2000 ARRL Field Day Report
Submitted by: KF9UP
Field Day Photos
On June 23th, 24th and 25th, members of W9REG gathered at the Indiana
State Veteran's Home for the 2000 Field Day event.
Number of people participating 25 W9REG operated "2A IN":
Visitors 28 "2" HF transmitters on the air.
"A" club/group portable
"IN" is the ARRL Section from which we transmitted
Band CW DIG Phone Bonus Points
160 3 0 3 100% Emergency Power 200
80 17 0 55 Media Publicity 100
40 219 0 125 Located in Public Place 100
20 64 76 127 Information Booth 100
15 93 3 35 Message Origination 100
10 34 1 23 Message Relay 0
6 0 0 87 Satellite QSO(Min 1) 100
2 0 0 0 Natural Power(Min 5) 100
SAT 0 0 12 W1AW Message 100
PACK 0 0 0 APRS Demo 100
Novice 1 0 197
TQSO 431 80 664 Total Bonus Points 1000
Pts x2 x2 x1
Total 862 + 160 + 664 = 1686
Transmit power <150W x 2
Total 3372
Bonus points 1000
________
Grand Total Points 4372
Field Day 2000 Report
by KF9UP (with input from W9TN, N9LF, WB9SGP, KB9SSS)
On Friday, June 23rd, 2000, visitors to the Indiana
Veteran's Home might have wondered if UFO's were coming as
TARA members walked around the grounds with their eyes to
the sky. Well really to the trees, as it was once again
time for Field Day, the first of the new millennium (or the
last of the old, depending on your point of view).
As some searched the trees for the best limbs to sup-
port antenna ropes, others laid out the station operating
areas. This year it was decided to try using screened
canopies to house the operating positions. With those loca-
tions roughly determined, the TEMA and TARA trailers were
positioned to serve as sound barriers between the stations.
The trailers would be also be used as operating positions
should rain storms move through the area.
The wire for the loop antenna (over 800 feet) was
strung around the field to the west of the site, and hoisted
into position. Then one of the Lazy-H antennas was put in
place and several additional antenna support lines were
installed in the trees. The rest would have to wait for
morning.
Saturday morning arrived and the weather was beautiful
for the continuation of setup. Remaining antennas were
raised, the screened canopies were assembled and put into
position and the TARA trailer was thoroughly cleaned. Two
5kw generators (thanks to KF9CT and WB9CZC) were set up and
electrical cords were run to each of the operating posi-
tions. Soon, radios and tuners were being set up and rough
tuner settings were being determined for each operating
band.
In the meantime, the satellite antennas were being
assembled and mounted to their "tower." It looked like a
step-ladder to me, but to each his own. Rotors, rotor
cables, radio, coax, amplifiers, and computer were intri-
cately fashioned into a working satellite station. Well, it
looked like it should work, but it would be a couple hours
before it could really be tested.
The HF stations were handled a little differently this
year. The station using the Loop antenna was generally used
for the low HF bands (160 meters, 80 meters, and a couple
other bands the Lazy-H might have trouble with). The other
bands were delegated to the "H" station. Both stations had
CW and voice bands allowing two CW or two phone bands to be
operated simultaneously.
A Kenwood TS690 was provided by WA9HKK for use in the
HF Loop station and KB9SSS provided his Icom IC746 and MFJ
969 tuner for the HF "H" station.
The Club's Yaesu FT847 was used for the VHF station.
The antennas came from N9LF -- a 6m halo antenna and a 2M
5/8 wave vertical which were mounted on a 40 foot mast (a
joint venture of N9LF and N9GKE).
The novice station consisted of another Yaesu FT847
belonging to N9ZFG and a couple dipole antennas. The novice
station was run under WB9SWD's call.
The equipment for the satellite station was provided by
WB9SGP -- an Icom IC821H, antennas, rotors, computer and
Nova software.
A PSK31 station was provided by N9PGH consisting of a
Kenwood TS450 and a laptop running Digipan. An interesting
digital mode, each contact earns the same points as a CW
contact. I think this "demo", stirred up interest among
several of the Club members.
A lot of planning went into providing power for the
operating positions this year. Battery backup of one kind
or another was provided at every station. W9TN built "black
boxes" to provide battery backup for the HF stations. When
one of the generators did run out of gas, a few of the
lights went out, but all the radios continued to operate.
Field Day operations started at 18:00 UTC. I think
everyone was ready when the time rolled around, though with
all the new radios, some time was needed for operators to
become familiar with the equipment.
VHF operations occurred almost entirely on 6 meters.
An effort was made to check 2 meters a few times, but noth-
ing was heard. Fortunately, 6m stayed open most of the
time, and well past the normal band shutdown time on Satur-
day night.
Satellite operations got off to a rocky start trying to
communicate through SSB satellites. The FM birds worked
better and 12 contacts were made through three different
satellites. Much confusion occurred with the KC Tracker
board making it necessary to point the antennas with the
manual controller. Most of the contacts were made with
three operators sharing the jobs of pointing the antennas,
operating the microphone, tuning the radio and copying call-
signs of potential contacts.
An APRS packet station was set up in the VHF tent.
Demonstrating that mode to members and guests earned 100
bonus points for the Club (thanks guys).
Saturday evening, dinner was cooked and served by N9GKE
and his wife Kathy. Not an easy task as the rain came in to
dampen things a bit. Steak, potatoes (scalloped?), corn,
and cake for dessert. Kathy also baked some excellent
chocolate chip cookies that were enjoyed by many earlier in
the day.
The rain poured down, up to 4 inches in the area, mak-
ing the ground soggy. Plastic came out to line tents and
cover equipment. Operators at the HF Loop station decided
that moving into the trailer sounded like a good idea. The
"H" station soon followed suit and HF operations ceased for
about an hour while equipment, feedlines, and power were
moved to their new locations. The novice, VHF, and satel-
lite stations remained in their screened tents, and remark-
ably, managed to keep fairly dry.
By the time Sunday morning came, the rain had moved on
and things were starting to dry out a little. Kathy
returned with biscuits, sausage gravy, steak and eggs which
she prepared for breakfast to rejuvenate the troops.
Operations continued through 1800 UTC, when the disman-
tling of stations, sorting of equipment, lowering of anten-
nas, and packing began. Equipment was loaded into vehicles
and returned from whence it came. Club members then dis-
persed to relax, reminisce, and dry out.
Field Day Photos
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