency communications. #In a real emergency you typically will have very little to no warning in advance. #Therefore I have purposely procrastinated the entire week and intend on doing all my preperations hastily tonight and tomorrow morning.

That's my story, and I'm stickin' to it!

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

Scott, N5KRC

[k6pme]

I wasn't going to do anything for field day since I was supposed to work. But since I have lately suffered a lower back injury plans have changed a bit. In the local rag this morning there is an article about a local club that will be operating just to the east of me. They invited one and all to come check out their operation so I think I'll wander up and see if I can make a pest of myself. Maybe they'll let me operated some.

[w8cbc]

I have a question.

If I haul two boxes to wherever - the TS-440 and the IC-551D - does that make me a 2B, or will the fact that I'm only transmitting on one at a time keep me a 1B?

Anyway. I'll make one concession to prep in that I'm going to make sure the boat battery is charged tonight. What the hell, I plan to be using it in the boat the weekend after so it's a natural thing to do. Or so's my excuse anyhow. Otherwise, I won't do a thing until 1800 GMT hits. I'd like to see for myself how quickly I can scramble a setup together.

[kf6rdn]

You'd still be a 1B. It's concurrent xmitters. So if you had a friend, taking turns with 1 radio, it's still 1 B.

Well, for me, looks like I am going to hook up with the old club. I heard them on the repeater, so I'll hook up with them.
It's a good location, both RF and comfort wise.

[kf6rdn]

On second thought, technically, it MIGHT be "radios", not just transmitters. Like I dont think you can have one guy "spot" with a reciever, and not count it.
Not sure, dont have the rules in front of me.

[w8cbc]

I'll assume 1B then, as I'll be alone (unless there are chance visitors).

I didn't even get 'round to charging the battery last night. It's new and not drawing a lot of current though so it may be okay. Will see in an hour or two.

[w8cbc]

Today.

I ran with the scenario of a sudden "disaster", no warning, no preparation.

1800 GMT - started getting things together and loading the van. Stuff brought: IC-551D and its accessories, TS-440S/AT and its accessories, lots of wire, lots of string, a fist-full of wire ties, RG8 cables and jumpers, a couple PL-259 ends, the boat battery, food, drink, smokes, two lighters, insulin, a notebook, pens, the 6-metre aerial described below, a small folding plastic table, a 102" whip for reaching high things, an old crankshaft sprocket for a line-throwing weight, misc small hardware, UHF F-F barrel connectors, MFJ-900 tuner in case the AT refused to match some wavelengths, the MFJ-259B analyser, Friday's work clothes in case I got watered, my tackle box of electronic hand tools, spare fuses.

1845 GMT - hit the road.

1910 GMT - arrived at my first choice, a small park overlooking the Ohio. I decided it looked reasonable so I grabbed a picnic table shaded by a nearby tree and proceeded to set up.

1934 GMT - operational in 6 metres: IC-551D to a bent-back-on-itself copper-pipe dipole 12 ft. up on a pair of metal poles.

1939 GMT - first 6-metre contact.

6 was bangin', which greatly slowed my HF setup.

2015 GMT - operational in HF: TS-440S/AT to about 30 ft. of wire, its far end some 15 ft. up in the tree.

2023 GMT - first HF contact.

2325 GMT - added more ground/counterpoise for HF.

0130-0145 GMT - twilight shading to night.

0152 GMT - final HF contact.

0155 GMT - started taking down HF setup.

0219 GMT - final 6-metre contact.

0225 GMT - started taking down 6-metre setup.

0238 GMT - left the park.

It was a breezy, warm day, about 27C when I started, very pleasant into the mid-evening as it cooled to about 20C.

I made 60 "valid" contacts in a rather leisurely manner.

A few people wandered by, curious, and I showed 'em what I was doing. One asked if it was "CB". Heh. Nope.

Stuff I had that I didn't need: the whip, the folding table, the MFJ tuner, the extra clothing.

