Another year goes by. This is the 8th time I have supported Amateur Radio Field Day here in Howard County. It’s the 20th anniversary of W3AO being on the air for the 24 hour event.
I want to write more about what goes on, down in the trenches, to make any large event like this, composed completely of volunteers, successful. I could call this year’s effort “Doing More with Less”. Less people in total. Less stations set up. This year the club dropped down to 16 Alpha. That means, capability to simultaneously transmit on 16 radios, using generators as power.
A cheat sheet on one of the computers. You try to contact as many regions, as many states and provinces, as you can, during the 24 hour operating period. When you establish a radio contact, you exchange the following information. Their call sign. Their number of transmitters and a letter that tells you if they are using generators, batteries, are mobile or at home using commercially supplied power. Their section. We are MDC, Maryland/District of Columbia region.
The interesting thing about our set up is the sheer number of portable crank up towers. Twelve in all.
On Friday, three small teams of volunteers put up the towers, build the antennas, roll out the coaxial cables and it all fits inside a 300 meter diameter circle on the property between two county schools. They also string wire antennas between some of the towers. Additionally, we set up a satellite communication capability.
It’s fun to head down there when a satellite comes within range and watch them track and make contact with other operators while the satellite remains “open” to both stations.
Things inside the main tent are also interesting. It’s a juxtaposition of really old and really new. As in the Windows dinosaur computers, in order to use logging software, called CT. It doesn’t work on newer operating systems. Put that next to a “K3”, one of the fanciest radios out there, and it becomes one very jarring visual.
Band captains bring their own radios. Their keyers. Their headphones. Sometimes their monitors and other accessories. They don’t mess around.
We set up three generators, and the county loans us a spare, in order to power all this “Stuff”.
And you thought setting up your TV/VCR was complicated?
Really, though, I have such a great time watching this all come together in order to have a successful weekend.
It’s a great team. More in another post in the next few days. Incuding, logistics, and scoring.
Otherwise, the official team photograph.
AnnieRie Unplugged 
What are the demographics of the amateur radio enthusiasts? I hope enough people in the younger generations are interested to keep it strong for emergency services.
It’s skewed pretty old. There are a few younger participants, but computers and the internet have replaced much of what was done on radio. Cell phones keep people in touch, not handheld VHF radios, or dash mounted ones.
Still, the wonder of the science behind it entices a small group of people. Enough to keep us going.
I think the “new” digital modes are going to keep the interest up because it merges radio with computers. I went to a class on FT-8 a while back and it was full of young people.