Winter Field Day 2026

Operating from nature pavillion

Class and bonuses[edit | edit source]

intended exchange: K4UCF 3O NFL
- Kilo Four Uniform Charlie Foxtrot is Three Oscar in Northern Florida ( Nancy Foxtrot Lima )
bonuses we intend
- ~~(OMx6) 6 bands?: 6m~~ 10m 15m 20m 40m 80m ~~(160m?)~~
- (OMx1) 100% alternative power
- (OMx3) Operate away from home
- (OMx1) make at least one contact on each of two antennas: windom, alpha, moxon, long wire ++
- (OMx1) at least one winlink email
- (OMx1) Copy Winter Field Day special bulletin (check schedule)
- (OMx2) use multiple modes: SSB digital
- (OMx1) winlink bonus??
bonuses we need to work to achieve
- ~~(OMx2) FM sat contact~~
  - ~~(OMx3) SSB/CW sat contact~~
- (OMx2) operate 6 continuous hours
Digital modes to prepare for
- all fldigi? (set up macros!)
- js8call (ready on 3 radios, 1 laptop)
- winlink?
- freedv is phone not digital (should try anyway?)

Antennas:

Transceivers:

Power:

6 meter operation:

Alpha antenna worked well
10m moxon worked well and didn't pick up noise from inverters
160m random wire worked well on 80 at least, and didn't pick up noise from inverters (it did but all was manageable)
js8call, psk31
hanging lights worked
Power situation stable. 50ah for 100w radios and 1000wh for laptops seemed like a good marker.
Air mattresses!
Staggered rest periods (still kinda bad overnight but very low contest activity between midnight and 7AM)
third party snacks were wonderous

6m, 160m (not surprising) [160 worked but no WFD Participants, 6 never had propagation]
2m FM
UCF prohibits tents?
- UCF prohibits camping or sleeping overnight outside
pi
- did anyone use the gps?
- file share wasn't public -- prearrange passwords?
- need to add web logger to pi or otherwise get network logging working!!
Steve's linux laptops were not able to do audio (misconfigured drivers, software, or settings)
fldigi macros need to be practiced
- improve, distribute, practice
paper logging is messy
alpha whip may have collected moisture
need more lights?
outbacker / iron horse was disappointing compared to other antennas
160m random wire desperately needs a spool to prevent tangles
Deploying/stowing 160m wire HARD. Had very poor placement and low AGL
Never used club band pass filters or manual tuners (unnecessary?)
shifts were too irregular
food planning could use improvement
promotional business cards in the card flower absorbed humidity overnight, curled, and got blown away
- This saddens Skye1
- should put promo material away before nightfall and morning fog

Summer will be hotter
- need fans?
- fans are power hungry
perhaps provisions for precipitation
- critical: radio laptop batteries
- make sure enough bins have good lids
laptops are power hungry
set up is tiresome, try to set up some things a day early
- windoms?
- long wire
Wire antennas big, limited quality positions.
Significant noise from inverters/solar on all bands. Navigible (esp digital) but annoying.
Food/drink logistics need pre-planning
Lack of experience in deploying many antennas (moxons)
Coax was too long/too short
Many antennas terminated in BNC need adapters
Many coax terminated in N, need adapters or better patch cables
Need to recommend folks bring personal coolers with drinks/snacks
Skye1 Barely operated
Disappointingly low number of contacts
- more spotting?
Did not start planing early enough

Practice all software (pota?)
- Winlink (only Travis and Nathan are familiar)
- JS8 call
- Fldigi
- Logging
nested horizontal 2m/6m moxon? Improve moxon with rg59?
build more sturdy 10m moxon?
practice tower use on memory mall
- build hoops and hangers for bean bag practice
- replace bucket guy weights
practice making sat contacts
more moxons? 10-12-15-17-20 would be small enough to be servicable