CQ Field Day, CQ Field Day….

CQ Field Day, CQ Field Day….

By Glenn Petri KE4KY

As we near the month of June, most Amateur Radio clubs turn their attention to the annual ARRL Field Day radio event.  Since 1933, Amateur Radio enthusiasts across the States venture out of their comfort zones and operate in many different public venues.  Thousands of individuals, small groups, and radio clubs strike portable Amateur Radio stations in parks, camping areas, farms, large fields, churches, government buildings, and the like to celebrate this “on-air” operating event.

Ralph Wettle W4HK & Glenn Petri KE4KY (CW Station)

Since the early days of Amateur Radio, the operator and his radio has long been a source of secondary communications during times of local or statewide disaster events.  The history of Amateur Radio is replete with accounts where the Radio Amateur, coupled with a served agency or group, has responded to a need for communicators thereby rendering assistance  during a short-lived absence of standard communication avenues.  During most any natural disaster, or severe weather event, a corps of trained Amateur Radio volunteers is ready to serve and to fill a communication gap until professional disaster assistance arrives on the scene. 

The early Field Day events were geared mainly toward the mere physical exercise of getting “portable” stations on the air and completing as many contacts as possible over the prescribed period.  Upon seeing the success of the initial event, the ARRL determined to make this a yearly exercise.    Considering the equipment of the day, it must have been a monumental task for the equipment to go “afield.”  As the years progressed, the ARRL continued to add some additional nugget to the event to generate interest among the growing Amateur Radio ranks.  Although stymied by WWII, with no Field Day events from 1942 through 1945, the event was back on track in 1946.  Field Day has changed and morphed several times since its inception, with the look of the Field Day we see today beginning around 1950, with the advent of more extensive “rules” to govern the event as it grew in its popularity and in its scope. 

Given the advancements of radio equipment during World War II, Amateur Radio took leaps and bounds in its growth in the years that followed.  Naturally, going portable in those days became much easier, thus increasing the activity of the annual event.  As Field Day continues into the future, it is sure to see small changes here and there to keep itself viable given the state of current technology, and to keep the event relevant to the active Amateur Radio community.

Field Day is best described as a pie containing three slices….

1.     One part public service event

2.     One part social event

3.     One part contesting event

The club or group participating in the event is most suitable to determine how large any one slice of that pie should be.  One group may use the event purely for a social gathering with little emphasize on “radio” or even having a serious operating regimen.  The next group may be all out for the training value of setting up a series of stations in quick fashion to determine their abilities for serving a particular agency or community.  Another group may focus solely on achieving a high QSO count with a contest style approach to the outing, hoping to earn top billing in their state or region.  Whatever the approach, it all fits well within the scope of the event.

Buddy Sohl KC4WQ at the CW Station of KY4KY

Even after thirty-eight years of being involved in the Amateur Radio hobby, I still enjoy the many aspects of the Field Day challenge.  I am a semi-serious contester and love the competitive aspect of the event, but I am equally thrilled to see friends and mentors from my past that makes it out for some fun, food, and a little radio.  It is always good to reconnect with friends and acquaintances from years past, to reminisce about humble beginnings and the good times had over the many years.  The “team” aspect of the event is also very intriguing to me.  It is great to have a core group of friends that work so very hard to get stations assembled, antennas erected, generators operational, and computers interfaced.  My Field Day experiences prepared me well for many of the activities I encountered while on my first major DX-pedition to Campbell Island in 2012.  I likened our DX-pedition activities to a Field Day that lasted seven days!

Bill Scott NM4K Pounding out the CW Contacts

As you approach YOUR Field Day event, think about what it is YOU can do to make it better….for everyone!  It is imperative that everyone wishing to participate:

·       Provide input to the organizers in their areas of expertise

·       Be active in the planning of stations, antennas, etc…

·       Participate in the set-up and/or tear-down

·       Mentor the less experienced operator

·       Except coaching from the more experienced ops

·       Be positive, no matter what goes wrong

·       Get on the radio

I look forward to it every year…. I hope you will too!

See you on the air!

73!

The Bachelor....

The Bachelor…..

Really!  Is this what TV has been reduced to?  It is like a bad car wreck, you don’t want to look, but for some reason you are amazed at what you see.

Really and truly, it is a sad commentary on what people will do to get their 15 min. of fame.

Oh well..... Andy and Opie, Adam-12, EMERGENCY, Hillstreet Blues, and Barney Miller where are you?? 

Back to MEtv.

