Field Day 2015 has come and gone!  Our thanks to Saranac Community Schools for being our kind host for yet another year.

This year marked a first for the RRA, as we fielded 5 stations, functioning concurrently.  We made over 560 contacts, successfully working all bands from 160m to 6m !  The sound of gas generators was prevalent, as we opted for emergency power status, once more, but we had one “silent partner” for the first time this year.  Jay McClellan, K8DC, a new ham, brought in a solar powered QRP station (and headphones).  Way to go Jay !

The Greater Grand Rapids canteen, from The Salvation Army’s Emergency Disaster Services unit, again provided participants with hydration, meals and snacks throughout the weekend.

Photos were provided by our friend Ralph, N8YQJ, who never fails to join us in Field Day competition!

Did we mention the food??  Not only did we have The Salvation Army’s offerings…  Folks brought awesome dishes-to-pass and we ate like kings from Friday evening, through Sunday lunch.  If this is roughing it, sign me up for 2016 !!!!

301 Dx Contacts with a Total Contest Score: 130,935

These are the statistics that have been tallied in the 48 hour effort put forth by our RRA Club members. As of 9:45pm 3/8/15, our contest log was submitted to the ARRL and we are hopeful that our group has once again earned a certifificate of achievement…but we will, as usual, have to wait about a year for the results to be published and certificates mailed out.

The report submitted says nothing about the bowls of chili, mac & cheese, meatballs and plates of cherry/pineapple dumpcake, apple pie, etc. as well as nacho and taco dips consumed by the radio operators who manned the transceiver for the RRA ! Our thanks to all who brought goodies to AB8KP’s home, where we were hosted this year. AND thanks so much to Gene and Julie Getts who put up with us tracking in and out of their home as the weekend competition pressed on.

Manning the radio this year: Gene AB8KP, Tim AC8NI, Ryan KC8ZPI, Del W8WDW, Allen KD8WEG, John KD8WZH, Eddy KD8ECZ and our Prez Mike N8MRC. Thank you folks for showing up and making all those contacts!