Field Day 2024
June 22 - 23 , 2024
Prologue:
The Amateur Radio Relay League sponsors the annual Field Day event and is the most popular radio event in the United States. Each year, radio clubs and individuals across the USA and Canada take to the field to set up radio stations in "less than optimal conditions" to demonstrate their portable prowess, to have fun, and to enjoy the camaraderie. It is also an opportunity to demonstrate to the community the potential of Amateur Radio communications during times of emergency or disaster. The event is always held on the last full weekend of June and runs 24 hours beginning at 1 PM Saturday.
Usually the weather for this area during Field Day weekend is miserably hot and humid. This year, however, the weather was tolerable with highs in the upper 80's and didn't add to the physical stress of the operation. Once again members of the Reelfoot Amateur Radio Club gathered at "The Shop" at Glenn N4MJ's QTH. This time however, Mr. Murphy paid us an early visit as the air conditioner unit decided to go South. This made temperatures inside the facility also in the upper 80's ! Ouch ! The word was out that there was a significant heat wave in the northern tier of states causing some to scale back their Field Day operations. For us, well, we've seen worse.
With a good showing last year in the very competitive 2A classification, it was decided early to again enter in the same class. No significant rule changes were made for the event this year.
Early bonus points were earned this year when Patrick KO4HEX and Ben KO4LFZ were featured guests on Thunderbolt Broadcasting's 30 Minutes hosted by Charles Choate. This is a popular podcast and was also broadcast on their radio network. Check it out here ! This kind of public exposure was good for 100 bonus points !
Setup:
Setup of the radios was accomplished on that Thursday evening prior to Field Day. 
Glenn N4MJ provided great barbecue for food while we put together our stations for portable operation. The lack of air conditioning really didn't hinder this process as the evening temperatures were quite pleasant. Everything was up and running in about an hour - very smooth. With the addition of wi-fi at the shop, it was easy to synchronize our computer clocks ... and watch the Cardinals' games !
Patrick KO4HEX again headed up the GOTA station with his very nice Kenwood TS-590S transceiver. This station runs with Glenn's call sign N4MJ. This is a very popular station and is quite busy with the youth participation
For class 2A, the two transceivers consisted of Jamie WB4YDL's Elecraft K3S radio and Michael AK4VU's very nice Kenwood TS-480HX transceiver. Each radio had digital interfaces and each of these two stations had laptop computers interfaced running networked N3FJP Field Day logging software as well as up-to-date WSJT-X and flDigi software.
The "free" VHF station would again consist of Jamie WB4YDL's Yaesu FT-847 transceiver and would have 2 meter, 70 centimeter, and 6 meter antennas attached. In the last couple years, we have been successful in obtaining the 100 point bonus for making a satellite contact. Using an Airspy SDR for receive really makes a huge difference as you can see the entire satellite passband on its software. This year, there was a distinct lack of satellites to be able to work. Most of the Chinese CAS and XW birds have re-entered. The Russian RS-44 satellite as well as the old bird AO-7 (launched in 1973 !) are still available. SatPC32 control software as well as SDR Console was configured to control these two simultaneously to follow Doppler changes in frequency as the satellite passed overhead. The antennas (simple Arrow yagis for 2M and 70 cm) were mounted on a PVC crossboom using a Yaesu G-5500 alt-az rotator system. With the increase in solar activity with solar cycle 25 ramping up, it was hoped that 6 meters would be a productive band. This station is also responsible for a LOT of points gathered with Winlink radio email traffic and messages to the section manager and section emergency coordinator. 
The following afternoon, we met to raise the antennas we would use. For HF, this consisted of the TN-07 inverted-L antenna for the Elecraft K3S station and a long offset-center dipole (OCD) and a Mosley TA-32 Mini yagi for the Kenwood TS-480HX station. We also had another OCD that would be attached to the GOTA station. These antennas are very simple antennas and took little time to deploy. The 6M antenna would also be a small yagi on a mast. 2M activity would borrow the satellite Arrow yagi for such things as Winlink traffic.
The Operation:
The weather on Saturday was expected to get into the low 90's. Some "popcorn" rain showers were possible. The lack of air conditioning began to be felt indoors as often it was hotter there than outdoors !
