Brad KA1SVW and Steve KA1RCI operated “2-Charlie” for a second year from the 45’ cutter-rigged ketch Bellerophon on anchor in Potter Cove off Prudence Island at approximately 41 38.12 N by 071 19.7 W.
Their adventures operating field day last year aboard the 29’ costal cruiser Foolish Pleasure were featured in the June 2005 issue of QST. This year we operated for 13 hours, worked 30 states, we beat our score from last year and took first place in our class at the national level.
Several visitors raft up with us while we were bobbing around just off-shore of Prudence Island, Barry N1TOQ rafted up in his boat for a few hours, Ernie N1SW and friends also rafted up in their dinghies (thanks for the great photos Ernie), and Rick KD1WE paddled out to our field day site in his sea Kayak.
We also had a visit from the Harbor Patrol that earned us an extra 100 bonus points! (Thank you Brad)
45' cutter-rigged ketch Bellerophon on anchor in Potter Cove off Prudence Island at approximately 41 38.12 N by 071 19.7 W. |
Close-up of Bellerophon on anchor in Potter Cove with the ARRL "Battle Flag" and "CQ" flying with signal flags. |
Close-up of Bellerophon, Brad KA1SVW is up top and Steve KA1RCI is down below. |
We also had a visit from the Harbor Patrol that earned us an extra 100 bonus points! (Thank you Brad) |
Steve KA1RCI operating down below at the Radio / Navigation station. |
Rowlett Festival Of Freedom and Field Day 2005
Our 3rd year doing the event(s) and a lot of fun had by all
Enjoy...
Operations, set up in front of the MCP (Moble Command Post). |
Another view of our setup. |
And our antenna farm... |
W5TLH on six meters. |
Ok, better late than never... Field Day 2005 went pretty well for a solo operation, though vital logistical support (he watched the kids and helped put up/take down the masts) was had from my father in law (Thanks, Ray!).
I operated for the third straight year from Indian Rocks Beach, Florida. Equipment consisted of an FT-100, a 2m handheld, a pile of 14AH SLA cells, a 24' mast w/2m and 6m take-apart Yagis and one end of the 20m EDZ, a 20' mast for the other end of the EDZ, an MFJ901B tuner, and a TRS80 Mod 102 for logging. Setup took about an hour or so, somewhat less time than the previous year - I'm getting better at this stuff! The masts are a trifle cumbersome - that Radio Shack masting is cheap but heavy. Plenty of skinny nylon rope and some really beefy tent stakes kept things upright in the face of some stiff wind off the Gulf.
Saturday went very well on HF, with good runs on 40, 20 and 15; VHF was pretty much dead, mirroring my June VHF contest results from a couple weeks prior. With sunset came the closing of the beach and a quick teardown.
Sunday morning was a red dawn indeed - as you can see from the photos I got a hellacious sunburn. Thus, Sunday's setup was on the inlaws' back porch, still on the batteries, but in the blessed SHADE, with ice and water on the fridge door!
I think for 2006 I'll look at carting the setup up to the Blue Ridge and operating either from the inlaws' cabin, or from the parking lot at Newfound Gap in the Smokies. And I need to reconsider my antenna setup with an eye towards making things somewhat more portable and managable by for solo setup/terardown. Back to the drawing board! What fun, even if it does drive the XYL slightly batty!
The setup on Indian Rocks Beach; homebrew 3el 6m and 4el 2m Yagis, and a 20m EDZ strung between two masts of Radio Shack sections |
FT-100, Kenwood HT, lots of batteries, and a wheelaround toolbox to carry it all to and from the car |
Too much sun on Saturday drove the operation under cover for Sunday; still using batteries to keep it authentic |
(West Sayville, New York) -- Local amateur radio (ham) operators will set up two temporary short-wave radio stations at the Long Island Maritime Museum (www.limaritime.org) as part of a nationwide test of emergency communications on Saturday and Sunday, June 25th and 26th. Members of the Order of Boiled Owls Amateur Radio Club (www.obony.org) will be among thousands of ham operators across the country who will be forsaking the comforts of home to participate in Field Day, an annual emergency communications preparedness exercise sponsored by ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio (www.arrl.org).
