FIELD DAY 2011 @ KA2BEO

This year we ran only five-watts for all contacts. We also used only two bands 
and two modes. It was our first all-QRP (low-power) Field Day, but we only 
operated for about eight hours total (one-third the norm). Most communicating 
was performed off-the-air! I beat my QRP record from last year working 14 CW 
stations in a 30-minute period with only 5W out. It was a pleasant surprise to 
work California, Texas, and Quebec from New Jersey with such low output power, 
especially during the crowded band conditions. Another nice surprise was 
working W1AW (the ARRL) in Newington, CT on two different bands (20m CW & 40m 
CW). We always have a good time on Field Day, but working the station K4FUN in 
Tennessee gave the day new meaning, when I actually put FUN in the logbook. We 
managed to escape rain for the weekend as well. With four portable antennas 
and three portable transceivers set up, we had plenty of equipment to operate. 
All four antennas are pictured. The three homebrew antennas performed 
perfectly. The rotatable 20m dipole up 20-feet 
(http://www.natradioco.com/rdey/ant20m.txt) and the three-turn, four-foot 
square mini-loop for 40m (http://www.natradioco.com/rdey/ant40m.htm) were both 
time-tested already. A linear-loaded 20m dipole that I made from two Slinky 
Juniors last year had not been used on the air previously, but performed well. 
It had a broadband SWR of 1.5:1 that was flat across the entire CW portion of 
the band. See construction details of the TinyTenna at 
http://www.natradioco.com/Nrsups.htm (TinyTenna_RLD.pdf). After having trouble 
making just two contacts with the 20m MFJ Cub 2W transceiver, we checked the 
RF output with an analog 6W power meter and saw no needle movement at all. The 
RF power amplifier transistor must have been damaged earlier (during 
modification of two resistor values in the audio chain the day before - see 
photo), and we were transmitting with only a few milliwatts, which was 
verified with a second meter. At this point, I switched over to the Icom 
IC-706MkIIg that I set for a 5W output. John, N2PHX ran his Yaesu FT-817 into 
the Outbacker Outreach 500 vertical antenna from last year and worked a few 
phone stations on SSB (20m & 40m). I worked CW on 20m & 40m, and voice on 20m 
USB, using all three homebrew antennas. I forgot to build my new SWL Rock-Mite 
20m CW transceiver kit from last year, so that rig will have to wait for next 
Field Day. Until then, 73! Rob, KA2BEO.