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  • ARRL Field Day

    From Rug Rat@1:135/250 to All on Tue Jun 10 00:42:38 2025
    What is everyones plan for ARRL Field Day?

    I will most likely be operating from the comfort of my home with commercial power (I know that is cheating), but it is what it is.

    I did really well for Winter Field Day 2025 (2nd in the NFL division)!

    I am a bit worried that the band conditions will suck though!

    Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
    Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
    IMAGE BBS! 3.0 - bbs.catracing.org 6400
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    FIDO-Node# - 1:135/250
    --- CNet/5
    * Origin: The Rat's Den BBS (1:135/250)
  • From Nigel Reed@1:124/5016 to All on Tue Jun 10 13:33:42 2025
    On Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:42:38 +0000
    "Rug Rat" (1:135/250) <Rug.Rat@f250.n135.z1.fidonet> wrote:

    What is everyones plan for ARRL Field Day?

    I will most likely be operating from the comfort of my home with
    commercial power (I know that is cheating), but it is what it is.

    I did really well for Winter Field Day 2025 (2nd in the NFL division)!

    I am a bit worried that the band conditions will suck though!

    Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
    Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
    IMAGE BBS! 3.0 - bbs.catracing.org 6400
    C-Net Amiga BBS - bbs.catracing.org 6840
    FIDO-Node# - 1:135/250
    --- CNet/5
    * Origin: The Rat's Den BBS (1:135/250)

    I can barely reach my local repeater with my handheld. I suppose using
    echolink is also cheating :)
    --
    End Of The Line BBS - Plano, TX
    telnet endofthelinebbs.com 23
    --- SBBSecho 3.27-Linux
    * Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (1:124/5016)
  • From Jason Brady@1:218/910 to Rug Rat on Tue Jun 10 11:22:00 2025
    Hi Brent,

    RR> What is everyones plan for ARRL Field Day?

    Similar to you, operating from home. I'm recently licensed and still assembling my portable rig. Also want to pass the General exam so I can operate on more of the HF bands. Perhaps Field Day 2026 out in the field!

    73,
    Jason KO6IOJ

    --- FMMS / OpenVMS AXP 8.4-2L1
    * Origin: Shady Labs (1:218/910)
  • From Mortar M.@1:124/5016 to All on Tue Jun 10 14:55:32 2025
    Re: RE: ARRL Field Day
    By: Jason Brady to Rug Rat on Tue Jun 10 2025 11:22:00

    If I understood it right, according to an ARRL msg. I read earlier, home-bound hams can still participate. They would be given either a Class D rating for those using mains power or a Class E if your using battery/solar/etc.
    --- SBBSecho 3.27-Linux
    * Origin: End Of The Line BBS - endofthelinebbs.com (1:124/5016)
  • From Rug Rat@1:135/250 to Jason Brady on Tue Jun 10 17:49:52 2025
    If you want a good free web course for amateur radio exams, check out W4EEY on YouTube. He was INSTRUMENTAL in me being able to pass my extra exam last year.

    Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
    Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
    IMAGE BBS! 3.0 - bbs.catracing.org 6400
    C-Net Amiga BBS - bbs.catracing.org 6840
    --- CNet/5
    * Origin: The Rat's Den BBS (1:135/250)
  • From Rug Rat@1:135/250 to Mortar M. on Tue Jun 10 17:54:22 2025
    On Tue 10-Jun-2025 2:55p, Mortar M.@1:124/5016.0 wrote:

    If I understood it right, according to an ARRL msg. I read earlier, home-bound hams can still participate. They would be given either a Class D rating for those using mains power or a Class E if your using battery/solar/etc.

    You are correct on all counts.. I only mentioned that some people consider that cheating (and I "understand" their feelings) as Field Day is supposed to be worked in the FIELD, otherwise it would be called SHACK Day, but it does offer something for everyone. The homebound stations also give more contacts for thos in the field to work.

