Do any of you participate in field day?

[KC9GUZ]

I never have but i know some that have gone to field day.
Most say its pretty fun but i know a few Techs that went and were pretty much snubbed by the higher class hams.

[KD6NIG]

I went for the first time this last year, (been licenced 13 years) and found it to be very enjoyable. The club I am in tends to treat everyone equally and (gently) pushes people to upgrade, but will leave you alone if you don't want to. They are also quite willing to help, and amazingly enough, quite willing to listen to you if you have an opinion, be it you have been licenced one minute or 100 years.

I had an enjoyable time, and the operating at field day is what has spurned me to upgrade. I'm halfway there, I passed general written already, now I'm concentrating on code fully.

[WB2WIK]

Went where?

If you've been invited to participate in a club FD function, it's your personal time to contribute by not just showing up -- everyone who's invited is normally expected to bring not only their bodies but also food and drink, tools, any available equipment that will help, antennas, coax, switches, tables and chairs, tents...whatever can contribute to the operation.

When one is invited to participate in a FD exercise, his first question should be, "Great! I'll be there. What should I bring, and what do you need?"

If that question wasn't asked or answered, I'm not surprised someone would be "snubbed," as they have no real purpose in being there. FD isn't a time to "show up," it's a time to work, and with that work comes a lot of comaradarie and fun.

But it should be the job of the Field Day Operations Manager or Field Day Chairman, or whoever's running the operation, to make sure that everyone invited knows exactly what his or her function is supposed to be, and then help them accomplish that. If nobody's running the show, chaos prevails.

WB2WIK/6

[AC0H]

Every year, and I've never seen or heard of anybody being "snubbed". We're always looking for warm bodies.

With that said a competative field day endevour is no place for an HF newby to learn basic HF operating. It takes time to learn the ropes. I'd suggest offering to do some logging the first year while listening to how and why things are done.

[kl7aj]

Yes...this year was one of the biggest interior Alaska field days in decades. Lotsa fun. Not many contacts, but lotsa fun. :P
eric

[N8CPA]

I've known hams of all classes who just show up at a site and expect to park at a position, eat the barbecue and work DX with abandon--after clubs or similar groups have spent months planning and provisioning a large site. Such late-comers are disappointed to wait in a long line of planners and setters-up to get on the air. A hearty, warm welcome is best assured by participating in planning and setup of a Class A site. Only the general public is invited to spectate only. If you aren't there for the planning and setup, expect to be treated like a member of the general public, and be invited to spectate only.

To preclude that happening, look for groups who are planning a site, and offer your time to the planning, your money to the coffers, and your sweat to the setup. Start looking for such groups around late March to early May. Believe me, you won't be snubbed.

[kl7aj]

Quote[/b] (N8CPA @ Aug. 30 2005,11:14)]I've known hams of all classes who just show up at a site and expect to park at a position, eat the barbecue and work DX with abandon--after clubs or similar groups have spent months planning and provisioning a large site. #Such late-comers are disappointed to wait in a long line of planners and setters-up to get on the air. #A hearty, warm welcome is best assured by participating in planning and setup of a Class A site. #Only the general public is invited to spectate only. #If you aren't there for the planning and setup, expect to be treated like a member of the general public, and be invited to spectate only.

To preclude that happening, look for groups who are planning a site, and offer your time to the planning, your money to the coffers, and your sweat to the setup. #Start looking for such groups around late March to early May. #Believe me, you won't be snubbed.
It's also the best time to learn some real antenna theory. Usually all kinds of test equipment and toys are available during the setup period. (What's an impedance bridge?)

eric

[M1PFS]

I would like to but I haven't found one that's in my local area on a day when I'm not busy or on holiday http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[WA2ZDY]

I have participated in Field Day for most of the 31 since I became a ham. A few years in there I stayed away, but it always drew me back.

For the past few years, the fellas at my club have known I couldn't help with setup or teardown. This past year my health finally kept me from more than a short visit. Next year I'll be back in the saddle.

I think the main reason I'm so welcome, aside from being such a nice guy, is I am willing to stay up all night and work CW on the night shift. I happen to enjoy that, being both a night person and a CW op. But everyone has a talent that can be helpful to the effort. As stated above, loggers are always needed. And of course folks who can help put things up and take them down.

As for being snubbed, I can't imagine that at most FD sites. I'm sure though there are those where the fellas just want their private weekend away from the wives. If that's the case, you don't go back there next year. Best thing is to just join a good club, be known to them, and be willing to do what needs to be done. In the end, you will learn from it and have more fun than you will know what to do with.

Good luck.

[KC9GUZ]

KD6NIG you are in the same boat i am now. I took my written General a few weeks ago and now im halfway into getting my 5 WPM code. So far its been pretty fun to learn the code. I actually like it. -GASP!- A NCT that might like code! LOL! But seriously, the few events ive been to ive been treated like the rest of the guys. In fact, when we had ARMAD this past spring i did get to help a bit. Just going to ARMAD was what got the ball rolling on me getting motivated to get my General. The guys let me listen to 40 meters and I was hooked!! http://www.qrz.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif