“CQ Field Day CQ Field Day DE WA6BGS”, was being sent out over the Amateur Radio bands from atop of the Laguna Mountains in San Diego County. The air was fresh with a light breeze from the North West, the new club’s tri-band A3S shining from the sun hitting it just right. As we all wait for the clock to say 11 AM and the Field Day Chair person to say the magic works, “Field Day has started. Turn on your radios and have some FUN”.

As each station was turned on and CQ was being called and the loggers start logging a calm fell over us. We looked around and said, with out words to each other “Now this is what Amateur Radio is all about.” We have lost some of our members in the last few years, but we could feel them there. Sometimes I think they help us get through the pile-ups now and then.

We called CQ over and over until our voices were horse; take a sip from a cold drink and call CQ some more. We had three youths come out to work the radios and to log all the contacts. The two girls just got their license and this was their first time on HF. I think they are hooked and are planning on upgrading at a later date. The two girls made 42 QSO between both of them, and the boy logged some 80 meter QSO’s.

Then it was time to eat. We had some good eats, Hotdogs, Hamburgers, Chili, Steak, Carne asada, Salad, Hot Cakes, eggs, and the list goes on. Not one person went away from Field Day hungry.

After we ate, it was time to go back and Call CQ some more. As we went back to the station, some of the operators worked through the meal. They were just too involved on getting a QSO or working a pile-up to go eat. We switched seats and started calling CQ again. When night fell, the night owls came out to work the radios. I was one of five night owls. Some were up to 2 AM logging QSO’s, I was up to 4 AM as I was trying to get Maine on 20 meters, which was my goal. I logged it and the real night owl came out. She walked over and said she could not sleep and would work the radios until first light.

At first light we gassed up the generator for the last few hours. 6 meters opened up a little. We now know why it is called the magical band. It opened for a few hours, then closed right in the middle of a QSO. 20 meters was open 98% of the time, and we made most of our QSO’s on that band. 40 meters was the next band we made most of the contacts on.

The clock called out 11 AM on Sunday and the Field Day Chair called “Field Day is over”. We all looked around and said, “Wow that was fun.” Everyone took off in different directions; taking down the Yagi’s, draining the gas out of the generator, putting away the radios, and rolling up the coax. We packed it all away for the next Field Day or the next emergency that comes up. We are all ready talking about the next Field Day.

73

Paul Rios KC6QLS