Here are some of the pictures from the
FD2000, VA3RAC 35A, effort in Ottawa
on June 24-25, 2000. We set a new world record for Amateur Radio Field Day (FD) by
putting 35 simultaneous transmitters and receivers on the air from a single site all
at the same time.
The purpose of FD is to demonstate emergency preparedness by setting up a radio
station, or 35 stations in this case, in the field, away from normal housing, services
and power. All FD stations try to contact as many others stations as possible and
exchange with them; their callsign, VA3RAC for us, their number of transmitters on the
air, 35 in our case and what class they are running in. The "A" in our exchange indicates
that we were in the class called "club stations". The site size is limited to 1000 feet
in diameter and all the antennas must stay inside that limit as well. No small feat considering that
we had two 240 foot long 160 meter band antennas as well as three 120 foot 80 meter
dipoles to fit into it. As well as dozens more smaller antennas, 35 stations need 35
antennas! There are other restrictions as well, all designed to promote the concept
of an emergency test drill. In order to get 35 stations on the air we used all of the amateur
radio bands from 1.8 MHz through to the microwave bands at 10,000 MHz or 10 Giga Hertz,
excluding the allocation at 5 GHz. However if we had had radio equipment for that band
Glenn would have found a way to use it and be a 36A for sure!
We had a sponsorship of a 53' tractor trailer rig from TransX and we needed it! It
took 2 loads into the site to get all the tents, power system, lights and tower
sections delivered. It also took 2 big loads to return it all, including the golf
cart!!
As well we got a donation of a 230 foot tall, 200 ton capacity truck crane
from the Dulepka Crane Co. in Ottawa.
this was a real show stopper. Almost as soon as it pulled past the road block
barricade people on site started wandering over and checking it out. They were
very surprised to discover it was there for us!!! We put a VHF Yagi antenna, a mast
and a rotator on the end of the crane boom and put it up 210' !!!! We would
of gone higher but there was only 210' of coax in my car!!
All of the pictures
are taken on the front lawn/park of the National Museum of Science and Technology
in Ottawa. We were happy to find that their front lawn was almost exactly 1000'
long even thought the rocket, the radar dish and the steam train WERE in our
way. The light house, we used as an antenna support so IT was OK. About 4 AM Sunday
it started to rain, a little at first then harder and harder. About 3 hours later we had
2 inches of rain on the ground and a new record rainfall for that day. Sunday pictures
are the ones with lots of water in them.
The pictures here are taken by the FD2000 photographer,
Mike, VE3IPC. They have been edited to put them
all right side up and compressed to about 25 % of their original size. While this
rate of compression does lose some quality it don't think it will be noticed here
on a web page. However If you want to print a copy or keep a picture for a
permanent record then I suggest you contact
Pierre, VE2GPF and order a copy of the
FD2000 CD he's made with all the pictures on it. The cost should be about CDN$20.00
After the thumbnail page is loaded, clicking on any image will open
a single new browser window on your desktop.
These pictures are from Friday's setup.
- Lots of tents, towers and crane shots.Pictures
1 - 99
1 | 2 | 3 | 4
Saturday pictures.
- More setup, official speeches, some operations.Pictures
100 - 199
5 | 6 | 7 | 8
Saturday pictures.
- Some shots of speeches, lots of operator shots.
- Chicken dinner time!.Pictures
200 - 299
9 | 10 | 11 | 12
Sunday closing down pictures!!
- Lots of WET people, tents, and equipment.
- Lowering tents and towers, loading up the tractor trailer.Pictures
300 - 399
13 | 14 | 15 | 16
Misc. pictures. Might not all be from VE3IPC.
- A few tower, tractor trailer shots.
- Maps of NMST grounds and antenna layout plan.
17