Glendora Emergency Response Communications

Field Day Planning Continues, Part 3

Jun 22, 2004

May 4, 2004

Who will attend?

Well it looks like we will have a good turn out for our very first attempt at Field Day on June 26 for the Glendora Emergency Response Communications group. So far, 14 hams have signed up to participate in Field Day, so the number including family members and the public could easily top 30.

When does it start?

Field day officially commences at 1800 UTC Saturday, June 26, 2004 which is 11:00 am PDT our time. Although the ARRL operating period is through 2100 hrs UTC Sunday, we will join the contest from 11 am until 8 pm on Saturday. By the way, according to ARRL rules, no Field Day station may begin their set-up earlier than 1800 UTC (11 am) on the Friday preceding the contest period.

Operating stations:

As of this bulletin we have the following operators with their equipment lined up:

Andy, W6LDS, HF beam on a mobile tower. I hope Andy plans to set up on 20 meters, probably the most popular and reliable HF band for Field Day.

Rob, KE6YGF, is planning setting up his equipment for 2 meters SSB and APRS, using a horizontal beam, and also 220 MHz.

Don, KF6HZX, my son, will be operating 10 meters USB using a rotatable dipole, specially designed for field use.

Keith, KG6TPU, is planning to try HFusing a long wire, although I'm not sure of what band he will use.

Ray, KE6DOJ, 440 Mhz FM, on a vertical antenna.

We welcome and invite everyone, whether you are a ham or not, to participate in operating and logging at any of these stations or to set up your own station. All stations will operate under the W6LDS call sign for the entire Field Day event. Our location will be at 2021 East Route 66 in the west parking lot.

RV'ers staying overnight:

So far I have confirmed that Andy, W6LDS will be bringing his fifth wheel trailer. In addition, Rob, KE6YGF will be bringing his motor home.

Power Sources

We hopefully can run battery chargers off of Andy's and Rob's generators, thus keeping within the ARRL rules that specifically prohibit using commercial power mains. I will bring my Honda 800 watt generator to charge batteries as well.

I request that we use Anderson Power Poles to connect radio equipment to 12 volt batteries or power supplies, so all power sources can be interchangeable. This will go a long way to getting the emergency preparedness standardization we should have for the Glendora Emergency Response Communications group. I will have 25 sets of Power Poles available free at the May and/or June meetings.

Pop-Up Canopies:

We need at least 6 pop-up canopies, one for each transmitting location, one for the PR table, and one for the BBQ and one for dining. Dave, KE6TPP, will bring 2 pop-up canopies (10ft x 10ft), and can perhaps get us another one or two. Andy will bring his pop-up canopy (12ft x 12ft), and I will bring my pop-up canopy (10ftx 10ft) Andy and Rob each has awnings on their rigs.

Fire Safety:

I still have not located 2 fire extinguishers, so I may have to purchase them. Also I'll bring a garden hose assuming we have way to turn on the outside water at the Stake building.

Trash:

We will also will need trash barrels placed around the field day site.

Barbeque:

Roy, KG6RGD will line up a barbeque or two for the Saturday afternoon cook-out. And hopefully a menu and the cost per person can be announced at the May meeting.

Tables and chairs:

Information and first aid - 2 tables.
BBQ service - 2 tables
W6LDS - 2 tables
KE6YGF - 2 tables
KF6HZX - 1 table
KG6TPP - 1 table
KE6DOJ - 1 table

Chairs:

I would say we need 4 chairs at each station. 24 in all, but some of us will bring more comfortable lawn chairs.


Info Table:

Carolyn, KG6RFJ and Jonathan, KG6TPZ are in charge of staffing the info table which will also serve as the first aid table and coordinator's location. Also we will display some radio operator's survival gear. I will have log sheets and signs made up for each station. The table will be located near the entrance to our cordoned-off area. We will provide fluorescent tape to tie to any guy wires, etc. for safety.

Field Day Shirts and Pins:

Field Day T shirts and pins are available while supplies last from the ARRL. See the ARRL website at www.ARRL.org for their product catalog ordering information. Maybe next year if there is interest for these items, we can submit a group order and save shipping costs.

73 DE KF6DSA

ps: for those of you that read this after Field Day, how did we do? You can leave a comment on the discussion area of this website.