High Sierra Field Day Group Field Day Handbook file: group_handbook.txt $Revision: 1.17 $ Introduction Welcome to the High Sierra Field Day Group's Field Day Handbook. This group has been doing Field Day in the Sierras since 1976 when we did the first one at Chico California. Since that time we have used various sites in the El Dorado National Forest. This is an attempt to collect some of the experience into a document to improve future events. On the weekend of the Fourth Saturday of June we head for the hills for the biggest & best Amateur Radio Event of the year -- Field Day. The event is improved if preparations are made in advance. This is essentially a camping trip with some radio mixed in (or a radio trip with some camping, depending on your perspective). It is largely a problem-solving experience, so be prepared (and don't bring any extra problems, there are plenty already). This is not the optimal time to build a new beam or packet board from a kit, (though it has been done or seriously contemplated,) but it is the ideal time to test a new wire antenna idea (half our wire antennas are new each year). The Planning Meeting We usually have a pre-planning meeting 1-2 months before the FD weekend. Or we plan on email (or a repeater). Or we wing it. In any case, there should be a plan list for this particular year's FD. It will be shorter but more precise than this generic document. A good date for a planning meeting is after the Foothill Flea Market in May, so pencil in the Second Saturday in May if you can! The Location The location seems to change pretty frequently the last few years. They have always been in the Sierras, usually fairly high (3500 to 7300 ft). Weather is all over the map, from lightning/rain (mostly a threat rather than a reality) to quite hot. Sometimes we have snow nearby. Be prepared. Bring the range from Warm clothing to cool drinks and ice. At night the temperature drops way down, so if you plan to stay up late bring your warm gear. The Trip A few of the participants will go up Thursday, most will go up Friday afternoon. The return trip is usually early to mid afternoon Sunday, since the contest for us ends about noon, and it takes awhile to get packed. A leisurely lunch at the site is very relaxing, and there's usually a lot of leftovers. Directions Make sure you have good directions, and preferrably coordinates and a GPS (maybe a backup, too). Staying in contact on the radio is also a good idea - in case the site has to be changed on-the-fly, or someone near you needs some help. Map Information The AAA Lake Tahoe Region map is useful in this area, and the El Dorado National Forest map is good also. They may supply a forest map when getting a fire permit. Delorme Street Atlas or Topo USA work well also. Coordination Frequencies 442.65 +5 100PL wa6zty uhf repeater on Mt Diablo This is Mike's high level repeater, and it has very good coverage through the valley and into the foothills. Depending on the site, it can get poor near the destination for mobiles, so be prepared to shift to simplex on the output. This is usually our primary frequency for arrivals. 146.835 -.600 no PL, this repeater has wide coverage near the sites we usually use for FD (Pioneer) - valley and Sierra foothills This is the secondary frequency. It is a bit busier, and there are other clubs doing FD that use it, but the coverage in the area is excellent. 223.9 -1.6 no PL, WA6PWW/R is good in the south bay, and some members caravan on this channel using simplex. It is also good for site comms for those with 220 HTs. 7242.5 LSB HFPack 40 meters May be used, see annual group plan. 7296 USB HFPack 40 meters May be used, see annual group plan. 5371.5 USB HFPack 60 meters May be used, see annual plan. Comments about Things to bring water: Bring about 2 gallons per person for drinking/washing, and soap/towel/toothbrush etc. More if you plan to shower, or keep kids clean (not possible). medication: don't forget it if you need it -- some aspirin and allergy type is a good idea on general principle. A first aid kit is a great idea, especially for those with kids. food: this is basically a bring your own food event, with a BBQ sat nite, so bring something suitable to BBQ. It is best to avoid superthick steaks, they take a long time to barbeque. Check this year's schedule for a hospitality dinner friday evening, if available this keeps you from having to stop and get dinner on the way. drink: bring enough juice, soda, or water for a couple of warm days. an ice chest and ice make it even better. snacks: bring some snacks for the community snack area (cookies, chips, etc) in addition to any you bring for yourself. it works best to put it out midmorning saturday rather than waiting for saturday evening. eating utensils: bring your own utensils (plate, cup, spoon, fork, knife). Make sure they can be identified if