Venturing Crew 566
Saratoga, California

Amateur Radio Field Day -- June, 1998

Amateur (ham) radio is one of our hobbies, so we're always looking for a good chance to work it into a major Post outing. So, each year the ARRL sponsors their Field Day event -- where hams move "into the field" to set up temporary stations and try to contact as many other North American stations as they can. Yes, it's a contest -- but it's much more: a time for assuring our gear is ready to operate in case of an emergency or disaster; a "friendly" event where hams can spend some time talking to other hams; and a chance to see some wonderful countryside.

So, in 1988 Paul KM6LH, our Crew Advisor, solicited an invitation from Ted K6XN to set up our equipment on his property on Remington Hill, about 20 miles up Hiway 20 from Interstate 80, in the Sierra Nevada mountains east of Sacramento, CA. The ridge is at about 5000' elevation, with a panoramic view over much of northern and central California and a clear picture of the rugged Sierras to the east. A big advantage: it's a great site for placement of HF antennas!

The Tribander We are allowed to set up our antennas and towers beginning 24 hours before the start of the contest. First step is to assemble the antennas. Here Frank and Ted K6XN put together sections of the boom for the TH-33XA tribander -- a real monster on 10, 15, and 20.

On the Tower Getting the antennas at least 50' in the air is the next challenge. Here Paul KM6LH stands on top of the tower's elevator platform while attaching the 40M rotatable dipole to the mast section and securing the feedline. The next step is attaching the tribander to the same mast; then it's ready for adding more 5' sections of tower to the elevator and cranking them up!

The Novice Station Gail KD6KRS rolls out the tent for the Novice/Tech+ station, where our 10M bisquare was erected on a 30' push-up TV mast, with the elements tethered to nearby trees and fed with ladder line. Note Ted's World War II jeep in the background; it transports people and equipment around the Remington Hill property.

The VHF/UHF Station We set up the VHF/UHF station just inside the window, and Ted shares his attention between his dinner and talking to hams around the Sacramento, Santa Clara, and San Joaquin Valleys. We operated exclusively from motor-generator power -- no commercial power is allowed for stations with our classification.

Dinner Time! Field Day is also a chance to eat good food! The Tavan's -- Rick N6XI and Ann KD6MOB -- enjoy the lasagna and other goodies for dinner.

Operators were KM6LH, N7TN, K6XN, N6MAW, KF6LKJ, KF6LSH, KF6NND, KC6YEW, KD6MOB and KD6KRS, plus several unlicensed Scouts.

You can sign up now for next year's Field Day! It'll be June 23-25, 2000, so put it on your calendar ...

Send comments to [*][email protected] || Last updated: 20 December 1999