Field Day 2017 - QRP SSB in a Contest Environment

[@davidvaughn7752]

Tracy, I participated in Field Day for the first time as an Amateur. Using my 817ND and a PackTenna (71ft. of wire) I made 34 contacts from Alaska to San Diego, and Washington to Arizona. I was at a repeater site in Eastern Washington at 6800ft. It was great fun. I've watched all your videos and the information you've provided was essential in my QRP success. Thank you so much for your dedication and willingness to share your knowledge. I'll be doing SOTA work and Field Day next year as well - all QRP, by the way... the challenge and ability to set up simulating emergency situations is where it's at. 73 K7GYB

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Hi David, thank you very much for your comment! So let me get this straight, you taken all the info I've given you and done something I've wanted to do for years but have never been able to do? That's fantastic!!!! I haven't even seen a real mountain up close since I live in the flat middle of the continent and have only dreamed of operating from real mountains that are taller than 300 feet :) I am really happy for you, thank you for sharing. 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.

[@KX4UL]

I realize this comment is a little late for the party...lol, but I really enjoyed this video. Getting it done with 'QRP' put a BIG smile on my face. "10-4" at minute marker 12:34 caught me totally off guard...lol! And the "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea" T-shirt brought back some great memories. I used to watch that show with my Dad when I was a kid. Very good video Tracy...73 my friend!

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Never too late! Thank you very much. Yes, I too have fond memories of Admiral Nelson and Captain Crane. 73 from VE3TWM.

[@VE3IPS]

Tracy, Love the set up you have for field operations and showcasing real world activity

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you, John!

[@_mattm_]

I was operating with W7BSA, nice video and glad to see you made contact on field day!

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you for the contact! Contacts from out west are infrequent in my Field Day logs so it was exciting to work you.

[@n4gix]

Tracy, thanks for the great videos! I worked QRP this year with my shiny new KX3-PX3 as the third station under our club's call W9LJ. I got saddled with 15m SSB Phone, so I configured my equally new Buddipole Deluxe with the 9.5' whips as an "L". I ran the entire station (including my laptop once it's battery ran down about 4 hours in) from a really nice 10ah LiPO4 battery pack.Although I wound up with only 18 contacts, I still had a lot of fun! This was my re-entry into HF since my last Field Day was 1987... It was a disappointment to not make contact with W1AW, but I did log 8 other CT stations.73 de N4GIX

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Hey, congrats on your beautiful new station! I appreciate your comments. I didn't even look at 15m this year as 40 was so active on Saturday and on Sunday morning 20 was productive. Hope this was your first of many consecutive Field Days. 73 from VE3TWM.

[@cwqrpportable]

Another enjoyable video Tracy......thanks. Looks like you had fun; thanks for sharing. I know exactly why you operate QRP and share your feelings 100%. Maybe only difference here is that I'm all CW now. My first challenge was QRP and then my second challenge 4 years ago was CW. Hooked on it now and it's my main operating mode. On your recommendation, I bought the 12m Spiderbeam mast and have been very happy with it. 72 de Brent VA3YG btw - that Kenwood AT-120 is a super little tuner..........congrats on finding one

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Hi Brent, thank you for your comments. I've gotten to the point now if I use more than 5 watts I feel like I'm cheating. I'm really happy with my Spiderbeam pole and the AT-120. 72 from Tracy VE3TWM.

[@patluvsvettes]

That looks like fun! I'm thinking of getting the new FT-818 and running QRP on Field Day. Hope to hear you on the air!

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

I'm looking forward to that contact with you.

