CTRI Field Day June 25-26, 2016
By John Lindholm, W1XX
Field Day Site: 47 Peeptoad Rd., North Scituate, RI, home of the Seagrave Observatory
CTRI is again this year partnering with Skyscrapers of the Seagrave Memorial Observatory to operate Field Day from their outstanding site. Our trial year 2015 proved quite successful with over 1100 QSOs, while showcasing our operation to the general public. The key was everyone pitching in before, during and after Field Day. Let’s do it again…but even better!
We will again be in the 2 transmitter class with a free 6 meter station plus a GOTA station. More on that later. Call-sign: W1DX.
John, W1AN, is providing two FT-1000s and a TS2000 (6M) and computers using N1MM Logger Plus. If you want to brush up on N1MM in advance, go to the N1MM website>Support>Instructional Videos>N1MM LoggerPlus on Field Day. Highly recommended.
Our best band last year was 40 meters thanks to our killer 2-el 40M + 4 el. 20M wire inverted-V Yagi with single coax feed…going up again. We have dropped the 15M Delta loops from that antenna and instead will erect a Hy-Gain TH-3 Tri-bander on a 46 foot military type mast using NO tower sections. An 80 meter dipole, 40-meter dipole (GOTA), and 6 meter Moxon will round out the antenna compliment. The antenna focus is on no real heavy physical labor required or tower climbing but rather many hands pitching in to help. Teamwork is the watchword.
Jim, KS1J, will be the “coach” for the Get-On-The-Air station with newly licensed Molly, KC1FTO, as Chief Op. This is also an open invitation to anyone else newly interested in Amateur Radio – whether licensed or not – to actually make contacts on-the-air under expert guidance.
Six meters is counted as a “free station” and with the phenomenal propagation during last weekend’s contest, we could see a FD repeat – good for the Q count.
Good chow is the mark of a good Field Day with Mike, KB1RFJ, again heading up the “USA Grill Team” with able assistance from Lars, KE1J. Mike needs a hard count for each meal…counting heads at our next meeting or e-mail me at w1xx at cox dot net.
Practicing proper safety on Field Day is a priority and overseeing that aspect will be Safety Officer, Donn, KW2G. This official position is new to FD and worth bonus points.
The upcoming schedule: Brush-clearing on Tuesday June 21 by just a few needed…time and attendees TBD. Friday June 24, W1XX plus others to shoot lines over trees for wire antennas prior to installation on Saturday.
We will need all hands on deck Saturday morning for antenna raising and setting up the radios in the operating building. Arrival time is 9 AM Saturday, June 25. The contest starts at 2 PM. Our location is mapped on the ARRL Field Day locator and all are welcome at any time over the FD weekend to participate.
CTRI is the premier contest club in Rhode Island (+ area) and we will make a lot of contacts. But our greatest joy is getting others accustomed to contest-style operating for which there will be assistance to anyone needing help to gain familiarity with the radio or logging program. FUN for all is our goal.
Yes, we will have a raffle again this year. Bring a fin.
We’ll have more to say at our regular monthly CTRI meeting this Saturday – June 18 – to which there is an open invitation: 10 AM North Kingstown Free Library, 100 Boone St., Wickford. We’d love to see some new faces.
73! – John, W1XX Field Day Chairman 6/13/2016
Photo caption: W1DX CTRI Field Day 2015 at the Seagrave Observatory operating building. KS1J foreground, NG1G middle, W1PN back.