you wany them back. clothing: be prepared for most anything. We have never had much snow, but it has been cool at night and warm to hot during the day. Frequently it is breezy, so be prepared for that also. If you want to be comfortable late at night bring your snow bibs & knit hat, that's when it gets cold. During the day light longsleeve shirts keep the sun off and discourage bugs at dusk. raingear: Occasionally we get some rain. Not often. Be prepared. insect repellent: bring some, else be prepared for hand-to-hand combat. They are usually active for a short time at dusk. Some folks say the bugs are large up in the mountains, but none of the kids have been carried away yet. footwear: the ground is grass/pine needles/sticks/dirt/rocks, so tennis shoes or boots are more appropriate than sandals. sun block, hat, sunglasses: the 4000 to 8000 foot elevation isn't much, but the UV will make a crispy critter of you if you don't watch out. sleeping gear: most any good sleeping bag should do, especially in a tent or vehicle. a foam pad or cot is nice, too. Throw in an extra blanket if your sleeping bag is thin. restroom facility: there are no facilities provided in the areas we generally set up in, so bring some tp and a shovel, or something else suitable. be prepared.. table: Tables are extremely useful. The 24 x 72 banquet type are good for a station, or a few BBQs. The new Plastic models available at Costco and Staples are really neat - lighter than the old particle board models, and water resistant. About the only downside is the plastic might not do so well if heated, so a piece of plywood under the BBQs is a good idea. These tables also come in other sizes. The 24 x 48 size is easy to fit in the car and great around camp. It is a bit tight for a 2-person station. chair: the ground is dirty and uncomfortable, so bring a chair for reducing the load on your feet. you might bring an extra for a guest, that way everyone doesn't have to carry a chair about all weekend. trash: bring a trash bag suitable to carry all the trash you bring. several smaller bags are better than really big ones. and please take some trash when you leave, so the last one out doesn't break an axle.. flashlight: is a good idea unless you enjoy stumbling about in the dark when the generator needs filling (or you need emptying). Those silly looking headlamps are the best, especially the new LED ones that run for a week on a couple of AAs. firewood: we sometimes have a campfire. If you would like to have one it is a good idea to bring firewood, and of course a permit is required. Check the current conditions, at times fires are not permitted. A shovel and bucket of water or dirt are also required, as is adequate clearance. When tending the fire, keep in mind that it must be out before it can be left, so don't build it up just as folks want to turn in. Someone must tend it or put it out. The proper way to put it out is to sprinkle (not pour) water on the embers as they are stirred. Cool them and the rocks enough to stop combustion, don't try to drown them. camera: there are lots of opportunities to get pictures that just couldn't be had elsewhere. (how often do you see a triband beam at 50 feet supported from ABOVE?? (by a ROCK!)). radio equipment: the general plan is to bring lots of radios and make them all work ... Check the planning document, the details change each year. antennas: this is a good opportunity to try that new antenna you have read so much about. It is a good idea to build it ahead of time, though, to minimize the effort on FD, when there are so many things to do. saw: the foliage on either the road or at the campsite may need some adjustment for safety. Occasionally there is a tree across the road that needs some coercing. In rare cases a chainsaw would be handy. A tow strap might do the job as well. A tree saw or pruning loppers can come in handy. Stations -- Note: the following station outlines are suggestions only -- The actual arrangement will be determined when the people and gear are present at the site! (The planning meeting will have produced a (hopefully) more refined list.).. Check the group plan document. The goal is to get several stations going and let everyone have a chance to do some operating. To that end, the number of stations should be enough to allow everyone to do what they want, but not so many as to be too much effort to set up. There is no requirement to keep all stations busy all the time. There are some practical considerations. If we setup 2+ stations we get a free VHF station, and a free GOTA station. If you are not familiar with the 'Get on the Air' station, consult the rules. It can only be operated by amateurs that are new or haven't done much operating in the last 2 years, but it can be set up by others. We may want to set one of these up. News Flash - check the scores from FD. It