News last updated: Mon, September 29, 2008 at 1:20 PM ET
Western New York Section News
50 Years !
Congratulations to Ham K2UCO on 50 years as an Amateur Radio operator. The Quarter Century Wireless Association (QCWA) recently sent Ham a certificate in appreciation for his 50 years. I had a nice talk with K2UCO at the Rome Hamfest. As a fellow QCWA member and as WNY Section Manager I also extend my admiration and thanks to Ham K2UCO for all of his work with Amateur Radio, as an Official Observer, a Local Government Liaison, and with the Town of Sherrill !
The Road to Field Day 2008
I decided to travel a bit for Field day this year, prompted by invitations from a couple groups to join them or at least stop by their club or group Field Day for a visit. Field Day weekend was the perfect chance to visit multiple groups all in a short period of time. Since Field Day only comes around once per year, and with the rising price of gas, I thought that I better do it this year and not wait another year. Also, since I had not been back to Buffalo for quite a while I felt that I couldn't say no !
So I looked at the Field Day locator on the ARRL web site to see who registered their field day and to figure out how many sites I could visit in the time available. I factored in the travel time, allotted some time to visit each site, and came up with an itinerary that I thought was achievable.
I traveled 542 miles in all and operated 1C (mobile) along the way, running 5W with my FT-817. If I do this again I'll use my TS-430 so I can run 100 watts instead. 5 watts modile is a tough way to operate, but I did make about 20 contacts. Here is my Field Day story and some pictures I took along the way. If anyone has any corrections to the names I associated with the pictures, please let me know. Thanks. I took some notes as I took the pictures, we will see how well I did! 73 Scott W2LC
Off to Field Day -- The First Stop
Stop 1, Boston NY, W2EUP and BARRA: Out the driveway I went at about 1:00PM headed for the western part of the Western New York ARRL section and 160.3 miles later I arrived in Boston New York.
The first stop was the Buffalo Amateur Radio Repeater Association (BARRA) field day site in Boston NY. Boston NY is at the top of the hills south of Buffalo at I guess what could be considered the northern end of the Alleghany Mountains. This is the site of the BARRA repeaters and offers a spectacular view from about 1600 feet above sea level. BARRA had a six meter station running and a couple of HF stations with dipoles.
Operating 6 meters was Jim KC2SZV, with Sandra KC2LGK on the GOTA station, and I believe Brian KC2PIT on another one of the HF stations. I also met with Bill KB2TOY, Dave W2ZZA, Frank KG9NZ and had a great discussion of clubs and the general fall-off of membership that a lot of clubs have been feeling the last several years. However, we didn't find a solution. One solution I would suggest is a good program for each club meeting. Nothing like a good program to get the members to attend. I arrived at BARRA about 3:45PM and left the BARRA site at 5:10PM, about 2 hours later than planned, but I got a late start too, so not that bad.
BARRA Pictures (at the bottom of the web page)
Pic #1: Jim KC2SZV.
Pic #2: Bill KB2TOY.
Pic #3: Repeater building.
Pic #4: Operating building.
Pic #5: Group shot
On-The-Road Again
The next few Field Day sites I chose to visit were relatively close together. I thought I could visit these sites and make up some of my lost time, but not so easy as I found out. The plan was to be in Lockport about 9:00PM and to leave for Rochester by 10:00PM, but that didn't happen.
STARS, WB2ELW in Hamburg NY - The Second Stop
The South Towns Amateur Radio Society (STARS), a drive of 14.1 miles from Boston which took 30 minutes, was twice the mileage and time that I had determined using one of the internet map tools, but still not that far away from Boston.
The STARS Field Day was located in Glen Meadows Park in the middle of Hamburg NY. When I arrived I pulled into the park parking lot and didn't see anyone there at first, and my first thought was "oh no I'm in the wrong place", but I soon saw several cars parked by a park shelter in the back, and found the roadway. STARS has a couple of terrific looking club banners on their shelter, so I knew this was the place. Glen Meadows Park is in the middle of Hamburg but has enough area that the FD site is located conveniently for the members but also away from the houses enough not to irk the neighbors.
