Field day 2012 epilogue

[N8CPA]

As I mentioned in my previous post and as KK7EL mentioned just above, If you want to run class E, you have to use something other than commercial power to charge your batteries. So in your case 1E isn't going to cut it. Also, even if you had charged by batteries, the multiplier you may get by running QRP in a certain class would only be applicable if you charged your batteries from something other than AC mains / generator. They get ya comin and goin

This is yet another reason [albeit lesser] that I ran 1D. I thought my battery was charged via the solar panel, but I remembered that the last time I charged it I had used a power supply. Doesn't matter, I ran 1D because it was easier and because I was unsure of the rules supported my "home portable" operation in any other way than class D.

Mike

So I'm back to a checklog. But I still had my fun.

[AB1OD]

There are not many CW ops using straight keys on FD. Bugs are even rarer (though I use one). Many if not most CW FD setups are computerized these days.

In fact, what I see and hear on FD is that the most-experienced ops are running CW, not 'phone. Often they're the overnight crew, too.

It might be an interesting project to mine the FD submissions to see what's "normal" for FD.

I have no doubt that many of the "serious" FD stations were set up as regular, perhaps portable, contest stations. However, it might be interesting to find out how many FD participants/entrants were more casual, "non-contest-y" operations.

My club's FD was definitely not a contest shop. We had three regular HF operating positions, plus my station which was GOTA+demonstration+Digital. My station was the only one set up where the computer could key the rig. Most of our CW contacts were made by a paddle-wizard, and we had someone who loves to pound brass contribute to the log.

We even coaxed a relatively new ham who is learning CW into sitting down with a key and making a couple of QRS/QLF Q's. I think she might be getting bit by the contesting bug, based on the amount of fun she had operating during FD.

Yes, I saw a lot of behavior that would drive me nuts during a regular contest (and I'm a relatively new guy, who makes enough mistakes that I shouldn't complain too much...). I tried to shrug it off (I'm told that I did say "come on, come on" a few times when running RTTY), and chalked it up to a lot of folks not used to doing contest-style logging or contest-style exchanges, working away from their home stations, etc.

I'm also responsible for a little bit of that sloppy behavior, by virtue of having run a GOTA station. I had plenty of non-hams who understood what was happening enough to make the FD exchanges armed with just a quick lesson on how to use a mic and a script; but I also had several kids for whom I had to clue the other station in on what was about to happen (e.g. "AB1OD GOTA" or "this is AB1OD with a young GOTA operator next to me") -- fortunately the station being worked was understanding, tolerant of a slow exchange, and he/she frequently would add in a few words of encouragement.

But isn't all that part of the real, if unofficial, purpose of Field Day? It's a far better time to engage in such activities and experimentation than, say, Sweepstakes.

[KA3JLW]

I'm also responsible for a little bit of that sloppy behavior, by virtue of having run a GOTA station. I had plenty of non-hams who understood what was happening enough to make the FD exchanges armed with just a quick lesson on how to use a mic and a script; but I also had several kids for whom I had to clue the other station in on what was about to happen (e.g. "AB1OD GOTA" or "this is AB1OD with a young GOTA operator next to me") -- fortunately the station being worked was understanding, tolerant of a slow exchange, and he/she frequently would add in a few words of encouragement.

But isn't all that part of the real, if unofficial, purpose of Field Day? It's a far better time to engage in such activities and experimentation than, say, Sweepstakes.

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I agree. I believe FD does a really good job of both providing a venue for competition while also being inviting for new/inactive/prospective hams AND having a public service element. It is the rare "bridge" between these different interests while not requiring great sacrifice from any side.

The funny thing is that it doesn't always put forth a 'pretty' picture of ham radio... but it does really present the whole picture - long distance contacts, competition, public service, experimentation. If a martian landed tomorrow and said "show me ham radio" - taking them to a FD operation is maybe the best single showing of ham radio we have.

Wasn't there a push at some point to do a FD-like activity 6 months later in the calendar?

[N0UYR]

What happened to the sun? SFI of 84, where was the 130+ we were just having the other week when you really want it.

Seriously though, great time as W0DOG in IA, did most of mine on 40m with a couple excursions.

Yes; I did repeat back some thing, mostly when unsure due to other ops next to me keying up and wiping out a letter or two or general QRM. Got corrected a few times and corrected a few who repeated back to me.

Used the "warming house" at the local county park sledding hill slash ski slope (yes its Iowa, not that much of a ski run) Need to bring mosquito nets next year.

The flag pole is the best tower ever (already up, just clip the di-pole to the rope and pull.
I wonder if I could turn it into a 40m J-pole next year???

[WA3UCR]

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Wasn't there a push at some point to do a FD-like activity 6 months later in the calendar?

I don't know about 6 months later....but, I'd be in favor of maybe sometime around October. FD is always pretty hot and humid in Eastern NC, and for me this year the QRN on 80 meters kept me off that band.

[N8CPA]

I don't know about 6 months later....but, I'd be in favor of maybe sometime around October. FD is always pretty hot and humid in Eastern NC, and for me this year the QRN on 80 meters kept me off that band.

http://spar-hams.org/contests/winterfd/index.php

[N3AWS]

I wonder...

Of those complaining about people being 'too slow' or 'not doing it right'........

How many of you who are complain were efficient operators your first time up?

Look around you, how many of your ham buddies from 10,20,30 years ago or more are now SK?

Now think of an 'event' where you would want 'greenhorns' to get operating experience?

Would you want them unleashed on Sweepstakes?

Or would you rather have them unleashed on Field Day?

I think some of you would rather not have them on the air at all, and have them go fishing or something.

AGREE 100%!

Thanks for expressing it so well!

73, Jim N3AWS

[AA7EJ]

AGREE 100%!

Thanks for expressing it so well!

73, Jim N3AWS

Disagree 75% because all of KD3NE "reasoning" is a rather typical cop-out for two reasons - the greenhorns are either unwilling to learn ( to get rid of HT repeater “QSL” habit - for example) or the OF's are unwilling to teach. Than the quality of prospective "emergency operators"(!) who are learning during FD is not encouraging.
How many “learn ham radio in 10 hours “ classes cover “ how do handle official traffic “?
Or “how to work DX?”

[KE4KY]

Yes...Field Day on the 1st weekend in October would be much better as it pertains to the weather.

[W1KU]

CPA, FYI below is a clip from FD rules. Looks to me like you need to use something other than the "mains" to recharge batts on an "E" station: use genny, solar, wind, etc., anything but AC mains.

6.9. Batteries may be charged while in use. Except for Class D stations, the batteries must be charged froma power source other than commercial power mains. To claim the power multiplier of five, the batteries must be

charged from something other than a motor driven generator or commercial mains.

As I mentioned in my previous post and as KK7EL mentioned just above, If you want to run class E, you have to use something other than commercial power to charge your batteries.

This seems confusing to me. Is a home station running off of a deep cycle battery that was originally charged from the mains but is not being charged during the operation allowed to run 1E? Or is the rule really trying to say that the origin of the energy being used by the station cannot be commercial mains? If so, it should say that more clearly, preferably by giving a definition of "emergency power."

The way I read it, rule section 6.9 requiring charging from something other than the mains applies only if you are trying to recharge the batteries while using them and doesn't apply at all to batteries that aren't being charged while in use. A battery charged prior to FD from the mains would seem to be OK for 1E under that reading (and also for class A and B). It seems to makes sense, as using a pre-charged battery is a realistic simulation of operating after a power failure.

Is there an official clarification of this issue somewhere?