Field Day 2003

The Four State QRP Group camped out for Field Day weekend at Twin Bridges State Park near Wyandotte, Oklahoma. The park is located at the confluence of the Neosho and Spring rivers at the north end of Grand Lake. This is a very nice park and a pretty good radio location as well. The campground is situated high on a bluff between the two rivers. To see a locator map of the Twin Bridges area click here: Location Map The photos below are "clickable" to view a larger image file.


Welcome to Twin Bridges State Park.	Looking east from the bluff is the Spring river.

Gene NØMQ and Doug KI6DS came out Thursday afternoon and staked out our preferred location early. The rest of the four state gang arrived on Saturday morning and began erecting the antennas and getting the stations set up. We were ready to go by 1300 Central time when the contest started. The weather was perfect, sunny skies and not too hot!


Doug and Gene's campsite. There are two antennas here, a horizontal loop (worked great) and a G5RV.	Cecil operating the GOTA station under his callsign NØEHP on 20 meters SSB. The antenna was a vertical loop using 140 feet of wire.

We operated in class 4A using callsign WØCH and also operated a GOTA (Get On The Air) station using callsign NØEHP. All stations operated from battery power.


Bill AB5XQ and Don AE5K at the 20 meter PSK-31 station.	Dale, WDØGKC working 40 meters CW with his Ten-Tec Argo station. He is using a dipole antenna fed with 450 Ohm line. (N2UHC Photo)

We operated PSK-31 at Field Day for the first time. Don AD5NP and Bill AB5XQ provided the PSK transceivers for 20 and 80 meters plus the laptop computers for the digital stations.


Cecil NØEHP, Kelly WBØWQS and Gene NØMQ at the GOTA station. (N2UHC Photo)	Don AD5NP on 20 meters PSK. The transceiver is a Small Wonder PSK-20 into a 20 meter dipole.

Jay KØETC working 20 CW using a K2 and a 20 meter EDZ antenna. (N2UHC Photo)	Doug KI6DS goes for a ride with Dennis KK5PY.

We were honored to have Doug Hendricks, KI6DS, operating with us at Field Day this year. It was a real treat to visit with Doug and share some fun. He brought along a suit case full of NorCal kits and parts and we all stocked up to keep the soldering irons hot in the four state area. Thanks Doug!


Doug KI6DS on 20 meters SSB with a K2 and a large horizontal loop antenna running all around the camp site.	Dennis KK5PY and Cecil NØEHP checking out the goodies at the NorCal / 4SQRP kits and parts table.

As in usual 4SQRP tradition, we had a major cookout as well. The menu included charcoal broiled steak, burgers, chicken, beans, roasting ears, homemade pies, "pink stuff" desert, homemade ice cream and a bunch of other goodies. Sorry, no photos of the dinner table. Everybody was too busy enjoying the feast to take pictures.

There were not many leftovers, but these were enjoyed by the park raccoons and squirrels during the night!


Dale WDØGKC, Pete Banfield and Ira KD5AUX checking out the antenna situation.	Don AD5NP, Jay KØETC and Dave WØCH at the PSK station. (N2UHC Photo)

The Four State QRP Group had 18 folks attending Field Day this year. Thanks to everyone who pitched in to help put us on the air. Also, a thank you to Tom, N2UHC for the help with the photos and to Jeanette for the "pink stuff" desert.

We may not have scored very high in the Field Day 4A contest category, but we scored real high in the fun category!