Photos by Ken Wontor KW4DI and Ron Cowherd K4GYD
Category: Field Day
The April meeting was another success with 20 in attendance.
Among topics discussed were the Dayton Hamvention coming up May 15th through the 17th. Dayton is probably the biggest ham radio event of the year. For more information visit the Hamvention.org website.
The Princeton Hamfest will be June 6th.
Field Day 2015 was also discussed. Only 3 stations will be operating this year instead of the usual 4. Also, we are in need of CW operators this year. Anyone interested in operating Field Day this year please contact a club officer.
Net control operators were set for April/May. To view the NCO’s click here.
At the March Meeting we had a nice presentation from Dave Perry N4QS about his recent trip to Kuwait to operate in the CQ World-Wide CW contest with the VooDoo Contest team. View the video below.
Finally, condolences to the family of Bud Jenkins WF5B who passed away Monday, March 30. The following was written by Paul ND4X about Bud and is a nice tribute:
It is with a very sad heart that I am writing this. Bud Jenkins, WF5B, passed away Monday morning (March 30, 2015) at 4:14 AM.
Please check the newspaper for arrangements, but right now I understand that visitation will be at10:00 AM, Wednesday, April 1, 2015, in Paducah, KY at Lindsey Funeral Home. Burial will follow later in the day at the military cemetery in Hopkinsville, KY, with full military honors.
Many of us have known Bud for – not years – but for decades. Bud was the type of friend, that no matter what you needed help with, he was the first to show up, and the last to leave. He was always ready to help, no matter what, where or when – freezing cold or blazing hot – wet or dry.
Many of us have seen Bud put on a climbing belt and ascend where no one else would even dare. If you needed a tower put up, or an antenna replaced, Bud was always there.
Bud always had a great station. A couple of his favorite ham stories are about the time several of us operated the PA QSO Party from his station. Our score was so good the PA contest committee decided that we must have been an in-state station instead of an out-of-state submission, and rejected our out-of-state submission. True story, I swear.
Another time the Navy could not contact one of their ships afloat. Several hours had passed since they were supposed to check in with the fleet, and people were becoming concerned. Bud was in Navy MARS at the time, and they asked him if he would try to contact the missing ship. Yep, you know it, Bud was able to contact the ship and relay the status back to the Navy communications team. If you ever saw Bud’s tower and antenna system before the ice storm did its damage, you would understand how he could reach out and touch someone.
I started to put “Silent Key” in the subject line, but for those of you who knew Bud, you will understand. Some of us remember the time Bud almost caused a small riot at Dayton when we realized we were on a bus of CW QRP fans riding from the motel to the arena. You could always count on having a great time when you were with him.
Bud’s passing is truly a great loss for everyone that knew him. Bud will be missed.
73’s
Paul – ND4X
Until next time…. 73’s and GET ON THE RADIO!!
Rob KC9VFV
W4NJA Field Day Score Update
Our 2014 Total Estimated Score will be:
Bonus Points 1,230
QSO Score 4,468
GOTO Score 112
——
Total 2014 Estimate 5,810
Historical Analysis
Year QSOs Score
2014 1,375 5,810
2013 1,965 7,380
2012 1,317 5,118
2011 1,292 4,748
2010 1,281 4.402
2009 921 3,762
Our Field Day 2014 activity summary has been submitted to the ARRL along with the supporting ADI/Cabrillo/Field Day Message files.
Last year we had 1,965 QSOs with a score total of 7,380.
This year we had 1,375 QSOs with a score total of 4,468.
The results are usually published in the December issue of QST.
To view the submission summary click the link below.
Field-Day-2014-Submission-Confirmation
73’s
Paul – ND4X
Hello Everyone,
Please remember that this Saturday and Sunday is Field Day !!!
We need some members to show up at around 6 AM Saturday (yea – I know that is early Ha Ha), to secure the covered shelters that we will use. Mike Newman is one of the early risers, and will help lead that effort.
Some of the other members are meeting at Cracker Barrel by the mall around 6 AM. Contact AB4IQ if you wish to join the group there.
The main setup effort will start around 8 AM.
Please come out and join us for 30 minutes anytime or the entire operating period. Everyone is welcome.
Field Day is always the fourth full weekend of June, beginning at 1800 UTC (1:00 PM Central Time)Saturday and running through 2059 UTC Sunday. Field Day 2014 is June 28–29.
