CARC - K3IEC
Cumberland Amateur Radio Club
Cumberland County, PA, USA

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Club Events

2009 Field Day Recap - by AF3I

Cumberland Amateur Radio Club conducted its annual Field Day exercise at Shaffer Park, Carlisle, PA.   We operated using Club Call K3IEC in category 3A—commercial power.

Members in Attendance:

Jim Binkley                 K3GPS

Ed Butterworth            KB3HCU

Ed Dyer                       KB3IRF

Garry Fasick               K3EYK

Andy Forsyth              AF3I

Jim Funkhouser          K3MSH

Harold Hahn                K3RNK

Ted Halliday                N3DVL

Frank Mellott               KB3PQT

Sherry Morgan            N3TMT

Ed Letersky                 KB3RKM

Bobbe Rothermel        WA3BKK

Visitors:

Steve Hancock           N3FWE

Wayne Myers             WA3ZXG

Ted Horn                     KA3CEU

Ted Halliday’s Neighbor John and his daughter Jessica

Weather:

The weather cooperated with mild temperatures and no rain until after we had bugged out late Sunday morning.

Vehicular Traffic:

The GM car show at the Carlisle Fairgrounds cooperated with a light turnout and no traffic problems.

Food:

Snacks and beverages abounded.  Only one minor difficulty with the coffee pot, which was quickly repaired.

Ten of us enjoyed a mid-day meal of sub sandwiches prepared by Marcello’s Restaurant.

Thirteen (or more) of us enjoyed an evening meal of grilled steak, side dishes and salads, prepared picnic style, followed by Ted’s Field Day tradition chocolate cake.

Five of us enjoyed Sunday breakfast of sausage and egg biscuits, orange juice, and fresh brewed coffee.

Education and Entertainment:

Jim Binkley K3GPS lead us on an after-dark survey of the Milky Way using his Celestron Star Scout Personal Planetarium.  Stellar highlights included Arcturus in the constellation Bootes; Vega in the constellation Lyra; and Polaris in the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper). 

Technology Support:

Andy AF3I had not too many problems at his work and was able to operate for a while.

Antennae:

The Butternut Vertical served us well again this year.  No interference was observed with Disc Golfers who accommodated our event by skipping the 9^th basket.

The 80 Meter tape dipole was raised to a new record height.  Unofficial estimates put the end point supports at 60 feet.

Performance:

            QSOs abounded on some bands.

Points:

533 points x2 for low power multiplier =                     1066

Bonus Points:

            Set up in a Public Location                             100

            Amateur Radio Information Table                   100

            Education Activity                                            100

            W1AW Field Day Message Copied                 100

 Electronic Submission of Results                                 50

TOTAL SCORE:                                                         1516

Thoughts for Field Day 2010

§  Think Sun Spots !  There is only one direction in which the sun spot count can go.

§  Did all those who wished to operate have the opportunity to do so?

§  Techniques for avoiding interference to and from the other transmitter on the same band, different mode.

§  Sunday tear down assistance.  Come enjoy breakfast.  Stay a while and coil some antenna ropes.

§  Logging software coordination to ensure retention of data and synchronization of date and time stamps.

§  Location considerations with Disc Golf and the possibility of a new Dog Park.

§  Antennae – Consider a dedicated 40 meter antenna.

§  Antennae – Andy should remember to put his 15 meter dipole in the car next year.

§  Does anyone have experience with WinLink?  This can be an alternative for originating the Field Day message to our Section Communications Manager.

© 2007 Cumberland Amateur Radio Club - K3IEC All Rights Reserved.