After a successful annual meeting with many in attendance and election of a new slate of officers and directors, some FARA members proceeded to Marine Park in Falmouth to set up for Winter Field Day. We had our FARA communications trailer on-site next to the bandshell, and were able to access street power from there. This meant not only power for the radios, but heating and lighting inside the trailer as well.
Using a spud gun, we set up an OCF dipole between the top of the bandshell and a tree in the northwest corner of the park. We also set up a PAR end fed 20 meter antenna as a vertical, using a Spyder pole for support. Then we went to lunch.
After lunch, we got the K3 and an Icom 746 up and running at two operating stations. Our CW operator had contracted COVID and was unable to attend, so we decided to run two phone stations. The 746, which had just had its tuner rebuilt, decided to quit on us and stopped RF output. We replaced it with another club radio, a Kenwood TS-570. At 2 PM we started running contacts, as K1RK. Mel, KC1ELB, a born contester, took over the K3 on the PAR antenna on 20 and started his pileup. Henry, K1WCC, was on the TS-570 and noticed a lot of signals starting to appear on 40 meters, mostly locals in CT, RI and Mass participating in WFD. Listening was one thing, making the QSO was another. Our OCF dipole, although about 130 ft. long, would not tune on 40 meters. Power output was halved and signal reports from even local stations were abysmal. So we switched to 10 meters, where the antenna really performed. 10 meters was in good shape and contacts were made into California and the Pacific Northwest.
We knocked off at 1830, since we had to move the comms trailer from the site that night. Within 30 minutes everything was wrapped up, the trailer ready to go, and all parties went home, some to continue operating at home stations. This was one of many times in the past two years when we proved the worth of our comms trailer-it was comfortable, bright inside with plenty of operating room. We were able to set up and knock down quickly, which would be required in an emergency situation.
Some highlights of the day: Many club members visiting the site after the meeting, our new club VP Jeremy WA1JRC making his first HF contact, some members from our recent Tech Class stopping by for a ragchew and observing the operation, a visit from Enterprise photographer Brenda Sharp and a beautiful, warm day (with a little wind to harass the spud shoot!).
Thanks to Ralph, N1YHS, Andy, N1SYM and Larry W1IZZ for their assistance with the trailer and hardware. There are only 143 days till summer Field Day at Morse Pond School!
Henry K1WCC
