In this issue: Trouble-shooting and solving various challenges on the Pot Lid Net and Capital City Net, a few things to keep in mind for Field Day, and advice on when to start your contest logger.
Murphy strikes again!
I was getting ready to act as net controller for the Pot Lid Net earlier this month. I had unplugged the key and some other stuff from the rig for some CW tests the day before. Everything went back together as usual, checking the tuner to make sure it was still set up for 6m. All was OK. Then I tried to start the net. Only a few dits and bits of dits came out. Fortunately KTN was there to step in and run things.
While listening to the net (I could still listen, just not TX), I heard that LC had lost the use of his 6m Yagi earlier in the week when DX was pouring in from all over.
Making it 3 for 3, the following day, the net controller on the Capital City Net went through 3 different radios trying to get something to use to run the show. Eventually even the third rig failed him and again, someone kindly bailed him out and ran the net.
I’m not sure what happened to the other two, but I THINK I found the problem over here. A 3.5mm to 1/4″ adapter failed. It wasn’t one that I had removed when I set up for the CW tests, but when I replaced it things went back to normal. I’m not positive that was the cause of the problem, but to make sure it won’t be in the future, I took my biggest vice grips and crushticated the offending adaptor.
The moral of the story (if any): Have spares, have backups, have a plan B (and C if you can). Keep it in mind for Field Day.
Over the years we have had rig, antenna/feedline, accessory, tent, generator, and computer failures at Field Day, but still somehow manage to get on the air and have fun. Let’s see what disasters we can avert this time.
Every time…
It’s the weekend of the annual ARRL June VHF contest. I decide to tune around and just hand out a few contacts from my humble hamshack to the locals and big gun keeners who are always on for this contest. No need to fire up the computer. Before I realize it, I have a page of contacts and am starting to forget who I worked on what band. No big problem. I’m old enough to remember how to build and use a dupe sheet.
Someday, I will be old enough to realize that I should start the contest logger from the first contact, even if I’m not seriously competing, so I don’t have to stop and make a dupe sheet off the paper log. It seems some people just never learn, and I’m one of them.
73
C U @ FD & Canada Day
mk
Last Updated on 2025-07-06 by Joannadanna