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A how to of what for, by Mike(aka Billy)Graham, K7CTW

Anatomy of a Win
(Editorial Comment)

(Author's note: I'm biased - I admit it. The Nashua Area Radio Club is, in my opinion, one of the top amateur radio clubs in the country. Part of my rationale follows, but my viewpoint is somewhat prejudiced.)

One of the first lessons taught and learned in any type of competitive endeavor is never to be overconfident. The headline above may sound like a violation of that principle, as it relates to the Nashua Area Radio Club's recent Field Day '98 effort, but it really isn't. If taken from the perspective that Field Day '98 was a learning and growing experience for the club, it was a winner in all respects. The exercising of skills and procedures learned from years of review, refinement and practice, the coordination efforts required to focus the energies of more than 80 folks toward a common goal, and spirit of determination displayed by the members all helped make this Field Day the best ever.

At precisely 2 PM on Friday, June 26th, as the siren sounded to begin the 24-hour setup period, I was witness to the fruits of a one- year planning effort, and years upon years of experience in setting up a portable operation. Thanks to the able assistance of "Mighty Mo" Heedles, my antenna was up, coax run to the "80M CW Tent", antenna tested and ready for "prime time" in less than two hours. And Mo isn't even a ham!! There's a perfect example of the spirit I alluded to. At 6:15 PM the work was called off because of a thunderstorm passing over. As folks headed out for a well-deserved pizza and beer, towers 1 and 3 were fully erected and most of the antennas for them installed. And tower 2 was up at 30 feet. Had it not been for a "Murphy" at one of the guy stumps, no doubt tower 2 would have been up as well.

Saturday morning about 8 AM saw the "team" go into action again to complete the setup, run the power, and begin "on air" testing. Everywhere you looked, people were setting up - or being pulled out of the mud by Don, N1UBD or Buzz, KA1OMJ

. During the 24-hour period from 2 PM Saturday to 2 PM Sunday the Field Day operators took over and began racking up what was later to be a new club record score, with ten new club band records set. By early evening Saturday it was obvious that the propagation conditions were such as to favor the operations on the higher HF bands, and the VHF/UHF operations. The operators rose to the occasion, shattering existing records and setting a challenging benchmark for Field Days yet to come. I was amazed to pass the 6M tent at 2 AM to hear Qs still being made from as far away as the Midwest. There were similar stories from 15/10M Phone and CW and the Novice Operation. Old records fell like tenpins.

During the day on Saturday and Sunday we were visited by a large number of people, and we received excellent press coverage. The highlight of the PR portion of the event had to be the surprise visit on Saturday by Princess Elettra Marconi, her son Guglielmo Marconi and other visiting dignitaries from the entourage and the new Marconi Museum in Bedford. Princess Elettra was absolutely gracious and was delighted to observe the activities around her. What an honor for us as a club to have her visit us, especially on Field Day. Her father's story is the subject of next month's column. After all, he was the "father of radio" - and also the world's first DXer.

Murphicus Injecticus

From the way this event has been painted thus far, you'd think this Field Day was a "piece of cake". NOT! Field Day is supposed to have a few ups and downs - after all, we are trying to simulate an actual emergency situation. Unfortunately, Murphy this year was really devious. And he cost a few of us more than a couple dollars. The following list of "Murphy Hits" is by no means all-inclusive:
  1. NO1V lost his IC-781. I haven't heard the outcome of that yet, but it will no doubt cost Ernie a "shekel" or two.
  2. The month of June produced the largest rainfall on record for this part of the country. The overall effect was to turn the major ingress/egress points into a mud quagmire. Thanks in large measure to some super-human efforts by KA1OMJ/N1UBD Towing Service, most everyone escaped with only muddy boots, clothing, and vehicles.
  3. We somehow didn't have fresh water on the site for cooking and cleanup. That faux pas will be discussed, I'm sure, during the Field Day Post Mortem, which will have occurred by the time you read this.
  4. I lost the transfer case in my pickup on Saturday, and also the microwave in the "80M CW Superstation".
  5. Ray, KB1SO, got a case of poison ivy.
  6. The real "topper" is that somehow - only God knows how - a very frilly and pretty blue bra found its way into my dirty clothes bag. Now, like the good boy I am, when I returned home I dutifully put the dirty clothes bag downstairs at the laundry area for washing, not knowing said item of apparel was hiding in that bag. Use your imagination to figure out the conversation that ensued between Chris and I after that one. Will the guilty party please step forward to get me out of the "doghouse"??!!

    Wrap-up

    Notwithstanding Murphy or "Acts of God", Field Day '98 for the Nashua Area Radio Club was a true success story. Were we, as a club, called upon to provide emergency communications services in the event of some disaster, I am positive that the Nashua Area Radio Club would respond in the same fashion as they have for Field Day, and with the same degree of skill, confidence and teamwork. From our senior citizen members who were so active as ground crew, to young Andrew Wagner who did "gopher" duty, from the planning committee to the teardown group, from the superb efforts of the support crews at "Power Central" and the galley, to the operators and tower crews - Well done! To Buzz and Evelyn, our deepest thanks once again. And to Fletch, N1MEO and Jim, WW1Y - you two made it all come together. Now you understand the reason why I am prejudiced - and for good reason!
    73 es Good DX, de     K7CTW

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