SPARC assembled for Antenna Rope Hanging on the evening of 25 June 2010.
Using trusty EZHangers, Team Russ, W3RST, hung three ropes. Team Dick, W2YE, and Team Don, K7CS, each hung one. Russ, W3RST, retains the title of "Dead-Eye."
Well, we are here. What do we do next?
Dick, W2YE, with the EZHanger in his hands, looks to see if his last shot was successful. Duane, K4UW, and Fred looka on.
Dick, W2YE, (small figure on right) reels in the line, while near base of the light pole, SPARCies look for the end of the line.
Jim, KF4PQL, and visitor looking up for the end of the line.
Dick, W2YE (with back to camera), Jim, KF4PQL, and visitor working on the antenna rope.
The top of the light pole.
Don, K7CS, takes his shot.
Don, K7CS. Did it make it?
Dick, W2YE (on left) helps Don, K7CS, tie off his antenna rope.
"Dead-Eye" Russ, W3RST, and Ray, KD4RSL, discussing where to put the antenna ropes.
Russ, W3RST, (in blue shirt) and Ray, KD4RSL, working with the EZHang device. (see red tubing of slingshot).
Ray, KD4RSL, (on right) saying "Russ is the man!
Russ, W3RST, (in blue shirt).
All done. Enjoy a little chat.
Ah... Different toys for different boys!
Bruce, KJ4MFF, has a white Triumph, TR-3.
Set-up starts Saturday morning at 1000. All show up with their equipment and supplies and we will be ready for operations by 1400.
Mark, KI4OBT, stands near loaded car.
Gordon, NQ4K, arrives with tables and chairs.
Bruce, KJ4MFF, (on left). "You mean we have to unload all of this?"
Ray, KD4RSL, and a visitor assembling the 6M beam.
Bud, W4KSN, and a visitor assembling an antenna mast.
Don, K7CS, working on a 10m beam.
The 6m beam ready to put up.
Ray, KD4RSL, looking happy because things are going well.
Visitor; Bud, W4KSN, and visitor laying out coax.
A VHF antenna.
One of the beams at the VHF tent suspended on ropes between two poles. Worked well and was easier than putting it on a mast.
Jim, KF4PQL, setting up his radio in the VHF Tent.
The VHF radio running off of a battery.
Mark, KI4OBT, and the satellite contact antennas. Ray, KD4RSL, and Mark, KI4OBT, made one contact with a satellite. Unfortunately, they were so excited, Ray used the wrong call sign and SPARC did not get credit for the contact.
Looking from the VHF tent towards the HF tents with the generator on the left being towed into position.
The generator, maintained by Russ, W3RST, ran continuously for 24 hours. Russ believes the generator was made in 1959.
Russ, W3RST, behind the generator. The red tank is the gas tank.
Gordon, NQ4K (on left) and others putting up the social tent.
Setting up the middle tent (the "Social Tent")
Unloading equipment at the HF Voice tent.
HF Voice tent partially set up.
Dick, W2YE, untangling a serial cable to connect the logging computers.
Don, K7CS, plugging in a logging computer.
Dick, W2YE, hooking up a radio.
Kevin, W4KLS, (on left)and Gordon, NQ4K (on right) wondering how the HF yagi will ever get up. It did not. The fiberglass pole was too light and was replaced with some iron antenna mast.
Visitor (on left), Gordon, NQ4K (Purple shirt), and Tom, WA2BCK, discussing the guy ropes.
Mark, KI4OBT, straightening out a guy rope.
Getting ready to push up the HF beam. Notice the different color of the mast - it is now an iron mast.
The two HF tents on each end with the social tent in the middle.
The SPARC team assembled just prior to the start of operations.
We started operting the radios about 10 minutes after this picture was taken and radio operations continued until Sunday at 2:00 PM.
We all worked hard and shortly after radio operations started, it was time for Saturday dinner (at about 6 PM). We had subs from Joe's restaurant. A good meal.
The SPARC members not operating could sit around and talk.
But the operators in the HF Phone tent had to stay operating.
A couple of hours later, night is approaching.
The HF Yagi beam up at sunset. The sun settingin the west.
Ray, KD4RSL, working VHF at dusk.
Jim, AF4MO, working the HF Phone at night.
Night operations at the CW tent.
After a long night, its Sunday morning at about 5:30AM and the sun is beginning to come up. Another 6 hours and Field Day is over for another year.
The operators.
Jim, AF4MO, in forground with Bill, WFlL (wearing headset) and Bruce, KJ4MFF in the rear.
Mitch, AJ4YZ.
Red, N3TG.
Don, K7CS.
Ray, KD4RSL, at the VF radio.
Jim, KF4PQL, at the 10M radio.
Jerry, K4INT.
Tom, WA2BCK, a superb CW operator.
Kevin, W4KLS, at the digital station.
Russ, W3RST.
Bud, W4KSN, at the GOTA station.
Pau, K4PDF.
Bill, WFlL (wearing headset) and Bruce, KJ4MFF(on the left)..
Duane, K4UW.
A visitor
Jim, N3JT.
Joe, WB2SAI.
Bruce, KJ4MFF.
John, N3AM.
Linda, K4LDT, a GOTA station coach.
Dick, W2YE.
Gordon, NQ4K.
A visitor helping out at the VHF tent.
Gary, K4SRX.
Eric, AJ4LN.
We had several visitors (including representatives from local Government) and GOTA operators.
Stevens Miller, and SPARC member and a Supervisor, Board of Supervisors, Loudoun County, visits with Gordon, NQ4K.
Warren Geurin, Sterling District, Loudoun County School Board (on left) greets Jim, KF4PQL. Warren is a regular visitor to our Field Day.
Bud, W4KSN, shows Rachel Leon, Loudoun Times reporter, the SPARC Field Day site.
A visitor.
Karen making her first QSO under supervision of Bud, W4KSN, the GOTA coach.
Emily making her first QSO under supervision of Bud, W4KSN, the GOTA coach.
Some younger visitors and possible future radio operators.
Christopher making his first QSO under the supervision of Gordon, NQ4K, a GOTA coach.
The emergency communication vehicle from Dumfries-Triangle Volunteer Fire Department operated by fire fighter Steve Hailey, KI4FQD, demonstrated its capabilites at Field Day.
