THE MERIDEN AMATEUR RADIO CLUB, INC. The Ragchewer

MARC Field Day 2003

The discussion started with a very low key comment at the March meeting – as it does every year – “What is your pleasure for Field Day?” The discussion built, especially since the ARRL announced a new F class for operating from an authorized Emergency Operations Center. Of course we fit this category since the MARC shack is also the Wallingford EOC – a cakewalk to enter the new class. Now the discussion really heated up. What about emergency power? What about rule x.xx? What about antenna interference? Well most know the story. So at the May meeting a quick vote was taken and the majority opted for one last time at Godeck’s field – well maybe one last time more or less. MARC will operate as a 2A Class again in 2003 from Mr. Godek’s pasture.

The assignment and station operator lists were getting filled in as members stepped forward and the end of June approached. OK, Thursday load up the equipment, Friday afternoon start the setup, and on Saturday at 2 PM it would be CQ FIELD DAY CQ FIELD DAY CQ de W1NRG – Been there, Done that – business as usual. It was not to be. Early in Field Day week the telephones started ringing and the e-mails were flooding the internet – Godek’s field would not be ready because of the near continuous rain we were having.

The June activity meeting was active with all the members scouting around for the best locations. “Mmm, the CW station in the shack. OK.” “Maybe we can put the VHF tent on the hill? Sounds good to me.” “Can the HF-SSB and GOTA tents fit over there?” “Stay away from the horse shoe pits!” “Cancel the Porta-Potty, we have flush toilets this year!” “Will the food tent work here?” “Can’t use that tree for an antenna hook, that is a high voltage power line up there” “Put the power trailer right there – I think.”
On and on it went.

Now it says,  the broken pole goes .... N1API photo

Hey Lid! That's my damn finger! N1API photo

Some Saturday morning final touches and at 1759 UCT we are ready. Tick, Tock and CQ CQ FD de W1NRG. “Yikes! This rig isn’t working” “Which way is West with this rotor?” “Hey! I have the wrong logging program!” “What is the exchange again?” By 3 PM all is again normal – W1NRG 2F CT Tnx es GL QRZ? All four stations – HF-CW, HF-SSB, VHF, and GOTA - are singing.

We're ready to Rumble? W1DMM photo

But Doc that is Gourmet Road Kill N1KGY photo

Other Views

Chuck N1KGY returned after several years out of state. Click here to see his story and photos. At least the cameras were working. Click here to see some of the Field Day 2003 pictures

The Box Scores

The MARC Field Day stations may have been singing, but the propagation conditions weren’t in tune. In fact, propagation wasn’t even on the same page.

We had the lowest numbers in more than a dozen years, even when MARC ran as a QRP 1A Batt class. Click here to look at our Field Day history. Was it the change in venue or was it the really bad propagation? We won’t know until the scores are published in QST. We may never know.

QSO Counts	2003	2002
80 Meters – CW	98	104
40 Meters - CW	330	388
20 Meters – CW	245	533
15 Meters - CW	9	130
10 Meters – CW	0	0
Total CW	682	1155
160 Meters - SSB	0	3
80 Meters – SSB	37	84
40 Meters – SSB	86	212
20 Meters – SSB	25	83
15 Meters – SSB	3	189
10 Meters – SSB	0	125
Total HF SSB	151	696
Satellite - CW	0	3
6 Meters – VHF	27	84
2 Meters - VHF	2	16
GOTA Station – all bands	58	68
Total All SSB	238	864
Bonus Points	1310	1100
Total Points Claimed	4514	7638

· Scores not official until published in QST.