Winter Field Day 2021

Wow. That was a great 24 hours!

It was my first Winter Field Day, and my very first amateur radio event. And I’m hooked!

Friday

It all started 3 days ago, on Friday. I watched a video by Julian – OH8STN (who is an absolutely amazing, gracious, and smart guy that is loved by ham radio operators worldwide). He was talking about making preparations for Winter Field Day 2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gShv32f85Zc

At that time I wasn’t interested at all in WFD. What interests me about his videos is his desire to get his gear as small, simple, redundant, and robust as possible, so that was my impetus for watching the video.

Afterwards I was intrigued and wondered what is the smallest amount of stuff that one can take and make communications in an emergency (or urgency or “crap I forgot the camping stove, can you bring it or our camping weekend will be ruined because we’ll have to come back home”).

Then I watched another video by The Tech Prepper who did a dry run of his WFD gear. I love people that practice for an event and share their knowledge. In this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2cxTwzYYNk he’s up front and humble about what went wrong and what he would change. This is 100% how I approach things – alway learning and reassessing what we would have done differently. The first time Kristi and I went camping, (45 minutes from our house in Houston, TX 20-ish years ago), we did a debrief and discussed what to change for our next camping trips.

Then I watched KM4ACK’s video on WFD as well https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn-sLBmF4To

I also noticed KI6NAZ had a livestream coming up the next evening (Saturday) about his participation during WFD.

Intrigued by these men (who must have the most wonderful XYL’s to back them up on their adventures), I read-up on WFD including its rules. At about 9:30 Friday night, I decided I wanted to participate.

My plan was to try SSB, although I’ve failed during other contests as a “hunter” since my iCom 7100’s 100 watts is outclassed by other people running hundreds of watts to the legal limit with directional/gain antennas. My main impetus to participate was that they allowed the use of FM as well as JS8Call.

I like JS8Call in theory but I don’t rag chew a lot on it because of time constraints. I’d rather get a quick fix to a crazy DX to Japan or EU on FT8 with my 7100 at 10 – 100 watts using a home-brew antenna.

Anyway so the plan was to 1) operate outside 2) use my new icom 705 3) not use any commercial electricity. # 1 and # 3 got you bonus points. The other plan was to, like The Tech Prepper in his video above, make a plan, try to stick to it but don’t beat yourself up if you have to go in the house and get something you forgot. This is a learning experience.

So Friday I went and plugged in any ham gear I could charge up and then I lay away wondering what I should “take” to the back deck with me, keeping in mind my non-lofty goals of just making some digital contacts, really.

Saturday

I woke up Saturday, fed the cat, had a wonderful Dutch Baby made by my XYL. Then I got to work. WFD went from Saturday to Sunday from noon-noon Mountain time.

I packed up gear for 2 meter HT operation as well as my 705 for HF.

For 2m:

Baofeng uv5x3 + cheat sheet + PTT earpiece
Alinco DJ-mg5 + PTT earpiece
2m Yagi
2m/70cm magmount antenna + pizza ban for ground plane
Both these HTs have HamStudy antennas on them.

For HF

Icom 705 Radio
Icom AL-705 Mag Loop kit
49:1 EFHW antenna (homemade)
Superantenna MP1-C

For Digi

Apple 12” MacBook Pro
Microsoft Surface 4
USB cable, USB-C Micro USB

Power

24 watt solar panel
TalentCell 12v 12Ah LiFeO4 battery

Misc

NanoVNA
3’ + 25 + 50’ patch cable
3-antenna diplexer/switch (added Saturday Night)
Marmot backpack
1 ball point pen
1 Leuchturm notebook
1 box of various UHF/BNC/SMA adaptors

Julian’s video scared me into taking 2 of everything for redundancy in case anything failed.

Noon

I set up all the Baofeng + Pizza antenna and HF gear with the MP1-C antenna on 20 meters. I left off the battery because I wanted to try QRP operation since I on FT8, my 7100 can work the whole continental US on just 1 watt though a homemade 49:1.

Then tragedy hit. As I was writing down my first call, my pen died! Oh no! The 1 thing I didn’t bring an extra of died. Julian was probably laughing at that very moment.

My XYL bought me a sandwich and chips for lunch, which was delicious.

I provisionally took everything else out of my backpack not knowing what to do with all of it. I had a really hard time with the glare and warmth of the sun despite the cold air temperature of a Colorado winter. I hated that both my computers have super shiny screens, in contrast to the 705’s anti-glare screen which is readable in broad daylight. It was almost comical how bad the glare was no matter which way I pointed the screen since my house reflects the southern sun.

I immediately heard someone calling CQ WFD on 146.520. I knew the rules said not to call CQ on the national calling frequencies but that frequency is pretty quiet around here and really only used by SOTA activations. I responded and got my first official QSO. On a $20 Baofeng, while my $1200 iCom 705 – the pinnacle of ham radios – sat there quietly watching and waiting for me to try SSB.

