ARRL 2007 Field Day Logo. Used here in accordance with ARRL published policy. See http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/ : 'These logos (two versions of each offered below) may be used in club newsletters, flyers, or on club Web sites. Permission is required for any other use. To request permission to reproduce this work, send your name and contact information, along with a brief description of the intended use, to: ARRL Editorial and Production Manager, 225 Main St, Newington, CT 06111; e-mail permission@arrl.org.'

K4LRG 2007 ARRL Field Day
Another Fine Business Operation By The

Loudoun Amateur Radio Group
de Loudoun County,  Northern Virginia

 Station #4 Captains:    Kurt Reber - KI4FWB, Chuck Graham - KI4IEO
and Rick Denny - KR9D
  


Kurt - KI4FWB, Buddy - K4CJB and Rick - KR9D concentrate on 20-Meters Fone. Photograph by Deny Boehler - KF4TJI of Leesburg, VA.

Kurt Reber - KI4FWB, Buddy Brewer - K4CJB and Rick Denny - KR9D

     Station #4 was on 20-Meters Fone. They had a nice setup with Rick's Kenwood TS-430 and KØZR's Hy-Gain TH-3 Junior Yagi. Rick's camper was nice to have available but the nicer weather kept everyone outside. The log shows they were on 23 of the 24 clock hours. It wasn't easy as reported below. Nice hard working job by everyone:

       Kurt Reber - KI4FWB
       Rick Denny - KR9D
       Buddy Brewer - K4CJB
       Paul Dluehosh - N4PD
       Bill McCourt - WF1L
       Grant Russell - KB3EMT
       Jeff Crawford - KØZR
       Steve Reed - WB4EZM
       Norm Styer - AI2C

     20-Meters Fone operators had their hands full with (a) lots of hash from 20-Meters CW (an old Ten-Tec - Huuummm?), (b) too many stations being heard, and (c) not many hearing us. It reminds me of my old story about "I can hear everything but I can't hear anyone." This is a hard nut to crack. The 'hash' can be eliminated several ways. Tighter filters including roofing filters should fix (b), and a higher and bigger yagi should fix the last one. A couple hours watching a contest op at work should also help. Can we fix this for next year?


The Fancy Hy-Gain TH-3 Junior Up At 25-Feet. Photograph by Denny Boehler - KF4TJI of Leesburg, VA.

The Fancy Hy-Gain TH-3 Junior
 Provided By Jeff- KØZR   ---   Up At 25-Feet
So What's Going On Here ? Too Many Stations Just Didn't Copy Us Plus We Had That Hash From 20-Meters CW! - Buddy Brewer - K4CJB tries while Kurt Reber - KI4FWB and Rick Denny - KR9D look on. Photograph by Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

So What's Going On Here ?
Too Many Stations Just Didn't Copy Us Plus We Had That Hash From 20-Meters CW!

The Rates At Station #4  Station #4 struggled throughout the entire Field Day. Local interference, low performance receivers and not enough punch really plagued most every operator. The grand total was 271 good QSOs with an average hourly rate of 12 QSOs. On Sunday morning, Norm Styer - AI2C tried the back-up rig from Station #1, a Kenwood TS-440, to see if the local interference could be handled better. There was not much difference but he managed the 30-plus spike at 1300 GMT in about 30-minutes. He spent little time listening and never waited to try a second call. The band was very full and one could hear as many as four QSOs going on at once. It's suggested that a higher antenna would have handle this making us just a little - like a couple 3 dbs - stronger and we wouldn't have to be waiting around. The minimum height for 20-meters is 35-feet - another 10 or 15 is even better; anything less and you can stand-in line which is no joy. Start here , here and here to understand; there are many other examples in the ARRL Antenna Handbook. A new operator can really be intimidated on a crowded band; a good coach will push the newbies over the hump - like a little basic  - boot camp - training. This years effort did improve on the 237 good QSOs of last year but not the 413 QSOs in 2005; but remember, we shut down for over an hour in prime time last year. I'm sure we all learned a lot.


The QSO Rate Chart for 20-Meters Fone.

The Running QSO Total Chart for 20-Meters Fone.


The 20-Meters Fone Station. Photograph by Paul Dluehosh - N4PD of Leesburg, VA.

The 20-Meters Fone Station

Dave Putman - KE4S
On 20-Meters Fone

Dave Putman - KE4S On 20-Meters Fone. POTOGRAPH BY Norm Styer - AI2C de Clarkes Gap, VA.

Grant Russell - KB3EMT
With The Junior Op
de Round Hill, VA.



Grant Russell - KB3EMT With The unior Op de Round Hill, VA. Photograph by Meg Gentges - AI4UX of Great Falls, VA.

Denny Boehler - KF4TJI
Out Catching Some Shots
For Next LARG Calendar


Denny Boehler - KF4TJI Out Catching Some Shots For Next LARG Calendar. Photograph by Meg Gentges - AI4UX of Great Falls, VA.

Buddy Brewer - K4CJB
de Round Hill, VA.


Buddy Brewer - K4CJB de Round Hill, VA. setting up on 20-Meters Fone. Photograph by Denny Boehler - KF4TJI de Leesburg, VA.

PAUL Dluehosh - N4PD
de Leesburg, VA.
On 20-Meters Fone


PAUL Dluehosh - N4PD de Leesburg, VA. On 20-Meters Fone. Photograph by Denny Boehler - KF4TJI de Leesburg, VA.
 
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This report is written, edited and posted to the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group's K4LRG.ORG Internet Site by Norm Styer - AI2C of Clarkes Gap, Virginia. For photographic credit place your cursor over a photograph. Non-profit use of this material is granted if the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group of Northern Virginia, its internet writers, photographers and publishers are credited. Best regards, Norm Styer - AI2C.