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With the availability of antenna modeling software these days, it is fairly easy to model just about any kind of antenna configuration you dream up. This is good news for those in space-challenged QTHs. L.B. Cebik, W4RNL (SK), was a prolific modeler who wrote extensively about his efforts. His works are available through Antennex. (Google it for more details.)
One issue I have with all modeling programs is that, like the Internet, people tend to take the results as absolute. To really understand the fundamentals behind antennas requires a strong background in electromagnetic theory, aka the fusion of calculus and physics. If you are curious to understand what is “under the hood”, I recommend searching for a copy of “Antennas”, published in 1960 by John Kraus, W8JK (SK). Dr. Kraus was an EE professor at Ohio State who developed many unique antennas. (A former colleague of mine reported suffering through his class as a PHD candidate.)
73 de TE
Glad to work the club! I got out of sync when I saw the call K2RET after I had called then saw K2TE. Abby kept asking for year licensed so I scrambled to change my macro, hi. Have not been on RTTY for a while so kinda rusty, hi.
FB job to all. (Will QRS for you during the CW Rookie Roundup.)
73 de TE
Congratulations to all for a terrific effort! I managed to work K2K on CW, PSK and SSB, the latter being Fred on four bands in about ten minutes on the last day, hi. Tks Dennis for the CW Q; sri I never heard Layne in spite of trying to hear him every time K2K was spotted on CW.
I managed to work all 13 colonies plus WM3PEN. I heard GB13COL on PSK the last day but he was pretty weak in FL.
73 de TE
I was glad to work you guys Saturday evening while you were parked on the Hillsborough/Sullivan NH line. I knew conditions were going to be pretty bad when you were about an S4 on my vertical, hi. I did not hear you at all Sunday, but then again, I didn’t hear MUCH of anything by then. I managed 99 Qs and 37 counties so I was more efficient than I expected.
BTW, one of your photos shows you on the “Washington/Sullivan” county line in NH. There is no Washington county in NH and there is no Sullivan county in VT. Oh-oh!
73 de TE
I found N1FD at the end of the RR event on 40 SSB. I remember talking with Greg who was having fun working stations. Nice to see new operators getting on the air.
73 de TE
Glad to hear Jim is making an appearance again at a NARC Field Day! When I started Field Day with the club in 1985, we operated N1NH from the field behind Jim’s business in Hollis. That was a great spot to accommodate our growing club effort.
I took over as FDIC a couple years later. I can relate to Jim’s story about missing his daughter’s birth but in a reverse situation. I had to leave one year on a very rainy Saturday to catch a plane to London on business. The following year, my sister was getting married (again) and my dad refused to fly to Houston to give her away (smart man), so guess what weekend she got married?
73 de Ed, K2TE
Hi Jamey. I concur with the responses to your question regarding CW speed and rhythm. Over time, you will automatically recognize certain words that you have heard over and over, such TEST, CQ, TNX, ES, and so on. I would recommend trying your hand at CW during Field Day with an experienced op on hand. You will find yourself getting into the rhythm of “CQ FD DE N1FD”. You will pick up “N1FD” quickly when someone comes back to you. The exchange is simple – as in any contest – so, again, repetition enables speed improvement.
73 de TE (not “N”)
Regarding the county/state abbreviations: each county and state use a 3-letter abbreviation for the county appended by a 2-letter abbreviation for the state. There are several states in New England with the same county names so this avoids confusion as to which one you worked. Also, the contest logging programs recognize the exchange so it is valid.
The NEQP website contains a list of all the county and state abbreviations to use.
73 de TE