In this shack, the event will henceforth be known as "Failed Day" and will only be spoken of only in hush tones in the night.
I started with the best of intentions. I had two extra wire dipoles up, on top of my go-to tried and true dipole I have used since day one, and had great success with. I had thoroughly tested the two new antennas over the past weeks, and was quite impressed with the performance.
At the last minute, due to weather and family considerations, I set up my station on the kitchen table. I had my trusty FT-100D as my main transceiver and my ol' IC-756 set-up as a receiver and a back up rig should I need it.
At the last minute, due to weather and family considerations, I set up my station on the kitchen table. I had my trusty FT-100D as my main transceiver and my ol' IC-756 set-up as a receiver and a back up rig should I need it.
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| My initial setup just minutes before the official start. (Not pictured: High hopes) |
As 11:00am drew closer, I checked and rechecked connections, power supplies, made sure pens worked, ensured the coffee pot was full and that my bladder was empty. The last hour before the start seemed like it took days, but finally - it was here. As I kissed my wife and kids goodbye, the voices on WWV announced that "at the tone it would be 1800 hours Universal Coordinated Time...........BOOP!"
My hand trembled as I flipped the switch on the power supply to 'ON' and the radios came alive....
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| Not a day to be operating outside. |
..............................................................NOTHING..................................................................
................Every band: Static...........................All up and down each band: Static...........
I re-checked all the connections, antennas, switched out connectors, changed cables, re-attached wires...
.................................................Still, nothing...........................................................
Thankfully, a quick check of Twitter and a few texts to other local hams seemed to point to shitty band conditions, so I was somewhat relieved and plodded on undeterred.
Finally, after just over an hour, I managed to work a Hawaiian station. Then, five minutes later and thanks to a spot from a ham just down the road, I worked Alaska. Later that hour I had worked Hawaii and Alaska again, respectively. Things were looking up, and stations in other parts of the continent were beginning to be heard on the air.
After two hours of peering at the W5RP Station Live Stream, I could actually begin to hear them sporatically on 20m... Had I know how the rest of the contest would have gone, I would have tried to work them then.
After over two and half hours of spinning the dial on 20 meters and not being able to hear much and not working anything, I was just about to take a break and have some lunch when a hot tip came in from another local ham: VE8AU in The Northwest Territories was on 14.315 and booming in. I tuned it up and worked him on my first call - It was a new province for me, and in hindsight: the highlight of the contest.
It was another two hours before I worked another station, WA7NB in Arizona. Hardly DX but when the bands are like that, you accept any and all small victories.
The contacts came, but few and far between, and I was hard pressed to hit anywhere other than California. Slowly, I began to get the odd contact out east - Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, then North Dakota amongst a handful more W6 contacts, but mostly dead air, static and faint distorted voices in the noise.
It was another two hours before I worked another station, WA7NB in Arizona. Hardly DX but when the bands are like that, you accept any and all small victories.
The contacts came, but few and far between, and I was hard pressed to hit anywhere other than California. Slowly, I began to get the odd contact out east - Illinois, Maryland, New Mexico, then North Dakota amongst a handful more W6 contacts, but mostly dead air, static and faint distorted voices in the noise.
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| Things got a little crazy during the W5RP inspired "Topless Hour" |
At about 6:00pm, and after a whopping 11 QSO's, I figured it might be time to check on my family and see what the plan was dinner. My wife, who could she the frustration in my eyes, and could hear the past seven hours of "VE7KPM...... VE7KPM..... VE7KPM.....VE7KPM...... VE7KPM........ VE7KPM......................."
suggested I run to the store and get myself somthing special to eat for dinner, as her and the kids had made other plans in my absence, so that is exactly what I did.
Besides, I could also grab some sweet alcohol to numb my pain and relax my frustrations while I was out.
* In case you're interested, I settled on a Terriyaki Pork Kabob and a Caesar Salad kit.... AND VODKA.
While I was in the liquor store, I bumped in to the local ham who alerted me to the AK station hours before, so I asked him how our local club members made out operating out of our municipality's Emergency Communications van, and the news of terrible band conditions and few contacts made me a little more at ease with my own struggles.
