Amateur Radio Field Day Weekend
Huntington Beach Hospital (HBH), June 23-24, 2007
Photos by
Joe Moell KØOV (JM)
April Moell WA6OPS (AM)
Dave West KI6EPI (DW)
Tom Gaccione WB2LRH (TG)
Ray Rittenhouse KF6WZN (RR)
For the sixth year, HDSCS held its ARRL Field Day operations at Huntington Beach Hospital. This year, for the first time, we were joined by members and leaders of Scout troop 1134 of Huntington Beach. In a simulation of emergency damage to the building that would not allow the roof to be used, the Scouts erected a lodgepole structure that served as support for one of our wire antennas for long-distance bands. The other end of the antenna was raised atop one of the HBH flagpoles. (TG)
HBH had us operating in style with three large "surge capacity" tents from its emergency preparedness inventory. We got our emergency power from one of the hospital's portable generators. (DW)
As HDSCS members got out the radio gear and untangled the wire antennas, the Scouts began constructing their lodgepole tower. These two Scouts are lashing poles together for one of the sides. (JM)
Up it goes! Notice that the entire construction job is under the direction of teenage Senior Scouts. There is only one adult in these photos, Greg Boswell of Orange County Emergency Medical Services Agency, who is one of the troop leaders and made sure everything was safe. (JM)
ARRL Field Day rules provide for a special "Get On The Air" (GOTA) station as an opportunity for new or inactive hams and non-hams to get on the air in a "sheltered" environment. Our GOTA station was in this decontamination tent in front of the hospital building. The GOTA callsign was W6KOS. Notice the wire antennas extending from the top of the right flagpole. (AM)
Jim McLaughlin AB6UF checks the emergency power generator. Even though it was much quieter than generators we have used previously, we put it in the stairwell of the adjacent medical building to muffle the sound. (JM)
Like the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi (Iwo Jima), a small task force erected three antenna masts for the VHF/UHF station. HBH signposts became sturdy holders for these masts. It's safe -- they are a LONG way from those high voltage power lines. (JM)
Woody Woodward KJ6LE was one of the first to call "CQ Field Day" from our site, using the callsign N6ER (for Emergency Room). In the background are Jon Schaffer W6UFS at the logging computer and Jackie Schaffer WA6AKP standing. (JM)
After the tower was erected and operating began, HDSCS member Rick Soikkeli AE6RS took the Scouts into the HBH basement, where he presented a four-hour course leading the Scouts toward their radio merit badges. (JM)
The information table had handouts as well as a display of some of our awards. Special visitor badges were provided by member Ray Rittenhouse KF6WZN. (AM)
Troop 1134 leaders cooked up a barbecue lunch for all Field Day participants as well as for the Scouts. (JM)
Jay Thompson W6JAY (left) and his dad Richard WA6NOL enjoyed their barbecue lunch at Richard's packet (digital) radio station, which they used to get some bonus points for the HDSCS score. (JM)
Tustin Hospital's Disaster/Safety Coordinator Rob McFarland (wearing hat) brought his grandson and the grandson's young friend to see ham radio in action. Jack Hafner KO6IC put them on the air as Rob proudly watched. (AM)
Charter HDSCS member Ralph Swanson WB6JBI operated a station Saturday afternoon, with logging by his son Wayne KA6BMZ, a visitor from Riverside. (AM)
Saturday mid-afternoon, Susan Hafner KD6YMH surprised her husband Jack KO6IC with a cake for his 50th birthday. (AM)
One of our stations was devoted to operating on four ham VHF/UHF bands. Susan Hafner KD6YMH succeeded in her goal to make 50 contacts on this station in honor of hubby Jack's 50th birthday. Clay Stearns KE6TZR is logging on the computer for her. Watching is new member Matt Stofle KI6BLY. (JM)
To qualify for their radio merit badges, each Scout had to make three radio contacts with different parts of the country. Fred Wagner KQ6Q put these two on the air as merit badge instructor Rick Soikkeli AE6RS watched in the background. (JM)
More Scouts get on the air with coaching from Tom Gaccione WB2LRH. Watching are Troop Leader Kevin McCarthy and one of the parents. (AM)
As night fell, HDSCS member Kim Decelles K9KIM logged while her brother Charles KI6KOA, a visitor from Lake Elsinore, operated a station. (JM)
After all the Scouts went home, instructor Rick Soikkeli grabbed his key and operated using Morse Code (CW) for much of the night. This year, HDSCS had four Morse operators, more than ever before. The other three were Joe Moell KØOV, visitor Jan Perkins N6AW and Fred Wagner KQ6Q. (DW)
Alex Valdez K9BLK operated by voice into the night with logging help from Field Day Co-chair Ken Simpson W6KOS. (JM)
One of the HDSCS members using the GOTA station to learn about the long-distance ham radio bands was Dave West KI6EPI. Dave is Director of Laboratory Services for HBH and three other hospitals, and was our hospital host for Field Day again this year. Logging for him is Jon Schaffer W6UFS. (AM)
For the last twenty minutes of the contest, HDSCS founder April Moell WA6OPS finally got some operating time. Logging for her is Tom Gaccione WB2LRH. (JM)
For the first time at a HDSCS Field Day, we contacted every state as well as most of the Canadian provinces. A big board kept track of the states, provinces and countries as they were contacted. (AM)
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This page updated 4 July 2007