Winter Field Day plans CHANGED

[Rod Johnson]

  Sorry to have to send bad news, at least in my mind, but as a result of the lack of expressed interest,  I have decided to cancel the Valley Camp Lodge idea, and Winter Field Day at Valley Camp.   The good news, if any, is that we will have some activity closer to home.

   Renting the lodge facility, for 'maybe' three people, and planning food for an unknown number is just not worth the effort and cost.

  I have talked with Thom at VC,  and he agreed.

   Bob, Mihai(?) and I will do something up at the Cougar Mountain Regional Park (Nike Park),  as a daytime outing on Saturday.  (This is a Day Use Only park)  No particular agenda is planned, so come bring any radio and/or antenna and partake in the activity.  There should be plenty of Battery power available, particularly if your equipment is connected via PowerPoles. Clamp leads can be accommodated.

   Bob will probably be experimenting with an Icom radio, and a couple of antennas, among other things, and experimenting on Winlink.   I will be doing SSB on HF in some manner, and will play some with with VHF/UHF FM  since we will be up high with a fairly good RF horizon, except to the due South.

  There are restrooms and a picnic shelter.  It will be chilly ( expect40's ) , and there is a good chance of some rain on Saturday.  We plan to set up in the picnic shelter near the restrooms.  Unless it gets quite windy, we should be able to stay dry.  

   You are certainly invited, encouraged, and welcome,  to come and participate, socialize, criticize, empathize, ask questions, learn, or otherwise just spent time with us.  There is no AC power available, except what we might generate from our batteries and a couple of very small, and probably 'dirty-RF wise', inverters. I will find out ( The Goal-Zero inverters built into their battery packs have shown to be very RF-noisy).

  There is no plan for communal food and drink, so you will be on your own in that regard.  

  Rod Johnson 

 WE...@aol.com

(425) 466-0884 Text,or phone call for questions

[Doyle Byford]

Rob, sorry you had to cancel.  I was trying very hard to get one of my antenna/rig combinations to work.  Yesterday I tried to set up for the QRP CW practice, but couldn't get the antenna to tune.  I will still try to get something working before field day so I can at least participate.  I'll keep you posted.  

Part of my problem was there was no specifications in my Budipole vertical manual for 30 meters so I was guessing at the settings.  Another part is that the counterpoise connector keeps coming loose.  In the worst case scenario I think I can put the MFJ 1898 on the mag-mount and that should get me a couple of contacts.  It is frustrating not being able to hear stations inside the house, but it was more frustrating yesterday when I tried to set up the budipole and not hear anything.  

My current plan is to get the antenna to work on 40 meters first and then try to work it down to 30 meters so I can do one of the practice sessions.

I pray for you all and now I am asking you to pray for me in this matter.  Thank you.

Doyle Byford

KA6MAT

--
Your group manager is ba...@k7bwh.com
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Issaquah Amateur Radio Club" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to issaquah-arc...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/issaquah-arc/1693808294.710466.1768595451956%40mail.yahoo.com.

[Rod Johnson]

Doyle,

  For the CW practice, are you just listening, or are you also wanting to transmit?

  As I am sure you know, antenna tune is not at all critical for receive.  You should be able to receive 'something' on 40M, just with a 15-25 foot piece of wire, randomly on the floor, or hung from a curtain rod.

 Rod

  

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/issaquah-arc/CAK41LkN9%3DuqGxGycWUU-e1CqdCOy%3DE0OZMDJ68vNxx2OrBsVJQ%40mail.gmail.com.

[Doyle Byford]

Rod,

I plan on transmitting, if I can hear them.

Doyle

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/issaquah-arc/1479057050.737798.1768601308167%40mail.yahoo.com.

[ba...@k7bwh.com]

Rod, I hope you and the Issaquah club have a fun turnout. “Fun” can be any number. :-)

I’ll participate in Winter FD with the Edmonds ARC. If any of you happen to be in the area, you’re invited to drop in to see us at the very comfortable Lake Ballinger Center. We operate outside on the deck under the wide eaves, and their heated building with all modern conveniences including hot coffee are just a few steps away.

73 Barry K7BWH

--

[Bruce Helbert]

Thanks for the update Rod. 

[joe.d...@gmail.com]

Yes, we learned that lesson about RF-dirty Goal Zero inverters a few years ago on a summer Field Day.

I have a simple adapter to run directly off the SAE 12v connector, and many of my iCom radios will run from it.

 

Perhaps visiting Winter Field Day is more important that AFC football tomorrow.

 

73,

 

Joe Decuir, KF7BMD

Issaquah CERT

M: 425-985-1562

E: jde...@ieee.org

 

From: 'Rod Johnson' via Issaquah Amateur Radio Club <issaqu...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2026 12:31 PM
To: Issaquah ARC <issaqu...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [IARC] Winter Field Day plans CHANGED

 

  Sorry to have to send bad news, at least in my mind, but as a result of the lack of expressed interest,  I have decided to cancel the Valley Camp Lodge idea, and Winter Field Day at Valley Camp.   The good news, if any, is that we will have some activity closer to home.

