LEWIS AND CLARK BICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATION
Fort Atkinson, Nebraska 30 July - 3 August 2004
Lincoln Amateur Radio Special Event Station

The Lincoln Amateur Radio Club's first 1 X 1 special event station operated from the grounds of Fort Atkinson State Historical Park in Washington County, Nebraska.

Fort Atkinson was the first U.S. military post west of the Missouri River and was erected near the campsite where Lewis and Clark held council with the Otoe and Missouria tribes on August 3, 1804. That meeting gave the locale its name of "Council Bluff". After their return to St. Louis, Clark recommended that a U.S. military fort be built on the site.

Historical reinactors retracing the original path of Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery expedition encamped at Boyer Chute on the Missouri River added a convincing air of reality to the activities, as did the many representatives of Native American tribes whose original homelands included southeast Nebraska. While intent upon staying "in character", we occasionally succeeded in picquing their interest in amateur radio...a tool that would have come in as handy 200 years ago as it would have on their their current expedition reinactment. It would be difficult, however, to explain to onlookers the antennas on the keel boats!

WØL operated from one of Lincoln/Lancaster County Emergency Management's command/communications vehicles adjacent to the grounds of Fort Atkinson. Operation took place between July 30th and August 3rd, 2004.

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FIELD DAY 2004!

Field Day 2004 was a real party! Thanks to Carla, KCØDFR, everyone had a great time and the event was a great success on several fronts including increasing public awareness of Amateur Radio's contributions to public safety. Several local hams had their first exposure to setting up stations and operating HF, and several visiting non-hams are now motivated to pursue their licenses! For the story in words and pictures, visit LARC's Field Day Photo Page!

2004 ARRL JUNE VHF QSO PARTY

Between severe weather spotting duties and tornado cleanup, several local hams took part in the ARRL VHF QSO Party held the weekend of June 12-13. Reports indicated generally poor conditions, but it sounds as though it was still a fun event...just what the doctor ordered for weary public service volunteers!

Ed, KØRPT, sent in this report:

Though the bands were virtually dead, fun was still had working the June VHF contest. 71 total contacts for a point value of 3402 was what we ended with on Sunday at 03:00 utc. During the contest a couple of needed breaks were added as the storms came through and the 147.045 repeater back up batteries died and needed replacing. The loss of power in the shack only added to the confusion as the generator would not fire. It helps to maintain them regularly! Heard from locally were KAØABA, KGØLD, K9WAG, KØGND, WTØA, KC7KDZ and the new guy in town K5XY. Thanks to all the locals who got on to give us some additional points. Equipment used in the contest as seen in the pictures was an Icom 756 on six meters and a Yaesu FT 847 on 2 meters and 70 centimeters. The antennas are a 10 element dual polarity Cushcraft 2 meter and a 20 element home brew UHF built by Roger Cox WBØDGF, the 4 element 6 meter designed by N6CA and built by yours truly. I hope propagation gods treat us a bit better next year! 73 Ed KØRPT

NEBRASKA QSO PARTY

25 April 2004 --The 2004 Nebraska QSO Party is now history! Several Lancaster County stations were heard on the air, and Nebraska participation seemed well above prior years' levels. Congratulations to everyone who got on the air and had fun.

Members of LARC, just because the event is over, don't rest yet! Remember to submit your entries to the contest host committee, and please indicate Lincoln ARC in the club affiliation field of your summary sheet. The current all-time club record is held by the Ak-Sar-Ben Amateur Radio Club in Omaha (51k points). Early indications are that LARC member stations may have doubled that score! So check the HDXA Nebraska QSO Party web site and get your entries in! If you need help with your entry, or have any questions, please contact me. Also, please send me your scores...we will then have a good idea of how the club did, and we will post the score on this web page.

By the way, the current all-time Lancaster County record score (set in 1996 by KBØJSU) is 37k points.

Way to go, everyone!

(Also see the Local Events page for additional info.)