It's traditional for our group to start the Field Day activation with the alternative power bonus consisting of a solar panel, battery storage, and Glenn N4MJ pounding the brass on CW for the initial 5 QSO's. This year, Glenn used his newly-acquired Elecraft KX3 which he has been enjoying greatly. 
It took a minute, but Glenn got the solar powered QSO's across three bands.
Activation of both HF stations commenced at 1800Z. Phillip N4PWG started up on 15M running FT8 and Patrick KO4HEX was doing the same on 20M. Jamie WB4YDL was on 6M and said it looked and sounded like 20M ! Phillip is responsible for the very nice Public Information display which discusses solar weather and the present solar cycle 25. Later he also gave an educational talk discussing these same items for the educational bonus. He also copied the W1AW Field Day bulletin also good for 100 bonus points. These all accounted for bonus points which greatly improved our final score.
The GOTA station was again very popular and several kids made contacts for the youth activity bonus points. This year we had 7 youth participants less than 18 years of age.
As solar cycle 25 is nearing its peak, all bands saw excellent activity. 10M and 6M put in solid contacts and 15M became the "money band".
Excellent food was provided by all the XYL's and Noel KJ4UNX was again our grill master and put out some great burgers and 'dogs. Two separate coffee machines kept the operators at least semi-lucid. Patrick KO4HEX pitched a cot in the middle of the floor and caught a power nap correctly timed for 3 hours. As time went on, we saw some effect of the heat indoors - occasionally the Kenwood TS-590S at the GOTA station would shut down and need to cool off. Turning the power down was a good answer to that challenge.
This year, we were again honored to have Ralph Puckett, Obion County Commissioner come and visit and give us 100 bonus points. Properly formatted NTS messages were sent via Winlink and the one sent to David KM4NYI, TN Section Manager was sent and confirmed. Winlink messages were being received from all over the country and Canada and easily were good for bonus points. Winlink was also used to send a position report and then later request a list of stations that were heard nearby.
Youth participation was again very good this year. Ben KO4MAO and Patrick KO4HEX took turns "Elmering" these youthful operators. Jacob Neill again made a large number of QSO's - 109 contacts made on the GOTA station.
Besides Jamie WB4YDL, Michael AK4VU, and Glenn N4MJ, we had Michael Snow N4EBA, Patrick KO4HEX, Ben KO4MAO, Phil N4PWG and Noel KJ4UNX as our on-site licensed operators. We had a total of 12 operators, 6 of which were ARES members. We had a total of 17 signatures on the visitor sign-in sheet.
Jamie WB4YDL was able to log a satellite QSO using the same setup as last year. This involved hearing and seeing the signals through an Airspy SDR and its software and transmitting using the Yaesu FT-847. Both Doppler shifts were interlocked and controlled by the SatPC32 software. This year, Jamie was able to make contact with a station in Nebraska using the old bird AO-7 ! The signals were mostly strong on this pass and it was in the log for another 100 points !
Finally, at 1 PM Sunday, the operations ceased and another Field Day was in the books !
The Results:
So, as the solar cycle is approaching its peak and activity on the bands gets hot, how did this translate for this Field Day ? Here are the line scores :Score Summary:
| CW | Digital | Phone |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total QSO's | 5 |
1174 |
1 |
1180 |
Band / Mode QSO Breakdown:
| CW | Digital | Phone | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80M | 0 |
217 |
0 |
217 |
| 40M | 2 |
186 |
0 |
188 |
| 20M | 2 |
194 |
0 |
196 |
| 15M | 1 |
148 |
0 |
149 |
| 10M | 0 |
33 |
0 |
33 |
| 6M | 0 |
46 |
0 |
46 |
| SAT | 0 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
| GOTA | 0 |
350 |
0 |
350 |
| TOTAL | 5 |
1174 |
1 |
1180 |
The bonus point total this year was 3400 points which was a spectacular improvement thanks again to excellent youth involvement and the GOTA station contribution. The public service announcement bonus this year was obtained and added 100 points. This amounted to a 425 point improvement over last year.
