ARRL Midwest Division Newsletter August 2017 St. Louis QRP Society Field Day 2017 by Jeff Logullo, N0MII In a word... Wow! Field Day 2017, St. Louis QRP Society edition, will go down in history as one of the finest Field Days ever. We had several "firsts," each of which would have made Field Day a good one. But put them all together, and wow -- it's gonna be tough to beat! Mock Field Day — Antenna Dry Run This was not the first time we’ve used O’Connor Park as our FD site, but we were planning to have a wider variety of antennas this year. Rod Koch WA9GQT and I decided it might make sense to pay one more preliminary visit to the site and do an antenna “dry run.” We wanted to see if his 40m half-square and my bi-square for 15m would interfere with each other. We met at the park the week before, and were joined by Jon Poland N0WL. The three of us got the antennas raised, radios connected, and made some quick test transmissions. Just in time to start ripping things down, with due haste, as our phones had begun sounding a severe weather alarm. We were treated to an amazing (and unnerving) lightning show, first to the east of us, followed immediately by strikes to our west, all at distances of 1,000 yards or less. I’ve never seen lightning strikes that close before! Weather Mention "Field Day" and what's one of the first things a St. Louis ham thinks of? Heat. Sweltering heat. And humidity too, right? Now with that as the backdrop, layer in an obligatory thunderstorm or two. It's just a given. Right? Not this year. The temperature was much lower than average. When we arrived Saturday the temperature was a very pleasant 77; our high that day was only 82 with low humidity. And for most of the duration, we had a pleasant breeze. How many of us remember sweat dripping off our noses onto the FD log sheets? Not this year! In addition, we had not one single drop of rain. I can only attribute it to our Mock Field Day, which must have tricked Mother Nature into bringing her worst a week early. If that’s what happen ed, then I think we need to follow this strategy from now on.
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ARRL Midwest Division Newsletter
August 2017
St. Louis QRP Society Field Day 2017 by Jeff Logullo, N0MII
In a word... Wow! Field Day 2017, St. Louis QRP Society edition, will go down in history as one of
the finest Field Days ever. We had several "firsts," each of which would have made Field Day a
good one. But put them all together, and wow -- it's gonna be tough to beat!
Mock Field Day — Antenna Dry Run
This was not the first time we’ve used O’Connor Park as our FD site, but we were planning to
have a wider variety of antennas this year. Rod Koch WA9GQT and I decided it might make
sense to pay one more preliminary visit to the site and do an antenna “dry run.” We wanted to see
if his 40m half-square and my bi-square for 15m would interfere with each other. We met at the
park the week before, and were joined by Jon Poland N0WL. The three of us got the antennas
raised, radios connected, and made some quick test transmissions. Just in time to start ripping
things down, with due haste, as our phones had begun sounding a severe weather alarm. We
were treated to an amazing (and unnerving) lightning show, first to the east of us, followed
immediately by strikes to our west, all at distances of 1,000 yards or less. I’ve never seen lightning
strikes that close before!
Weather
Mention "Field Day" and what's one
of the first things a St. Louis ham
thinks of? Heat. Sweltering heat.
And humidity too, right? Now with
that as the backdrop, layer in an
obligatory thunderstorm or two. It's
just a given. Right? Not this year.
The temperature was much lower
than average. When we arrived
Saturday the temperature was a
very pleasant 77; our high that day was only 82 with low humidity. And for most of the duration,
we had a pleasant breeze. How many of us remember sweat dripping off our noses onto the FD
log sheets? Not this year!
In addition, we had not one single drop of rain. I can only attribute it to our Mock Field Day, which
must have tricked Mother Nature into bringing her worst a week early. If that’s what happened,
then I think we need to follow this strategy from now on.
ARRL Midwest Div. Newsletter— Aug. 2017 p. 2
The Setup — Main Pavilion
The morning setup crew started arriving around 10am Saturday. Keith Arns KC0PP was first on
the scene, and soon the many pieces of the Mosley TA-33 Jr. were laid out and began to take
shape. By the time the beam was bolted together, the mast and guys were laid out, and the
ground anchor was in place, we had a quorum ready for an antenna raising party. Keith affixed
an American Flag to the top of the mast, and up she went! The beam at 25’, complete with
“Armstrong” rotator, was to be our 20M antenna.
