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TZUTC: -0800
TID: hpt/w32-mvcdll 1.9 2024-02-05

Hello Matt!

09 Jan 26 21:02, you wrote to all:

 MJ> Just wondering how many folks participate in Winter Field Day?
 MJ> (winterfieldday.org)  I know up in our colder climate in Minnesota we
 MJ> enjoy the extra challenge of cold weather operation.

I plan to join the local club at their Winter Field Day. My actual
participation may depend on the weather (It hasn't snowed here since January
25, 1999). I am hoping it is dry. It was sunny and 60F degrees today after the
morning Tule Fog burned off.

I may take our travel trailer to the event so I can set up a packet station
and send messages to the State OES. I may also make attempt some data modes;
Winlink over VARA HF and/or via my packet BBS atop a +7500' ASL mountain.
However, if I haven't made all the preparations before this weekend event, I
will have to stay home as we are traveling with the trailer a couple of days
after the event and the missus says the trip is more important.

I haven't decided which radio to take: my Yaesu FT-991A, my Icom IC-7100, or a
Yaesu FT-857D for the packet stuff. (I am using a FT-857D for the W6RAY-10
Winlink Gateway as part of one of the packet BBSes) The easiest will be the
FT-991A since it's the easiest for me to connect to my computer, whether it be
a Windows 11 laptop or a raspberry pi, one of which I have Craig's KM6LYW
DigiPi installed.

For antennas: I have a few different wire antennas as well as a DX Commander
Classic. I plan to add the Classic to my home station as I have had good luck
with DX in the past. It is not currently up at the moment due to some
anticipated work being done in the back yard.

The club has a crank-up tower mounted to a trailer and a tri-band 3-element
yagi antenna along with a couple of wire antennas. I was trying to find some
photos on the Club's web site of the tower in use, but they seem to not be
available. We also have use of two Icom IC-7300 radios for the event. We use a
local farm's "Pumpkin Patch" where they have a corn maze and a pumpkin patch
during October on the southern edge of the city. It is the same location we
have our Field Day in June (2024 and 2025 the temperatures was well over 100F).

We usually run (in the summer) 3A SJV (San Joaquin Valley) and I sure it will
be similar this month. The Club's call is WA6BAI, The Tulare County Amateur
Radio Club (A 501(c)3
group)

I could go on, but it's getting late and I am likely boring you.

73 de Ray
Visalia, CA DM06ii
W6RAY/WRKZ506

If the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body,
then only left-handed people are in their right mind.

... Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6!
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