[@brucecairnie3975]

I am waiting for my 897D to arrive, having just bought a used one. Living in southwestern British Columbia I am excited about the prospect of being able to get on the air outside year round - winter temperatures rarely go below 0 and so I will get set up with a good tarp to protect me from the ceaseless rain. Thanks for all the information, especially the details on how the Field Day exchange occurs and what each part means. I was intrigued that your list of stations you worked didn’t include many other Canadian ones and thought from your location you would be able to work VE2 VA2 as well as just more VE3 VA3. Bruce VA7SGY

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Hi Bruce, thank you for your comment. Have fun with your new 897D! Every year, I work far more US stations than Canadian ones. The Americans simply outnumber the Canucks by a wide margin. They tend to cover up stations from other provinces (who typically do not run high power).

[@trig6712]

Excellent Tracy, as always, I just need to get out portable soon hopefully when fit enough .. inspiration to all .. good Trig

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you, Trig. Hopefully you can get out soon.

[@davidshermanlittle919]

Tim, you are very good at giving your presentation on QRP Field Day. I believe the reason you did so well were your great Antennas. I hope to work you on the next Field Day. AF5U Dave

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you, David! Good antennas are definitely the key when operating QRP.

[@ve3eby]

This proves you should not discount QRP during Field Day. With a good setup and perseverance you will be successful. Great video and I certainly enjoyed my FD this year with you and Randy. 73.

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

It was a pleasure having you there, Paul!

[@Roddy1965]

Useful video, thanks Tracy.

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you, Craig!

[@joewilson2258]

Some times it is best to give your information a bit slower so that receiving contact can get all of your information . Yes others can reply to a faster call and be able to confirm the correct contact info . You can get as many different contacts this way as there are some new people on the air that are new to field day contesting or your going through a pile up .

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Good points, Joe. Thank you for contributing to the discussion.

[@shortwavelistener]

Great video! This really helped me learn for my first upcoming field day in 2 weeks (2018)!

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you and good luck!

[@Radio-Hobbyist]

Great job Tracy! Always enjoys your vids.

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you, Rick! Hope you are well, my friend.

[@hansdown5508]

Great video and great field day!

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you, much appreciated!

[@ItsAaronRenner]

I’d love to work you on Field Day some time. We were operating our club contest call K8PI as a 3A class from Middletown, OH. I saw a few stations on your list I remember working this weekend. I bought my 817 last week and cant wait to get everything else for the rig I want to build. I’m going for an SLA battery with a solar charger. Planning on operating mostly digital modes with it, but definitely going to toss some SSB phone in. 73 N8ACR

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you for your comments, Aaron! Congrats on your new 817 and I hope you are able to get it on the air soon. 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.

[@bigphil6980]

i wish they did a field day here in the UK but they don't. i was wondering why do you not use a head set in the contests

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Hi Phil, thank you for watching! I agree, it would be nice to have the UK competing in Field Day with North America. There are two reasons I do not use a headset. First off, I've never used one and don't really have any interest in spending the money on one. Secondly, if I was wearing a headset in the videos, the listeners would only hear me and not the other stations. 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.

[@rogerparrett3242]

Always good to see your videos...73...Roger / NQ8RP

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you, Roger! 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.

[@aw7425]

Love the video and your enthusiasm as always. 73 W1NGA

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you for your comment, I really appreciate it! 73 from VE3TWM.

[@EugenioGuarente]

excelent Job Tracy.. thanks for sharing. 73 from YV5EMG

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Gracias, Eugenio! 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.

[@MrM2hb]

Great effort!!!

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you!

[@N2LRB]

Doesn't wanting a location with a little "privacy" defeat the public relations aspect of field day?

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Very good point, Jose. You and I both know there is an element of Field Day which is to generate publicity for ham radio. However, in the campground I was staying at, I had to be low profile as several years back members of a local ham club behaved poorly and were barred from using that facility again for Field Day. I decided staying under the radar this time around was the best strategy for not getting shut down mid-contest. 73 from Tracy VE3TWM.

[@J_David_Worthington_III]

Hello Tracy. Another great video! What was the model of manual tuner were you using? I am running the Yeasu 817ND and the eight band hyendfed antenna from Holland. Would the tuner be beneficial for my setup?