Rod KA9GQT was now ready to launch the corners of his half-square… but to which trees? I
looked up and realized that the 20m three element beam was bigger than I had planned for. So
Rod simply set his sights to the south a bit, chose another tree, and got his antenna headed
skyward.
Meanwhile I’d begun unrolling an 80m dipole I’d lashed together a few nights before. I wanted a
proper common mode choke, and the toroids I’d ordered had just arrived in time. I’d put the
finishing touches on the antenna the night before, and was looking forward to giving it a go.
After a few misfires with my antenna cannon (first time using it in the wind!) I got the antenna
where I wanted it… but the antenna analyzer kept saying ‘nyet’. Hmm. Dave Gauding NF0R
fetched a screwdriver and quickly found the problem: the RG-58 I’d used to wind the choke was
suffering a broken center conductor. Next time I’ll leave a little more slack! We got it patched up
and ready for action.
We then turned our attention to 15m. I wasn’t too hopeful about band conditions for 15, but I’d
been dreaming about putting up a bi-square for a few months. I have WA9GQT to thank for
sharing the QST article (June 1998 p.30) and putting the idea in my head. It’s pretty tall, and
pretty big, but we got it up and staked down.
Our “bread and butter” HF bands for CW were ready to go!
The Setup — SSB Annex
Another first for the club this year was to try setting up a second operating location—staying
within the 1,000 ft. circle per FD rules, but separate from the pavilion where the CW operation
would take place. The hope was that if we had both SSB and CW operations on the same
ARES is alive and well in Lancaster County, Nebraska. LARC President Ed Holloway KØRPT invited me out to visit the 2017 Field Day site and see what the Lincoln Amateur Radio Club had set up for this year. My wife Cathy KCØVET and I arrived on the site and were welcomed and shown the variety of Emergency type setups the club had set up to be utilized on Field Day 2017.
The Lincoln Amateur Radio Club and the ARRL Annual Field Day Event has become known in Lincoln and Lancaster County as the Mobile Emergency Readiness Exercise. LARC, Lancaster County Emergency Management, and other Emergency Readiness Clubs and Agencies put together an exceptional array of
portable antennas, generators, and emergency lighting systems to begin operating on Field Day 2017 Saturday until operations ceased on Field Day 2017 Sunday.
Ed Holloway KØRPT President of the Lincoln Amateur Radio Club said that this year was going to be an exceptional year for Field Day Operations, and we were not disappointed. Ed worked his magic on the hamburgers and hot dogs for the hungry Hams for the Saturday evening nourishment, and the Sunday morning Breakfast. LARC put on an exceptional Field Day for 2017 to include Transmitter Hunts on site with 3 hidden transmitters, 2 transmitters were found by the team of KEØNC & KDØRIY, and the other transmitter was found by KCØPOC. Four (4) transmitters were used this year for the Field Day Ops. Greg KTØK made 714 CW contacts alone, and there were over 110 Digital contacts, 1068 Phone contacts, and a total of 1892 contacts for the weekend activity.
From the portable Tri-Band beam and portable tower, to the perfectly tuned dipoles, to the tall Verticals, the club members put their training to good use making contact with all areas of the US and many DX stations. These kind of operations in a real situation, normally demand 24 hour a day operation to assist with communications needed for health and safety, locating relatives in devastated areas, passing health and welfare traffic, and the gathering of public officials that have to get messages in and out of the devastated area involved.
This years Field Day Committee extended invitations to City of Lincoln Officials, and Lancaster County Officials. One Lincoln City Councilman attended as well as Two Lancaster County Commissioners. LARC had 80 total participants, as well as many visitors and a contingent of future hams from the Grand Island area to provide assistance and help as needed. This was an experience unlike others for the future of Ham Radio in Nebraska. Lancaster County Emergency Management Agency is a willing partner in this annual event with the Lincoln Amateur Radio Club (LARC). They provided the emergency generators, emergency lighting systems, and trailers full of equipment to handle Emergency Communications Setups as needed. Jim Davidsaver is the Lancaster County Emergency Manager, and has
provided his agencies equipment to the Lincoln Amateur Radio Club for Field Day and Emergency Operations as needed. The Lincoln Salvation Army’s SATERN organization an ARRL Affiliated Club also provided a portable, fully equipped, communications trailer and ran the GOTA station for LARC.