I did try SSB on 20 meters. Every 3k seemed to be taken up so it was difficult to call CQ (of which I recorded in the 705’s to save my voice). It wasn’t possible to bust through pileups

I tried JS8Call but it wasn’t great on 20 meters. I was also confused by how to make a proper CQ call because the default wasn’t really appropriate. I watched others and improvised and wished I’d read a “contesting” book or something, knowing that in WSJT-X there is different behavior for if you’re contesting.

The hours went by and I was making short videos with my DJI Osmo Pocket. I made a few contacts here and there on SSB and JS8 but it was much more slow going than I imagined. There were certainly tons of people on the airwaves.

One highlight was seeing a message for KM4ACK go flying by on JS8Call.

Then the sun started going down. It got cooler and then downright cold. I went inside and got a down jacket, gloves, etc. Yes, I was that cold.

Fumbling with the controls with my thick gloves on, I made a few contacts. Then I switched my SuperAntenna to 40 meters and tried some more. I also tried my MagLoop and my EFHW who’s SWR is 1:2 on 40 meters so that was sad.

I was getting annoyed with my setup because I was constantly trying to fumble around on SSB and JS8 with this or that antenna wondering if I would be able to make a contact.

I was also annoyed with some of my gear selection (like my notebook) because it was difficult to keep open to the page with my big gloves on.

I was also annoyed with my inability to hop bands despite my SuperAntenna being rock solid on the band that it was on. So I went inside and soldered the piecemeal 66foot wire I had for my EFHW and setup the EFHW. Only to find that on 40 meters its SWR was about 2.0. This isn’t bad but I lack a tuner for my 705 :/

Then it got too cold. It was around 5:30PM and I could clearly see my XYL making steak. So I went inside and waited for steak while our kitty waited for her dinner.

Then we had a great steak dinner and then I tuned into KI6NAZ’s YouTube livestream on the beach.

I wondered why he was using 40 meters during the day but they’re only 1 hour behind so I guessed it was probably grey-line time for them so it made sense. But I’m pretty sure he setup on 40 meters, not 20. He’s barefoot on a 705 as well.

So I watched and got an idea to try 40 meters earlier in the sunlight next time. I also felt sympathy because he really wanted to try packet radio on 80 meters but his antenna (and lack of tuner) would be challenging. I also wished I’d set up for WinLink because those were bonus points just waiting to be had that I wouldn’t earn because I didn’t prepare for that digital mode. Ugh!

After watching the livestream and warming-up, I went back outside and gave it another go in the dark. Interestingly, I made some contacts on 20 meters because it was much more quiet. I did call CQ but no one heard me.

One thing I remember is that despite the high 2.0 SWR, I was able to make contacts. Maybe ICom shouldn’t make the bars red from 2-3 but more like yellow? The temperature of the finals was solidly in the “cool” so I wasn’t taxing the 705 with my > 1.5 SWR.

I know I tried the battery / 10 watts but don’t remember which part of the operation was with the extra power.

After a little while, I called it and planned the next day based on successes and mainly failures of the first 8 hours of Winter Field Day 2021.

I did cheat a little by adding spade connectors to my 705’s power lead, so that I could connect it to the battery better than just shoving the tinned ends into the spade connectors on my battery.

I brought everything back inside except the EFHW and MP1-C and set it down next to the deck doors.

SUNDAY

I was woken up by Boots and after I fed her, I went back to bed. I later woke up and made pancakes and we had a relaxing Sunday breakfast.

Gears were turning in my head. I knew I wanted to make some changes for today with some things I learned.

I put the 2m magmount antenna away and assembled the Yagi. I also left the Baofeng in the backpack and concentrated on 1 HF and 1 HT radio only.

I also bought down a triplexer (which I use separately) and hooked all 3 antennas to it and tested the SWR at the radio (not the best but hey, no tuner means the 705 needs to be kept happy despite coax turning into radials).

I ditched the Windows Surface. Knowing I only used a few hours of battery on both computers (I shut them down when trying FM or SSB) I knew I wouldn’t run out of battery power for the short Sunday stint.

My station was much neater on Sunday.

I got different shoes and different jacket and setup in a better-shaded spot on our outdoor couches, although I wished for a desk.

I tried SSB and JS8. I didn’t have any luck with SSB. I tried JS8 on both 20 and 40 meters and 40 meters was rocking. During the day. Huh. Weird.

My antenna switcher worked well and saved me headaches. I realized that my MagLoop killed my USB connection when I transmitted on 10 watts. No ferrets. Damn. Oh well. I need to stay at 10 watts today.

I read Instagram (my phone was only used for that).

I made about 5 contacts on JS8 total Sunday morning. And just before noon I had a QSO with KI7NNS. They shared their excitement of WFD with me. After WFD was over I looked them up and realized I was talking to a soldier in the USAF. Got real choked-up about that and was grateful. Thanked him for serving as he packed-up.

Right after, the Yagi picked up someone doing a SOTA. I had a QSO with him and video’d it on my iPhone since my log book was packed up.

