Ah yes, Field Day.  The day that separates the real amateurs from the really amateur.  The day when those who really know something may or may not want to be around until it's all set up, which is, I guess, the best way for those who don't know something to learn something.  I do have to say that my few years of working on Field Day have been instructive in a variety of areas, including but not limited to, setting up antenna farms.  I still consider myself a wannabe when it comes to most areas of the technical aspects of amateur radio, so I learn something every year.  This year we thought it would be fairly easy, since we weren't moving the trailer.

Field Day 2000 dawned bright and overcast as I recall.  Since I live some distance away, by the time I arrived on scene the gang already had a small tribander up, tied to one of the traffic barrier posts in the Senior Center parking lot.  The next project was the other larger tribander (the old one), which was assembled amid much discussion about what piece goes where, and who had the proper wrench, etc.  This is an interesting project every year, since some of the parts are non-standard due to repairs over time.

Once we had it together, we had to get it up in the air.  We put the tower up, and then Hef KD7E was going to climb the tower being supported by several stalwart souls, while he held the beam with his other hand to get it on the mount!  After his daughter threatened to disown him, we reconsidered and finally put it together using a ladder as a support and then raising the whole thing after the beam was mounted.  Whew!  And it worked! As always.  And it's funny how the most mundane things become guy points, like dumpsters and fences, not to mention the occasional stake.

In the meantime, the slingshot brigade was desperately trying to get a 40m wire over a tree limb but were mostly succeeding in losing the weights.  Tim KD7DEY finally got lucky and the wire was up.  Add in the usual complement of 2m and 6m trailer mounted antennas and we were ready to go.  On time, even.

The bands weren't really lively, but there was enough stuff to keep us occupied when we were on.  What I like about this bunch is that no one is trying to set a league record, so that if you wanted to stop working after 30-45 minutes, you don't feel like you are letting the club down.  Yours truly worked 10m for a good part of the day, which I never did before on Field Day.  Picked up a fair number of contacts, and learned that OR is NOT the same as ORANGE as a Field Day designation.  Probably cost a bunch of points because the logs wouldn't jibe the way I did them.  Sorry about that, Bob.

Over the course of the day, we worked 10, 15, 20 and 40m with varying degrees of intensity.  I don't think anyone did CW.  I don't remember a great deal of activity on 2m, but there were a few contacts made.  Late in the afternoon, we were visited by Calvin KC7IYP and Paul W5DX .

The pot-luck dinner was very tasty and attended by about 10 or so members and spouses.  Thanks to our First Lady, Lisa K7LAM for coordinating that.  I don't know how long things continued into the evening, since I left about 7:00 pm. But I think we all had a good time.  During the course of the day Kirk Bellar N7UK, Lisa Bellar K7LAM, John Heflin KD7E, Tim Monk KD7DEY, Al Staples N7VOF, Bob Adams  KJ7BP, Jim Darby   W7FYH, Doug Bell, Dick Schwanke W9HXM, Don Hickman KC7MDA and Jim Von Seggern KC7FEH were in attendance, as well as Al Staples’ brother and John Heflin's daughter.  There probably are others, but I can't remember.  I have no idea who was there on Sunday, since I wasn't.  I assume that it all got taken down at least as handily (?) as it went up.  The final point tallies I assume will be published in SPARKS this fall.

Vy 73

Jim Von Seggern KC7FEH