Time Grows Near...

Next Weekend is Field Day...

Time for a setup shakedown. Clean off the table, wake the kids, turn off the TV... This Sunday, I am gonna unpack the crap again, set it up and make a contact.

But wait! What about an antenna? I am certain I can whip something up... after all this IS a ham radio station here - K1XH. Besides, I have an LDG tuner, I should be able to tune a window shade into a 75M something-or-other. But make a contact? Jeez, i haven't done that in months!

And labels! I gotta make labels and label everything, especially connectors, or I will never get them back. That, and dig out some coax. Lord knows we will probably need it. I think the computer setup is ready, I have been tuning things for a couple weeks now as time permits. With the end of the school year and graduation, including all the graduation parties (another one tonite) things have been hectic to say the least. The weather looks shitty for the next few days so I think it will be safe to spend some time insuring all the gear is ready to go.

N3FJP Logging Software

In an unprecidented move, FD Chairman Chuck WA1NBU authorized a change in the logging program used by SOVARC at Field Day 2009.

I find it hard to believe that the previous logging software, WR9R lasted as long as it did. Must be everyone upgraded from DOS machines to those new-fangled Winderz computers. Now all we need to do is get Skip to fork out the $6.00 it will take to get a registration code...

This is pretty easy software to use, you can use either the spacebar or the enter key to advance between fields in the exchange, and you can edit easily also. There is a networked version available, but operating 3A with a GOTA station really doesn't lend itself to networking, the need just isn't there. Maybe next year I can get some fiber adapters and connect everyone up, but with this rinky-dink operation (in comparison to some 24A station setups) it is really pretty easy to dump the logs and figure things out on paper.

DVK and CW really work well with this package if you have the time, patience and interface to connect it all up. Skip NC2T and Bob WA2VYZ will do well in the CW tent, they are both pretty saavy operators and will have things totally automated while everyone else is still struggling to get antennas tuned. Even Novice operators will find it easy to use, dupes are displayed almost immediately and in a large font that is easily read. The operators just need to insure that you set the band and mode appropriately, especially on multi-band stations.

The window size seems to fit the screen well, especially on a wide-screen laptop. The color scheme looks good, but there are a couple text color changes you can make if you find differentiating worked callsigns difficult. There is even a graph and map available, but I haven't investigated those options yet, I have been busy with the DVK stuff as well as work and travel as of late. As mentioned in a previous post I should be able to get the voice exchanges recorded over the weekend if I can find some quiet time, and then start to take a few pix of the setup so I can have something to refer to when it comes time to set it all up again.

In the next couple weeks I will be installing Windows 7 on a couple laptops, I just got my RC (Release Candidate) in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Wouldn't it be cool to run Win 7 at Field Day! The Win 7 RC won't officially expire until June 1st 2010, but it will start shutting down every two hours starting March 1st 2010. Plenty of time to play!

I wonder if Win 7 will do full-duplex...?

Talk it up...

OK, officially 1 month until Field Day. 4 weeks. It is time to start talking it up, time to get fired up and get everyone else you know going! There is no way just a handful of hams are gonna pull this off, EVERYONE needs to help.

Chuck WA1NBU has done a great job compiling the FD plan (as always), but there is much yet to be done. The best thing everyone can do is get on the radio, and start talking about it. You will be surprised who might be listening, scanners everywhere should be hopping with activity. You have access to a repeater, so USE IT! Of course I am speaking to the Ham Radio operators out there, you know who you are. I know the SOVARC crew, who were kind enough to extend their FD invitation to myself and Brad N1JIF have got things in gear, it is gonna be an exciting time!

Try and talk up this blog, mention it when you can and I will use it to keep everyone informed. I apologize for all the personal opinions, but then again this is MY blog, if you have something to say about a post, then leave a comment. Everyone can see the comments, no matter how rude and crude they might be. Use your computer for something besides searching the Internet for useless stuff...

The point here is, get off your ass and do something. No matter how trivial it might seem or how unimportant you may think it is, someone will appreciate what you do. One thing I have found useful, especially when you are preparing for FD or getting things ready for portable use, is to measure your coax runs. Put a string label with the length on the end of the coax, and you will be amazed at how useful a small little thing like that really is. Also, put your callsign on everything, because I have enough crap to haul around, I don't wanna haul your crap too.

The 40M station preparations are almost done, today I found the perfect microphone for recording the FD exchanges. Just so happens to be a discarded camcorder electret condenser microphone. It was being thrown away because it didn't work, turns out all it needed was a 2025 button battery. Thing works great, with full, rich fidelity (wide frequency range for all you audiophile types) and a high level of directionality. This weekend I should be able to find some quiet time to record all the exchanges I need, and at least write down the text so that other ops can get their voices recorded for their operating periods. Looks like it will be a pain in the ass to swap file configurations around within the N3FJP software, but we can give it a go, and let the author know about our wish list after the event is over.

I promise to get some photos of the setup, including jumper configurations inside the RigBlaster. Chances are I will have Brad shoot the macro stuff, he does pretty well hand-holding the Nikon and the 85mm macro setup he uses. You can see some of Brad's photos HERE , he wanted to attend FD but will be in Cape Cod on a school-sponsored summer trip. Bummer.

Brad sez I have a friggin' recording studio setup in the kitchen, I think he overstates things. It is only a Behringer mixing board and a few mics and cables. It was the only efficient way I could find to convert lo-z mics to a hi-z input such as a soundcard. I am certain there are others who have done this, maybe if you have a tip or suggestion you could leave a comment and let me know what you might have done successfully.

So far it is working out well, it is becoming apparent that we will have much more equipment than actually necessary. I personally think it will make sense to setup for 40/75 as well as VHF/UHF. We will have the gear for it, why not use it? But yet again that is a good subject for my next post...