turns out that the 2A class is more competitive than the 3A class. If we go 3A we don't have to wait so much for someone to finish with a band, etc. Consider 3A! If you're bringing a radio of any kind, be sure to bring the manual, extra fuses, all the hookup cables, the microphone, and any other pertinent pieces. (Power cords are nice, too.) Primary Station: We usually designate one station as the main station. It is set up first, everyone helps out with it before setting up other stations, and is available for anyone to operate. This station should be on the air as soon after the contest starts as practical (11am). Secondary Stations: These are HF and/or VHF capable stations, set up as people desire. We do not limit the number of these stations, just ask that all hands help in setting up the primary station before doing the secondaries. The Satellite station is also a secondary station, as is the GOTA station. When operating, make sure we do not exceed our station classification. Antennas: The HF Beam(s) are a bit of work to install, and require a lot of line. There will be discussion on the email list and at the meeting to decide if they are to be deployed. If they are used, make sure the instructions are along. One year we put a beam together backwards and it did make a difference. The director is generally shorter and farther from the driven element than the longer reflector. Check the match with an antenna meter. The Vee beam may be tried again. With a different central angle. (Idea - bring field plots of antennas you are planning to try, with construction info.) Turns out the central angle is related to the leg lengths, and we have made one vee beam that worked very well, and another that was very poor. It is a good idea to model antennas before FD to insure they are going to work, and to bring any design info that you have. Dipoles and Longwires are tried and true. Bring one if you have it, you never know if we will need it. Alan has been modeling Inverted L's and they look interesting for FD. A 110 foot ant (40 vert, 70 horiz) with four radials of 12-17 feet, fed with an Icom AH-4 autotuner looks pretty decent on 80-15m. The combo of vertical and horizontal radiators fills in the nulls in each, improving low and high angle radiation over regular dipoles and verticals. As frequency increases the low angle lobes dominate, which is good for longer ranges. See www.eznec.com for free and low cost antenna modelling software. Vee beams are great if the trees are in the right places. Ground rods don't work too well, especially in the forest with the poor soil, and we must remove them when we leave. A better plan is probably radials laid on the ground. Lots of short ones are generally better than a few long ones. Short verticals (less than 1/4 wave) need lots of radials, but the dependence on them drops off dramatically as antenna length is increased over a quarter wave. Model them for details. Radials are easy to set up, about the only problem is tripping on them. Give some thought to making them trip-safe. Perhaps some weights to hold them down. Antenna Tuners: Antenna Tuners are required for some antenna configurations, and are useful with others. They can help fend off some of the rf from other stations, though many designs are lowpass and so don't help reject lower frequency bands. We've used just about every tuner type over the years, and they all seem to work. Just make sure that if you need a ground you set up some radials to keep tuner and station happy. The auto tuners are nice for three reasons. One is speed - they are usually quicker than doing it by hand. Another is safety - the rig finals are probably safer with an autotuner. The third is training - it is easier to train folks to use the auto one than the manual tuners. The manual tuners have some advantages, too, with generally wider ranges and more options for matching. Antenna installation equipment: The slingshot systems work very well for reaching up to 80 feet or so. Hopefully we will have several. The bow reaches a bit higher but is a lot more trouble to bring and use. The new Pneumatic Tennis Ball Launchers are really easy and effective. See www.qsl.net/wb6zqz for more info. Scoping out antenna layouts may require a compass and a 100 foot tape. The optical or laser rangefinders work great for measuring tree heights and clearance lanes. Bring some nylon twine and line if your antenna requires it. And Feedline. Radials if appropriate. Poles or masts, guys, and stakes may be appropriate. A Ladder can be very handy, especially an extension type. A bucket truck or tower on a trailer would be nice as well. Balloons and lifting kites are interesting possibilities... Computers: The trend (for logging) is toward Wireless networking and PC/Linux/(Mac) software. (The Mac part may not work that well). If you have compatible gear it may