The Order of Boiled Owls is a contest and DX club with only fifteen members. But we are pretty serious about contests and Field Day. See our web site at http://obony.org
The Long Island Maritime Museum is located south of Montauk Highway 27-A in West Sayville, adjacent to the County Golf Course, on West Avenue. The museum is a right turn onto West Street off Montauk Highway as you head east. It is worth a visit if you are visiting the area. It’s right on the Great South Bay and there are a number of old boats in and out of the water. The museum has some interesting exhibits. I can’t say enough positive things about the staff. They really went out of their way to accommodate Amateur Radio so that we could operate in a large air-conditioned room. Some might say it was sissy Field Day but they won’t be any of the Owls.
We had thirteen operators and a number of guests show up at various points during Field Day 2005. We were top 2A commercial once again and came within 150 points of being the top 2 station in the section. We lost that position to K2EC – Eastern Amateur Radio Society which operated from Heather Hills near Montauk Point on Long Island. We were very close to downtown Sayville and many great restaurant, diners and deli’s so we gave the cook the weekend off. Every once and a while someone made a quick food run and then we ate outside at one of the many picnic tables or at the six meter station we had set up under a gazebo.
The operators were N2FF, W2AX, K2AW, N2GA, K2DO, KS2G, W2LK, W2YK, K2LE, K2SX, and guest operators W2GD, K2RED, and WM2V, a former Owl.
We set up Friday afternoon. We used only wires but we did have a wire 40 meter beam thanks to W2GD, a special guest this year. All the antennas were supported by trees and or military surplus masts.
A BIG THANKS to museum director, Elizabeth (Betty) Arink - and her very cooperative staff for making us very comfortable and in fact going out of their way for us. Should you want to visit there is a map and directions on their website at http://www.limaritime.org/land_dir.html
Long Island Maritime Museum 86 West Avenue - P.O. Box 186 West Sayville, New York 11796 631-HISTORY Fax: 631-854-4979 E-mail: limaritime@verizon.net
MUSEUM HOURS: Monday – Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Sunday - 12:00 Noon - 4:00 p.m.
Contact the museum: Dial: 631- HISTORY Fax: 631- 854-4979 E-mail: limaritime@verizon.com Website: www.limaritime.org
We it was all over we had totaled 1307 QSO's for 4,544 points.
Once we took everything down we went to a resturant right on the water only two blooks away and had a great seafood meal. Owls do like to eat!
The LI Maritime Museum |
The antenna raising party on Friday afternoon with KS2G, W2GD (invited ringer), K2LE, N2GA, W2LK, and K2SX. |
The local dogs did not like what we did to their fire hydrant. This was our SSB vertical antenna. Set up Saturday morning. |
We had plenty of room for antennas. |
N2FF and WM2V at the six meter station Sunday morning. |
W2YK, one of two Night Owls, at the CW station Sunday morning. |
KS2G, Mel at the SSB station with K2RED, Gail of CQ Magazine, in the background. |
Some cute Sunday morning visitors came to see what we were up to with all the masts and antennas. |
After everthing was packed up Sunday afternoon the Owls get ready to take off and look for a good meal. THEY WILL BE BACK IN 2006......HOOT!!!!!! |
This year was one of the best at the FCARC feild day site in Neenah, Wisconsin. We where located behind the Town of Neenah Fire Department. Operating a 2A station.
There was alot of people that stopped in to see what we where doing. Had one gentalman stop in at 2:30am. He stopped at the main trailer, he made the the comment that the setup was very cool. Than we took him outside and ran a big spotlight over the area showing off the antennas and other two operation trailers. He was truely speachless.
I really enjoy when the public comes out and visits the feild day site. Most are amazed as to what we do. If they have heard of amatuer radio in the past there impression has been some guy locked in his basement with piles of radios around him. ie:the grandpa munster look. They find out very quickly. That is far from the case. Its the family next door who seem to have alot more clothes lines set out than most people (hi).
