My 10,000 Hour RadioSport Challenge | 9,779 - 20 = 9,759 To Go

I'm scanning 20m spectrum space this morning while the event of the summer season is underway. The IARU HF World Championship in addition to the World Radio Team Championship (WRTC) guarantees a lot ham radio fun. I'm waiting for conditions to improve through the morning with a cup of coffee in one hand and my ears inside the cans listening to the music of Morse code.

My thought turns to the competitors in and around Moscow. Conditions are nowhere near epic however reflector chatter suggests heightened sporadic-e activity and not to ignore 15 or 10m this weekend. Likewise, competing with 100 watts against what one might call flat conditions, will certainly push the skill sets of all WRTC competitors.

Signals are beginning to rise above the receiver noise floor and my cup of coffee is nearly drained -- first contact is logged!

An Idea.
My field day experience was a great teacher. Our operation, under the umbrella of emergency communications, provided insight into planning an expedition. It is not an easy task assembling equipment, antenna systems, power systems, and operators then operate in the field. The challenge was rewarding and field day opened a new path of ideas.

6m.
The charm of 50 MHz presents new opportunities and possibilities to consider over the summer season. Its portfolio of modes, fascinating conditions, and wide open frequency vistas is a relief from the doldrums of the current cycle and spectrum space gridlock. Likewise, 6m does not require a lot of aluminum or power, to enjoy ham radio at its finest.

I prefer the challenge of this frequency allocation because of propagation specifically sporadic-e, back scatter, and meteor scatter. Basically, one sends signal report and grid square, as measure against a fading signal. Potentially, every grid square is a rare grid square, and I enjoy logging each one as well.

Try 6m this summer season and consider CQ WW VHF next weekend because the magic band is waiting.

Meanwhile, teams are competing for the top slot in RadioSport this weekend in conjunction with the IARU HF World Championship, and I'm ready for another cup of coffee.

73 from the shack relaxation zone.

Antenna Lab

Photograph 1 taken from our second floor window.

Photograph 2 is a street level few of the 6m 2 element yagi positioned in a difficult operating location.

Photograph 3 taken a few steps upward from street level view.

Photograph 4 highlights additional radials installed yesterday afternoon. The total is thirty across three bands of operation.

Photograph 5 illustrates the cement like quality of our soil just two hundred yards from the Pacific.

Photograph 6 is an example of re-purposed, decorative lawn fencing.

73 from the busy shack relaxation zone.

Sarge

Nothing like a Drill Sergeant...

2010 Field Day Beach Boys Amateur Radio Club Photographs

Beach Boys Amateur Radio Club | 2 Alpha | Santa Barbara.

Emerito, N6ETO's son Vinnie taking a tour of the ionosphere despite closed out conditions.

Phil, KK6PE working on the laptop prior to official start while Brian and Frank troubleshoot our rotor control box.

Phil, KK6PE is downloading N1MM Logger for use over the weekend. The club operated from the dialogue box while inputting mode, frequency, and callsign.

Fred, KI6QDH and John, KG6RFW logging Saturday afternoon 20m contacts.

Fred, KI6QDH in the pilot's chair and a box provided screen shading otherwise it was impossible to see one's input.

Operating our low band station. I've never forgotten field day in Western Pennsylvania as a novice. The low bands were always hot and fun!

Phil, KK6PE, Ricky, and John, KG6RFW manning our high band station through Saturday evening. Ricky totally dug high frequency operations.

Saturday night pumps on the low bands and I'm having a blast working both short and long skip. The evening cooled off significantly enough to warrant a North Face sleeping bag and skull cap.

Ernie, AE6ZE who hosted our first ever field day event in the pilot's chair on Sunday morning.

Riding a few hours sleep and back in the chair on 40m early Sunday morning.

Activity shifted on Sunday as many operators went into the log as 1 Deltas and I imagine it will be an on-going, persistent trend in the forthcoming years.

KI6QDH and KI6UYB logging contacts either on 15 or 10m because 20m was not as productive as the team had hoped for through the weekend.

Kord, KI6UYB hitting his groove on the high bands mid-Sunday morning.

John, KG6RFW summed up our weekend beneath the warmth of Cycle 24 during the final hours of field day.

73 from the Beach Boys Amateur Radio Club and stay tuned for our next adventure!