We really, really, really need a couple of people to copy the ARRL Bulletin Friday night. It is worth 100 Points (which is equal to 100 SSB QSOs, or 50 CW QSOs.) The schedule follows:
W1AW Field Day Bulletin Transmission Schedule
Day Mode Pacific Mountain Central Eastern UTC
FRI CW 5:00 PM 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 0000 (Sat)
Digi 6:00 PM 7:00 PM 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 0100
Ph 6:45 PM 7:45 PM 8:45 PM 9:45 PM 0145
CW 8:00 PM 9:00 PM 10:00 PM 11:00 PM 0300
CW frequencies are 1.8025, 3.5815, 7.0475, 14.0475, 18.0975, 21.0675, 28.0675, and 147.555 MHz.
Digital frequencies are 3.5975, 7.095, 14.095, 18.1025, 21.095, 28.095, and 147.555 MHz.
Phone frequencies are 1.855, 3.990, 7.290, 14.290, 18.160, 21.390, 28.590, and 147.555 MHz
We will be at the same location we have used for the last several years. Keiler Park, Broadway, Paducah, KY
We hope to see you there. We will have 4 stations on the air, and at least 2 of them will be in air conditioning…..
73’s
Paul-ND4X
Hi Everyone,
Dave – N4QS asked me to forward this to the group for Field Day CW operator planning.
If you want to sign up for one of the available CW slots, please send a message to Dave at ( n4qs@comcast.net), so that he can update the master list. The master schedule list can be seen at the bottom of this e-mail.
Dave – N4QS and Gene – N4FZ are CW co-captains this year.
Also, we are always looking for Alternate Ops for all slots to help fill in during drink and food breaks. If you don’t want to be a primary, but willing to be a CW alternate, please let them know that also.
Their goal is to have the CW station manned 100% of the time this year. Gene, thanks for taking the really difficult slot to fill. The first few hours are always brutal, Dave thanks for taking that shift.
Remember – there will be lots more Field Day planning Monday night at the June club meeting. That will be the last club meeting before the big event. Come on out for suggestions, questions, and comments on Field Day setup and operations.
Remember, Field Day is for everyone. We will have a station set up for those who just got their license and never made a contact before or those who very seldom get on HF (GOTA station, with clubs members to help you out and answer your questions) to stations for the most experienced contesters, and stations in-between. Out goal is to have 4 stations on the air at all times.
w4nja cw 2014
73’s
Paul – ND4X
The Field Day team has asked me to put out a call for CW operators at Field Day.
If you want to operate CW, please email Ed here. 10 minutes or 10 hours, just let Ed know.
Of course, we will have plenty of operator openings at the GOTA, SSB, and Mixed Mode (SSB/RTTY/CW) stations. Come on out and enjoy the fun at the end of this month.
More planning will occur at Monday’s regular monthly club meeting.
Thanks
Paul – ND4X
April’s meeting has come and gone and we had another good turnout with 23 in attendance. Our new room in the Emerging Technology Building at WKCTC is very nice. It’s nicely equipped with projectors and WiFi to make future presentations enjoyable.
Field Day 2014 was a big topic as usual this time of year. Testing out the new routers for the logging programs was discussed using Paul’s ND4X router configuration. If you haven’t read this yet it’s a very detailed and interesting read. You can find Paul’s article here. We are also needing to get an idea on how many operators and helpers we’ll have this year. If you are interested in operating at Field Day or even help setup (hang antennas, set up tables, ect…) just email one of the club officers here. Any help is appreciated and Field Day is a lot of fun. Just let us know what you can do. Field Day is June 28th and 29th.
Net control operators were set for the next month. The net meets every Sunday night at 9PM on 147.060 PL 179.9 and all amateur radio operators are invited to check in. Net control operators are listed here.
Ed – AB4IQ gave a great demonstration of the VE7CC DX Cluster software. A DX Cluster is in essence a “chatroom” or node into which amateur DX hunters can post information about DX either worked or heard. For more information about cluster software or W4NJA’s cluster info click here.
We’re still needing some submissions for our “Show Us Your Shack” portion of our web page. We only need 1 or 2 pictures submitted. These are a really good way to get different ideas for your own shack by seeing what other hams are doing. You can email your photos to me here. Be sure to include your callsign in the email.
Our next PARA meeting will be May 12th at 7PM.
73’s
Rob KC9VFV
This is a very detailed article by Paul – ND4X about how to network the logging computers during this years Field Day. It also is an excellent tutorial on how to install DD-WRT firmware for that old router you have laying around. This is a really good read and a great learning tool. Thanks to Paul and Ed for the contribution. Click the link below for the article.
W4NJA Field Day Computer Networking 2014 – Version 20140405
PADUCAH AMATEUR RADIO ASSOCIATION - GET ON THE RADIO! 