AFTER ACTION

I learned a TON during this field day. My self-imposed rules of only using what I bought (with a few small exceptions) helped.

Here’s what I learned:

The Ham Radio community is amazing.
The Ham Radio community is amazing. It’s worth repeating.
Each type of antenna can be useful, despite its own shortcomings. A weakness in 1 area of the antenna is usually a strength in another area. For example, the mag loop needs the smallest area to work. The 49:1 has the greatest flexibility in easy band-hopping. The loaded coil is rock solid and won’t change SWR on you.
QRP is hard but it forces you to look at system efficiencies more than a QRO radio where you could just “turn it up” when there are problems in SWR (like I do on my 7100 upstairs).
Its better for your back to sit upright like at a desk rather than hunched over looking at a computer or your radio. I don’t have back problems normally but I definitely felt my bad posture.
Screen glare sucks.
Temperature control is hard when there’s a huge difference between day/night sun/shade.
A neat station is a happy station. Wires everywhere, mag loops falling, constant changing of antennas at your radio is unproductive.
Things that work well at a desk indoors doesn’t necessarily work well in the “field”. Notebook that doesn’t stay open when you snagged a SSB QSO.
A supportive XYL is gold. Mine bought me my 705, Yagi, etc. And she fed me. Her mom gave me a gift card to HRO that I bought my MagLoop with. I had a medium-rare steak served on a dinner table, while you had a freezing cold Cliff-bar 🙂
It would be useful to have 1 point or standard for power. I get it.
Windows is king on ham radio. Despite people doing Raspberry Pi and Mac holdouts like myself, you gotta use Windows in Ham Radio.
Ball point pen was more reliable than my markers and fountain pen. Cleaner, too.
Stretch. I’m sore from concentrating and ignoring my body screaming for normal activity.
NanoVNA is a must.

What to change next time/consider this/TODO:

Antenna tuner. Even resonant antennas can be fickle and you don’t always have the ability to fix it right now. With a random wire, you can work many more bands. My favorite on digital (FT4 really) is 30 meters. I’m pretty sure 30 meters is allowed on field days. I especially like 30 meters because in the US, there is a max PEP which is great for guys (and gals?) like us.
9:1 antenna. My homemade EARCHI + LDG IT-100 can tune a 35’ wire to 80 meters. I’ve DX’d with it.
Learn and be prepared to use other digital modes. PSK? Olivia? RTTY? SSB? I wasn’t prepared to use any one of these. And my computer probably wasn’t. Well, maybe it was since I’ve used fldigi sometimes and I’ve decoded SSTV for fun on 14.230.
Find a way to better support the MagLoop. The base and the loop. Its too floppy and prone to falling over very easily. For the price, its disappointing how floppy it is.
Consider buying a Micro PC (Julian O8HSTN seems to be using one this time which is strange/funny since he was a Yaesu/RaspberryPi/RigBlaster guy).
I’ve seen people use a longer whip like a MFJ, for their loaded coils. While I love my SuperAntenna, I am guessing that I can improve its performance even more by using a whip that’s 10 feet long or something. I don’t use my MP1-C on VHF so there’s no need for me to routinely have it be able to resonate that high anway.
Its too easy for the MagLoop’s LMR to get scratched up due to the end connectors of the other coaxes in the same bag. Everything that’s delicate-ish really needs to be protected in its own bag.
Consider using my Kenwood T-180S 200W SSB “monster” and/or my iCom 7100 on the next one.
Don’t bring every single adaptor. I adaptors in my kit for stuff that I don’t have connectors on. Micro PL 259 looking connectors. Not needed.
Bring a soldering kit. I cheated and soldered at night in my house. I could have just used the EFHW wire as-is, twisted and goopy with electrical tape but I didn’t want to.

Shopping list:

Nalgene bottle holder for my 705.
Powerpole kit. There I said it. I’m joining the dark side.
Powerpole voltage/charger/
Micro PC for ham software or Windows-stye MacBook Air or sturdy case for Surface to make it more solid. Give in to the dark side.
Manfrotto stand for 705. There I said it. Just like the YouTube kids.
Tuner – maybe modify my IT-100 to work with the 705.
Amp – Probably the popular eBay 50 watt special.
9:1 End Fed
Collapsible Pole – for deploying the 9:1 wire
Longer collapsible whip for MP1-C.
Small hard case for HF Kit
Different go bags for 2m and HF.
Ziploc type for Mag Loop LMR400.Spiral bound notebook.
A book on Contesting
A book on other “older” contesting digital modes like Olivia, RTTY, etc.
Better SWR meter. Maybe a small MFJ manual tuner/meter/dummy load?

Things to fix:

Sort out my 49:1 antenna SWR problems
Stickers for where bands are on the mag loop.

I had so much fun. This is definitely addicting.

Now to put together the video to help the next person. Thanks to all the operators for sharing their knowledge on YouTube. And thanks to all the QSO’s!

After the event, I hopped on the internet and looked at PSKReporter to see what my sent/received map looked like.