My friend Harold asked if I’d like to write an article for QST, the ham radio magazine published by the American Radio Relay League. Being foolish, I said “yes.”
It’s a non-technical overview of antennas for Field Day, a yearly ham radio emergency preparedness exercise.
Truth is, if you’re not a ham, it will be deadly boring. If you are, it might still be boring, but it’s attached at the jump (below).
Unlike most of the other ARRL operating events, Field Day is not contest. It is elegantly disguised emergency prep! It’s right there in the Field Day Rules:
Operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. A premium is placed on developing skills to meet the challenges of emergency preparedness as well as to acquaint the general public with the capabilities of Amateur Radio.
Scores are posted, but there’s no winner
I didn’t really get to do field day last year due to a family wedding…
This year, however, I’ve been invited to a really cool Field Day site by the engineer of one of the local radio stations.
-A
Excellent article! It motivated me to operate Field day this year.
73,
Stan, WA1LOU
This entry took be back some years. My father was a Ham (WA1ALB) and he used a bow and arrow to run antenna lines up into the trees. I think many of the arrows ended up on the neighbor’s roof. (yikes) Many of the wires are now embedded in those trees as the trees have grown around them. My sister and I never picked up the hobby, but my sister’s husband is a ham – N1OLO – quoted in your article.
Fun to read about…brought back memories.