Honesty, Integrity

Interesting topic....Honesty & Integrity

Throughout life we are oft-confronted with issues that center around certain moral dilemmas, with honesty and integrity being at the top of the list.  How those situations are handled say so much about our character, or the character of others.  

Having recently dealt with an issue where dishonesty coupled with hidden motives were brought to light, I came to be very introspective about this issue of honesty.  I did some reading, some soul-searching, and some reflection hoping to resolve some feelings of anger and the wish for ill-will towards those that breached an important trust.  I hope that I come to the proper moral position regarding those that offended my trust, but I also know that the social repercussions suffered by those who do such things are initiated by their own web of deceit.



Proverbs 11:3  The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.

I'm not upset that you lied to me, I'm upset that from now on I can't believe you.
F. Nietzsche

When truth is replaced by silence, the silence is a lie. 
Y. Yevtushenko

I hold the maxim no less applicable to public than to private affairs, that honesty is the best policy. George Washington

Honest people are never touchy about the matter of being trusted.  
Ayn Rand

No legacy is so rich as honesty.  William Shakespeare

The glue that holds all relationships together -- including the relationship between the leader and the led is trust, and trust is based on integrity.  Brian Tracy

Proverbs 10:9  Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out.

"A DXer's Dream Come True!"

I finally took the time to compose an article for two organizations that wanted something for their web-based newsletters.  There was so much ground to cover, it seemed a daunting task to pare the article down into a reasonable length suitable for one's quick consumption.

I quickly determined that many aspects of the adventure were going to be left out, or not adequately covered.  The sheer number of pictures shared between team members were staggering, so I did my best effort to give a thumb-nail sketch regarding this radio expedition.

Please "click" on the ZL9HR 2012 tab above....I hope you enjoy it!

My First DXpedition Experience!!

As many of you may have known, I was selected as part of an international team of Amateur Radio Operators to participate in one of the year's larger radio expeditions....that of the ZL9HR 2012 Campbell Island NZ (OC-037) DXpedition.

Although it involved a substantial time away from home, it was an experience of a life-time for me.  As an avid Amateur Radio DXer, one who is involved with working other radio amateurs about the globe, it was an absolute thrill to be involved in the operational aspect of this radio expedition.  I cannot thank my wife, Valinda, enough for the understanding she has shown throughout this whole experience.  Since being selected for this Team in April, it seems every spare minute was devoted to some aspect of this adventure.  From being involved in the creating of facebook pages, twitter pages, assembling personal gear, devoting personal finances to the effort, packing gear/luggage, etc... it seems that all my thoughts and actions throughout the summer and fall were focused on this one singular event.

To my local ham radio friends... I cannot thank you enough for your support of me and of the ZL9HR DXpedition Team.

I will post more following the holidays regarding the DXpedition.

Speaking of the holidays....

My wish is for all of you to have a safe and joyous Holiday Season.  May your New Year's dreams come true!


Let us not forget the reason for the season......

Luke 2:6-14  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  (7)  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.  (8)  And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.  (9)  And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.  (10)  And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  (11)  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  (12)  And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  (13)  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,  (14)  Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

2012 Deer Season Success!!

It is so good when plans come together!  So far, the 2012 Deer Season has been very good to myself and one of the best hunting partners a person could have.

Don Bertram is perhaps one of the best deer hunters I know.  In my estimation, he has the most unique knack for looking at a piece of property and determining a plan to harvest a whitetail deer...particularly a mature buck.  One of the properties that we currently hunt provided many initial challenges, but Don used an approach of "hunt, observe, and move" to develop a plan to meet a large buck on its own turf.  In early November, Don was able to harvest a very nice deer by being patient, adapting to what he observed, and not being afraid to take bold steps to move stands to get into a position to harvest this nice animal.

Don Bertram and his 2012 Archery Buck

Don caught this buck in the frenetic beginning of the whitetail rut known as the chase phase.  Through the course of a late afternoon, Don was able to observe multiple mature deer as they actively chased and pursued does.  It was one of those magical afternoons in which Don was able to observe one of the most anticipated events in the whitetail season.....bucks running back and forth like crazy trying to find or corral a "hot" doe.

I so much enjoy archery hunting for deer.  We are blessed here in the state of Kentucky with a very healthy herd of whitetails which lends itself to very liberal harvest limits.  With just a little bit of effort, anyone with a desire to harvest at least one animal should be able to punch their tag and have a very successful season.

My season had success very quickly, with two deer being taken within the first ten days of the archery season.  On the evening of November 9th I found myself perched in a tree hoping to see rut activity such as Don had witnessed a few days prior.

