FIELD DAY 2002
The 2002 Field Day was yet another success! The TARA site ran well with no serious equipment deficiencies or outages on any of the stations. Antennas and other setup chores went smoothly under the guidance of club vice president Curtis Sherwin, WB9SWD. Curtis also lent his call to the new GOTA (Get on the Air) station which allowed many new and not so new hams to work the HF bands and 6 meters. New club members Cheryl Runkle, KC9BTO and Steven Parker, WR9A, spent many hours working this station. The two HF sations were manned by Clyde (who needs a microphone) Mauck, K9JWI, Bob Finch, W9WA, Bob Lusby, K9FOH, and a host of others. Another energetic new member, Jay Welch, KC9AFE, helped tremendously -- he sometimes seemed to be working two radios at once. Special thanks to Clyde for copying the ARRL bulletin, Bob (W9YA) for sending the ARRL message, and Greg Dean, N9NWO, for his culinary skills. Unfaltering site power was provided by Dave Azpell, WB9CZC, along with his able generator crew, and Jack Kueberth, KB9KUQ.
In addition to W9YB, the Purdue station, a new organization, The Lafayette DX Club, decided to test their field day talents. Since many local hams belong to more than one organization, the resource pool was spread thinner than usual. The good news is that the Lafayette area can field at least three effective medium scale emergency communication centers. Certainly, the division of manpower would not be ideal in a true emergency but the experience gained by the smaller number of participants at each site only served to enhance the training benefit of this important amateur radio activity.
While most Lafayette hams banded together one place or another, Dana (Muck) Hoggatt, KB9SSS, went field day alone. Not only did he do exceptionally well [he self-graded himself much too harshly] but he has shared his after action report with the rest of us. His report is filled with plenty of useful information and some great hints for anyone who wants to field a successful emergency communication site.
Field Day Results
|
Total Points: (unofficial) |
5226 |
|
CW Contacts: |
768 |
| SSB Contacts: | 599 |
| Digital Contacts: | 14 |
| GOTA Station Contacts: | 197 |
Field Day Participants and Visitors
(probably still incomplete and not sure about some
name spelling)
| Curtis Sherwin WB9SWD | Clyde Mauck K9JWI | Bob Finch W9YA |
| Bob Lusby K9FOH | Jay Welch KC9AFE | Greg Dean N9NWO |
| Cheryl Runkle KC9BTO | Steve Parker WR9A | Jack Kueberth KB9KUQ |
| Dave Azpell WB9CZC | Scott Stembaugh N9LJX | Jack Freeman KF9CT |
| Major Sherwin N9ZFG | Jim Haynes KB9RLT | Bob Martin W9YE |
| Gus Vavrus W9BZF | Bruce Stewart N9GKE | Rex Thomas W9WQS |
| Dave Dull WB9BRX | Mike Kantz KB9VZD | John Buchanan, Jr. N9XHG |
| Kevin McDonald KC9BPD | Bill Wigent WA9BEP | Kevin and Sue Demary (?) |
| Layla Finch | Grant Finch | Nakia Ardill (?) |