I was greeted warmly by Judy N2TEZ from the Buffalo National Weather Service office, and STARS president Keith KC2DGC. Since I had arrived just in time for dinner, STARS was very gracious to invite me to join them for their chicken barbeque. A big thank you to STARS for the hospitality.
I arrived at STARS about 5:40PM and left the site at 6:44PM.
STARS Pictures (at the bottom of the web page)
Pic #6: STARS Field Day Site
Pic #7: K2PMC operating
Off to Buffalo and RAWNY on the USS Little Rock !
Stop 3, RAWNY W2PE on the USS Little Rock: Another 17 miles and 28 minutes later, arrived at 7:12PM, I was in downtown Buffalo looking for the USS Little Rock in the Buffalo Naval Park. The parking was not great but someone was just pulling out of a spot so I got pretty close. I didn't see a Field Day group anywhere, but as luck would have it I ran across Randy N2RRR and his family waiting for someone to let them in. Picture 8 is the USS Little Rock located in the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park in downtown Buffalo NY. Visiting RAWNY on the USS Little Rock was well worth the visit as I knew it would be. Picture 9 is myself W2LC and Louise KC2RBL at one of the operating positions. Picture 10 is a couple of the RAWNY operators out on the ship trying to make a satellite contact. Picture 11 and 12 are the USS Little Rock and one of the other ships in the park.
I left the RAWNY FD site at 8:20PM and headed for LARC in Lancaster. After a bit of driving in circles trying to find my way out of downtown Buffalo, I headed up Elm St, towards the University of Buffalo (my old school), knowing that I could catch Rt 33 headed east. I was very tempted to stop at the Anchor Bar the home and inventors of the original Buffalo Wings, but since it was getting late I resisted the urge for some real Buffalo wings.
Pic 8: USS Little Rock (at the bottom of the web page)
Pic 9: Louise KC2RBL and myself at what I believe is the 40 meter CW station
Pic 10: Two RAWNY operators trying to make a satellite contact
Pic 11: The USS LR up close
Pic 12: Another ship in the park
On to Lancaster
Stop 4, LARC W2SO: I headed out on Route 33 east and stopped at a mini-mart along the way for a facilities break and some munchies. 34 minutes and about 21 miles later I arrived in Lancaster at 9:17PM. I've been to the Lancaster Amateur Radio Club (LARC) site before so it was easy to find.
N2GDU was operating furiously in the main tent. There was another station set-up in the LARC communications vehicle and another station in one of the guys motor homes. Which was also air-conditioned, so I spent some time in there of course. Off to ARATS at 10:28PM.
Pic 13: N2GDU, out affiliated club coordinator operating at the LARC Field Day.
Pic 14: The LARC emergency communications van.
Where is ARATS ?
Stop 5, ARATS: Anyone outside the Buffalo area know the ARATS callsign ? Well W2SEX of course, one of the few such calls ever issued ! I found the proper road on my way to the Amateur Radio Association of the Tonawandas (ARATS) Field Day site, but couldn't find the street number, the numbers didn't go up high enough for the address I had ! Fortunately I found the Sweeney Hose firehall and as luck would have it, there was a party there that was just breaking up, it was 11:02PM now. So I got brave and asked the loud and very boozed up firemen and party guests if they might know the location of the place I was looking for. Indeed they did, they saw my rather tall HF antenna and knew that I must be one of those "Ham" guys. So they pointed me in the right direction which wasn't far away. The Field Day site was in the adjoining building. Only one of the pictures I took at ARATS turned out, so here it is, Pic 15 below. A short stay at ARATS and off to Lockport I go at 11:39PM.
Pic 15: ARATS operating position with Al KB2UZM and Glen KB2TDZ
Now I'm Getting Tired ! Off to the LARA Field Day at 11:39PM
Stop 6, Lockport W2RUI and LARA: Stop #6 was to be the Lockport Amateur Radio Association (LARA) in Outwater Park in Lockport. Well I found the park okay, but not LARA. I believe that by the time I got there they had shut-down for the evening. I saw something set up that looked like Ham stuff with a couple vehicles with I believe a couple occupants sleeping inside. I knew that showing up at a Field Day site very late or early in the morning in this case, about 12:15AM, that I might not find anyone awake. My apologies to LARA for getting there so late.