be very useful. Check ahead of time to insure you have the right software loaded before field day. Especially the wireless drivers for ad-hoc. Laptops are probably best, they usually generate less RFI and use less power. Make sure you have a power plan and check for hf interference. The DC power supplies made for laptops seem to generate less interference than the regular AC inverters. In any case a separate 12V battery is recommended for the laptop as isolating the systems reduces RFI. Tools and Parts: Bring a few tools and parts like wire and connectors to make the inevitable adapters that are needed. Better yet make them up ahead, but still bring some parts! Station Basics: Radio. Power. Antenna. Feedline. Tuner. Mic. Key. Keyer. Cabling. Manuals. Logging Computer & Sunshade. Pad and paper. Light. Each station should have some shelter from Sun and Bugs, if possible. The best arrangement is a screen tent that has panels that close up the screen for the cool of night. A large regular tent works also, but is hotter during the daytime and a bit less social. A table and chairs are also fundamental. Some lawn chairs are not good for operating (insufficient support, or are too low), so consider that when choosing. Advanced Station Components: On phone, it is nice to have a microphone that doesn't have to be held all the time, like a headset or desk mic. A vox or foot switch is nice. A voice keyer (DVK) would be great. A setup that allows two sets of headphones with separate volumes is good also. Digital modes are fun, make sure you check out the software ahead of time, and setup a good interface cable system to the computer. Isolation here is good to reduce RFI (such as transformer coupled audio and optically isolated keying). A station clock is handy - WWV or GPS type is great. DC and AC monitoring is also very useful. SWR/Power meter. Automatic tuners save a lot of time and protect the equipment. A fan may help to stay cool. Lights: Each station should have a light, preferably LED type. In the past we have used clamp-type fixtures in the trees with ac or propane. Don't forget power and extension cords for the lamps. The new LED lights are probably optimal. They use little power, don't generate RFI, and don't attract bugs. See www.theledlight.com. Fluorescents often generate interference, and AC power may not be available all night long. Power Systems: Generators have fallen from favor a bit over the years, though with the newer higher power very quiet models they are making a comeback. Honda EX650, and now the newer EU1000 and 2000 -i models are so quiet they don't need to be located hundreds of feet away. Each station should have adequate batteries and a way to charge them if needed. Of course these should be Deep Cycle type. A pair of Golf Cart batteries for the radio is ideal, or a group 27 is okay, plus a separate group 27 for the computer. Gel batteries are really nice, if they have enough capacity - it is best not to deeply discharge any battery - more than about 50 percent. Batteries should be load tested to insure they have the expected capacity. 100 watt 12 volt bulbs are available from a Marine or RV store, or use an inverter and 120V light bulbs. TO be nice to the batteries drain them to 50% of their expected capacity (timewise), and check the voltage under load at that point, it should be over 12.0v under 8a load for most batteries (see table below, numbers based on Home Power paper, pdf available). Half-Discharge test with 100 watt 8 amp 12 volt lamp: Capacity 50% time Terminal V Battery -------- -------- ---------- ------- 80ah 5h 12.0 group 24 120ah 7.5h 12.2 group 27 240ah 15h 12.3 golf cart (2) If you plan to run an inverter (12v to 120vac) plan to have a separate battery for the inverter, one that is not connected to anything else when the inverter is running. This minimizes the interference. If your need of an inverter is critical to your station it would be wise to test things thoroughly ahead of time, it has been found that noise can be a real problem, especially with sine wave inverters. A generator is fine, just make sure it is quiet and you have adequate fuel. Folks seem to not appreciate the noise after say 10pm so plan to have enough batteries for the 10pm-8am slot. Long heavy 10-12 gauge extension cords help get the noise away from the stations and campers. The Honda EU2000i is becoming extremely popular for FD. At 45 pounds this quiet and efficient generator puts out up to 2kw. There is also a 1k version that weighs under 29 pounds. These are really good for FD and other emergency operations. The tanks are fairly small, so plan to bring a couple of gallons of fuel separately. Make sure that your generator and fuel are safe against leaking - use secondary containment. I use a 5 gallon bucket into which my fuel can just fits, and the Honda ex650 fits into a rubbermaid