We submitted our FD score, with a claimed score of 9046 points, with 2206 contacts. In all, it went well, and the 2 stations were busy most of the time, and the GOTA station was also kept busy most of the 24 hours of the contest.

In all honesty, we had just enough people to set up the 3 stations, just in time for the 2 PM start on Saturday. People operated as best they could, with no firm operating schedules, but most of it worked out OK. The GOTA station is a valuable setup; it does add points (GOTA had almost 10% of all our contacts)

I think I can summarize some pros and cons:

Wish list for next year:

  1. Another small HF beam and rotator (either GOTA or 3rd station)
  2. More feedline for antennas
  3. Better logging software
Cons (things to work on)
  1. Just enough people to set up the 3 stations we had. If club wants more stations next year, we need more people to show up for setup. We found that the 7 or 8 people putting up the 3 stations was about our limit.
  2. Radio time was "ad hoc" for visitors. Without firm commitments from operators (I did ask at last meeting for "definite will be there"- didn't get much), we could not make any form of operating schedule. Some people had limited operating time, as only GOTA station was open for general phone operation.
  3. Logging software was glitchy, had problems for some stations when logging
  4. Could use some "ride - buddy" system. Some people may not have been able to show up due to no rides, etc. (need to schedule people...). Again, unless someone knows well in advance, it is hard to coordinate such things.
Pros (things that went well):
  1. Site seems to be very good for RF. However, a bit distant for most of the "regulars"
  2. Help from Sudbury Hydro with boom truck did help a lot with setup.
  3. Command center from police force was a nice feature.
  4. Overall support, including quick meals was well handled.
  5. Site could probably support a 3A operation (4 stations including GOTA).
  6. We were actually all ready to go on the air at 2PM, first time that I can ever recall having all stations set up and on air by contest time.
The club has to give a big thanks to Marc Savignac for his organizing skills in getting a lot of this year's field day organized
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