Now It's Really Late, I mean Early
Stop 7, RDXA W2RDX: Now I have a fairly long drive to the Rochester DX Association (RDXA) field Day site located in Webster Town Park. About 77 miles from Lockport to Webster via Route 104, the scenic route. This was a route I planned in order to stop at Hartland Cemetery where my grand parents are, but I didn't dare stop at that hour. No I'm not afraid of ghosts. But no stopping at a cemetery after midnight. Now you know why I wanted be in Lockport by 9:00PM when it would still be a little light out, to stop in Gasport for a few minutes. I operated 20 meters while heading back east, I can't believe how good 20 meters was. Strong signals and short skip apparently due to some good e-skip. I'm not sure when I got to Webster and RDXA, I didn't write it down but it had to be about 2:00 to 2:30AM.
Now these RDXA guys are serious, and sure enough they had some serious antennas put up. The Monroe County EMO bought a nice portable 100 foot tower. That can't be portable you say ? Well, it comes on a trailer, with some ground pegs and guy wires, and you plant it down on the ground, secure it a bit, and sure enough it cranks up to 100 feet ! RDXA had a 20 meter beam at the top, so anyone out west reading this, you know why they were loud. I hear RDXA made a lot of QSOs, had some good food, a good group, and many visitors.
Pic 16: The RDXA Field Day with Vic K1PY looking at the camera.
Home for Some Sleep
I was debating sleeping in my van at the RDXA FD site, but decided instead to drive home for a better mornings sleep. I got home about 4:30AM or so and didn't have any problems falling asleep. When I woke up it was decision time again on if to drive some more on Sunday. The decision was Yes and off to the Utica Zoo.
Stop 8: The Utica Zoo, N2CNY and CNYARA.
The Central New York Amateur Radio Association (CNYARA) is a new club to the ARRL WNY section. The CNYARA Field Day was at the Utica Zoo. I used the Zoo web site to get the directions, I had pretty good directions for every Field Day site I visited and didn't get off track except in Buffalo, with the subway on Main St and the one-way streets. But the Zoo directions left a bit to be desired, and the lack of road signs didn't help. Other than turning around to be sure that I was on Rt 233, I did well. Free admission to the Zoo ! Now that's a Field Day treat. CNYARA has a very nice welcoming booth/tent with QSL cards and ARRL materials on display. A very nice job. When I arrived Pauline N2KKL was there to greet me. I also had the pleasure of meeting new young ham Regina KC2PHC.
Pic 17: N2KKL at the welcoming tent (at the bottom of the web page)
Pic 18: Group picture at the CNYARA FD
Pic 19: The famous Utica Zoo watering can
Pic 20: Some CW operators
Epilog
I may add a few more comments to the above, as my memory permits. From the size of the jpg files I added, the ARRL web site just got a lot bigger. It was great traveling for Field Day this year and meeting everyone, even those I have met many times before. I hope that everyone had fun for Field Day, it is a great time to get out, operate a bit, have some good picnic food and exchange stories with your friends. Hope to see you next year. I am tentatively planning another FD travel event for 2009, we will see as time gets closer. Be sure to register your FD site on the ARRL FD Locator next year. Don't forget your location so that visitors know how to get there.
I hope that those clubs that I didn't visit on Field day understand that I couldn't visit everyone. If I travel for FD again next year I will probably take a different route to visit some different FD sites. Next year will come quickly.
73 Scott W2LC
Field Day 2008: Take a look at this ! This year, for the first time, the ARRL has put together a Station Locator FD Locator
to help amateurs or those interested in Amateur Radio find a Field Day site near them. According to ARRL Field Day Manager Dan Henderson, N1ND. Scroll around to find Field Day locations that have been entered into the map. Or enter your site by clicking on the "Add a Station" link located to the top right of the map.
Contesting 2008
Field Day has come and gone, I hope you had a good time. I did as I traveled around Western New York visiting as many FD sites as I could.
Western New York Hamfests 2008 !
