Field Day, 2005, with Alameda County Repeater Club

I've been interested in radios since before I could walk, and I've been a "ham" radio operator for over 20 years, finally earning the Amateur-Extra Class call of WS6L, way back in 1985. Back when I was a kid, instead of watching the latest escapades of Star Trek on TV, I was that nerdy guy with the thick glasses that was tearing apart a 5-tube superhet radio and putting the thing back together. Instead of going out in the 'hood gang-bangin' and all that stuff, I was out in the back yard stringing up wire antennas. I bypassed the cherry vodka and ripple wine, as I was too busy spending my late nights dx-ing WBZ, WWL, WSM, or just listenin' to plan ol' KMJ. I really didn't cut much of a swath through the local girls, as I always seemed to be focused on a radio. Gee, think of all of the things I missed out on, but we won't go there, as that isn't the subject of this article.

If you're a ham radio operator, you know that there are no two words more holy in the English language than Field Day. Ok, ham radio operators, recite those holy words again: Field Day. And again: Field Day. Yesssss!

Photos: Teamwork unfolds, as the Alameda County Repeater Club erects the main tent, where many of the stations are located, in the central section of the camp.

Field Day is the "primo" yearly event in the world of amateur radio. For the uninitiated, Field Day simulates emergency communications, one of the primary reasons why the U.S. government sanctions and, in fact, encourages folks to pursue the hobby of amateur radio. Despite the fact that the internet, bluetooth and cell phones are reality, and used as a primary means of communication, in times of true duress, you will find that amateur radio may be the only way to communicate. During the awful events of September 11, 2001, many folks found out the hard way that the telephone network was hopelessly overloaded, and there was no way to communicate. Amateur radio saved the day, as it did back in 1989 with hurricane Hugo.

Left: Let's see, it takes teamwork to erect an antenna, especially a quad for 40-meters, and Katie , KF6BKP, and Karen, KI6OS, have the right stuff. Right: Setting up camp, Friday night, the day before Field Day, as Karen tends to many small details. It takes a lot to work a good Field Day, but it's worth the effort.

The purpose of Field Day is to simulate emergency communications. Like everything else in modern society, it's a competitive event, and an effort in teamwork, as the idea is to see how many contacts you can score. Although Field Day can be run on an individual basis, it's more of a club event, or a team effort. Since I had the pleasure of operating with the Alameda County Repeater Club, with their Field Day site located 'way up in them thar hills with a view of San Francisco Bay, I sort of felt like I was a team player of the Oakland Raiders. Well, maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but it comes pretty close to describing the Field Day mind-set among club members.

Left: Randy, KB7VI, is getting the kettle grill ready for the evening meal. Right: In the East Bay hills, it gets cold at night in late June, as the wind kicks up and you definitely want to wear your long johns to bed.

I had been talking to my friend Karen Stoker, KI6OS about the possibility of attending Field Day with the Alameda County Repeater Club, abbreviated to ACRC, and she suggested that they could use a bit of help and that my 75-meter dipole might come in handy. I checked my work schedule, in my case a very necessary thing to do, and agreed to meet her at the ACRC Field Day site, perched high in the hills above the East Bay town of Castro Valley, CA, east of San Francisco. After a few email exchanges with Brad Anderson, KF6CRW, president of ACRC, the deal was done and I would be a participant. The last time I'd attended a Field Day with ACRC was way back in 1993, so I was anticipating the event, so say the least!

Left: Sunset, over the mountains east of the Field Day site of the Alameda County Repeater Club, in the East Bay hills. Right: True teamwork is exhibited as Randy and Brad combine efforts to raise the 20-meter 3-element yagi antenna.

So how can I describe Field Day with the Alameda County Repeater Club? Well, you simply get a bunch of radio-internet-computer enthusiasts together, place them into a very serene, rural setting, in the middle of one of the most dynamic metropolitan areas in the country, give them a chance to do what they do best, and you have a magic combination: Field Day, with the Alameda Country Repeater Club, on the weekend of June 24, 2005.

Left: Randy and Brad erect the mast for the 20-meter yagi and the 2-meter antenna. Right: Rich, N6LIM, expresses his facade of resolution, as he plays his part in the erection of the "huge" antenna mast.

Who does what? What does it matter, as the ACRC operates as a total team effort. Everybody helps everybody with whatever needs to be done, whether it is pitching a tent, throwing up an high frequency antenna up into the trees, erecting a mast, you're covered, as it's a team effort. The club has been in existence for many years, and like life, there are departures and encounters, but the ACRC is a vibrant, ongoing organization. I attended the first Field Day with the club in 1986, and I haven't looked back since, as this club knows how to put on a Field Day event.