container. The lid won't quite fit, but at least a few drops of fuel will not end up on the floor of the trailer... A spare spark plug is a good idea, as well as the manual and a couple of tools. We have had to do minor generator repairs in the field. Be prepared.. Make sure power connections for the battery have been worked out. Anderson connectors are great, if you haven't tried them look into it. The Powerpole's have become the runaway favorite standard. Also a plastic battery box is good to prevent shorts and splatter in case of a problem. Please remember that there may be young children about and constant supervision is nearly impossible. Make sure the battery is completely charged and filled. All systems should be fused just in case something shorts. Make sure polarity is well marked, reverse polarity can ruin some expen$ive gear. Solar Panels are great. Make sure they are set up to work with your batteries, and make sure you have a plan in case it is cloudy all weekend. If you use a charge controller make sure it doesn't cause HF interference. Unless your battery is very small or your panels very large overcharging for a day is not a real issue. Battery Charger: If your batteries get low, you may need a charger. And a generator. It has happened. Charge and test batteries ahead of time. Chargers often generate noise, so 12V power supplies may be better, if they can handle it. Switcher power supplies generally have a large blocking diode inherent in the design and work well with batteries - but check this out as it might not work with every supply. If you use a conventional charger you may not want to charge while running equipment from the battery due to the noise and voltage spikes. The charger outputs on the generators are also a bit noisy (electrically) and the voltage is pretty high. The battery must be very near the generator as well. It is best not to use the battery while charging this way. In fact, this is a good way to 'condition' a battery that has been neglected awhile. The voltage from the generator is higher than a regular charger and will slowly 'boil' the electrolyte. Make sure there is plenty of water in the battery and that the venting gasses are not trapped. Portable Heater: There have been a couple of years a portable heater was used. Makes the station cozy over the night, if there is a way to keep the heat in. (If you do bring one you should also get a fire permit.) The Propane units are much easier to deal with than a Kerosene type, in any case. There is one new model out that is rated for use inside tents. It has an oxygen detector that shuts off the unit safely and it uses a catalyst that produces no carbon monoxide. (Mr Heater model xxx? look for indoor-safe..) Safety As always safety is of utmost importance. Several folks in the group should obtain a fire permit and have a couple of shovels around. A 5 gallon bucket of dirt or water is recommended. A chemical fire extinguisher near the cooking area is good. Please refrain from smoking unless close attention is paid to sparks and embers. (And if you are going to smoke, you need a fire permit). Other safety issues include giving the wild animals wide berth and being observant. We have rarely seen snakes in the area but care is wise. In any case snakes are not dangerous unless you step on them or get very close. They don't like the heat either, so won't be seen during the daytime. If you have a first aid kit bring it along. If your vehicle has a catalytic converter be aware that dry grass underneath can be ignited, so watch where you park. When hiking around keep a sharp eye out for possible holes in the ground. The region was mined (for gold, not anti-personnel) at one time and though we have never found any there are reported to be mine shafts about (in this part of the country, not necessarily the specific FD site area). Handling antennas and lines in the trees is pretty safe, but a good set of gloves, safety glasses and a hard hat are a good idea. It is mentioned elsewhere, but is worth repeating - watch out for the sun. At these altitudes you can get fairly burnt even on a cloudy day. I use light longsleeve shirts to keep the sun off. Short sleeves and bare skin require Sunblock. Reapply as necessary. A good hat with wide brim, and sunglasses are smart. White gas and Kerosene are more difficult to handle safely than propane. It is highly recommended that we avoid the liquid fuels insofar as practical. The generators are probably going to be gasoline, but all the stoves and barbeques should be propane. We can consider propane generators, and they are nice, but not so common in portable form. Perhaps the fuel cells will be a better answer, but hydrogen is not so safe either... Setting up and Taking down It really adds to the efficiency of the group and the enjoyment if everyone pitches in and helps out. When new folks