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Hello David, thank you for watching! The antenna tuner is the Kenwood AT-120. The antenna tuner could be useful for running the HyEndFed 8-band antenna on the 30m band and for extending the range on the bands it is designed for (but only where the SWR exceeds 1.5:1).

[@scottdematteo]

Nice job and great video. IW3GTR

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you, Scott!

[@HamRadioAdventures]

Nice!

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you!

[@paulclark7664]

Great vid and it just proves what can be done with a bit of pre planning..😉

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

100% agreed on the pre-planning! This sort of operation is well within the means of many hams. Thank you for your comment.

[@mk1tina]

great to see you enjoying the ft817 magic. 10-4..

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

72 Mark!

[@timsmith428]

why did you not make your own antennas?...why buy, when in an emergency (what field day is supposed to be), you have to roll your own........

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Very good question. I have a couple of answers to state my position: - I get very little time to play radio. When I do get the chance, I prefer to get outdoors and operate rather than spend the precious time building my own antennas. - In my estimation, having to build an antenna in a time of crisis could be very difficult and time consuming. Better to have everything ready to go when disaster hits.

[@victorsdunek3281]

Whats your Plan for Field Day for 2018 let me know ! WH6FLQ Aloha from Hawaii! 73's !

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

I will be working Field Day 2018 from a local conservation area. I hope to set up a 50 foot tall 4-band vertical which might give me a shot at working you! Good luck in the contest and 73 from Canada.

[@DuhBiggestDog]

Great video. I'm a QRPer from way back but hang out down in the CW bands. Anyways 10-4 Good Buddies you did a great job from your 10-20. I'm out!!

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you, Don!

[@leightonlewis4954]

Very well done indeed 😀 MW6IFE 😎

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thank you very much!

[@gibamotosracing]

Bom trabalho,parabéns. PU4GIB

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Obrigado, Gilberto!

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

You might want to mod the mic with a electric elemrnt to give you more punch like vk3ye i did and its well worth it kg6mn

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Thanks for the tip, Jerome. I should look that mod up, but the truth is I have no trouble making contacts with the stock mike.

[@francescosilvi654]

Great video ! '73 de ik0 rks

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Grazie! 73 from VE3TWM.

[@MrVa3smc]

I made contact with W8USA as well and I even heard 10-4 and thought....ok.....

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

It was surprising to hear that on the ham bands, but I'm not judging the fellow. I make plenty of mistakes whenever I try to learn a new skill, too. I'm guessing he was on the GOTA station, but there should have been someone there to monitor and coach. At any rate, it's nice to introduce new people to our hobby.

[@DesmondsDonders]

Personally I think QRP is the way forward on contests :-)

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

It certainly is for me!

[@jeromegrzelak8236]

The stock mic has to much base Your audio will have much more punch i use mine on my 817 857 and 991 thus crisp vrs muddy cheers kg6mn

[@banihex]

Yaaa!!!!

[@magniarot]

10-4 good buddy

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

We all have to start somewhere. I was a CB'er once, too. It was a shock to hear that, though.

[@barrykery1175]

I really enjoy watching your videos. I believe in using resonant antennas so I do not need to carry an ATU with me. Here's my OCF40 and no tuner is needed. kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGTKkp1njs-Dock Keep up your great videos. Barry, KU3X

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

Hi Barry, thank you for sharing the video! Like you, I prefer using resonant antennas. 73 from VE3TWM.

[@guardianobserver6593]

In a era where with the money a modern transceiver cost, one can travel even to North Korea, I don't understand the meaning of making the biggest number of contacts like a lunatic. This dying hobby, has need of quality contacts and not quantity only with the exchange of few numbers.

[@OutdoorsOnTheAir]

I sincerely thank you for your thoughtful comment. There are many ways to enjoy this hobby, from ragchewing to contesting to moonbounce and more. There is room for all, and this is what makes ham radio the greatest hobby I know.

[@MrTonyd1954]

Dying for someone who doesn’t know what’s going on. I say to each his own