--

[rickja...@comcast.net]

Leaders are leaders to make the hard decisions. Glad you decided to offer an alternative location; I will certainly try to visit you guys during this Faux Winter Field Day. I plan to bring my FTM-500 and a J-pole to hang from a tree somewhere. What is your target time to be there?

 

From: 'Rod Johnson' via Issaquah Amateur Radio Club <issaqu...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2026 12:31 PM
To: Issaquah ARC <issaqu...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [IARC] Winter Field Day plans CHANGED

 

  Sorry to have to send bad news, at least in my mind, but as a result of the lack of expressed interest,  I have decided to cancel the Valley Camp Lodge idea, and Winter Field Day at Valley Camp.   The good news, if any, is that we will have some activity closer to home.

--

[Rod Johnson]

Rick, 

Excellent!  It will be good to have you participate.

  The actual operating time is 30 hours, beginning at 1600 UTC, so that is 8:00 PST, if I have that correct.

   I do not expect to be setup and operational by that time, but the park gate 'should' be open by about then. 

   Rod J

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/issaquah-arc/007b01dc87b8%24ec2e1ed0%24c48a5c70%24%40comcast.net.

[Paul Butzi]

1600 UTC would be 8:00AM PST, correct.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/issaquah-arc/867109203.826248.1768667938765%40mail.yahoo.com.

[Rod Johnson]

Joe, 

   Winter Field Day will still be next weekend (Jan 24th and 25th).

  Sorry, I failed to be specific about that in the previous posting.

Rod J

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/issaquah-arc/062501dc8771%2440537de0%24c0fa79a0%24%40gmail.com.

[Rod Johnson]

 Paul,

  IIRC, you are correct.

  Would you possibly join us?

That would be wonderful.

  

  Rod Johnson

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/issaquah-arc/1C3FDBF6-3032-4CF4-94C2-FD20016DC798%40gmail.com.

[Bob Otis]

Rod, Rick,

 

I did not expect it to start that early, but I will be there early afternoon.  I plan to bring two HF vertical antennas and the Icom IC-7000 to give it a spin.  This is basically a POTA setup, so shouldn’t take much time to set up.  Looks like 50/50 on rain. 

 

One of the antennas is the CrankIR from Stepp, so if anyone want to set this one up earlier, let me know.  I’ll arrange to get it to you.

 

I’ll also bring my 30’ mast for Rick’s j-pole if he needs it.

 

That’s all for now,

Bob

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/issaquah-arc/867109203.826248.1768667938765%40mail.yahoo.com.

[Bogdan Manolache]

I will be there around 09:00. I am not sure how i will operate, but definitely I will come with FTx to see how it performs.

73,

Mihai

Sent from my Galaxy

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/issaquah-arc/004201dc87f4%244381eaf0%24ca85c0d0%24%40comcast.net.

[Rod Johnson]

Great!  I am not sure if I will even be there by 9, but I will try.

Rod

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/issaquah-arc/696cfb35.170a0220.29fc7e.46db%40mx.google.com

.

[joe.d...@gmail.com]

I am going to Issaquah Village Theater in the afternoon.

Default plans: remote check-in in AM:

- from home (IC-7300 + flagpole antenna)

- from car (IC-705 + mag-mount OPEK antenna)

 

What frequencies and modes do the club members want to work on?

Please advise,

 

Joe Decuir, KF7BMD

Issaquah CERT

M: 425-985-1562

E: jde...@ieee.org

 

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/issaquah-arc/1098586330.930615.1768754262553%40mail.yahoo.com.

[Rod Johnson]

Joe,

  As tonwhatvfrequencies and modes: 

   It completely depends upon who shows up, and what they want to try.

  We probably will not be operational much before 10am, if even then.

   I will probably begin listening on 20M, on SSB(upper side-band) to see what activity there might be.   If not much I will usually go up to higher bands to check them out.  Alternatively, I could go down to 40M (LSB).   There is not usually much activity on 80M during tje middle of the day, but WFD may bring some out, so itcia always good to listen.

Bob and maybe others may also be on 2M and 70cM  FM simplex.  

   If you hear signals, from any station, give them a call.  They will appreciate any contacts.

   If at home  you will be class 1H, (1 transmitter and at Home) If mobile, even if parked  but operating from the car, you will be considered mobile  and should identify as such (1M)

    We will be W7BI 3O or maybe 4O (for 3stations Outdoor)

  Rod J

  

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/issaquah-arc/11e701dc8b36%24e4ffb390%24aeff1ab0%24%40gmail.com.

[joe.d...@gmail.com]

Thanks!

• Wait until after 10am, or 10:30am, listen then talk
• Start at home: 40M (LSB), 20M (USB), 10M, then 6m.
• Switch to car: 20M, 10M, 6M, 2M and 70cm.

 

I will probably stop at noon to get ready.

My sister-in-law will show up around 1pm.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/issaquah-arc/1092320181.1729495.1769044627911%40mail.yahoo.com.