CTRI Field Day 2017

CTRI Field Day 2017:  Update #1

By John Lindholm, W1XX

 

Field Day Site:  47 Peeptoad Rd., North Scituate, RI, the Seagrave Memorial Observatory

Field Day Dates:  June 24 -25

 

  1. Call: KE1S
  2. Category: 2A Two transmitter 100 watt club category plus 6-meter free transmitter and a “Get On The Air” station.
  3. Antennas: (a) Special K1JX designed FD 2-el 40-meter + 20-meter 4-el wire inverted-V Yagi w/single feed-line using a tree supported rope boom. (b) 80-meter dipole w/ladder line to tuner. (c) 6-meter Par Stressed Moxon on a fiberglass pole. (d) Hy-gain TH3 tribander on approx. 40 feet of military masts. (e)  Simple GOTA antennae including 20- meter vertical dipole.
  4. Generator: Honda 2 KW (KB1RFJ provided)
  5. Radios: K3,  FT-100MP, TS-2000, + TBD

 

We are renewing our unique partnership with “Skyscrapers” for our third Field Day from the Seagrave Observatory – thus a comfortable indoor operating venue. What has made the first two operations FUN from all accounts has been the fantastic operating site, the camaraderie of everyone pitching in to help, no heavy duty tower installations, and not to forget – great culinary delights.

 

Volunteer captain assignments oversee various aspects of the operation, namely:

Radios/computers:  W1AN

Commissary:  KB1RFJ + KE1J

GOTA Coach:  KS1J

Safety Officer:  W1WBB

Social Media:  KE1J

Log Submission:  K1DM

 

One of the highlights of our Field Day is the installation of the “killer” 40/20 wire beam that requires a host (plethora, bevy, or a lot) of hands to attach the many nylon strings dropping to ground level. Everyone participates with the overall installation as well as operating.

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This is an open invitation to any and all to join us for Field Day – members, prospective members, interested folks.  This means YOU.  Further details in upcoming updates.  What do you need to do now?  Mark your calendar to keep Field Day weekend free – June 24 – 25.   Let us know of your interest either at the next CTRI meeting (June 10 at 10 am at the North Kingstown Free Library, Wickford), or e-mail me at W1XX [at] cox [dot] net.

 

TNX & 73! – John, W1XX, Field Day Chairman

 

Steel Pipe Available

Gents

I will soon have 3 steel pipes available. 5ft + long. 4in dia. ~1/4in thick (heavy).

For years I’ve used them on several towers as elevated guy posts for installations with uneven terrain or restricted area. It helps to greatly improve the guy wire geometry.

Or use them for whatever.

73 James k1sd

2017 NEQP Results de K3IU

Here are my meager results from this years NEQP event. I put in a l’il bit over an hour right at the beginning. It was all on 2o meters and all runnin’ n gunnin’.  Didn’t work or hear any CTRI guys that I recall.

All 20 meters

Qs           101
Mults       34

Score     6868

73, Ken K3IU

NEQP Preliminary Results

This is just a quick listing.  I will have more later, but I am leaving town for a few days.

K1DM single op high power assisted (not that it helps, when you’re calling CQ) NLN CT

499 QSOs  72 multipliers,  71,856 points  9.67 hours in the chair (All CW)

What happened to all the stations on Sunday afternoon?

I heard and/or worked W1DX, W1XX, W1WBB, KS1J, W1CTN, and probably others that I slept through

K1DM

CTRI Meeting April 15

The CTRI monthly meeting is Saturday, April 15, at the North Kingstown Free Library at 10 AM. Agenda includes:  [1]  NEQP.  [2] Field Day.  I got a call from Jim Crawford, our benefactor at Skyscrapers, and he wanted to know if we were operating Field Day there again this year. We are very much welcome.  So we need to decide yes or no at this meeting. [3] Any matters arising.

It would be nice if someone would volunteer to provide the DD Box of Joe and donuts.  If so, please post as comments.

Our esteemed prez is off to Washington on assignment for the Trump administration, so I will be your substitute commander-in-chief.

73, John, 1XX

2016 NEQP Results Are Posted

The 2016 New England QSO Party results are now posted on NEQP [DOT] org.  The good news is that CTRI again topped the New England clubs.  The bad news is that we eked out the victory by a mere 339 points with 189,603 points over the Hampden County Radio Assn.  Can you believe it?  We — who hold the club record of over 1.5 million points in 2011 —  almost lost to the HCRA.  What a disgrace!

I suggest tbat we discuss CTRI participation in the 2017 NEQP (May 6 – 7) at our next meeting.  Hey, conditions were terrible in the 2016 contest, but we can do much better. What say?  — John, W1XX

 

 

W1XX 160 T-Vertical Victim of Recent Storm

By John Lindholm, W1XX

   Lew McCoy, W1ICP (SK) often said that if an antenna didn’t at some time fall down, it wasn’t up high enough.  Seemingly, my 160 meter T-vertical with 72 feet vertical was high or tall enough. Here’s the result of the recent ice/snow/rain/wind storm where winds were recorded at 70 mph on Block Island.  I can see Block Island (but not Russia) from my house. I think we’ve seen this story before.

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It’s been over 3 years since CTRI manpower raised the antenna at a CTRI pre-meeting…so members willing, after repair, hopefully we can schedule a CTRI meeting again at my house for an antenna raising.  We’ve always had great attendance at the W1XX venue, so we’ll plan on hotdogs and hamburgers again in the near future. Thankfully, I made it through the CQ CW and SSB 160 Contests unscathed before catastrophe.

Hope all your antennas made it through the storm. 73!!

 

 

 

Another award showed up in my mail box

Gents;

In my mailbox today was a certificate from ARRL.  It informed me that I finished 7th place – US & Canada for the 2016 ARRL DX CW contest, which translated into 1st place Connecticut Section – Single Operator 80 meters (unassisted).  (24,111 points).

Once again, pick your category judiciously.  K1DM

2017 ARRL DX CW Contest: Post Scores Here

Call:  W1XX (W1XX Op)

Class:  SOSB/40

Op Time (hrs): 11

40M:  570 QSOs;  82 Countries; Score = 139,728

Club:  CTRI Contest Group

Comments:  Holy Moly!  He’s B A C K ! !   Rick, KI1G.  6.8M points ! !  Congrats ! !  so far top score SO All Band.  See 3830scores DOT com. Hold on to your hats, folks…more contests coming up.  Next weekend CQ 160 SSB…followed by ARRL DX Phone the following weekend.  Warm up (or locate) your mycrofonie.  GL ! — John, W1XX