As it neared 4:00 p.m., I was able to detect deer moving in the drainage below my stand.  I was able to see the deer move up the hill on the other side of me and slowly disappear out of sight.  As the end of the hunting day quickly approached, I again began to hear deer moving in the drainage below me.  The area was a dense thicket with my view of the area being very limited.  As the deer approached I could tell that there were definitely more than two and they were quickly approaching my stand location.  As I prepared for their approach, I began to see the doe that was in the lead.  She quickly passed through my shooting lane and continued her march toward the field's edge some seventy-five yards away.  As the other two deer approached, a fight of sorts broke out....small trees and brush were moving and I could hear the ground erupt under the feet the battling bucks.  One buck broke off and ran to a point that I could see him clearly.  He quickly threw up his tail and left, having been successfully challenged by the other buck.  The remaining buck began trailing the path of the doe and grunting as he proceeded through the thicket and ultimately into my shooting lane.  With just a brief stop at 15 yards, I was able to come to full draw and then my arrow was on its way.  The buck turned, ran about sixty yards, and I could then hear the distinct crash of the deer as it ran its last steps.

My 2012 Buck

As it turned out, this deer had been named the unicorn buck by the landowner.  The buck had previously been seen with a pronounced tine going straight out over his left eye from the base of the left antler.  He was at one time 6 x 4, but now a 4 x 4, having broken off the unique four inch tine protruding over his left eye, as well as the left G4, sometime prior to that evening.

I am by no means a trophy hunter.  I truly believe that the hunting sports are characterized by the size of the experience...not by the size of the animal!  This mature whitetail buck certainly gave me a thrill and I am very proud of this close encounter archery harvest!!

My 2012 season holds four archery deer to my credit....I hope to add to that some in the late winter.

As I type this on the 12th of November, I lament that my season is now on hold until late December.  I can only hope that when I again get afield in about five weeks that I can make some more memories with my good friends!

Whitetail Archery Season...Finally!!

The opening day of whitetail deer season is always much anticipated and can never arrive too soon, especially after the long, hot, and dry summers we usually endure. The opening brings about the harbingers of things to come.....good friends finally getting together again in the field, cool crisp nights, frosty fall mornings, and the heart-thumping adrenalin rush as a deer presents itself for one on hunting's most daunting of challenges.

As with most Labor Day weekends, the heat and humidity were enough to make you almost stay in and watch a good movie or college football game.  But with temperatures near 90 degrees and humidity in the 80's, the third evening of archery season found me driving out for my first sit in the deer stand.  I almost wished I had worn my camo cut-offs, but fearing what may happen should  I have a tracking job through high weeds and brush, I had to concede that the only choice of clothing for this five hour wait in the heat was that of my traditional BDU's and heavy camo t-shirt.

After getting settled in the stand, I began the process of "tuning" in the sounds about me.  The sound of a squirrel in the top of tree, the whistling of the wings of a dove as it landed above my head in the cedar, the distinct call of the cardinals as they flitted from limb to limb around me.  It was shortly after six o'clock when I began to hear the soft rustle of the brush across from me as several deer made their way to the thicket's edge.  Slowly, I began to see the outline of an ear, then a head, then finally the complete form of a deer emerged.  One by one, five deer emerged  from the weed-filled cedar thicket edge.  Two large does and three spotted fawns.  

As the two larger does approached my shooting lane, my mind was already calculating distances to either target, watching for signs that showed if the deer were possibly alerted to my presence.  As the nearest doe continued to inch forward oh so cautiously, without thinking the Bowtech Invasion bow was up and coming to full draw.  As my top pin settled on its target, all things about me seemed to slow.  In the blink of an eye, my arrow was in mid-flight, then quickly disappearing into its intended target.  With the follow-through that had come with years of hard work and practice, I was able to obtain that needed mental picture of the arrow sinking and then disappearing into that vital area that would assure me of a harvested animal.  I visually tracked the deer as far as the thicket would allow me as it made its dash for cover.  As my awareness of the heat and humidity returned, I replayed the shot over and over in my head, trying to reassure myself that my arrow was true and this would end as a successful hunt.  After what seemed an eternity, I picked up the trail and quickly found my harvest.  The meat will go to such good use, filling my freezer with tenderloins and ground venison for many dinners to come.

Every year I am in awe of how I have been blessed!  Great hunting friends, great places to hunt, an understanding wife, and the list could go on and on.  Count me as.... THANKFUL! 

Hope to be up in the stand again real soon...........