07/08/2005 | N4FR 27 JUNE 2005
1130 CDT

TO: Williamson Co, TN ARES MEMBERS

FROM: BILL GERTH, W4RK, Emergency Coordinator

SUBJ:FIELD DAY 2005

As those of you who participated already know, Field Day 2005 was a huge success! We had visits from several government VIPs including County Mayor Rogers Anderson and State Representative Glen Casada. We also had a visit from Williamson County Red Cross Chapter Exec Director Tom Peters. Tom even got on the air and made several contacts with other Field Day sites around the country.

First, I would like to personally thank the Field Day Committee who put in many hours of planning in the past several weeks and then executed the plan with skill and energy. John Almon, WA4JA, was ably assisted by Myron Manker, W4UR; Gary Owen, KK4EZ; and Bill Jorgensen, KG4VKG. These guys really made it happen. THANKS!

This group took our fantastic first year effort from 2004 (4th in the nation in our Category) and exceeded it by a wide margin. Well have to wait for the ARRL to tally the scores from the groups all over the country to see how we ranked nationally, but we took our QSO count from just over 800 last year to well over 1,000 this year in a declining sunspot scenario. That we did this in the absence of some of our stalwart operators from last year who had family obligations elsewhere made it even more significant. The addition of W4UR and K4CJX more than made up for the hole left in CW skills by Jim Hall, AD4EB, who was in California. Myron and Steve really know how to use the finger talk to good advantage. Steve also helped me with originating a number of NTS traffic messages on WINLINK that will increase our bonus points significantly. For this we used the Williamson Co ARES WINLINK system, permanently installed at the ECC. The hole in SSB efforts left by the absence of contest aces KA40TB and W4GHD was covered by stellar performances by WA4JA (the old contest master), Jeff Standifer, WB5WAJ, and Tim Burns, W4CCR.

The GOTA (Get On The Air) station was new for us this year and, in my opinion, could be the highlight of Field Day. Gary Owen, KK4EZ, was the GOTA station manager and did a superb job in guiding many non-ham visitors in making their first contacts on ham radio. The Williamson Co Exec Director of the Red Cross, Tom Peters, was thrilled to make several QSOs on 40M SSB. He even came back several times for more. The GOTA station also provided an opportunity for several of our newer licensees and several hams not recently active on HF to experience the fun and excitement of ham radio. The max on bonus points for the GOTA station was achieved by making 100 contacts. This was accomplished by Saturday night and then exceeded by a wide margin at the end of Field Day. It was great to see Leah Golden, KI4HWB, and Lynn Waterman, KI4ICG, do such a fine job at the GOTA station. Both quickly developed the timing and confidence to mix it up with the seasoned operators on the other end of the contact. Clayton Burns, KI4FYV, got in there also late in the evening on Saturday night and helped put us over the top on GOTA station QSOs. Other GOTA station contributors were Lynn Sutton, KI4ICJ, Mack and David Jean, KA4NIC and KG4NLG, and Steve and Shane Paulson, KI4AYM and KI4AYL. Thanks folks!

Thanks to Jack Cox, KA4OTB, Trustee of the Nolensville Contest Club for allowing us to use the excellent N4FR callsign again this year. Also thanks to John Almon, WA4JA, Trustee of the Rescue Squad callsign W4SQD for allowing us to use this callsign for the GOTA station.

Thanks to Myron Manker, W4UR, for the loan of his ICOM 746 and LDG tuner for the GOTA station and to John Almon, WA4JA, for the loan of his ICOM 746 and 706 MKIIG and antenna collection for other stations.

Thanks also to Bill Jorgensen, KG4VKG, for being our host at the County Admin Complex and for providing the computing, electrical, and network power that made it all possible. He also provided the very functional and attractive tents that kept us dry during Sunday mornings rain. Thanks Bill!

Well, Field Day 2005 is history and I have just given you the SHORT version. If you were unable to attend this year, it is not too soon to mark your calendar for NEXT YEAR, Field Day 2006. Field Day is always the last week-end in June. Please join us and experience the magic and excitement of ham radio again!

FIELD DAY 2006: June 24th and June 25th

BE THERE!

73,

Bill Gerth
W4RK
Williamson Co Amateur Radio Emergency Service
Emergency Coordinator
w4rk@arrl.net -- W4RK