Field_Day

Field Day 2006 - Underhill Center, VT

After weeks of off again on again rainy miserable weather and a long history of less than perfect Field Day weather, the Northern Vermont QRP Society finally got a break. Despite all predictions and nasty front that was supposed to spend the whole weekend sliding NW and SE and bring sporadic downpours and thunderstorms, moved fifty miles south of us and stayed there until Monday.

Friday just about the whole crew was there well before dinner except John and Suzanne who were guests of the Border Patrol at a 4 hour backup at the I-87 border crossing. We got the tribander and 6 meter beams assembled , the tower up, antennas mounted, and the 2 88 foot doublets up in the air by dinner time.

Saturday we all did breakfast and went out and got the tower cranked to full height, tensioned the guys, setup the tents, put in the tables and equipment. We then set about to get everything hooked up. It was all up and running and rigs tuned and checked such that for the first time in NVQS FD history we had a leisurely sit down lunch. What a concept!

1800 UTC, 2pm local ... off and running

Trevor could only stay until Saturday evening, so he was off and running ripping up 10m and 15m phone, while Seab and Art logged and operated 20m CW. What a team they were, before the weekend was over they were known as “Felix and Oscar” (I am not saying which was which!) Brian was off and running on 6m phone. and 2 and 440.

Sara, Suzannne and Susan dragged us in for dinner, around 7 or 8pm and we settled back down to operate, shifting positions and bands some. Johannes, KB1JDT, came up to visit with his two young sons, Nickie and Alec. John and I each took one son to a different HF tent and let them get their feet wet. They each made a half dozen contacts as did their dad. I think we all may have hooked two more fish for the ham pond.

Later in the evening, Arn, N1ARN and his xyl, Danielle ,came to visit and have a late supper.

John and Art operated through the evening, With Brian taking over from Art at midnight and running 40m/75m phone until 0800. John crashed about 0230.

Joe came back Sunday morning and teamed with Seab in the CW tent while Susan teamed with Art on 10m-15m-20m phone. Brian returned to the living by 1100 local and ran out the clock on 15m-20m phone.

The bottom line, NVQS pulled down 631 QSOs (255 CW), which is double last years score and half again better than our previous best. A hearty “well done” to all who helped, setup, takedown, cook, and operate

Field Day 2006 - NVQS