Left: Brad and Polly start to make contacts, and get the logging in order. Right: Polly, KF6CRV, knocks 'em dead on 2-meters.

When it comes to operating in the competitive Field Day event, the ACRC operates as a team, or perhaps best compared to a well-oiled machine. Everybody rotates from station to station, not only to get the "total experience" of working every amateur radio band and getting an up-close-and-personal glimpse of at-the-moment band conditions, but how to work together as a team with a common goal: Get lots of contacts. Or perhaps, the more important objective, to sharpen needed skills in case amateur radio is put to the test in a real-life emergency.

Left: Ron, WD6CIM, does what he does best, and gets lots of contacts on 20-meter c.w., while he enjoys a beer and pretzels. Well, everybody has their vises! Right: Meanwhile, the "Swiss army knife guy" of the ACRC, Bob, N6WG, who's callsign is the signature of the group effort, enjoys a pleasant lunch of a Subway sandwich, while he knocks 'em dead on 40-meters, Morse code none the less. This guy can carry on a perfectly normal conversation with you, looking you in the eye, yet be "finger talking" with another ham on 40-meter, cw, at who-knows-how fast words per minute! Talk about an expert in multi-tasking... this guy is good!

Left: Zena and Eric knock 'em dead on 20-meter phone, shortly after the band opened to the east coast. Right: Zena and Polly make lots of local contacts on 2-meters.

Who were the players in the Alameda County Repeater Club Field Day, for June 24 to 26, 2005? Read on:

Brad Anderson, KF6CRW, president of the Alameda County Repeater Club, and a jack-of-all trades; a guy that can do it all, and goes the extra mile to do it.

Left: After setting up the trailer and the main tent, Randy anticipates the next issue to deal with. Right: Bob Tellefsen, N6WG, the master at work, doing what he does best, putting up an improvised antenna under Field Day conditions. Such spirit is ham radio at it's best.

Zena Anderson KG6THN, vice-president of ACRC, who is good at setting up camp and is a "mean" operator on all of the bands.

Skip Chraft, N6NFB, this guy can, and does do it all. Trust me, you want to be with this guy on Field Day.

Rich Anderson, N6LIM; here's a guy that you want to have around to help you erect a mast for 20 meters, and then stay up for half the night making contacts.

Left: The main tent and the 20-meter beam that ACRC set up for Field Day, 2005. Right: Skip Chraft, N6NFB, surveys the mast that holds up the 20-meter yagi. Way to go, dude!

Polly Anderson, KF6CRV, an outstanding 20-meter phone operator, who knows how to get things done, and make lots of contacts.

Bob Tellefsen, N6WG, club guru, 40-meter cw enthusiast, and one of the most useful guys to have around in any amateur radio incident, or anything else, for that matter...

Ron Lampe, WD6CIM, laid-back, but a real "animal" when it comes to hitting the bands, watch out for this dude on 40 meters!

Randy Pleasance, KB7VI, affectionately known to the club as the "Village Idiot" but is far from that moniker, as he's the kind of guy that you want to have around when things need to get done.

Katie Pleasance, KF6BKP, Randy's charming better half, is a straight-shooter and a whiz at erecting antennas under Field Day conditions.

Left: Part of the "line-up" of vehicles for Field Day, 2005, and the main operating tent, and the attached trailer that hosted the 20-meter phone operation, a major supplier of points in the contest. Right: Karen Stoker, KI6OS, helps erect the mast for the 20-meter 3-element yagi antenna, which garnered many points in the operation.

Karen Stoker, KI6OS, who slings antennas into the trees, cooks, supports all operations, deals with last-minute issues, and is an all-around team player, not to mention an ace operator on 75-meter phone.

Eric Rench, WS6L, chief cook and bottle-washer, master of nothing, who's more busy taking pictures, drinking beer and taking notes, and playing with the internet. Not to mention, the editor and author of this article. Dubious, at best.

The ACRC came together and everybody had a lot of fun over Field Day weekend. Although the club didn't set any records, they gave the contest the "good 'ol college try," and everybody had a lot of fun, both as a club and as individuals, and once again, demonstrated how under adverse circumstances, ham radio can make a difference, when it comes to emergency communications.

We enjoyed each other's company, we put emergency communication to the test, and chalked up a reasonably decent score of ham radio contacts. Field Day with the Alameda County Repeater Club is a group effort, and is an event that is both useful, and fun. I can't wait until next year to join the gang again. Maybe I should forget about the internet and dust off my straight key, and do a bit of 15-meter, cw. Well, maybe... err, I need to update my website...

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