SKCC 5123T----- FISTS 14979----- Flying Pigs 2331----- NAQCC 3610-----QRP ARCI 14176-----Polar Bear 257

Thursday, January 31, 2019

N4Y 2019 Winter Field Day Fun

Our two transmitter Winter Field Day at Falling Waters State Park, Florida went to plan with the exception that Bob KK4DIV and Tom WD0HBR could not attend. The attendees included Phil N4STC, Marv KK4DKT, Melissa KK4SYL, Chris VA3ECO, Dennis WA6QKN, Bob WB8PAF, Greg N4KGL, and Greg's XYL Linda.  The temps were cool and dipped to freezing Sunday morning, but it was tolerable. We enjoyed pizza on Friday night. Chris VA3ECO brought Margot's Chili for Saturday night. Chris cooked breakfast each morning with eggs and sausage. Phil N4STC cooked Bubba burgers for lunch. We had a great time telling stories Saturday night around the campfire.

N4Y Falling Waters SP Campsite


Phil N4STC cooks burgers
Band conditions were good with plenty of WFD stations to work. We made contacts on CW, phone, and digital on 80, 40, and 20 meters. On 15 meters we got CW and digital contacts. Therefore our multiplier was eleven, Our contacts were 56 on digital, 46 on phone and 38 CW. We worked 40 states and Canada. Chris made a contact on the CAS4A linear satellite for 1500 bonus points. Phil ran an Icom 7300 with a loop antenna. Greg ran an Icom 7300 to a myantennas.com 80-10 end-fed antenna. Chris used his own laptop and Yaesu 857 for the digital contacts. The Winter Field Day event continues to grow. I am sure we will come back next year for more fun. There are more photos here.




Our Saturday night campfire

Greg and Dennis operating

Melissa Spinning




Tuesday, January 15, 2019

N4Y Winter Field Day Operations Jan 26/27

A group of my ham friends, their family members and I will camp and participate in Winter Field Day using call sign N4Y at Falling Waters State Park. The park is near Chipley, FL. We have three campsites reserved. Campsite 5 has plenty of space and borders a large field. We can extend an end-fed antenna into the field. Campsites 11 and 13 are adjacent which will make more room for antennas. We anticipate running two stations.  We will be 2O or 2 Oscar for two transmitters/outdoors. Our rigs will be on battery/solar power. We will use CW, SSB and PSK-31 digital. We will also go for the amateur satellite bonus. Temps will be in the 50s in the day and the 30s at night. That's is a Florida Winter.
Purpose: To foster Ham camaraderie, field operation, emergency operating preparedness, and just plain on the air, outdoor fun in the midst of winter for American, Canadian and DX Amateurs. Don’t let those winter doldrums keep you locked up in the house… get out and play some radio!! 
When: Winter Field Day runs for 24 hours during the last full weekend in January each year from 1900 UTC (2pm EST) Saturday to 1900 UTC (2pm EST) Sunday. For 2019, the dates are January 26th and 27th. Station set-up may commence no earlier than 1900 UTC (2pm EST) on Friday, January 25th.

We are hoping for a big on the air turnout. The event seems to grow each year.

Greg N4KGL

Falling Waters SP Campsite 5
Note there is limited parking. If you plan to visit please park at the main parking lot and hike in or let us know and we will shuttle you into the campground.