June 2019 Presidents Message
I guess the big news (other than the heat), is Field Day. Field Day is held every year and it’s a 24-hour exercise put on by the ARRL. It’s a North American wide event and everyone is welcome to participate, no matter what class of Amateur Radio license that you have. Even if you don’t have a “ticket”, you can still get on the air. We’ll have a control operator there to make sure things go according to Hoyle.
If you are a Tech, you can still get on the air. All of our control operators are Extra Class and can put a mic in your hand and a 100-watt HF radio for you to learn on. Along that line, we will also be teaching the new digital operating mode FT-8 and some old standbys like PSK-31. If you operate CW, bring your own key.
We will be operating 3 stations for the 24-hour run. One will be voice, SSB and 2 digital stations.
Set up will be Friday June 21 at 3 PM at Hot Purple Energy. Yeah, it’ll be hot, but with enough people the outside work will go up quickly. We only have 3 antennas to install and run the coax into the building. The rest is inside an air conditioned building and can even be done the next morning. Earl KJ6DQR is in charge of set up and tear down. We could use some good climbers and those to go up the ladder to the roof top. See Earl at the meeting if you’d like to help or give him a call on the RATS repeater or 445.640 pl 107.2.
We will be operating on battery/inverter/solar power at Hot Purple Energy. 810 N. Farrell, Palm Springs. There will be lots of RATS signs on the street corners and on the property. If you get lost or can’t get in (door locked or something) call on the RATS repeater 146.940 pl 107.2.
If you want to spend the night, bring an RV, I will. There will also be a cot or 2 and lots of coffee and food.
This is always a fun event. This year there should be some Boy Scouts, some local dignitaries and the local press. Don’t miss it.
A map and directions to the site can be found here.
