ARRL Field Day is this coming Saturday and Sunday (June 26, 27)
Once again, XWARN and DARA will join forces to set up several stations at the Beavercreek Twp Fire Dept at Dayton-Xenia Rd and Orchard Lane. Set up will begin at 9:00 AM on Saturday and the on-air portion of the event begins at 2PM local. The scale of the operation will be based on how many people show up to help set up. We can always use more people than show up for tear down. If you are able to help with this, try to arrive around 11AM Sunday. We are allowed to operate until 2PM, but if no one shows up to help before noon, we will pull the plug and begin cleaning up.
Restrict parking to the East end of the complex and in the grass down the hill next to the access road that runs South from the station. There is also parking on Beaver Park Dr across Orchard Lane from the site. DO NOT park next to the fire station.
We are tentatively planning to have a picnic Saturday evening, hoping to eat around 5:30. We will provide burgers and hot dogs, but everyone should bring food to share. “Potluck” Be sure to bring a chair for each person in your party. (Friends and family are welcome).
Our focus is on education and trying things that teach us what works and what doesn’t. If you have never been on HF, if you have a radio that you want to try out, if you just want to come out and get involved, this is the event for that. We are NOT serious contesters, but rather, we make contacts to prove that we have a system that works. Last year, we were third nationally in class 3F, so we must do a few things right. We do chase the bonus points–we could definitely use a few more youth operators (do not need to be licensed). If you are reluctant to actually talk into the microphone, but want to be involved, we’ll put you to work logging.
It’s still a bit too far in the future to be accurate, but the weather forecast for the weekend is not good. We will set up and operate rain or shine, but we will shut down if lightning is observed.
Come on out to Field Day. And bring a chair!
