NA8SA Field Day Operations

Field Day 1998 Soap Box

by: Stephen Kellat, KC8BFI and Nancy R. Hall, KC4IYD



 

With severe storms,freaky band conditions, and some new faces, the NASA Lewis Amateur Radio Club (NLARC) set up its 6th Annual  Field Day on the grounds of NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. NLARC set up a 3A QRP operation under its new vanity callsign of NA8SA.CW, phone and radioteletype (rtty) operating positions  were available for the HF bands and a 2m allmode was available for the VHFpositions.

NLARC thought it was going to start FD '98 in a good running, but had to face Mother Nature on the way. Near 1800 UTC, June 27,  lightning was sighted in the skies, causing us to shut down our operation temporarily. After disconnecting antennas and placing  plastic covers over all the outside gear, the NA8SA operators quickly moved into the nearest shelter, the Guerin House.  Separate 2m HT's were placed on frequency in order to monitor the Cuyahoga County Skywarn net, the NLARC repeater, and the  NOAA Weather Radio. Fortunately, no damage was received, and operations resumed almost an hour later.

Despite the severe weather early on, NA8SA's operators carried on. NA8SA operator Nancy KC4IYD taught a brief cw seminar for the Technicians that were inside the house. The basics were taught and comprehended normally.

The biggest surprise of FD '98 was the marvelous conditions on the "magic band", six meters. From north central Ohio, NA8SA operators  were able to work Colorado, Arkansas and North Florida sections, amongst others. In previous years, NA8SA operators jokingly logged  "the voices" as a contact on six meters, not being able to receive many signals. With the addition of a three-element beam this year,  NA8SA was able to work distant stations, despite being QRP. A Gap Challenger antenna was another addition to our antenna farm which  was used for rtty contacts. This station ran using a battery that was charged using only solar power for our natural power bonus  points. Our mainstay of 2 dipole antennas strung between the trees kept our CW and phone stations busy throughout the FD period.  With good food prepared by FD Chairman Steve WA8EIH, the "troops" munched away making contacts and everyone is looking forward to  next year's FD.