VHF/NFD 2003

VHF/UHF NFD 2000

In 2003 we joined forces with the Flight Refueling Amateur Radio Society, G4RFR, to do VHF/UHF National Field Day. It was fortunate that the best equipped bands from each club are complementary, with 2m and 4m equipment supplied by G4RFR and 70cm and 6m coming from us using the callsign G4BRA.

Both clubs provided a good mix of operators which gelled very well and enabled the setbacks of blown pre-amps and forgotten essentials to be quickly resolved. It was refreshing to share techniques and approaches especially in areas like logging, mast deployment, operator scheduling and catering, and interesting to compare the logistics of locally based groups and the long-haulers. We were also able to support the return of overnight working on 70 and 2 which should lead to the usual frenzied debate about whether the extra operating time is worthwhile.

On the bands themselves 6m had sporadic E openings to south east Europe as far as the former Yugoslavia and managed 164 contacts, best DX Malta. 70cm went in fits and bursts with occasional openings to GM and also DX to Switzerland and Germany. 2m went great guns with over 486 contacts before the end on Sunday and 4m was picking off what seems like the full UK with 85 contacts. Further pictures can be found on the FRARS web site: www.frars.org.uk