Overall the band was in fair condition considering the low part of the sunspot cycle. 20 and 40 where in very good shape for most of the event. Plans are already underway for next year to maximize the area where in and minimize the effects of the stations cross talk. Hope to see everyone back on the band next year.
Visit out website at http://www.fcarc.us or for more pictures they can be found at http://photos.w9zl.org
This is the CW station for field day. The antenna farm had a good crop this year. |
On the left side is the SSB staion and on the right is the Gota station |
Nothing like a little CW and a cold one late at night |
Thanks to all the many stations who worked us and stood by in the pileups to work us. It turned out to be another Great FIELD DAY!!! See you all next year, 73's. Please check out the photo page at: http:www.geocities.com/kb9keg/kb9keghomepage.html
K9IA AND NI9Z |
KC9BEN AND W9XYL |
KB9KEG AND WD9W |
N9NE |
WA9GON AND W9MSE |
WD9W(L) AND WW9WT |
Radio trailer built by KC6MCI Lee, I operated outside on a folding table and he was inside on psk32. |
A great event. MARC had two license classes in 2005 before FD. The club entered 4A with GOTA to give more operators more time operating! Hamburgers were served to all on Saturday. A local TV station produced 30 minute show on the event.
The club raises two towers and tribanders with aid of pickup truck. A kite was used to raise the home brew 2 element 40 wire beam. A six meter beam for VHF station. Dipoles and a vertical round out the antenna farm. Club made it's satellite contact in final minutes with help of many pointing the antennas.
A great time had by all. A great event to test under emergency conditinos.
lots more pictures at
http://www.w5qgg.org/gallery/Field-Day-2005
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.
73
The Site |
KD5VOU - Fine dining ! |
SSB tower & tribander |
ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FIELD DAY FOR THE PHIL-MONT MOBILE RADIO CLUB OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA HAS COME AND GONE.. THERE WILL BE SOME CHANGES FOR NEXT YEAR. HOPEFULLY SOME NEW FACES AND OF COURSE THE SAME OLD ONES WILL BE THERE. DESPITE THE HOT WEATHER AND HIGH HUMIDITY, THE PMRC FIELD DAY PARTICIPANTS WERE DIGILIENT IN OUR EVENT. ANTENNA PROBLEMS DID NOT STOP US FROM MAKING FIELD DAY A MEMORABLE EVENT. ALL WERE FED VERY WELL THIS YEAR, INCLUDING A LATE NITE COFFEE AND PASTRY MUNCH FOR ALL THOSE LATE NIGHTERS. AS CHAIRMAN, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU AGAIN TO ALL THOSE THAT WORKED HARD AND STAYED UP MAKING CONTACTS AND TO THOSE WHO HELPED WITH TEARDOWN WHEN IT WAS ALL OVER. I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN FOR FIELD DAY 2006. CARMEN,
PMRC PROVIDES VAST FORMS OF INFORMATION TO ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN GETTING INTO AMATEUR RADIO |
THIS WAY TO OUR SITE..JUST FOLLOW THE ARROWS TO FORT WASHINGTON STATE PARK,MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA. |
THE WORK PARTY IS SSSOOOO GOOD, THEY PULLED THIS BEAM OUT OF THE BUSHES:) |
HERE, OUR ANTENNA GURU, STEVE WU3I IS HELPED BY TWO FIELD DAY EXPERTS, GENE N3XKE AND RAY, N3FH..GOOD WORK GENTLEMAN |