arrive at the site, give them a hand setting up. When the stations and antennas go up, a few helping hands are really appreciated. When the event is over, and everyone is tired, it really helps if everyone helps pack up and clean up. It is especially important for those folks who bring a lot of equipment for us to enjoy on FD - if we can help clean it up and put it away - perhaps they'll bring it again next year. It is important to do a careful job winding up antennas, feedlines, cables, etc. to avoid tangling them. And if everyone takes a bit of the trash home it won't be a huge problem for the last ones out. It helps if things are marked as to ownership - especially cords and items loaned. Try to get everyting back to the owners. If you come up with unknown items, let folks know on the internet via email so we can figure out who belongs to it and how to get it home. By the way, I have a couple of yellow extension cords - with zip cord type conductors - in my garage, if anyone belongs to them let me know. Food and Drink Food and Drink are 'Bring Your Own', for the most part. The usual plan is to have a group BBQ on Saturday night. Bring your own meat to BBQ and whatever you want to go with it. If you can, bring some extra to share. This is not exactly a potluck, but more of a food swap? I don't know how to describe it, but if you bring what you want, and some extra, it will work out. We generally set up a snack table, so bring some shareable snacks for it. Kitchen We usually set up a stove in a common kitchen area with a coffee pot. This is available for general use, however if too many people try to use it congestion could be a problem. Proposed Timeline Thursday (note we do not always have thursday arrivals) 11am early departures 3pm early arrivals scope out site (may have to select backup site) setup camp put out markers for group 7pm communicate status back, to relay on internet Friday 8-11am Planning 11am FD setup window begins setup station to coordinate arrivals setup some antennas 9am-6pm normal departures 1-10pm folks arrive 5-9pm hospitality dinner at site (* check plan for verfication - we have not done this every year) 5-8:15pm copy W1AW bulletin (see schedule) 6-9pm setup 802.11 network, check out computers, debug plan antenna and station layouts Saturday 6am breakfast keep it simple as this is a work-day 7am setup begins remaining antennas rig shelters tables rigs batteries logging computers solar panels generators power grid 11am contest starts begin operating ? setup kite antenna (if windy) 2pm night crew rests ? setup balloon antenna (when air is calm) 6pm bbq 10pm generators off - quiet period rigs operate on battery shift change - night crew begins ops Sunday 6am breakfast generators on (if needed) 9am group picture 11am 24 hour period up (if started on time)(2pm contest ends) begin takedown 1pm packup complete lunch onsite? 2pm departure toward home Site Layout Guide 1000 ft rule for stations & antennas keep camping away from generator & station noise (or not) stations close but not too close together - reduce interference some stations share antennas - group them together common eating area, stove, bbqs, fire pit located centrally Operating Guide Stations are generally 2 person operations. One handles the rig and communications, the other the logging computer. One person can do both. One of the two should be a licensed operator, but either can talk on the radio. Selecting Frequencies and Bands stay in band, watch sidebands avoid nets and ragchewers avoid 146.52 - see rules ask before taking frequency - "is this frequency in use" if all stations on the band have been worked, change bands if cannot hear anyone fix the antenna Making a Contact - The Exchange send and receive this for valid contact number transmitters, class, ARRL section eg phone: 3A, Sacramento Valley cw: 3A SV log as: 3A SV use phonetics only when necessary, not all the time make sure both stations have the exchange, then "QSL, good luck" Cruising the Band go quickly to top of the band segment listen slowly down (or reverse) call them when they call CQ or QRZ (check for dup first) if they don't answer after a couple of calls move on when reach the other end move quickly back, repeat Staking out a frequency find clear freq insure it is in the band! ask "is this frequency in use" call: CQ field day CQ field day from x6xxx or: QRZ field day from x6xxx or: QRZ from x6xxx pause for reply, then repeat keep the freq busy 15 minute rule once transmitted on a band must stay minimum 15 minutes on that band. Misc Notes This handbook was prepared by combining work done by Frank Kibbish and Alan Biocca with input from others. Comments and corrections should be pointed out to the authors. Spelling counts, so let them (us) know! This text was prepared by combining several separate documents together, and at this time there