2025 Field Day feedback
I agree that field day for us was a success. Good companionship, fine weather, and a beautiful location although a few more QSOs would have been the icing on the cake
Roger has written about the two antenna types below so the only additions I would make is that verticals with radials on the ground (the Chameleon) are inherently inefficient because of ground losses. Add in matching transformer losses and much precious power has gone to waste.
Alan’s POTA antenna should be better because the radials are elevated and there are no matching transformers to confuse the situation. Note that the link provided by Roger refers to tuned radials. Were Alan’s radials tuned? Without measuring the current in each radial we do not know. The link also refers to placement of the radials to obtain directivity. The EZNEC plots shown in the link are impressive, but the real world situation can be quite different with trees and bushes in the way.
Those of us at last year’s IHF field day will recall that the CW station using the vertical had a hard time making QSOs and I think we were running 100W. I will add that the antenna was not in the greatest of locations
What do we do for next year? I have always favoured doublet/dipole antennas even in an inverted V configuration and would suggest we consider this for next year.
Now to get set-up for the Canada Day contest starting tomorrow!
73 Brian VE7JKZ
I agree with Roger and Brian… our mini Field Day outing was a pleasant success. Although our QSO count was modest, we demonstrated the use of CW, SSB, FM, and FT8. The ARRL gives bonus points for a variety of emergency ops and public engagement activities, e.g. 100 points for copying W1AW’s special Field Day bulletin. This was easily done using RTTY. With two operating positions, there was ample opportunity for the three standby OMs to chat with people who wandered to our corner of the public park.
I look forward to something similar next year!