FIELD DAY 2006 @ KA2BEO

This year we decided to skip doing our own ARRL Field Day setup, which would 
have been our 13th consecutive year operating in the event. Instead, we went 
to visit with the Old Barney Amateur Radio Club (OBARC) and the 835 User 
Group at Eno's Pond County Park in Lacey Township, NJ. This park was a new 
location for the annual event. The club was operating as N2OB (and N2CW for 
the GOTA station) with a 3A-SNJ exchange. Ellen, Natalie, and I arrived at 
the club's operation on Saturday afternoon, 06/24/2006. It was great to see 
Bob (N2OO) operating 20m CW, and it was certainly nice to meet Bob (N2NF) 
too. He kindly welcomed our use of the GOTA station. Natalie worked K0IIT 
in CO and a station in MI on 20m SSB using the GOTA station. Other stations 
included VHF with a J-pole and some directional antennas, and 2 other HF 
stations with rotatable dipoles and several yagi beams. The 6-meter band 
opened, and SSB was doing well. All five stations were powered by a 
Porter-Cable 5.25kW AC generator. Nearly continuous rain and thunderstorms 
throughout the 24-hour event this year made for some uncomfortable operating 
in the high-humidity and high-heat conditions. Still, we had a great time, 
even though our club visit was brief and we didn't get to meet up with Dan 
(KA2BMI) and his two harmonics (kids). Although, we did see their tent! 
We discovered later that Dan placed his new Icom IC-746 Pro in the GOTA 
station before ever using it, so Natalie ended up operating his new radio 
before he did! We will have to see what next year brings for our own setup 
once again. Until then, 73! Rob (KA2BEO).