Several of us got together at our QTH this past weekend to begin testing our stations for Field Day 2019. The image above shows the setup and testing of our Digital and CW stations in progress. The Setup and Test Team included:

• Anita, AB1QB
• Brian, W1BP
• Charlie, W1CBD
• Dave, K1DLM
• Jon, AC1EV
• Scott, NE1RD
• Fred, AB1OC

As always, our Field Day 2019 plans include several new elements (see above). We will again be using the N1MM+ logger in a networked configuration. The planned size of our station (11A with 14 transmitters, and 4 Towers on the air) makes it essential that we set up and test our stations including the associated computers and software ahead of time.

We began our tests by configuring and cabling our Filter Boards and attaching dummy loads in place of antennas for testing. The first phase of the test concentrated on the multi-band SSB, Digital, and CW stations so antenna switches were added to the mix to enable us to switch antennas/bands.

The photo above shows the SSB multi-band station test in progress. Most of our stations will be using IC-7300 Transceivers as is the case with the SSB test station shown above.

Field Day 2019 Highlights and Plans

We are planning on being an 11A station with four towers for Field Day 2019. Here’s a list of our planned stations:

• CW Stations – 20m, 40m, and 10m/15m/80m
• Digital Stations – 20m, 40m, and 10m/15m/80m (FT8, RTTY, and PSK)
• SSB Phone Stations – 20m, 40m, and 10m/15m/80m
• All Mode 160m Station (SSB, CW, and Digital)
• All Mode VHF+ Station on 6m, 2m, and 70cm (SSB, FM, CW, and Digital) – using an IC-9100 and featuring rotatable yagis and tower-mounted LNAs
• SSB Phone GOTA Station – sharing four Flex SDRs with the Digital Stations
• A Computer Controlled Satellite Station – using the new IC-9700!
• A Talk-in GoKit 2m/70cm FM station in the Public Information Tent

We will have a total of 14 transmitters on the air!

Our antenna plans include the addition of a fourth tower for VHF/UHF weak-signal operation. Work is underway to ready our towers and antennas for Field Day 2019 as well.

We will be holding our Field Day at the Hudson Memorial School again this year. The chart above shows our planned schedule for setup and operations for Field Day 2019.

It takes a lot of help and planning on the part of many NARS members to pull off a Field Day at the scale that we do each year. Without everyone’s help, we would not be able to do Field Day 2019. Thank you, team!

Meetings to Plan, Learn, and Sign-up

We are planning to share our plans, sign-up operators and the setup/teardown teams, and provide training for Field Day 2019 at our June Membership Meeting and Tech Night as follows:

• Field Day Overview and Sign-up (also Dayton Hamvention Highlights) – Tuesday, June 4th, 7 pm at FirstChurch
• Field Day Skill Builder Tech Night and Sign-up – Tuesday, June 11th, 7 pm at FirstChurch

Also, we will be holding Field Day Planning meetings as follows:

• Equipment Prep Conference Call  – Thursday, May 30th at 6 pm (contact Anita at [email protected] for the Webex information)
• Field Day Planning Meeting – Thursday, June 6th, 6 pm at the Nashua Public Library
• Field Day Planning Meeting – Thursday, June 13th, 6 pm at the Nashua Public Library
• Final Field Day Planning Meeting – Monday, June 17th, 6 pm at the Nashua Public Library

All NARS members are welcome and encouraged to attend our Field Day planning meetings.

Fred, AB1OC