Archives 75

Archives

August 17, 2026

Another Field Day in the Log

The sun gave us plenty of heat but was not friendly to ARRL Field Day this weekend. Noise and lack of propagation was the order of the day.

Regardless of conditions, MARS hams pushed on. Here’s the box score with final stats:

• 27 participants at the Field Day site

• 13 on-air operators

• 321 contacts: 65 Digital, 76 CW, and 180 SSB

• 4 states shy of Worked All States

• 7 sections shy of working all US ARRL Sections

• 5 of the 14 Canada Sections plus 1 DX

• Modes: SSB, FT8, FT4 and CW

• Bands: 80m through 2m

• Worked the high-scoring W3AO mega-station 4 times (one was a dupe)

• Sent and received lots of messages via Winlink®

• Copied the ARRL Field Day bulletin

• Had an educational round-table discussion on our two end-fed antennas, their configurations, and their differences

• Preliminary score 1974; 1050 bonus points

Tom Yenny, K5LOL, had the most contacts at 80. Andy Smolenski, KI5YLX, was next with 55 contacts.

We tested operating two rigs on 20m at the same time (SSB and CW). It worked with a little RF interference between the rigs. Ron Reeves, NN5R, has a plan to solve this for next year.

We set up 7 antennas but we had to take one down shortly after erecting it due to high winds. It was a noble effort but we’ll fix that for next year. We need a stronger sky-hook. Thanks to everyone who brought antennas and especially those who worked in the heat to set them up.

We setup 8 rigs but limited our operation to stay within our 4A classification. Multiple operators kept one rig on the air almost throughout the entire Field Day operating period.

We had a few late-night operators. Kevin Grantham, N5KRG, kept a rig busy all night. Sleep? Sleeping is so overrated when there are contacts to be made. Thanks to all our operators for spending time on the air making contacts.

Thanks as well to Kim and David Gilpin, K5GIL, for being our Saturday supper chefs and to Bill Clements, K5PEC, for cooking a hearty breakfast to get us started on Sunday morning.

Mark your calendars— ARRL Field Day 2027 will be June 26 and 27, 2027. When should you start preparing? Now! Repair whatever doesn’t work. Hone your operating skills. Build a 6-meter bandpass filter and build some 20-meter coax stub notch filters.

Thanks go to all who participate and especially Field Day Marshal Ron Reeves, NN5R, for stepping up this year. And to the First Baptist Church of Farmers Branch for allowing us the use of their building.

Members Elect New/Old Board of Directors

At the June 11 business meeting MARS Members elected the new Board of Directors for FY 2026-27. All candidates were unopposed so they were confirmed by acclamation. They are:

President: Andy Smolenski, KI5YLX;
  Vice-President: George Williams, KG5GXU;
  Secretary: Liz Brown, K5EMB;
  Treasurer: Mike Brown, W5MDB;
  Director: Kevin Grantham, N5KRG.
Directors Darrell Crimmins, KG5E, and Dave Lane, N5GDL, will continue to serve their unexpired terms. David Gilpin, K5GIL, continues as Immediate Past President. Thanks go to our Nominations Committee, Ron Reeves, NN5R, Gregory Maddra, KG5CKX, and J.J. Henry, N5IMS, for their hard work.

Senator Recognizes Amateur Radio Operators

Texas Senator Ted Cruz posted a video thanking Amateur Radio operators in Texas for their volunteer efforts in times of emergency. Please go to

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h7Efh4n8BDJwZqUl75DxpU1VABWNQFlU/view to view or download the clip.

Hams Converge on DFW Ham Expo

This year’s DFW Ham Expo was bigger than ever! Over 1000 hams and fans gathered at the NTX Arena in Lewisville seeking the best bargains in new and used equipment. MARS had four tables filled with interesting gear that attracted lots of visitors.

On hand to help were Andy Smolenski, KI5YLX, George Williams, KG5GXU, Gregory Maddra, KG5CKX, James Shugart, N5BKL, David Gilpin, K5GIL, Collin Swain, KG5ELO, Darrell Crimmins, KG5E, Ellen Markey, KG5IKG, Rana Hossain, KF5IVL, Don Kuhn, W5DKV, Bill Clements, K5PEC, Jerry Mabray, N5ZW, Mike Hennefer, KD5ZCF Ken Wendel, W5RPS, and Mike Brown, W5MDB. Special thanks go to Liz Brown, K5EMB, who organized our participation.

On a special note, Andrew Koenig, KE5GDB, with the Richardson Area Balloonatics and the Richardson Wireless Klub launched a high altitude balloon on Saturday. On-board transmitters sent live images as well as meteorological data. Check out the video here: https://youtu.be/MIFtaXPbP9s.