(Purcellville, VA. May 22, 2010) A hearty group of Station Captains for the 2010 Loudoun Amateur Radio Group's 2010 K4LRG Field Day operation met at 8 AM, Saturday, May 22, 2010, at the farm of John Westerman - WB5ODJ, south of Lovettsville, VA. Gary Quinn - NC4S had called for this meeting to discuss possible changes in antenna and station configurations and locations. And, also to complete the scheduling of CW Operators.
In summary, the 2009 operational layout has been changed to provide better antenna performance for the 40-75 Phone and the 20-Phone stations. Both are moved just west and along the lane leading into John's home. The GOTA station is relocated out of the food and support tent to the south end of this new line of stations. 40-CW and 20-CW will remain as in 2009 and operate out of the garage. 75-Meter dipoles were added to the 20-Phone and the GOTA stations' antenna compliment. The 40-75-Phone station will use Norm - AI2C recently acquired AB-577 Antenna Mast. The VHF/UHF station will use two sections of Rohn 25 with a 10-foot mast on top. Frank - KØBRA will also equip a satellite antenna system. Please refer to the Equipment Schedule.
Finally, the CW operators flushed out the 72-slots on Station 1, 3, 5. See the Operating Schedule.
This was a quick and very productive meeting. It was clear we have some special support being arranged by Jay - KI4UTB and others. It was also clear that there are some serious operators intending to make no excuses. The "Battle of CW v. s. Phone" goes on !!!
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Summary of LARG Special Onsite Field Day Meeting May 22, 2010 Prepared By Gary Quinn - NC4S
(Released by Gary Quinn on May 25, 2010 at 1149 Hours)
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and solidify changes to antennas and station locations for 2010 Field Day.
VHF/UHF, Phone /CW, 6, 2, and 440: This station will have equipment located with the GOTA station in the large army tent supplied by Jay (KI4UTB). The antenna will be two sections of the clubs Rohn 25G tower with a rotor and a 10 foot mast. Antennas for 6, 2, and 440 will be stacked on the mast. Stakes (twist in) for the guys will be provided by Rick (KR9D) and the guys will be provided by Gary (NC4S, I just remembered that I have spare wire guys for my AB-577 that we can use). Frank (K0BRA) will provide rotor and antennas. We will attempt to set this antenna up first before we do other set ups.
Station1, CW 80, 15, 10 meters: Will be located in the same location as last year on the western tree line of John Westerman's property. This year station 1 will have an AB-577 mast up at 80 feet with a three element 15 meter beam. Also an 80 meter double extended zepp. The zepp will be fed by Norm's (AI2C) Match Box with 600 ohm open line feeder. Norm is providing the coax to run from the match box to the radio. We will also set up Norm's trailer tower with a 10 meter 3 element beam. Norm will provide coax to feed the radio. I will provide a coax switch to change antennas feeding the radio.
Jeff (K0ZR) indicated that he will provide two large deep cycle batteries for station 1.
Station 2, Phone 75/40 meters: Will now be located on the west side of John Westerman's driveway separated by as much distance as possible from station 3's antenna (40 CW) and station 4 (75/20 phone). The 75 and 40 meter dipoles will be mounted on Norm's AB-577 mast. This station will primarily stay on 40 meter phone. It will need to coordinate with the 75 meter operation of either the GOTA station or the 20 meter 75 meter phone operation at night.
Special note: we will need a shelter for this station! The shelter will need to have sides to protect the operators from sun and rain.
Station 3, CW 40 meters: The equipment will be located in John Westerman's barn as it was last year. The antenna, John (W4AU's delta loop) however will be located west of John Westerman's drive and south east of his house. (In his front yard near the drive leading to the house)
Station 4, Phone 75/20 meters: Will now be located at the far end of John Westerman's driveway on the western side of the driveway. With as much separation as practical between this station and the 75/40 meter phone station. The operation plan is that when 20 phone slows down at night that this station will switch to 75 phone. Rick will provide his mobile home for shelter in case of rain and set up a canopy for normal operations. His antennas will be the clubs 3 element 20 meter beam and a 75 meter dipole.
Station 5, CW 20 meters: The club trailer tower will now be moved closer to the North tree line, closer to the barn if possible. We will again use Gary's (NC4S) 3 element 20 meter beam on the tower. The equipment will be located in the barn.
GOTA, Phone 75 and 15 meters: The club AB-577 will have the clubs 3 element 15 meter beam on top with a 75 meter dipole also on the mast. The equipment will be located in the large army tent supplied by Jay (KI4UTB) and this will all be located in the same location as last year east of John Westerman's drive way near the barn and house.
Suggestions:
All stations should make sure that they have band pass filters.
Be sure that you have coax that you need to connect up all antennas.
The week prior to Field Day antennas and shelters will be delivered to the site.
Make sure that you have enough batteries to run your radios and your computers!!!! This is important for the phone stations that did not have battery power for their computers last year. As you know the rule is that if the radio is controlled by the computer the computer must be on emergency power just like the radio.
For your antenna installations make sure that you contact the person who is providing you the antenna, tower, stakes, and guys and make sure that it is being delivered, made or arrange to pick up what you need.
Part two of the meeting:
The cw operators meet to make sure that all hours of cw operation were covered and that no station would be unmanned.
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