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| Daddy & the birthday girl stocking up for a long night of radio. |
Regardless, just to be safe, when I got home and while my kabob was grilling, I once again re-checked, re-tightened, replaced, re-ran, re-re-checked, re-connected, and even streamlined my station. I removed the 756 and the laptop running it, I moved the 30A power supply further away and ran longer power lines to the FT-100D. I even removed any and all chargers I had - iPhone, iPad, two for HT's and even the one running my netbook.
After that, I could be sure my problems weren't electrical interference and the elimination of all those cables, wires and gear cleared up some valuable real estate on the table. I was running light and feeling good about it. And it was just in time, my Kabob and Caesar salad were ready to eat...
After that, I could be sure my problems weren't electrical interference and the elimination of all those cables, wires and gear cleared up some valuable real estate on the table. I was running light and feeling good about it. And it was just in time, my Kabob and Caesar salad were ready to eat...
In hindsight, a terriyaki kabob wasn't exactly the greatest pairing for a caesar salad, or vice-versa, but I had a Vodka and Tonic on ice, a new lean mean
contest station and I wasn't worried about making the cover of Bon Appetit!
contest station and I wasn't worried about making the cover of Bon Appetit!
With a full stomach and a quivering liver, I fired the FT-100D back up, and....... SUCCESS! The first station I heard on 20 meters was E51AND - an exotic call to be sure. A quick QRZ check confirmed some rare DX: one of only four stations in the DXCC Entity of the South Cook Islands.
This is what I needed: a nice rare DX to make up for all the wasted hours to date. Something I can brag about at the coffee shop to all the other hams... A pin to stick in the map the makes people say "Holy shit! You talked to someone all the way out there!?!?!"
This is what I needed: a nice rare DX to make up for all the wasted hours to date. Something I can brag about at the coffee shop to all the other hams... A pin to stick in the map the makes people say "Holy shit! You talked to someone all the way out there!?!?!"
Chasing DX is what I do, so I poured a fresh drink, readjusted myself in the chair, did a quick stretch and I chased.... and chased... and chased.... FOR THREE HOURS.
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| Screen shot of E51AND in the South Cook Islands and my QTH with the infamous "Grey Line" |
Undeterred, and with better sound, I called on. Calls close to me were getting through, and I have no problem reaching out to and even over the Pacific, my confidence was high. Despite the station having a bizarre fetish for YL Operators, I knew I could break through.
Alas, as soon as the Dark Grey Line crossed over my location, the signal suddenly disappeared, along with the hopes and dreams of my Field Day 2014.
After a few minutes of sober reflection, and some inspiration from my ham friends on Twitter, I plodded on. To hell with the Grey Line, I switched to 40 meters and prepared to dine on the flesh of the Damned Grey Line!!!
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| One of the more interesting calls I chased on 40 meters once the sun went down. |
Once I hit 40 meters, it was more of the same.
I worked a station in Vancouver, who quite snippily asked me if I realized we were in the same zone, To which I replied, "SURE DID JACK!"
Then it was all California again. I chased far more than I worked, and the only real contact worthy of any mention was with Guam just before 1:00am PST.
I worked a station in Vancouver, who quite snippily asked me if I realized we were in the same zone, To which I replied, "SURE DID JACK!"
Then it was all California again. I chased far more than I worked, and the only real contact worthy of any mention was with Guam just before 1:00am PST.
Knowing that come morning, while it was still Field Day for the rest of the world, it was a 3 year old's birthday party in this house, I plodded on. Once again, tuning around white noise and voices in the distance.
Just after 1:30am, I heard WW1USA calling CQ from Missouri. Another quick QRZ check revealed that it is a Special Event Station at the National World War One Museum in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.
Now, other than my wife & kids and ice cold vodka tonics at 1:30 in the mornning, there are three things I love in life: History, Special Event Callsigns and... oh... I already mentioned the vodka tonics. Regardless, this station fulfilled my wildest non-DX ham radio dreams.
To say I am a World War One Buff, is an understatement. I had several family members serve in both the British and Canadian Armies during WWI, most for the duration of the war, and have had at least one of my ancestors at every major battle during the war on the western front. Two of my great-grand uncles are buried in France. Canada, my home and the greatest country on earth truly became a nation in the eyes of the world and it's own people at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917, (Yes my American friends, the war lasted a lot longer than three months.)
