Field Day, 2011...

Each year, the amateur radio community (Ham Radio guys) has a thing called "Field Day."  This is an opportunity for the clubs to go out and test their club's equipment by attempt to make as many "contacts" as possible around the country.  These contacts can be by "Phone" (talking to another Ham over the radio waves) or by "CW" (the Ham abbreviation for Morse Code).  These contacts are made over several different frequencies (15 meters, 20 meters, and 40 meters) because the "bands" (the frequencies) go in and out, depending on weather conditions and time of day.

The objective is to make sure Hams can still talk to other areas of the country should the need arise.  In the event of an emergency, when cell towers won't work, land lines won't work and there are no other means of communicating, Ham radio guys are thrown into the mix as the only reliable means of civilian communications over long or short distances.  In our case, we are a vital component in the EMA's disaster preparedness contingency planning, working closely with local law enforcement, hospitals and civil agencies.

So what does a "Field Day" look like?  Well, check out the pictures below.  This is a 24-hour contest that reveals some interesting things about equipment that we would have sworn worked last week!!!  It goes like that some times... especially when we are finished with the contest and getting ready to go back to the "house."

One of the things I find myself doing everywhere is cooking.

Our station call for the contest was K8ZUK.

Sherm (KD8FZV) is shown working on the antenna for S.C.A.R.E.S. II.

Joe (KC6NLX) works on getting the equipment in S.C.A.R.E.S. I set up.

Eric (W8EJK) is working Morse Code in S.C.A.R.E.S. I.

Here are a couple of pictures of the gang working the net at night. Grant (N8KZL) on the left is the club president.

We have two communications vehicles, S.C.A.R.E.S. I & II.  They are really decked out quite well for this kind of thing and have been used quite extensively in support of various events in Shelby County -- to include parades, and simulations and training events.  However, when it comes to the end of the event, there are still some surprises for us, things that just add to our list of things to be prepared for.

Yep, we left the dash lights on in the truck all night and the battery was dead!!  Notice the generator mounted on the front of the truck?  Well, it has a battery on it.  We used it and still had to use the car battery from Joe's Honda.

I used to take my troops to the field all the time, sometimes, according to my superiors, too many times in a year.  I found that was the only way I knew for sure if something really worked.  I could simulate all I wanted or test something a dozen times in the office, but that wasn't the same as taking it to the field.  That really paid big dividends for the unit when they got to Cuba and Iraq and other places where the supply sergeant couldn't just go to Lowe's for a part when something broke down.

The trouble with using experience as a guide is that the final exam often comes first and then the lesson.  (Author Unknown)

Hooah