SFTARC Field Day 2021 SSB Station
Members of the Santa Fe Trail Amateur Radio Club (KS0KS) went at the business at hand, making as many contacts as possible, from three different locations during Field Day 2021 June 26 and 27. We did have to dodge a few rain showers while setting up, but outside of that the weather more-or-less cooperated.
Most of the members who participated in this annual Amateur Radio preparedness exercise did so at Olathe's Ensor Park and Museum, where three operating stations, each with its own antenna, were set up. One station, used for CW and digital, was set up inside the club's trailer.
The other two stations were positioned on the wrap-around front porch at the historic Ensor home and included a Get On The Air station, which used Loretta Ensor's pre-World War II call sign, W9UA, when operating as a GOTA station. The other two stations used the club call sign KS0KS.
GOTA Station
Club Secretary-Treasurer Marty Peters, KE0PEZ, reported that a total of 414 contacts were made with our call of KS0KS. Members were able to work stations in 48 of America's 50 states (Hawaii and Montana proved elusive), the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and two foreign countries, the Czech Republic, also known as Czechia, and Canada. The stations north of the border that were reached were in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia.
Marty also reported that members operated on five bands, 80 meters, 40 meters, 20 meters, 15 meters and 6 meters, and in four modes, CW, single-sideband, FT4 and FT8.
Simple meals prepared by club member and hiking-and-camping enthusiast Jim Andera, K0NK,along with Andrew Pierce, KS1AE, afforded those present a chance to enjoy some sustenance and good fellowship during the 24-hour period when hams were on the air.
Field Day Meal
While members came and went at Ensor, three other members, Del Sawyer, K0DDS, Rob Underwood, K0RU, and Gil Ludwig, WA0YCY, operated as a club affiliate at Del's "antenna farm" 10 miles to the west of Ensor, in Edgerton, using the K0DDS call sign. This trio of hams made about 180 CW contacts and roughly 150 SSB contacts on 40 meters and 20 meters.
A highlight of the experience occurred on June 27 when the mayor of Edgerton, Don Roberts, paid a visit to Del's vintage camper to get a first-hand look at hams in action.
Finally, member Ralph Crumrine, N0KC, also operated as a club affiliate from his home in east Olathe, doing so using his own call sign. He made 29 6-meter side-band contacts in a span of just 28 minutes.