Once at the FD location, the primary tasks were to setup the communications trailer and generators, assemble and test three beams, setup three towers with beams and dipole halyards, and run coaxial cable between the towers and the trailer. The goal was to have the towers ready to raise on Saturday. Setup went smoothly and was quickly done.
On Saturday morning, the SSB and CW stations were setup in the communications trailer. The towers were raised. The generators were started early to allow for testing. The GOTA station was setup under the fixed shelter to be more publicly accessible. A VHF station, primarily for use for Winlink message traffic, was also setup under the fixed shelter. In addition, a VHF/UHF station for satellite operation was setup when satellite passes were available.
Operations commenced at 1400 local time and continued until 1400 on Sunday, 29 June. The SSB station operators made 839 contacts and the CW station operators made 1,439 contacts. Contacts were made with all US ARRL sections and nine of the fourteen Canadian sections. Two DX contacts were made via CW.
The GOTA station had one youth operator who made eleven contacts. Messages were sent via Winlink to the EMA section manager and to ten local and state officials. Two satellite contacts were also made during FD.
FARA's total contact points, which include a 2X multiplier for CW contacts and another 2X power multiplier for all contacts, are 7,434 points. We also qualified for bonus points totaling 1,625 points. FARA's total claimed score is 9,059--a great score.
We had a nice cookout on Saturday with hot dogs, burgers, and sausages. A sausage, hash browns, and egg breakfast was served on Sunday morning for the overnight crew and anyone else that attended. Mike, KC1HKW, kept us all well fed and hydrated throughout the FD weekend.
Sunday afternoon, the teardown crew took everything down, packed it into vehicles and transported the equipment to the storage container. The container was loaded and locked by approximately 1600--a very quick and efficient disassembly operation!
A gallery of photo's taken by Ralph, N1YHS and Larry, W1IZZ can be viewed at this link:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/rbASMK1z3iH2Eaxx8
