This post is mis-titled. I kinda participated but didn’t.
See – I was on a road trip and by the time ARRL Field Day 2021 hit, I was camping with my XYL’s family in Ledges State Park in Boone, Iowa (grid square EN31).
I brought my ham radio gear for the trip which I modified from a short trip the weekend before so as to be better prepared.
Unfortunately the whole week prior when I was vacationing the Black Hills of South Dakota, I never used my ham radio. I did turn on my HT to try and listen to some repeaters but that didn’t work since I was mostly in a hotel. And the 1 time when I really wished we had my HT for emergency purposes (no cell signal in the Black Hills) I had left it in my room. Ugh.
Anyway. Field Day.
So at camp, I first setup my SuperAntenna MP1-C at a nice low SWR 20 meters for FT-8 and FT-4 digital modes. I opened up WSJT-X and started calling CQ. And then someone replied saying that Field Day didn’t start till a little later. Very clever!
So I started calling CQ when it was actually time for field day. Then it started raining. At got at least 1 QSO during the rain. I wasn’t worried about getting shocked due to rain since I was QRP. I also tried out my 3rd 49:1 that I’ve made. I added a couple more turns and a tap at 64:1.
7 QSO’s later I gave it up. My antennas were too low and being in camp area, there was way too much aluminum and other metal things screwing my radiation up. Plus, I really don’t enjoy using a PC. I much prefer my Mac.
Some things I did learn:
- Bring a cigarette lighter plug so I can perhaps run 10 watts instead of being limited to 5. Especially since I knew I was going to be around giant motorhomes.
- Sometimes radials on the ground for a vertical aren’t good since people are running around walking on your wires.
- 49:1 is much less obtrusive than a vertical on the ground and you don’t have to worry as much about people running into it or looking at it.
- 50 feet of coax is better than 25 feet of coax. You have more options to move your antenna further away. And you can use your coax as a counterpoise.
- Rain doesn’t play well with computers. Have cover. The elements are not friendly.
- Prepare better. Figure out my grid and other things before hand. Don’t assume I’ll have cell coverage (I didn’t).
One things for sure. I’ve learned something each field day. Playing radio outside is very different than the comfort of my QTH station.
73,
AE0RS
