Field Day Antennas and Kits: Part 4

Setup at a site can be easy or a nightmare. I'm sure even a simple wire
dipole has had it's day in the sun beating the amateurs 14 to 0.

Scope out your site first and note structures, cover, water, toilets, 
etc. Take a friend and make extensive notes.  Draw a layout of the site
and if possible, measure the distances where you plan to put your 
antennas and equipment. 

Here's an example:  This site is at a park by a river.

                             1X tree
              1[pavillion]
                                            1T picnic table

 [toilets]             2X tree                 3X tree
              4X tree
                              2[pavillion]
 5X tree                                       6X tree     
                     2T picnic table                        <- North
 ==========================================================
 ========================================================== river
Location state: New York

Looking at this site it can be seen that most of the contacts are
going to be west and south although some contacts will be east and
north. Your geographic location plays a big factor in you antenna
placement.  This same site in Central Florida will have a different
lay-out. And the same site in Washington State will be different 
again. 

Look at the setup and make some notes on how you would setup the
following antennas and equipment:

    10m two element yagi
    15m two element yagi
    20m aluminum dipole
    40m Inverted Vee
    80m Wire dipole
    SAT setup
    PACKET setup
    Generators (2)
    Food area
    Public greeting area

You have three push-up masts and each coax is 70 feet for HF and 30 feet
for VHF/SAT. The distance between the pavillions is 75 feet.

Here's another site:


              1X tree


                                  [building]      W water tower


                               L street light
          2X tree                             [building]




                                       3X tree

  North --->

Location: Kansas

Use the same antennas as above except 40m is a wire dipole. 2X and 3X 
are 120 feet apart.


-WS