True to the annual tradition we participated in the NRRL field day the first weekend in september. Similarly to the IARU region 1 field day, participants are required to set up a dedicated radio station for the contest and are not allowed to use the power grid. This year we went back to Samatun utleiehytte, where we have been for field day the previous two years.

The cabin with ARKers in front.
From left: Emil, LB0ZI, LB1BH, LB1HH, LB3SG, LA8ITA and Aleksander.
Photo: LB5DH

The QTH is suitable for radio contests due to its location 450m above sea level and relatively flat surroundings. Located in JP53HC, it is just a 1,5 hours drive from Trondheim.

From the erection of the spiderbeam mast.
From left: LB1DJ, LB0ZI, Emil, Runar, LB5DH and Aleksander.
Photo: LB7JG

For 20m, 15m and 10m we used our Spiderbeam mulitiband yagi, which worked great. The 40m bananaphone shortened dipole we have used earlier lacked a few essential parts and was therefore not used this year. Instead we used a 40m wire dipole, along with the usual wire dipoles for 60m and 80m.

From the erection of “Røde Kors masten”, an old army mast inherithed from the Red Cross.
From left: Ingeborg, LB0ZI, Ine, LB3SG and LA8ITA(With yellow helmet).
Photo: SP5PU

We planned to put our home made “Bananaphone” 40m dipole in the mast popularly referred to as “Røde Kors masten”. However, since the antenna was incomplete, we only had wire dipoles in it.

The conditions were good. An opening on 15m and 10m on Sunday gave us quite a few extra QSOs.

 Band   Mode  QSOs     Pts  DXC  Pt/Q
   3.5  LSB    112     274   17   2.4
     5  FT8     56      67   31   1.2
     5  LSB      1       1    1   1.0
     7  LSB    335     660   30   2.0
    14  RTTY     5       9    2   1.8
    14  USB    425     812   37   1.9
    21  USB     84     180   11   2.1
    28  FT8     77      83   17   1.1
    28  USB      4       4    3   1.0
 Total  Both  1099    2090  149   1.9
Score: 311,410

The total score ended on 311 410, which is more than last year. The FT8 QSOs are new this year which, we may continue with next year.

The equipment area with the “Røde Kors masten” mast and the cabin in the background.
From left: Ingeborg, LV0VG, LA8ITA, Ine, LB3SG, LB1AJ, LB1DJ, Emil, LB0ZI, LB1BH, Aleksander and LB1HH.
Photo: LB7JG

We have earlier made QSOs over LEO (Low Earth Orbit) FM satellites during previous Field Days, but this year we also tried to get QRV with the geostationary satellite qo-100. We have earlier been QRV with qo-100 from our permanent station, but now we needed a portable setup. Our setup is LA2QUAs Adam Pluto, which is used for both TX and RX.

The yet-to-be-completed satellite shack with the laptop, the Adam pluto and a power supply for the PAs.
From left: LA2QUA and LB0VG (facing the camera).
Photo: LB7JG

We reused the amplifiers from the previous setup, including a student project from an NTNU course and a commercially available DB6NT amplifier. The Adam Pluto has a lower output power than the USRP used in the previous setup, but with LA2QUA’s CN0417 amplifier we were able to get 10 W output by chaining all of them. As antennas we acquired a used 90cm dish and borrowed a 2.4 GHz grid parabolic antenna, both from LA1BFA.

The satellite shack with the connected antennas.
From left: LB6GH, LB1BH and LB1HH.
Photo: LB5DH

The receiver chain worked well, but we did not manage to make the transmitting chain QRV. The software took a long time to set up, and we had some technical issues with the final amplifier stage. Because of this we did not get any QSOs over qo-100 this year, but we will continue and we have hopes for next field day.

The lavo and the hammock beside the cabin.
From left: Alpha and India.
Photo: LB7JG

Due to limited space indoors in the cabin and personal preferences did some of the participants sleep in tents. Some brought sports tents, there were one lavo and one hammock.

From left: Kira(back), India, and Alpha.
Photo: SP5PU

There were also 3 dogs joining us this year. Alpha is a veteran of several Field Days.

Intense operation on the 40m band(front) and 10m band (back). In the bottom left corner you can see the Ameritron AL-82 PA and on the table is the ICOM IC-9100 radio.
Front to back: LB0ZI, Ine, LB7FI and Kim
One of the shacks with the 20m and the 15m/80m shack.
From left: LB5DH and LB0VG.
Photo: LB7JG

Thanks to the board for making this possible!