University of Mississippi Amateur Radio Club W5UMS

2006 ARRL June Field Day

3A Mississippi

       Well I figured it was way past time to get some comments up on Field Day. I would first like to say I have participated in nearly every Field Day since 1988 and this, without a doubt, was the best ever. There are several things about the club’s field day experience that I think made it a true success.

     First, and foremost, there couldn’t have been a better group to operate Field Day then the W5UMS gang! From start to  finish UMARC members, now members the club hadn’t even been formed then, came together and put on one great show. In quick time we got it all set up; tents, generators, food supplies, radios, antennas, etc. And not too long after 1:00pm the first QSO was made (I think it was 40 meter phone and Jim, W5JMO made it). Some folks stayed for the whole thing, others came and went, some came out for the late night shift, and we had no shortage of visitors stopping by to see what we were doing. Through it all we made lots of QSO’s but far more important we had GREAT TIME! I think most left Field Day looking forward to next year.

      Second is Alan, WA5DGO. Field Day around here has been kind of a rare event over the years. I heard several that said they remember there used to be one about twenty years ago or so when the club was last active. Alan hadn’t been to Field Day in many years and had been off the air for some time. I will never forget the smile on Alan’s face when he made that first Field Day phone contact. That kind of happiness and excitement is what this hobby is about.

     And who could forget the official club wire tosser. Jerry, KD5JHE showed he has the unique ability to use brick and string to sling any antenna in place. This is a very handy talent to have on Field Day.

     There is a general idea that Field Day is a favorite event of Mr. Murphy, the same Mr. Murphy that has a set of laws named in his honor. This Field Day Murphy was late but he did show up. Around 3am or so myself, Jerry KD5JHE, and Gordon AK5W were sitting around talking. As we were sitting there I kept thinking I heard some strange noise. I all of a sudden remembered something from earlier. We could not put anything into the ground because of the sprinkler system. Well it all of a sudden dawned on me that the strange noise I heard was the sprinklers. And they were getting closer to our set up. The three of us assessed the situation and realized that if they were not shut off we would have a lot of soggy radio equipment. A call was made to UPD to contact the Physical Department to shut them off. About 3:30am or so a PPD worker came out, turned a knob behind the CW tent, problem solved. Then the bill arrived, about $121 for the service call. Doug what ever happened to that?

     And of course what would Field Day be without good food! There was no shortage of food to be had. Barrett brought out some drinks and sandwiches, Wally brought some great Pennsylvania sharp cheddar and some great hoagie sauce, and I manned the grill fixing up brats, dogs, and burgers. If you left hungry it wasn’t our fault.

     The weather also was great for Field Day. In 19 years I’ve seen tornadoes, heat, hail, rain, wind, and freezing cold on Field Day. But I think all can agree that we couldn’t have asked for better weather.

     We did learn quite a few lessons that will help us next Field Day

      - RTTY might work better than PSK

      - Get the sprinklers shut off ahead of time

      - Have a place set up for naps

      - Having restrooms closer by would be nice

      - We need a GOTA station

      - Lets invite the newspaper

      - Flagpole on the circle + wire = 160 meter vertical

     Well I’m sure there lot’s of other lessons but that’s what I recall at the moment.

     For those that have never participated in Field Day or those that haven’t in a while please join us next year. It is an experience that you will never forget. You can come out for a bit make a few contacts and call it quits, stay the day and night and work every station every where, come out and eat and chat, meet new hams, learn something new, try a mode you’ve never tried (I made my first Field Day phone QSO this year), get ideas, but most of all you will have fun!

I hope to see EVERYBODY out there again this June!

Mike Corey W5MPC