NO, THE LONGER ONES ARE THE DIRECTOR..NO ITS THE SHORTER ONES...GENE!! WHAT DO YOU THINK?? |
WITH PRECISION HANDS AND WORKING TOOLS, GENE,N3XKE ASSEMBLES ONE THE MONOBAND ANTENNAS CRUCIAL FOR A FIELD DAY STATION |
OK!! ON MY COUNT..1..2..3.. EVERYONE LIFT, PULL AND UP THE TOWER GOES READY FOR SUPPORTING BY GUY ROPES THANKS TO THE FIELD DAY PARTICIPANTS |
OK..MEN..LETS SAY A PRAYER THAT THE TOWER STAYS UP AND HOLDS AND WILL YOU PLEASE GET OFF MY FOOT! THATS MUCH BETTER..TNX |
THE TOWER IS STRAIGHT AND THE ROPES ARE PULLED TIGHT READY TO BE WRAPPED AROUND THE GROUND STAKES. |
NOW HOLD THAT STAKE NICE AND STEADY....MAKE SURE YOU HIT THE STAKE AND NOT MY THUMB! |
HERE ARE ED, KB3IV AND JOHN, W3AYT..TWO VETERAN FIELD DAY OPERATORS THAT TEAM UP FOR 75 METER PHONE AND CW. |
SOMETIMES AT FORT WASHINGTON PARK, NATURAL WILDLIFE CAN BE SEEN..NO WAIT A MINUTE..THATS BILL W3AOK HANGING HIS 160 METER WIRE ANTENNA.. |
ERIC, N3QV MANNED THE GOTA STATION WITH SUCH DETAIL..THE 100 CONTACTS WERE MADE AND VISITORS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET ON THE AIR AS WELL. |
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THE BATTERY POWERED RADIO STATION ABOVE USED THE VHF,UHF,6 METER BEAMS BEING ERECTED WITH THE AMERICAN FLAG TOPPING IT OFF..WHAT A NICE ADDITION THIS COMBO MADE TO THE SKYLINE. |
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THE KITCHEN WAS WELL STOCKED THIS YEAR FOR ALL THE FIELD DAY MUNCHERS..LUNCH WAS HAMBURGERS, HOT DOGS AND A NICE POT OF BAKEN BEANS THAT COOKED UP SO GOOD. |
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THIS YEAR, LARRY, K3HWE, STANDING ON THE LEFT, WAS THE PMRC OFFICIAL FD2005 FOOD TESTER..CONGRADULATIONS LARRY AND THANK YOU |
AT DINNER TIME, ALL THE FIELD DAY OPERATORS CAME OUT FOR THAT GREAT CHICKEN DINNER PREPARED BY RAY, N3FH WITH STEAMING HOT FRESH CORN ON THE COB |
THE GROUP YOU SEE HERE ERECTING THE TOWER IS WHAT BROUGHT SUCH AN APPETITE TO THE DINNER TABLE AT OUR SITE |
OUR 20 METER OPERATOR, LAURA, KB3LRA MADE RADIO CONTACTS WITH A SMILE ESPECIALLY THE DX STATION..GREAT JOB LAURA. |
IN THE SHOT ABOVE AND BELOW, DICK, W3RM SHOWS THE 40 METER CW STATION TO THE LOCAL BOY SCOUTS TROOP 66 OF CENTRAL N.J. THE PIC BELOW SHOWS DICK OPERATING 40 METER CW, A VETERAN OF MANY A FIELD DAY..TNX DICK FOR ALL YOUR HELP. |
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CLASS IS IN SESSION AS BILL, W3AOK EXPLAINS TO THE TROOP SOME OF THE MANY ASPECTS OF AMATEUR RADIO..ALONG WITH DICK, W3RM AT OUR INFO TABLE, THE BOYS ARE EXPOSED TO MANY HANDOUTS AND MAGAZINES OF HAM RADIO. |
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DEMONSTRATIONS OF AMATEUR RADIO TELEVISION ABOVE AND SSTV BELOW HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE MANY FORMS OF HAM RADIO TO THE TROOP. |
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ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL FIELD DAY 2005. LOOKING FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR.. |
MANY THANKS TO OUR FIELD DAY PHOTOGRAPHER, JENN, KB3MIV, FOR ALL THE GREAT SHOTS SHE HAD TAKEN SHOWING THE PMRC MEMBERS IN ACTION. |
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