is still some duplication and lack of cohesiveness. So read the whole thing, at least. (1986) And now I've dredged it up all over again! - Alan (2002) Firearms This is National Forest, so shooting and hunting is allowed. If you bring firearms insure that they are stored safely (there may be kids about). We have a number of shooting enthusiasts in the group but not everyone is comfortable with them, so respect that. If you want to do some shooting do it far enough away from camp that it won't be loud. Note that a hunting license is generally recommended for shooting in the forest, since they cannot really differentiate plinking from hunting, or so they say. Pellet and BB guns should be treated the same way. Gear Lists Individual/Family Camping Gear DRINKS Food, meat to Barbeque CHAIRs WATER Flashlights Extra Batteries SLEEPING BAG Blankets Pillow Cot Insect Repellent First Aid Kit, Medication Ice Chest Ice Plates Silverware Lantern (yellow?) Warm Clothing Hats Tent, Poles, Stakes T-Paper Kleenex Personal Care (toothbrush, etc) Paper Towels FD Coordinated Equipment Group Kitchen Gear Propane Stoves: Propane: Coffee Pot: Propane Barbeques: Cook/eat Tables: Chemical Fire Extinguisher: Firewood: Radio Station Gear HF Stations: GOTA Station: Satellite Station: VHF Stations: Packet Equipment: CW Equipment: Digital Mode Gear: HF Tri-Band Beams: HF Wire ants: Extra Antenna Wire: 2M Beam: UHF Beam: 6m Beam: VHF Verticals: Antenna Tuners: Coax Cables: Ladder Lines: Mast Sections: Pushup Masts: Portable Pole Systems: Tennis Ball Launchers: Bow/Arrows/Reel: Slingshot & Reels: Beam Support Line, Pulley, Carabiner: Nylon Twine: Helium Tower: Lifting Kite: Computers: 802.11b Wireless Gear: Time Server: Logging Software: Backup paper logs and dup sheets: Lights: Propane Lanterns: LED Lights: Deep Cycle Batteries: Solar Panels: Generators: Fuel: 10-12 Ga Power Grid Cords: 14 Ga Extension Cords: Power Strips: Sun Shades: Screen Tents: Operating tents: Tarps: Tables: Chairs: Portable Heaters: Firewood: Chainsaw: Tree Saw: Pruning Loppers: ----- clip here ----- print below & cross items out with color felt pens ----- Field Day in One Page Prepare Make Menus, Lists, Plans, Attend Planning Meeting Charge & test Batteries, Handhelds, Cameras, Laptop, Inverter(s) Check Rigs, Antennas, Lines, Poles, Feedlines, Tuner Find Tents, Poles, Stakes, Sleeping bags, Pads Print Directions, Lists, Program GPS & Mobile rig Collect Documentation, Maps, Group Plans & Handbook Check Software, Rig ifc, Keyer, Wireless net, DVK Check Generator, Slingshot Bands, Tennis Ball Launcher, Fish Line, etc Prep RV - Water, Batteries, Tires, Brakes, Fridge, Maintenance Prep Vehicle - Maintenance, Air up Tires, Suspension Buy food, prepare (repackage/freeze/...), freshen water jugs, make ice Take Food, Meat, Ice, Drinks, Water, Condiments, Snacks Dishes, Silverware, Pots, Cooking & BBQ Tools, Dishpans, Trashbags Kitchen Table, Chairs, Stove, BBQ, Propane, Hoses, Adapters, Matches Warm Jackets, Sturdy Shoes, Socks, Jeans, Long Underwear, Knit Hats, Gloves Brimmed Hats, Sunblock, Sunglasses, Light Longsleeve Shirts, Insect Repellent First Aid Kit, Medication, Allergy Meds, Ibuprophen, Toothbrush & paste, Floss Flashlights, Headlamps, Spare Batteries, Bulbs, Lantern, Mantles, Fuel Tent, Poles, Stakes, Sleeping Bags, Pillows, Groundcloths, Pads, Cots, RV Radios, Mics, Cables, Manuals, Tuners, DC Cables, Power Distrib, Headphones TNC, Rig Ifc, Cables, DVK, Headset w mic, SWR Bridge, Clock, Keyer, Paddles Power Supplies, Deep Cycle Batteries, Cables, Fuses, Chargers, Solar Panels Antennas, Instructions, Tools, Wire, Parts, Feedlines, Baluns, Tape Measure Support Masts, Stakes, Twine, Lines, Pulleys, Carabiners, Compass, Rangefinder Slingshot, Reel, Xtra Weights & Line, TBL kit, Work Gloves, Hardhat Antenna Meter, DVM, Tools, Parts, Soldering Torch, Butane, Wire, Connectors Operating Table, Chairs, Screen Room, Poles, Stakes, Tarps, Lights, Heater Laptop, Wireless Card & Driver Software, DC adapter, AC Adapter, Case Generator, Fuel, Parts, 10-12-14 Gauge Extension Cords, Power Strips FD Rules, W1Aw Schedule, Freq Chart, Spiral Notebook, Pen, Pencil, Dupe sheets Vehicle Serviced, Directions, Map, GPS, Batteries, Bridge Toll, Cash, Tools, Oil Mobile rig, Mic, Ant, Power cord, Memories programmed, HTs, Ants, Chargers Cameras, Flashcards/Film, Batteries, Chargers, Cables, Vidcam, Tape, Tripod Balloons, Helium, Regulator, Parachute, Tether Cord, Lightsticks, Kite Mountain Bikes, Motorcycles, ATVs, Ladder, Pruning Saw/Loppers, Chainsaw Raingear, Come-along, Metal Rake Just Prior to Departure Check internet for group updates (site adjustment?) Check fridge/freezer - all food/drink/ice on board? All gear loaded? Poles? Antennas? Gen Fuel? Water? Enroute Rendezvous on 442.65 (100 pl), Fill xtra Fuel can, Pick up Fire Permit Empty holding tanks, Fill water tanks eof