Stuff I didn't have that I needed: a light. Dur.

Stuff I should have had but didn't: a grounding rod. I looked for something that would do before I left home and didn't find.

Stuff I could have done without: my telegraph keys. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif I tried calling in CW a number of times in 6, 15, and 20 metres but nobody wanted to answer a slow-coder I guess. What CW activity I could hear (not much, and only in 20 metres - I didn't go lower) was way too fast for me to copy.

Stuff that proved essential: the string, the wire ties.

Anyway. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

[VE7NOT]

I postd my comment in my other post but I was '1B'. only on 17m http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Much queiter there

[n0iu]

Quote[/b] (VE7NOT @ June 24 2006,18:09)]I postd my comment in my other post but I was '1B'. # only on 17m #http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif # Much queiter there
I certainly hope you weren't actually operating as a Field Day station on 17 meters!

[WA5VQM]

I like the "sudden disaster" scenario. More real-world.

I threw out some contacts as a 1D, got going on my PSK set-up, tried to hit a couple of satellites (no luck but heard a few). I was going to do some portable/mobile work but have been feeling like crap with a chest cold all week so wimped-out.

If a real disaster was taking place I wouldn't have that luxury.

Maybe next year.

73, Mark

[w8cbc]

Indeed. Some of these "luxury" setups I've seen and heard described elsewhere likely wouldn't be useable in a pinch when comms are most needed.

I worked a 22A in MDC yesterday. 22 transmitters! I'd like to see pictures of that!

I hope that chest "cold" ain't what got me a couple of weeks ago. It started as some flu-ish thing and let other stuff in - I was heading toward pneumonia again when I got it checked out. If it don't go away on its own, it's doctor time. http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

I only worked one other 1B. I heard a few more but not many. There were lots of As, and 1Ds were common as well. I didn't hear any Cs but I know they were out there. Some Es, and a few Fs.

[WA5VQM]

I think I'll live but it's sure hanging on. Maybe I'll start coughing in code.

Is it just me or did everything collapse around 1800 UTC? I was working 40 thru 15 having a good time then the bottom fell out. FD is still on to 2100 but I'm not hearing much.

73, Mark

[VE7NOT]

Quote[/b] (n0iu @ June 25 2006,06:18)]Quote[/b] (VE7NOT @ June 24 2006,18:09)]I postd my comment in my other post but I was '1B'. only on 17m http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif Much queiter there
I certainly hope you weren't actually operating as a Field Day station on 17 meters!
Nope I was independant.

[w8cbc]

'NOT - there's no contesting in the WARC bands. That's what was meant.

'VQM - we had some QRM in the 80-metre AM thing this afternoon (I didn't hear it but the other guys said I got splattered pretty good). Aside from that, I briefly tuned around 6 and 2 and didn't hear a thing. Since I don't know the rules about changing one's op class I've stayed away from actual FD operating since I packed up the gear last night.

---edit---

Ah, I may have it. I recall that the rules stated those setting up before 1800 GMT yesterday could only operate 24 hours. So those big "pro" operations are all off the air now.

Maybe I ought to go back out to the park for a bit.

Nah.

[WA5VQM]

Quote[/b] (kd8bsr @ June 25 2006,11:52)]Ah, I may have it. I recall that the rules stated those setting up before 1800 GMT yesterday could only operate 24 hours. So those big "pro" operations are all off the air now.
I'll bet you're right. There are a few still scattered about. Just worked WY & UT on 20 so the band's aren't totally dead.
40 is a ghost town.

[W3MIV]

Quote[/b] (WA5VQM @ June 25 2006,14:37)]Is it just me or did everything collapse around 1800 UTC?
As soon as the sun came out here, 80 & 40 died. Good all day long, Canada to Florida to Missouri without the amp and then ----- ploop! gone!

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

[w8cbc]

I noticed tuning around about an hour ago that 20 was sparse and everything shorter was stone dead. No Es clouds today!