W4FCR Field Day Event

It was 1933 and the first Field day was upon us.  F.E. Handy (W1BDI) announced  “The real object of this contest is to test ‘por-tables’ wherever they may be available.… If successful, we want to make it an annual affair.”  Field Day is actually a 2 day weekend event. Points are scored based on contacts. Pictured above are some of the members of the Franklin County Amateur Radio Club. The club participates in the World-wide Field Day event every year at the Franklin County Recreational Park on 619 (Sontag Road). 

Here Riley, a local Amateur from Union Hall, is demonstrating the sling shot used to mount wire antennas in trees for the event.  In the picture below to the left is the ladder line that proceeds up to the wire antenna between the trees. 

Stan, (K4UK) from the Moneta area, practices sending Morse Code (CW) using a paddle. Contacts are logged onto the old computer to the left.

Pictured above is Richard operating on 40 meters CW.  Notice the box over the monitor to deflect the glare. Richard, from Floyd, joined the group for the Field Day Event. 

Operators were : Paul Johnson from Rocky Mount,  Stan Reas from Moneta, Riley Dudley from Union Hall, Bill Wells from Rocky Mount, Terry McCrickard from Union Hall, Buddy Smith from Wirtz and Frank Gaver from Henry. 

Special Guest include: Leyland Mitchell (Snow Creek Board of Supervisors), Steve Smith (Emergency Director for the American Red Cross) and Henry Wyatt (Section Emergency Coordinator for Virginia ARES)

The Franklin county Amateur Radio Club (W4FCR) holds a monthly meeting on the 2nd Monday at 7PM at the Red Cross Building 40 West of Rocky Mount Virginia. Everyone is WELCOME..