    Note that I said I understood the sentiment, not that I agreed with it. :)

    73 de KF6HDJ

    Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
    Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
    IMAGE BBS! 3.0 - bbs.catracing.org 6400
    C-Net Amiga BBS - bbs.catracing.org 6840
    --- CNet/5
    * Origin: The Rat's Den BBS (1:135/250)
  • From Jason Brady@1:218/910 to Mortar M. on Wed Jun 11 19:26:00 2025
    Hi Mortar,

    MM> ...or a Class E if your using battery/solar/etc.

    Yeah I could do this, with my transceiver and LiFePo battery. Main idea is to support other stations actively participating. Also test a DIY 10-meter dipole antenna in preparation for POTA activation.

    Hope you all have a great time!

    73,
    Jason KO6IOJ

    --- FMMS / OpenVMS AXP 8.4-2L1
    * Origin: Shady Labs (1:218/910)
  • From Jason Brady@1:218/910 to Rug Rat on Wed Jun 11 19:46:00 2025
    Hi Brent,

    RR>If you want a good free web course for amateur radio exams, check out W4 RR>EEY on YouTube. He was INSTRUMENTAL in me being able to pass my extra e RR>xam last year.

    Thank you for the reference. I've found the video presentations to be an invaluable supplement to the written material. Having written, audio and visual presentations really helps with learning.

    Might be a function of age...???

    73,
    Jason KO6IOJ

    --- FMMS / OpenVMS AXP 8.4-2L1
    * Origin: Shady Labs (1:218/910)
  • From Rug Rat@1:135/250 to All on Fri Jun 20 10:04:08 2025
    Little over a week away!!!

    I am excited!!!

    Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
    Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
    IMAGE BBS! 3.0 - bbs.catracing.org 6400
    C-Net Amiga BBS - bbs.catracing.org 6840
    --- CNet/5
    * Origin: The Rat's Den BBS (1:135/250)
  • From Tom Moore@1:135/205 to Rug Rat on Sat Jun 21 21:03:50 2025
    Little over a week away!!!

    I am excited!!!

    Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)

    I am looking forward to FD as well.
    May operate from home this year instead of the regular field day site.
    --- SBBSecho 3.28-Linux
    * Origin: Cw Shack Bbs telnet bbs.kf4yey.com port 2330 (1:135/205)
  • From Rug Rat@1:135/250 to All on Sat Jun 28 12:47:50 2025
    It is almost upon us!

    12 Minutes to go!

    Band conditions sound terrible, but we will give it a go!

    Good luck everyone!

    Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
    Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
    IMAGE BBS! 3.0 - bbs.catracing.org 6400
    C-Net Amiga BBS - bbs.catracing.org 6840
    --- CNet/5
    * Origin: The Rat's Den BBS (1:135/250)
  • From Rug Rat@1:135/250 to All on Sat Jun 28 16:20:54 2025
    So...

    How is everyone doing so far?

    QSO rate is low here in NFL!

    Just made my 50th contact, A lot of QSB.

    15m opened to the West Coast for a bit, but it almost completely dead now.
    20 is noisy, with wild QSB..

    Having fun though.

    Eating the Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwiches I made with home made honey wheat bread. So at least I will eat well. Will try to copy the ARRL Bulliten at 1700.

    Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
    Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
    IMAGE BBS! 3.0 - bbs.catracing.org 6400
    C-Net Amiga BBS - bbs.catracing.org 6840
    --- CNet/5
    * Origin: The Rat's Den BBS (1:135/250)
  • From Rug Rat@1:135/250 to All on Sun Jun 29 22:53:50 2025
    On Sun 29-Jun-2025 7:02p, Anonymous wrote:
    Why the heck did I post this as Anonymous!!! - Sheesh. I got a great score, and I'm loud and proud! RUG RAT wrote that.. :D

    Preliminary score is 710 points. Though I think a portion of those will


    UPDATE: Found out that some of the points were not calculated because it did not propperly upload my supporting files, and I had placed some supporting files in the wrong place..

    Prelim score is now: 974 points!!

    Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
    Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
    IMAGE BBS! 3.0 - bbs.catracing.org 6400
    C-Net Amiga BBS - bbs.catracing.org 6840
    --- CNet/5
    * Origin: The Rat's Den BBS (1:135/250)