W0AK FIELD DAY 1997
Here are some pictures from the Des Moines Radio Amateurs Association (W0AK)
Field Day. At one point, we had 4 stations running, and made over 500 QSOs,
more than three times our prior year total.
We set up on Expo Hill on the Iowa State Fairgrounds. That's a
chair lift in the background, but we didn't use it for any antennas.
The big tower on the left is for a wind generator - we didn't
use that either. We had a tri-bander, an inverted vee with traps
for 80-40 (and 20), a vertical for 40 through 10, and a 200 foot
dipole fed with ladder line.
Here's Leroy, WD0CZO, operating 10 meter Sporadic E openings on
Saturday afternoon, with Dave, N0TPQ, looking on.
Ron, N0XWI, inspects as Dave, N0LVA, adjusts the antenna tuner.
Don, KC0WJ, and Duane, WB0UCY, work side by side on SSB.
Mark, KE0CK, works on 75 meter phone late at night.
Duane, WB0UCY, puts out a late-night CQ Field Day from W0AK.
Des Moines mayor (and former Iowa Governor 1969-1983) Robert D.
Ray and his wife, Billie, visited the field day site shortly after
we began operating. Here he is posing with Bill, NU0Q, after observing
some 10 meter contacts. Thanks for stopping by, Bob! (Photo by
Billie Ray)