What I am getting at, is something like a WW1USA QSL card would be a very nice addition to the the pictures, awards, medals remebrances and even the actual flag that flew over my great-grandfather's base in Northern France during the war that are already proudly displayed in my Man Cave.
Despite having made a few contacts in that neck of the woods, and a complete lack of competition for their attention in the wee hours of the morning, I was unsuccessful.
A glance at the clock and I was alerted that it was well after 4:00 am, and I had to get at least some sleep if there was any hope of adding to my abysmal tally of 22 QSO's.
Not to mention the Vodka was gone.
Off to bed I went, but I set an alarm to be up bright and early to get some operating time in before anyone got up, and before the birthday festivities got in to gear.
I think I dreamed about that friggin South Cook Islands Station.
After three hours, my alarm went off and after scanning the sky, I was back to the kitchen table for a few hours of futility.
I have to admit, despite the lack of sleep, the hair of the dog, the previous day's disappointments and the nagging feeling that something is wrong with my gear, I was high spirits.
I quickly banged off three contacts on 20 meters... all of which, as you've probably guessed, were in California. (No offence W6'ers, but if I never work another 6 station in my life, I will die a happy man.)
After that the kids, including the birthday girl, were up and they wanted pancakes. So, in desperation, I clipped a couple HT's to my belt that were tuned to the 2m, 70cm and 6m calling frequencies, in the hopes of squeezing out just one more contact!
After pancakes, including a special one for dad, (pictured below), I had lost all motivation, and entertaining the princess of the day after almost 24 hours of ignoring her, took priority.
Now, other than my wife & kids and ice cold vodka tonics at 1:30 in the mornning, there are three things I love in life: History, Special Event Callsigns and... oh... I already mentioned the vodka tonics. Regardless, this station fulfilled my wildest non-DX ham radio dreams.
To say I am a World War One Buff, is an understatement. I had several family members serve in both the British and Canadian Armies during WWI, most for the duration of the war, and have had at least one of my ancestors at every major battle during the war on the western front. Two of my great-grand uncles are buried in France. Canada, my home and the greatest country on earth truly became a nation in the eyes of the world and it's own people at the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917, (Yes my American friends, the war lasted a lot longer than three months.)
What I am getting at, is something like a WW1USA QSL card would be a very nice addition to the the pictures, awards, medals remebrances and even the actual flag that flew over my great-grandfather's base in Northern France during the war that are already proudly displayed in my Man Cave.
Despite having made a few contacts in that neck of the woods, and a complete lack of competition for their attention in the wee hours of the morning, I was unsuccessful.
A glance at the clock and I was alerted that it was well after 4:00 am, and I had to get at least some sleep if there was any hope of adding to my abysmal tally of 22 QSO's.
Not to mention the Vodka was gone.
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| Bloodshot eyes after 3 hours of sleep |
Off to bed I went, but I set an alarm to be up bright and early to get some operating time in before anyone got up, and before the birthday festivities got in to gear.
I think I dreamed about that friggin South Cook Islands Station.
After three hours, my alarm went off and after scanning the sky, I was back to the kitchen table for a few hours of futility.
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| Sunday Morning, 7:00am - I'm not operating under THAT cloud. Back to the kitchen table. |
I have to admit, despite the lack of sleep, the hair of the dog, the previous day's disappointments and the nagging feeling that something is wrong with my gear, I was high spirits.
I quickly banged off three contacts on 20 meters... all of which, as you've probably guessed, were in California. (No offence W6'ers, but if I never work another 6 station in my life, I will die a happy man.)
After that the kids, including the birthday girl, were up and they wanted pancakes. So, in desperation, I clipped a couple HT's to my belt that were tuned to the 2m, 70cm and 6m calling frequencies, in the hopes of squeezing out just one more contact!
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| This is what desperation looks like... |
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| The Now Famous Coffee Pancake! |
So that's where I left it.
Grand Total - 25 QSO's - 21 on 20 meters, 4 on 40 meters
Estimated Time at the Radio: 16 hours.
Grand Total - 25 QSO's - 21 on 20 meters, 4 on 40 meters
Estimated Time at the Radio: 16 hours.
To add insult to injury, I also found out yesterday that my wife "hates" George Carlin... she thinks he's "dumb".
I hope you were as bored and frustrated reading this, as I was writing it.
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| My messy station after the contest. |
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