SFARC Field Day 2021: New Venue, Old Spirit
The San Francisco Amateur Radio Club was one of very few Bay Area ham radio organizations to hold an in-person ARRL Field Day on June 26th. Planning had begun back in April when Covid restrictions were still in place but done so in anticipation that California would be opening up in mid-June. Working closely with the club’s long-time partners at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, Field Day was to be operated from a new venue at the top deck of one of the VA’s parking garages overlooking the Pacific, San Francisco Bay, Golden Gate Bridge, and Lincoln Golf Course. The space was 400+ feet above sea level with 360-degrees of unobstructed RTX, plenty of parking, elevator access, and onsite restrooms.
On the day of the event setup started at 0900 for an 1100 (1800 UTC) start time. Each of the preassigned operators was responsible for bringing their own radio gear, power supplies, and antennas because access to the radio room gear at the VA was not available during the planning phase. The club operated stations at 40m, 20m, 10m, 6m, 2m/70cm and a meshnet live feed with all stations ready to go by start time. Similar to what had been done in 2019, the club decided to make this a battery-power only, six hour event rather than the 24-hour format of years past.
Throughout the allotted six hours of operation over 30 visitors of all types and license levels came by to check out the action, many sitting down at the mics to make some contacts.
Even the local ARRL Section Manager, Bill Hillendahl KH6GJV, stopped by to wish everyone well and to drop off some Field Day paraphernalia for the operators. Weather was of the standard San Francisco variety with morning fog burning off and returning throughout the day. All attendees were impressed with the location and its suitability for radio ops.
Even with everyone operating at lower wattages to conserve batteries - and for only six hours - well over 100 QSOs were logged including every California ARRL section as well as contacts in eight other states (see map below). Our hosts at the VA did an exceptional job organizing their end of the process and our thanks go out to the VA Emergency Management Coordinator, Scott Martin and to the VA Police.
Lastly, none of this would have been possible without the hard work, effort, and equipment of the club’s Field Day 2021 operators: Greg Albrecht W2GMD, Jeffrey Hoover KI6SGV, John Owens N6JSO, Jeff Rizzo AJ6IY, David Hansen KN6HFV, Jeff Curry KK6JJZ.
We hope to see everybody next year for an even bigger and better Field Day 2022!
For those of you who could not attend this year’s event, here is a short video by our own Dave Bilecci WA6UHA. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMNfoDAgTQ8
BOATS ON THE AIR!!! - June 5, 2021
For more info: https://www.sfarc.org/boats-on-the-air/
1st Annual San Francisco Radio Club SOTA Activation - May 12th, 2018
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Tim AF6TF and Antonis AA6PP will be leading a hike to Mt Tamalpais West Point on Saturday May 12th, 2018. Our aim is to introduce our SFRC members as well as friends of the club how nature trailing and ham radio can coexist!
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47th Anniversary Campout PartyThe joint SFARC-MDARC campout will take place starting on Friday, June 3rd and end on Sunday, June 5th at the Sugar Pine Dam Recreation Area. It is one of the most beautiful spots in Placer County. This will be a joint venture between the Club and a another group of radio amateurs who have meeting for this annual event for over 40 years. We are limited to 50 people at this site so get your reservations in early.
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