The total QSO score after the power multiplier (x2) came out to 4718 points, a 938 point improvement from last year. Most QSO's made were 2 point digital QSO's and the 350 GOTA 5 point QSO's. FT8 and FT4 continue to be the established and most popular modes. Only Glenn N4MJ made CW QSO's which are also 2 points each. Only Jamie WB4YDL made a phone contact - the AO-7 satellite QSO ! Patrick KO4HEX made the most QSO's overall at an even 250 contacts followed by Jamie at 200 QSO's. Overall, QSO's were more evenly distributed across the bands. There were 79 more QSO's made on 15M this year as compared to last. 20 meters was steady but 80M came in huge this year with 86 more QSO's made this year. The total submitted score was 8118 points for Reelfoot Amateur Radio Club in the class 2A category. This was a 1363 point improvement over the previous year and a new club Field Day record !!
Each year has seen significant improvements in our overall score - even with one less operator. To do this on a consistent basis speaks to the skill and experience of the operators at Reelfoot Amateur Radio Club. More operators would be nice to have, of course.
Epilogue:
Once again, the gang at Reelfoot Amateur Radio Club showed their prowess and skill. Everyone pitched in and did their part with very little supervision. We had excellent participation by our youth visitors and the GOTA station again racked up many points. And the score improvement this year led to a new club record. Outstanding !!
Photography credits go to Jamie WB4YDL, Patrick KO4HEX, Michael AK4VU and Glenn N4MJ.
The Shop at the QTH of Glenn N4MJ was once again the perfect Field Day location and the club members owe many thanks to Glenn and XYL Linda for a wonderful experience. Thanks also go to our XYL's who kept us fed and hydrated. The full Field Day results are published in the December issue of QST.
Soapbox:
Patrick KO4HEX :
Field day for me kicked off at 10:00 on Saturday, where I assisted in a VE session for 3 potential upgrades at the FCARC site in Hickman, KY. There were 2 Techs that upgraded to General (Both of Ben's boys, Will and Alex). Congratulations to KO4YFI and KO4VLV! The other test was a General testing for an Extra, but needs a bit more studying. Better luck next time! 
After the session I made it just in time for lunch at the RARC site over at 'The Shop'. Field day of course is never without its challenges, and the challenge this year was that the A/C was out at the shop. During the day, while the sun was up, it was fairly warm. We had several fans trying to circulate air, but it really didn't cool off until around 9PM. The heat additionally proposed challenges to the GOTA station with a couple of thermal shutdowns. So, we had to let the radio cool off and dial back the power to about 20W to continue operating.
Despite the challenges this year, I believe we performed the best ever. The band conditions definitely helped. I don't think I have ever seen that much activity on 10M and 6M. I primarily operated on 80M, which I normally don't have access to at my QTH due to a lack of an antenna that can get me on 80M, so I had quite a bit of fun throughout the night making contacts.
I also thought ahead this year and brought a sleeping bag. I was able to get a power nap from around 2am until about 5am. I was able to start operating pretty much until the buzzer. I haven't seen the numbers yet, but if I had to guess, I made probably 250 contacts with a mix of FT8/FT4 on 40/80M. That's by far my best performance since participating in FD! 
Tearing everything down that afternoon was also done very quickly. I think we had all the antennas down and vehicles loaded in less than an hour, due to all the help! It was great seeing everyone at Field Day this year. It was definitely one for the record books!
73 from Patrick, KO4HEX.
Glenn N4MJ :
Even with the heat, 90+ inside and out, 2024 FD was a good one...nah, a great one. Set up went as planned only better than in the past. Operations - a total success. Persistent operators hung in for the 24 hour period and constantly made contacts on the HF bands.
Six meters worked out well, too, but it was closed for some of the night Saturday and early Sunday morning.
The GOTA (Get On The Air) station stayed busy with Ben, KO4MAO, as chief Op assisting youngsters getting on the air. Jacob, Mike (AK4VU) Grandson worked the GOTA station in Ben's absence. Thank you one and all.
Top Chef, and El President', served up masterfully prepared burgers and dogs. Various family members provided prepared food to keep everyone going..
Visitors included the eldest and longest county commissioner in Tennessee, Mr. Ralph Puckett, & retired County Mayor Benny McGuire. Other visitors included local hams and family members.
Thanks to Chairman Jamie (WB4YDL) for all the coordination, guidance, operation and extra points via VHF/UHF (satellite and WinLink).
FD 2025 preparation begins now.
73 de n4mj//glenn
See you on Field Day 2025 !
When all else fails ... Amateur Radio.
