The Loudoun Amateur Radio Group's K4LRG
Banshee Reeks Nature Preserve, Loudoun County, Virginia

Station #1 15M CW/PH - 80CW

        Norm Styer - AI2C of Clarkes Gap, VA. was the captain of Station #1 which included the LARG's Kenwood TS-440 Transceiver, a Johnson 300-Watt Matchbox Antenna Tuner, a Bencher Chrome Dual Paddle with a TRAC CMOS Electronic Keyer, an external 8-ohm speaker, two portable 3 x 3 foot tables, and N4PD's Compaq Laptop with the TR Logging Program. Three deep cycle Group 28 12-volt dc batteries powered this station - one for the computer which was connected through N4PD's DC-to-DC converter, and 2 for the transceiver. The switch over to the second radio battery occurred at 0900 hours local on Sunday morning when a drop in output power was noticed; battery voltage on receive was at 11.9 volts and dropped to 11.5 volts on transmit - time to change. There was other stuff available including a gas lantern, several large flashlights, an old Army blanket, rain coat, spare AA and 9-volt batteries,  a first aid kit, and spare antenna parts, connectors, and tools.

        On Friday evening, Norm was assisted in erecting a single and very simple dual dipole fed with a balun and 100-foot of RG-8 coax cable. Tom Garasic - NA4MA was called upon to float the 40M dipole into the trees at about 45-feet after Norm's sling shot failed. The 80M dipole was placed at right angles to the 40M dipole and in an inverted vee configuration. The 40M dipole performed well on 15M and the 80M dipole was good for several QSOs on 10M. So, in all, the antenna is a quad-band antenna. All that's required is change bands and manually tune up through the Johnson Matchbox. You could add additional dipole elements - like 20 M - and you are in business. Punch up the W3DZZ antenna on your favorite search machine.
        The station performed well. A combination of better siting, better conditions, better weather - less static - and better antennas than last year netted 625 QSOs. Band rate breakouts are available on the 'Rate' page. On 15M, 171 QSOs were made on CW and 34 QSOs on Phone which was a surprise and can be credited to conditions. Many W6's were very strong and several DX stations called including a PY from Brazil, a RA from Moscow and a KL7 from Alaska. Around 2330Z, Norm checked 10M and made a few QSOs there. QSY to 80M CW didn't happen until real late - like around 0230Z; he's trained to work the higher bands until they die but for Field Day operations this was most likely a mistake and operations on 80M should have started an hour before sunset and could have produced more then the 417 QSOs made there. The 2100 hours dead space was the break for the Saturday Family Supper; we could have used more operators. The 00-hour dip was the result of trying to find the end of 15M and should have been split with some tries for a run on 80M. The 0500Z break was Norm getting out of the chair for a break and the dip at 1600Z was just poor conditions on 15M. And, as expected, soon after the D-Layer formed on Sunday morning then the 80M stuff dries up except for locals who have already called in; so you spend time on 80M and continue to check 15M for it to open. This year 15M really didn't open till after 1000 hours local on Sunday. Like Lee Wical - KH6BZF say: " Be on 10 at 10" applies to 15M at lower sunspot counts. So, in summary, for next year, we need more operators and we need to get to 80M earlier.

. QSO Rate At Station #1

. QSO Counter At Station #1

         Thanks also goes to some super CW operators Mark Johnson - W3ZI and Gary Quinn - NC4S who helped keep this station on the air. Except for short relief by Gary on Saturday afternoon and a break for some super chow, Norm stayed in the chair until Mark arrived at 0830Z on Sunday morning. Norm didn't mind, saying "But they kept rolling in so time flew by." Norm took a little nap on the floor of the main mansion, got treated by Angi's pancakes and was back in the chair at 1200Z. 80M  seemed to dry up around 0900 hours and Norm kept testing 15M to see if was open. By 1430Z, 15M was there with mostly Caribbean and southern Gulf-Coast station. With all this band changing, Norm hopes he didn't break the "Dreaded 15-Minute Rule." Terry Passey - K4TRP of Emeral Isle, North Carolina, stopped by about 1600Z and had a nice "Eye-Ball" QSO with Norm. Terry says that he's in the area once or so a month and will try to make our meetings and maybe some activities.
        We should all remember this one; it doesn't get much better. Best Regards, Norm Styer - AI2C.