Winter Field Day 2025 – by Peter VE7PAE
Winter Field Day 2025, held on January 25th and 26th, was an exceptional experience in winter contest conditions. I was offered to go with a team (VE7KPZ, VE7QH, VE7RIZ) to Larch Hills, but unfortunately, I wasn't able to join. Instead, I decided to go somewhere closer to home, in the South Canoe area near Salmon Arm, British Columbia. I had been thinking about this contest all year, and the day had finally arrived.
I worked this event one day, January 25th. Outside, the temperature was -4°C, with mostly overcast weather. I decided to compete in the mobile class using my electric car, a Nissan Leaf. I spent six hours in the field, fully dedicated to the contest, just like in the old days when I started with amateur radio as a high school student.
For this occasion, I used mobile radio equipment Yaesu FT818, a SOTABEAMS fiberglass pole 6 meters high, installed on a satellite antenna roof tripod, and a SOTABEAMS Band Hopper III - a three-band (20m, 30m, 40m) portable dipole antenna system. I also installed a mobile antenna for the 70cm and 2m bands. As a power source, I used a Jackery 250 battery, which proved to be a reliable partner in this adventure.
I worked CW, SSB, and digital Winlink-VARA HF to send and receive emails. In total, I made 22 QSOs (9 contacts on CW and 13 contacts on SSB), all on the 20m band. I am particularly pleased that, with low-power equipment, I managed to successfully send and receive emails multiple times over HF waves using Winlink and VARA HF. Although I didn't have many QSOs, I am satisfied with participating in this significant and important event.
Winter Field Day is a unique experience that should involve as many amateur radio operators as possible because it is an exercise in how to set up equipment and establish connections, especially in winter conditions, in case of an emergency.
73,
Peter
VE7PAE
20 November, 1922 – 21 January, 2025
We are saddened to announce the peaceful passing of our father affectionately known as “Watty” by family and friends. He was 102 when he passed away. Dad was born in Harriston, Ontario and left home at 17 to join the war effort in Europe. He made a career of being a soldier, achieving the rank of warrant officer, with the 3rd Royal Canadian Horse Artillery. His last posting was to Vernon, BC in 1961 and he worked tirelessly with the Army Cadet program throughout BC, spending his summers at the Vernon Cadet camp in various roles. Upon leaving the military, he signed up with the BC LCB as a sales and customer service representative until his retirement. During his retirement he pursued his true passions; camping, fishing, fly tying, hunting and ham radio. Dad was predeceased by our mother Connie and second wife Winnie. He was survived by sons Michael, Leonard, grandchildren and great grandchildren. There will be a placement of his ashes ceremony in the family niche at Pleasant Valley Funeral Home to be announced at a later date.
https://www.dignitymemorial.com/en-ca/obituaries/vernon-bc/nelson-whatmore-12209925
January 8, 2025 - Vernon, BC
On a chilly January day, a number of keen hams huddled together at the Kin Beach shelter in Vernon to work the 2025 Winter Field Day event. With tarps covering up the open spaces in the shelter and a couple of propane heaters, we managed to keep the chill off, sort of. Thanks to Paul and Michal who brought heaters. Although the bands were not on fire, we managed 224 phone contacts using the 10, 15 and 20m bands.
Lunch consisted of BBQed burgers and Tina's (Howard's wife) homemade chili.
Equipment consisted of two Yaesu FT-891s and a Kenwood TS-440SAT. The antenna used was Wilf's Cushcraft R5 - 5 band vertical. To operate three radios with one antenna, we utilized our club's VA6AM triplexer and three band pass filters, which worked very well. Three computers were used linked together with N3FJP logging software.
A big thanks for those who ventured out to show their support!
Results:
123 Wilf VE7OHM & Alex VE7NOC
26 Howard VA7PWF
26 Felix VA7VOL (1st time contesting)
18 Alex VE7NOC (solo)
16 Warren VA7WPX (1st time in a long time)
15 Colin VA7EEH
TOTAL: 224 Total Phone Contacts
A big thank you from the club to the event organizers Howard VA7PWF, Colin VA7EEH and Wilf VE7OHM.
Photos courtesy of David Skelhon VA7SZ/VA7SKN.
Ps: right-click on each image and choose "open image in new tab/window" to see a higher resolution image.