ARRL Field Day Expedition June 28-29, 2008

Some participants will arrive on Friday afternoon and will spend the night getting ready for the start on Saturday. 

Thanks to Terry KIØFW for the map.

Friday, June 22nd, (l-r) Thanks to Steve WØTNT, of the  Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, seen here shaking hands with BAARC President Lyle KØLFV, for helping make our stay at the site possible.  Also there on Friday were Skee WØDCY, David KCØTGT, and Mark WØMH.

The scenery is excellent from this site.  In this case, the camera is pointed west to Brainerd, MN.

Thanks also to Debby and Larry Goble, of Gobles Sewer Service, for supplying a toilet facility for the BAARC crew .  Debby is the daughter of John KBØRW of Aitkin, MN, who passed away a few years ago.  The service was provided, at a reduced rate, in John's memory.

Click on each photo for a better/larger view.

Click on each photo for a better/larger view.

Saturday, June 23rd, (l-r) Tom WØQF and Jim WØIRE set the portable power generator in place.

There is a problem here!! (l-r) Lyle KØLFV is told by Charles W5CCL that a compass reads way-off in this location because of the heavy concentration of iron ore.  We need to find north so we can set the beam rotor. 

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The crew gets the club's 3-element 20 through 10-meter beam ready to go on the tilt-over tower, which is on a trailer.

Finally, Old Glory flies high above the beam at the Field Day site. 

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The group gets together for a quick photo in front of the BAARC Communications Trailer before completing the work.

Skee WØDCW is on the air as quick has he can in front of his camper-trailer near the Communications Trailer.  He even talked with an aeronautical-mobile flying over Kansas.

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(l-r) Steve KCØYTE and  Mark WØMH in the BAARC Communications Trailer making 20 meter SSB contacts.

Greg NØLJY operated 6 meters and up from a table next to his vehicle.

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(l-r) Steve WØTNT, Brian KØEOU, and Jim KCØWME operated at the top of the hill using battery power.

Brian KØEOU recently purchased a Yaesu FT-897 HF rig and was showing off his skill in using the "mic-key" feature where two buttons on the microphone can be used as dit and dah CW keys.

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Everyone helps everyone.  (l-r) Brian KØEOU, Lyle KØLFV (video camera man), Terry KIØFW, John WØJGY, visitor Lewis Gasink, and Skee WØDCY work on John's new delta-loop antenna. 

What Field Day would be complete without a camp fire? 

Thanks to Skee WØDCY for bringing the wood.

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Nightfall came and the BAARC Communications Trailer is alive with activity especially on  40 meters.   

(l-r)  John WØJGY and his wife Terri making contacts on 20 meters.

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(l-r) Paula WØHA and Roger WØWUG make 20 meter contacts. 

Tom WØQF was the most diligent operator.  He made 157 CW contacts by spreading his activity over all HF bands until 3 AM on Sunday. 

Click on each photo for a better/larger view.

In total, 310 contacts were made on Field Day by the Brainerd Area Amateur Radio Club.   

Those participating this year included John WØJGY, John’s wife Terri (no call sign yet), Charles W5CCL, Lyle KØLFV, Skee WØDCY, Curt NØCRM, Curt’s son Steve KCØYTE, Dave KCØTGT, Mark WØMH, Paula WØHA, Terry KIØFW, Gary KØPOW, Tom WØQF, Jim KCØWME, Steve WØTNT, Jim WØIRE, Roger WØWUG, Greg NØLJY, and Brian KØEOU.

Terry KIØFW built an 80 meter horizontal loop, John WØJGY brought a new 40 through 10 meter vertical loop, and Skee brought a new 80 through 10 meter GAP vertical.    

There was a write-up in the Brainerd Dispatch newspaper and a nice mention on KLKS Radio in Breezy Point, MN.  Both brought visitors to the site.  That included Ray KØMRM of McGregor, Terry KBØOFM of St. Paul, Blenda Hagberg (no callsign yet) from KLKS Radio, and curious members of the general public.

Thanks to Debby and Larry Goble, of Gobles Sewer Service, for supplying a toilet facility for the BAARC crew .  Debby is the daughter of John KBØRW of Aitkin, MN, who passed away a few years ago.  The service was provided, at a reduced rate, in John's memory.

The weather was great with overcast skies for most of Saturday.  Temperatures reached the high 80's but it was pleasant because of a light wind.  

Lyle KØLFV  was the BAARC 2007 Field Day Operations Chairman.