San Antonio Hams

Bexar County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) held a massive Field Day training exercise at the San Antonio Fire Academy on June 27th and 28th. Teams from the Alamo Area Radio Organization (AARO), San Antonio Radio Club (SARC), Hill Country REACT (REACT), Radio Operators of South Texas (ROOST), and San Antonio Repeater Organization (SARO) were instrumental in bringing this activity together. The event was underwritten by each of these organizations, with generous sponsorship and participation from the San Antonio Fire Department (SAFD).

 

Field Day is an annual national event sponsored by the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL), designed to put the field capabilities of amateur radio operators to the test. Operating under the call sign K5EOC as a class 7A station (seven transmitters operating on generator/battery power), radio operators made hundreds of contacts using on HF and VHF using phone, PSK-31 and CW (aka “Morse code”). 

 

Team SARC, led by Richard Elder WB5ACN, setup the 40 meter phone station under a training pavilion at the Academy, using a combination of Cushcraft R-7 and homebrew antenas. Lew Archer W0YVY also captained the 20 meter phone station which featured a modified H antenna from Trans World Antennas. ARES Emergency Coordinator David Freiberger K5OLE was seen laboring it the Summer heat wave alongside several other veteran members of Team SARC, including SARC President J C Smith N5RXS, a key planner on the Field Day leadership team. Schuylar Crist KE5VIP was seen operating on 20 meters in the Sunday edition of the San Antonio Express News, and Dr. Larry Higgins, MD W5EX made an appearance to lend a hand as did Tom O’Brien AB5XZ.

 

Team AARO, led by AARO President Bob Rodriguez K5AUW fielded the 20 meter PSK station featuring an ultra compact MFJ1644 10 foot collapsible whip screwed into a base containing an antenna tuner and radials. Bob also made a satellite contact (did not count against our transmitter count) using an Yaesu FT7800 and an Arrow cross yagi mounted on a photgraphic tripod. Bob reports copying a 20A station, which makes our 7A seem trivial. David Espinoza W5QS and Chuck Maurer W5API of Team AARO operated the Get-On-the-Air (GOTA) station on multiple bands under the venerable SARC club call sign W5SC. They operated from with the spartan but capable Red Cross communications vehicle affectionately known as “The Beast”, a pet project of Field Day Chairman Shane O’Neal NS5D. Byron Armstrong W8SYD and Gary Stock WF5Y operated the CW station until the wee hours of the morning and garnered more than 160 contacts. Ray Ware W5MLW, an AARO fixture for many years, was seen wandering the campus.

 

The record high temperatures for the weekend, which topped 108 degrees, might have resulted in serious injury to the setup crew on Saturday had it not been for the watchful eye of First Aid and Hydration Czar Bruce Parkes, RN KA2ZGW of Team AARO. Bruce monitored the fluid intake of everyone on the site and watched for signs of heat injury. Fortunately, none were reported.

 

The VHF side of the house was ran by Team SARO, led by Chuck Kenworthey WB5FWI with a two meter FM station on simplex, and a six meter FM and SSB station (another free transmitter according to Rules Wizard K5AUW) operated by Dale and Linda Robinson KB5YSJ and KC5QPQ. The 2 meter antenna, an Arrow dual band J-Pole, was mounted atop a 50 foot pneumatic mast on the SAFD Communications Trailer (see Team SAFD below). The 6 meter vertical and horizontal antennas were mounted on top of a crank up tower trailer towed by Gordon Dial K5SUZ. The tower drew lots of interest from visitors to the site, including ARRL West Gulf Division Vice Director John Stratton KE5ISX, who paid a visit on Saturday afternoon. Gordon’s tower also ended up in the paper, and on KSAT 12 News on Sunday evening.

 

The small but powerful showing by Team ROOST was key to the success of Field Day. Field Day planner Erik Rabe KD5YZU wore many hats and performed multiple dirty jobs as site coordinator, security guard, safety officer, parking attendant, janitor and PIO. Erik, his wife Charlotte and their dogs CQ and Candy were on the go for much of the event and logged in each of the 90+ participants and visitors to the site. He also was seen in full regalia blabbing about the event on KSAT 12 News on Sunday evening. Lothar Harris K5LEH operated an exhibition station for Slow Scan TV on 20 meters drawing several spectators.

 

The boys (and a girl) from Team REACT, led by Lee Besing N5NTG, made a powerful show of force with their 80 and 10 meter phone stations. Team members Charlie Land KC5NKK, Gary Tangrady K5GST, HC REACT President Wade Bolling W5ERX, Pat Knight AD5BR, Sterling Scharmen KE5KZE and a guest were known to have co-habitated in the well-equipped RV operated by Al Fields KE6LGE. Team REACT lent a hand during setup and mounted all of the banners from each of the participating clubs in a conspicuous location while trying not to melt in the sweltering heat of the midday sun.

 

Team SAFD was represented by the one-man fire brigade known as Bill Davenport W5DAF. Davenport provided the SAFD 40 foot office trailer, replete with tables, chairs and cold AC which was used for the 6 meter station, as well as the SAFD communications trailer used for the CW station and the 17kW generator which powered more than 60 percent of the equipment at the site. The office trailer also served as a heat shelter for the setup and teardown crews. All three pieces of equipment were pet projects of Davenport’s, and were made largely of materials reclaimed from surplus and lovingly integrated into useful utility pieces used by the Fire Department, the FBI and others. Seemingly impervious to heat, Davenport was also seen climbing on top of vehicles and buildings, running coax and power cables, operating 20 meter PSK and drinking more than his fair share of Diet Dr. Pepper.

 

Chief Thomas McNulty, the Commandant of the Fire Academy, and his daughter paid a long visit to the site and marveled at resourcefulness of the hams in attendance. “(Field Day) is consistent with our mission” remarked McNulty, who provided access to his multi-acre, state-of-the-art training facility, including three outdoor pavilions, a five story training tower, a well equipped dining area, restrooms and showers.

 

There was plenty to eat at Field Day, thanks to the “Lunch Lady” Esthela O’Neal, wife of Shane, who was assisted by daughters Mallory and Jenna. Esthela catered hot dogs and hamburgers for the overheated setup crew on Saturday, and Chicken Salad sandwiches for the fried teardown crew on Sunday. Chuck W5API generously donated half of the food and drinks.

 

Dinner on Saturday was prepared by Teri Thomas KC5BJI and grillmaster Barry Hiddema W5BLH, who was also the logging chairman. A savory feast of smoked sausage, brisket, and barbequed chicken was served, rounded out by delicious side dishes contributed by Field Day attendees.

 

Ice and water for the parched, parbroiled participants was dispatched by Melanie O’Neal KD5ZSL, eldest daughter of Shane, and by James Archer, son of Lew. Melanie also played cafeteria monitor and expertly cleaned and mopped the dining area, with the assistance of her sister Mallory, returning it to the Fire Department in immaculate condition.

 

Last but not least were several hams who showed up for setup and teardown, including Garnet Robinson KE5WRI and Curtis Briley KE5HDL, whose appearance fresh and rested on Sunday was a welcome relief to those who had operated all night and were dreading teardown. There were a few others whose faces are familiar, but whose names I failed to capture. Your help was deeply appreciated.

 

Sincerely,

Shane O’Neal NS5D

Field Day 2009 Chairman, Bexar County ARES