Our Field Day effort turned from a planned on being a super competitive
5A effort, Where we would try to optimize everything from the Rigs used
to placement of antennas and stations.
But a month before FD all good plans go to wherever, and just a week ago
it looked like we were not to have any type of Field Day at all. But a
group of four pulled it out from the dead heap and salvaged it for us.
But things were very very different from any other FD we have ever done
before.
For one we typically would space the stations apart as far as possible
and still be legal.
Not this year, this year all three stations operated from the back of a
"Straight Truck"
https://www.truck-n-trailer.com/wp-content/uploads/straight-truck-1-sm.jpg
So it was more like a M/M in someones Basement. The stations were
literally less than 2 yards apart from each other.
And the antennas were not a lot better a 40 Meter OCFD, a Fan 80-10 fan
dipole,, and a small wolf river coil setup.
All also very close to each other even crossing over each other at one
point!
Many here probably remember a discussion had here about best radios for
FD and what to avoid.
And here many many said to avoid the IC-7300 because of it's Phase noise.
Sadly for this group that was not an Option, so we had 2 of the 7300's
and a Yaesu FT-891.
Now in past years we had several 7300's and really wasn't a problem, but
again stations were as far apart and antennas as legal would allow.
But not this year.
The club from past years have collected a complete set of these filters
80 thru 10
https://www.dxengineering.com/parts/lbs-pb-f200-7
And in the past they seemed to help. But this year WOW!!! if it was not
for them, I don't think we could have done anything other than a 1A
operation.
20, and 15 were up and running at the start of the contest. one 7300 on
20 and the yeasu on 15, both already had their respective filters in-line.
Then the other 7300 was ready to start up on 40 meters, but forgot about
the filter. WOW!!! Just keying the PTT and a white noise has would
totally wipe out 20 and 15 stations, completely Gone> I never looked at
the S meter, but it was extremely strong. So strong it was impossible
for them to hear any signals.
We gave him the 40 filter, all thinking we hope it helps or we are screwed.
I could not imagine the difference!!!! There was zero trace of any
interference now even when he was running full power! NOTHING!!!!
Those filters are amazing!!!
Joe WB9SBD
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