EI5IX: SSB Field Day - 6 &7 September 2008

SSB Field Day

6 &7 September 2008

By EI9JA

From 13:00 UTC Saturday to 13:00 UTC Sunday

After a few suggestions and many comments as to where we would set up our station for the SSB Field Day, http://www.irts.ie/cgi/irts_c.cgi we agreed to go back to our favourite place Slieve Cairn IO53LU. For the reasons being, that we would take part in the MRG SSB VHF/UHF Challenge http://www.geocities.com/ei2mrg the next day, Sunday 7^th September after the SSB Contest.

It had been six days since we were here. The rain that week had made the track very wet and slippery, much worse than the previous week.

The Sun was shining as we set about to find a place to put our antenna. We had decided to put up a light weight antenna and had brought along all the material to do so. Jimmy, EI2GCB, decided on the location and screwed the base (purchased from ALDI in Castlebar!) for our pole into the bog. We had one of those fishing poles (another great purchase from ALDI!) to support our antenna. As you can see only the best and most sophisticated equipment was used!!! The antenna was made from two lengths (15.54m approx) of copper wire cut for a dipole, and an egg insulator with a roll of orange builders’ line attached at both ends. An open wire feeder, 300 ohm ribbon (10.36m) was attached and this was what we had to couple to the RG213 cable, to link to our radio in the van, that was now to be referred to as the “shack”!! We fitted some clamps on ferrite noise suppressors, to prevent RFI near the joint. With everything in place, I attached the centre piece near the top of the fishing pole with a few cable ties and then extended the sections one by one, making sure to twist lock them as they extended. As all this was going on, there was a gale brewing and this is where the fun began!!

Jimmy, EI2GCB, and Shauna, SWL, was holding the lines attached to the dipoles. John, EI3JM, with a line for a back stay all struggled to either pull or release as we shouted orders at each other. The fishing rod bent and flexed and would do everything but stand up straight. I cursed and dammed it and swore that, the next time I would have something more ridged, (well after all it is for fishing, stupid!), as we battled with the wind, which was now bending the pole into the shape of a C . After a half an hour of flexing and twisting, we got it tied. It looked like a “banana,” but it was up, or nearly was anyway! At this stage, patience had worn thin and we would settle for anything that would be off the ground, even the bent fishing rod. We had not checked the antenna before putting it up, but we were hoping the gods would look favourable on us! After connecting the analyser to it, they did. We connected up to the Icom 706 MK2g, and got up and running. With such a struggle to get on air, we found out the contest was well on. The conditions must be good, as the signals were very strong, up and down the bands, and reports were up in the high numbers from central Europe, as we tried to get into a rhythm, running 60-80watts to save on battery power. We concentrated on 20meters; it was the busiest band and got the contacts in the log.

Jimmy EI2GCB was crowned “hero of the day”, because we were in for a surprise! He had brought along the “FOOD”. The beautiful smell from the barbecue filled the shack and the sandpit where we had parked the van. As the fresh pork chops, burgers and a mixture of different flavoured sausages and onions wafted threw the camo it reminded us that we were starving, the contest now was on who would be fed first! The man at the helm, John, EI3JM, was operating the station, and needed to be fed so it was agreed. “That was beautiful” he said as he was handed more. Those who have eaten barbecued food, knows how delicious it tastes out in the open and ours was even better on top of a cold mountain. “Try it”...

Everybody got well fed and watered; it tasted so beautiful I nearly bit off my fingers eating my share. “Top marks Jimmy”.

David, EI3ECB, called around to lend a hand, being our entry was into the restricted section we had only one radio and one antenna and that was all that was in operation. Sorry David, maybe next time! Even though he was disappointed that he could be of no help, he assured me it was worth his while; he got some wonderful photos of the country side, and had a bit of crack with the group. As he left, I heard him saying this looks like fun, “let me know, in advance, when the next Field Day is”.

Darkness soon covered us, and with a clear sky over us, it soon got very cold. We donned our jackets and closed up the windows and doors of the van and settled in for a few hours of contesting. John, EI3JM, had done his term on radio, and together with Shauna, they left for home. Jimmy, EI2GCB, took over the station. After a few hours, we noticed that our power had dropped considerably. Our batteries were failing and needed charging; perhaps it was time to call it a night? We considered connecting to the battery of the van and start it and keep it running. It would serve two purposes, to keep the battery charged but most of all heat up the surroundings! I did that, but shortly after, we disconnected the cable from the radio and YES headed for home with the intentions of being back in the morning…. early!

Jimmy, EI2GCB, was on the mountain early and got a station running, conditions had changed with some of the bands he worked the previous day. He found 40m and 20m were very busy, with short openings on 15m and 10m.

John, EI3JM, was next to get there. He took over operating the radio while Jimmy fired up the barbecue once more for the breakfast. John, EI5GHB, got to the top of the mountain ahead of Shauna and me. We were greeted with the full Monty, chops, rashers, sausages, burgers, and yes “the mushrooms” he had even brought along the kitchen sink. “Grub ready” did not have to be repeated, as the word spread around. So good was the breakfast, that the radio was abandoned for a period while we dined in the sunshine. On behalf of everybody “Thank you Jimmy” it was greatly appreciated.

With everybody fed and watered once more, all hands were on deck. We proceeded to assemble the 2 meter and 70 centimetre antennas for the MRG VHF / UHF Challenge 2008 starting at 1500 hrs to 1800 hrs. Our jigsaw takes time to complete, but we are improving. No need for the ropes today, it was another beautiful morning; you could light and burn a match it was so calm. Little did I know that, by the end of the Challenge I was going to have LUMPS on me as big as marbles. I never seen or felt such large “So an So midges” before. Don’t talk to me about them I still have the marks! Up she goes, and yes, she turns. All set for BLAST off. All while we were putting up the tower, John, EI3JM, was working away in the van.

In a short time, the contest had finished and the bands had an eerie silence all over them. It reminded me of the calm after the storm.

We released the ties on the fishing rod, and it straightened up in the air. If only we had conditions yesterday similar to the calm and sunshine of today. Life would have been much, much, nicer. Needless to say, removing the antenna today was much quicker than putting it up the day previous; such is the joys of radio Hi. Hi.

There would only be a short break between the contests, so we had work for doing.

We had to relocate the “shack” (van) as the tower was setup near the top of the mountain. The dry days had improved the track. With a light foot on the hammer I scratched my way up to where we were the Sunday previous and got hooked up for the challenge.

“Conditions were poor”, and contacts were scarce, even though we had perfect swr on our antennas, we thought we had a problem and dropping the tower to double check everything, even changed radio’s, but still no improvement, was it just a bad day?......We did not know how bad those midges were biting until we went outside, the protection of the van had saved us from them. What I would give if only we could hook up and drive away!! It had to come down and be dismantled again (anything that fitted in the van or jeep went in whole). We finally got it all packed away and we were ready for off.

As we drove into the sunset off the mountain, we chatted to some of our good friends through the repeater, about the events and what beautiful weather we had for the weekend. Tired but content that everything was a brilliant success.

A memorable two days was had by all who participated in the field days, and many thanks to everybody who played a part.

The team EI7MRE/P, was made up of Jimmy Kelly EI2GCB, John McAndrew EI3JM, Padraic Baynes EI9JA, and Shauna Baynes SWL. David Hatfield EI3ECB and John Walsh EI5GHB came along and joined in the occasion.

Sín é

dah di dah

73s

Padraig Baynes, EI9JA.