Photos by Catherine Rech KCØVET
ARRL Midwest Div. Newsletter— Aug. 2017 p. 8
Cedar Valley ARC (Iowa) Field Day 2017
by Elizabeth Caldwell, N0UTP
The Adora Christian Community (www.adoracommunity.com) was half way through their summer
trimester. Five students had just completed a unit on electricity, magnetism, and circuits. During
the two weeks leading up to field day, each participant built a Four State QRP ZZRX-40 receiver
kit. By June 24, it was time to hook up an antenna and check out the receivers.
Students and their instructor Dr. Elizabeth Caldwell (N0UTP) packed up their equipment and
traveled to Clark Park in Hiawatha, IA where the Cedar Valley Amateur Radio Club hosted a
Field Day site. With help from N0LNO (Bill Caldwell), KC0YGW (Christopher Caldwell), and other
HAM operators, the radio receivers were tuned up and tested. As a bonus the Adora Community
students were able to make contacts on the 40 meter SSB station located in the Linn County
Emergency Management Agency (EMA) field operations shelter.
Student built ZZRX-40 Receivers Donovan Herrod and Jordy Mairakiza watch radio tests
We do have the Salina Hamfest/ARRL convention coming up.
Also, an item of what I consider to be of import, the Ladies on the Air net, out of Wichita, KS, has
recently surpassed the first year mark of their Tuesday evening net. Congratulations could be
given there, and they are considering expanding and enlarging the group to off the air endeavors
on topics such as Safety, Contesting, Net Control functions, Antenna construction, soldering,
other building techniques, just to mention a few things. The ladies are busy studying for
upgrades, with one achieving Extra class from General, and two going from Technician to
General, and studying for another upgrade.
Members of the WARC (Wichita Amateur Radio Club) are going to set up out in the field for the
solar eclipse on the 21st for propagation studies.
August 2nd the Wichita Amateur Radio Club has representatives from Yaesu to explain/comment
on Fusion and Wires modes of their radios. This will be at the Red Cross Building in Wichita, Ks
at 6:30 PM, all are welcome to attend.
The McPherson, KS ARC along with the Newton, KS ARC provided communications for a
bicycle race/ride, the Mobray Metric starting and ending in McPherson, Ks. There were 20, 40
and 60 mile courses, and operators provided Sag comm along with rovers.
The Hutchinson, KS radio club (RCKARA) held a Radio in the Park meeting, where they have an
impromptu buy, sell, swap meeting, open to anyone and everyone. Very hot weather for that
one!!
ARRL Midwest Div. Newsletter— Aug. 2017 p. 14
Around the Midwest Division - Here and There -
WW1USA July Event Report
by Herb Fiddick, NZØF
Event number 14 for WW1USA was completed last weekend. In spite of really bad band
conditions, a total of 18 different operators logged 1590 contacts for the weekend. All but 18 of
those contacts were on 20 meters due to conditions.
The breakdown of contacts:
1525 Phone
60 CW
5 Digital (PSK-31)
The vast majority of our contacts for this event were US, but we did manage to work 101 non-US
stations including some interesting DX (Panama, Christmas Island).
This event featured a local CW station - a first for our indoor operations. That station was pretty
effective, and I think the operators were generally pleased with the setup for that station.
However. It suffered from the same poor band conditions and was also not staffed much of the
time.
Through 14 events, WW1USA has logged 17,665 contacts.
WW1USA wishes to thank all the operators who participated and the other hams that came by to
visit and observe. Our next event is scheduled to be an outdoor event and will be held on
October 14-15. That event will be special as it commemorates the first engagement of US
troops in combat operations in the fall of 1917.
Let us know if you have questions or comments.
ARRL Midwest Div. Newsletter— Aug. 2017 p.15
Midwest Division Special Event Stations
08/19/2017 | Andrew Jackson Higgins Memorial at Columbus Days Aug 19, 1400Z-1800Z, WA0COL, Columbus, NE. Pawnee Amateur Radio Club. 14.270 7.250. QSL.
