[amsat-bb] Field Day

[Bruce]

Well, this certainly was more fun than last year.

I participated as W5SI with the Texas Emergency Amateur Communicators 
(TEAC) club in Kingwood, TX again this year. We doubled our satellite 
contacts from last year.

Our station had an unobstructed view north and south. To the east, we 
were next to a building so zero visibility. To the west we were blocked 
the first 20 degrees or so. Had to wait for the highest passes.

We started off field day working SO-50 and AO-91 on the first passes. 
Everything was done manually, radio tuning and LEO pack antenna turning. 
That makes it a little more fun as more people can be involved. Did not 
work a single station. By 4:00 PM I decided to head to the house. We had 
to have high elevation passes due to our location.

When I returned an RV had moved along side the antennas. The antennas 
were moved another 20 feet away and had to place the radio in the back 
of my car as the coax was not long enough to reach where the radio was 
before.

Next pass that was high for us was FO-29 in early evening around 8:30 
PM. I have not worked an SSB satellite since 2001. Have been using the 
HT and mobile radio with the Arrow. But, heck it is like riding a 
bicycle. Found my downlink, cruised around and found W5RRR, my friend 
Andy, W5ACM, at the mic. We made a contact with them.

Next good pass for us was SO-50 later in the evening around 10:30 PM. 
Unplugged the power and coax cables, closed up the car and went inside 
for some air conditioning. Time to work SO-50. A good 14 minute pass, we 
should make one contact, easy as pie. Hooked up the radio and started 
listening, nothing. Did not hear a peep (you can see where this is 
going?). Pass was about 90 degrees and still nothing.

Someone looked down and said, the coax is not plugged in. Uh, huh, in my 
haste, forgot to plug them in. Quick which is 2m, which is 70cm. Hooked 
up and listening. Heard a familiar voice. Yes, last couple minutes of 
the pass, worked W5RRR with Andy once again at the mic. What are the 
chances? Out of all the stations on the air during field day, we wind up 
working not only someone else in the Houston area but the same station.

Murphy tried to ruin our field day, but we got over on him. Those that 
were there to help and watch the satellite contacts enjoyed it and as I 
said, we did double our score from last year. We had 2 this year. Maybe 
next year will use Satpc32 for radio control and double this year's score.

Be sure to get your scores into me. They are due by 11:59PM Central Time 
on July 9, 2018. A lot less time to submit than ARRL. We do this so that 
we can get our story out in the next issue of the AMSAT Journal.

73...bruce

-- 

Bruce Paige, KK5DO
                      
AMSAT Director Contests and Awards
AMSAT Board Member 2016-2018
   
ARRL Awards Field Checker (WAS, 5BWAS, VUCC), VE
           
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