The EmComm East Conference held on the 20th was very well attended with one fellow from I believe Wisconson attending. The forums were great with a diverse group of topics, something for everyone to enjoy. Both breakfast and lunch very very good with plenty to eat, and as you know the food is important too ! I hope everyone had a good time. Thank you to Jeff WY7Q (Monroe County EC) for all the preparation and organization, and to Monroe County ARES and St. John Fisher College for hosting the event.
Attention Hamfest Sponsors !
Please email me your 2009 hamfest information as soon as you choose a date. Also sanction your hamfest with the ARRL at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/hamfests/. You get a few door prizes and it helps you to avoid date conflicts with other WNY Hamfests. Remember to avoid conflict with other hamfests especially other WNY hamfests.
5 Oct 2008 Western New York Section Convention (Greater Buffalo Hamfest) sponsored by the Lancaster Amateur Radio Club, located at the Ismailia Shrine Center, 1600 Southwestern Blvd (Route 20), West Seneca, NY. For more info: http://gbhamfest.hamgate.net/index.htm. Talk-In: 147.255 (PL 107.2). Contact: Luke Calianno, N2GDU, 1105 Ransom Road, Lancaster, NY 14086. Email: luke48@gmail.com
Local BPL News
Supposedly there is a BPL installation in Solvay NY, with other areas being considered. The company in question had a booth at the New York State Fair, but the people in the booth did not want to answer questions about their service. Very unprofessional of them. Seems they are offering some sort of fiber-to-the-home type service that may or may not be part of a BPL system. They also have HDTV offered, and that is not sent via BPL. The little information I was able to get was not entirely honest, and when I asked about interference the person turned his back to me and would not answer any more questions. It is hard to believe that there are towns that want to work with an organization that is not up front and honest about their service.
Everytime I have driven around Solvay I have not found any BPL equipment installed, but with Lakeland nearby and a couple adjacent areas to Solvay there me be something that I have missed. If you know more than I do, please let me know.
For those of you faced with BPL, please take the time to talk to and write your town board and object to the interference that BPL causes and also write your state government officials as well as your congress person and senators. We may know that BPL isn't worth it, but that doesn't mean that your town board does.
WNY Section News Submissions
If you have a story about an event that you wish to share, please write up a short article and include pictures when you can, and email to me at W2LC@arrl.org. Please send separate jpg files for the pictures. WNY ARRL Members and non-members: Please send all correspondence to me via W2LC@arrl.org.
Thank you. 73 Scott W2LC, WNY SM.
Pic 1: KC2SZV operating at the BARRA FD site
Pic 2: Bill KB2TOY operating for BARRA
Pic 3: BARRA repeater building
Pic 4: BARRA main FD operating position
Pic 5: Not sure if the order is correct. Left to Right, Barra members: Frank KG9NZ, Brian KC2PIT, Ted WA2HKS, Dave W2ZZA, Sandra KC2LGK, Bill KB2TOY at the BARRA Field Day.
Pic 6: STARS Field Day Site in Glen Meadows Park in Hamburg NY
Pic 7: K2PMC left and KC2TET right operating at the STARS Field Day.
Pic 8: USS Little Rock site of the Radio Association of WNY Field Day !
Pic 9: Louise KC2RBL and W2LC at one of the RAWNY FD operating positions.
Pic 10: Two of the RAWNY operators trying for a satellite contact and the bonus points.
Pic 11: The USS Little Rock up close, the RAWNY FD site..
Pic 12: Another one of the ships in the Naval Park.
Pic 13: N2GDU at one of the Lancaster Amateur Radio Club Field Day operating positions.
Pic 14: The LARC emergency communications vehicle. Very nice !
Pic 15: Amateur Radio Association of the Tonawandas (ARATS) Field Day operating position. On the left is Al KB2UZM and on the right is Glen KB2TDZ.
Pic 16: The RDXA Field Day and K1PY on the left posing for the photo op.
Pic 17: Pauline N2KKL at the CNYARA Field Day welcoming tent
Pic 18: L-R are Pauline N2KKL, Scott W2LC, Regina KC2PHC, Barb KC2QYJ & Dick KB2TEL.
Pic 19: The "watering can" at the Utica Zoo
Pic 20: Some Field Day CW operators. Hey ! I'M one of them ! A CW op I mean, not a monkey or whatever these are.
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