The upcoming BARRA Tech Net will take a deep dive into Winter Field Day, focusing on real-world setups, lessons learned, and how our stations performed under cold, winter conditions. Winter Field Day is all about emergency preparedness, operating outdoors or in limited environments, and testing both equipment and operators when conditions are less than ideal.
During this event, we set up a compact yet capable station designed for reliability and efficiency. The primary rig was powered by a combination of battery backup and portable power sources to simulate an off-grid scenario. Antennas were chosen for quick deployment and versatility, balancing performance with the realities of winter weather, ice, and limited daylight. Setup time, cable management, and weatherproofing all played a critical role in keeping the station operational.
Operating conditions provided excellent learning opportunities. Cold temperatures tested battery endurance, while changing band conditions challenged operating strategies and antenna choices. Despite these obstacles, contacts were successfully made across multiple bands, proving that thoughtful planning and solid fundamentals pay off.
Join us for the Tech Net as we review what worked, what didn’t, and how you can improve your own Winter Field Day setup for next year.