06/26/2006 | K6SGH For the second year in a row, I worked field day with my friend Harry, K6PDQ. We operated from the top of the Santa Ynez Mountains at about 3000 feet. This particular location is very close to the operating location for the upcoming Nojoqui Tarantula Migration DxPedition in late October. (see k6sgh.com) From our location we had unobstructed views to the north and east as the Pacific Ocean was directly to the south. We were truly at the edge of the continent.

I operated from my camper van using a 15-meter Moxon at 20 feet and a batch of hamsticks for 20 and 40 meters, signing K6SGH, 1Bravo, Santa Barbara. The Moxon is an excellent antenna to use for field day as it is very simple to reassemble and get up into the air. Although my 15 meter Moxon was more than 3 years old, spending half of that time sitting in my barn gathering dust and a little bent up, it nonetheless worked perfectly and needed no tuning. I am always amazed at how well these little gems work. 200 of my 300 contacts were on 15 meters using the Moxon pointed approximately 60 degrees. Most signals were two to four S units stronger on the Moxon than on my 15-meter hamstick. More information can be found on constructing Moxons at the MoxonAntennaProject.com website.

For the first four hours or so, 15 was pretty dead but perked up later in the day. Saturday night I was amazed at how hot 15 meters became. Nothing like a pileup of your own. 40 meters was also fun late at night after 15 finally died, and 20 meters was its typically chaotic mess. Of note was the number of young voices signing their clubs call. A real pleasure to work new faces for sure.

I sure do like Field Day!

73, K6SGH, 1B, SB -- K6SGH