Pawnee Amateur Radio Club, via LoTW or C/O Chris Augustine, 1421 14th Street , Columbus, NE
68601. sites.google.com/site/pawneearc
08/20/2017 | AA0RC Solar Eclipse Party Aug 20-Aug 21, 1700Z-2100Z, AA0RC, Mexico, MO. Audrain Emergency Communications Inc.. 14.240
7.265 3.980 3.970. Certificate. Mike Wood, 22374 Audrain Rd.320, Mexico, MO 65265. Will begin
operating 12noon Sunday until 6pm. Will begin operating 10.00am Monday until 4pm. www.aecimo.org
08/20/2017 | Near Zero Sunlite, Great American Eclipse, Crystal City, MO
Aug 20-Aug 22, 1400Z-2200Z, N0S, Crystal City, MO. Jefferson County Amateur Radio Club. 14.300
7.250 3.850. QSL. Jim Berger, 131 Ozark Drive, Crystal City, MO 63019. SASE Required for
QSL www.jcarcmo.org
08/21/2017 | K0E Eclipse Special Event Station
Aug 21, 1500Z-1930Z, K0E, Harrison, NE. Black Hills Amateur Radio Club. 14.280 14.260 443.850 146.2
Call in. QSL. Black Hills Amateur Radio Club, 3288 Sandstone Lane, Rapid City, SD 57701. Grid
DN82bq www.w0blk.com
08/21/2017 | Total Eclipse Across America Aug 21, 1500Z-1900Z, W0E, Saint Joseph, MO. Missouri Valley Amateur Radio Club. 14.260 14.044
7.260 7.050. QSL. Missouri Valley ARC, 4409 North 29th Terrace, Saint Joseph, MO 64506. Celebrating
center of country / center of 2017 eclipse totality.
08/27/2017 | Hollenberg Pony Express Festival Celebrating the 156th Anniversary of the Pony Express Aug 27, 1430Z-2100Z, K0ASA, Hanover, KS. Crown Amateur Radio Association. 18.085 14.245 14.045
7.045. Certificate & QSL. Crown Amateur Radio Association, 11551 W 176th Ter, Overland Park, KS
66221. www.arrlmidwest.org/ponyexpress.html
09/09/2017 | Great American Market Sep 9, 1300Z-2100Z, W0EMP, Emporia, KS. Emporia Amateur Radio Society. 14.270 7.270; 146.985 FM
repeater; 146.580 FM simplex. QSL. Dwight Moore, KD0OIX, 22452 S Stubbs Rd, Quenemo, KS 66528.
Community celebration for downtown Emporia, KS. Help us introduce Ham radio to the
08/06/2017 | Cedar Valley Amateur Radio Club Hamfest Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Cedar Valley Amateur Radio Club (CVARC) Website: http://www.w0gq.org
08/13/2017 | SCARC Hamfest Location: O'Fallon, MO Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: St. Charles Amateur Radio Club Website: http://wb0hsi.org/
08/20/2017 - Kansas State Convention Location: Salina, KS Type: ARRL Convention Sponsor: Central Kansas Amateur Radio Club Website: http://www.W0CY.org
08/26/2017 | 2017 Joplin Hamfest Location: Joplin, MO Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Joplin Amateur Radio Club Website: http://www.joplinhamfest.org
09/16/2017 | AK-SAR-BEN Amateur Radio Club Flea-Esta Location: Springfield, NE Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Ak-Sar-Ben Amateur Radio Club Website: http://www.aksarbenarc.org
09/23/2017 - Iowa State Convention Location: Sergeant Bluff, IA Type: ARRL Convention Sponsor: Sooland Amateur Radio Association & Dakota County Amateur Radio Club
10/01/2017 | Southeast Iowa Hamfest Location: West Liberty, IA Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Muscatine & Washington Area Amateur Radio Clubs Website: http://www.waarc.net/hamfest.html
10/21/2017 | SouthSide ARC Hamfest Location: Belton, MO Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: SouthSide Amateur Radio Club Website: http://southsidehamfest.com
10/28/2017 | 26th Annual Halloween Hamfest Location: Kirkwood, MO Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Saint Louis Amateur Radio Club Website: http://www.halloweenhamfest.org
11/04/2017 | Northeast Nebraska Hamfest Location: Norfolk, NE Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Elkhorn Valley Amateur Radio Club Website: http://www.qsl.net/evarc
11/04/2017 | Raytown ARC Hamfest Location: Kansas City, MO Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Raytown Amateur Radio Club Website: http://K0GQ.com
11/11/2017 | Nixa Amateur Radio Club Hamfest - NARCfest 2017 Location: Nixa, MO Type: ARRL Hamfest Sponsor: Nixa Amateur Radio Club Website: https://smlrs.info/hamfest-information/