What FD Rule(s) would You Change?

[SEEPAY]

You are not right. I can defend the position. Write to me in PM, we will talk.

[N2EY]

For the most part I like the rules as they are but I agree with a couple of others that the station power should determine the value of that station's contacts, not the highest power run by that group.

That was my idea originally - except it's not new. It used to be that way back in the 1970s. And there were 4 power categories!

I made a few QRP contacts Saturday night but since everybody else was running 100w my contacts only count as 2 points (all CW).

Actually they count as 4 points:

2 points per QSO times 2 points for 150 watts or less power equals 4 points per QSO.

If they allowed each transmitter its own power multiplier, and you ran 5 watts and non-generator-or-mains power, each CW qso would be worth 10 points rather than 4.

If my station is QRP, I could get the QRP points even though the other CW stations get 2 points. There's no incentive (bonus?) to run any QRP stations unless ALL the stations are QRP.

Yep. It's a disincentive to diversification. Same for high power.

I could run under a different callsign but that would penalize the club's aggregate score.

Yep. And there are probably rules about shared resources like power.

Funny, 2 other guys and I used to set up our own QRP FD and we always beat the rest of the club combined. Those QRP contacts are worth a LOT.

As they should be!

73 de Jim, N2EY

[WD5ABC]

Yes they should! That's how we always had a good score, CW, QRP and battery charged by a solar panel. I always thought the same rules should apply even if we did the same kind of operation as part of the club instead of having to break off and have our own FD. You're right about the # of points per contact, I just meant before the multipliers.

Maybe the time to bring this up to the ARRL is now, wonder if they'd be interested in a rule change like this? It's not a big deal but since QRP has gained in popularity it would be a way to encourage QRP ops as part of an overall club FD instead of splitting off for a separate QRP operation.

73,
Kerry, WD5ABC

[KB2FCV]

As the VHF contest station, I would eliminate the bonus points for NTS message handling. Perhaps retain the bonus points for the section manager message, but at least get rid of the others. Here in Dallas at least, the usual way -- or the only way everyone here knows -- to get messages into the system is through a local net on a 2m repeater. Every year I gripe about having to come up with, fix, and transmit 11 messages, and every year the local NTS people gripe about all these club stations on FD who have 11 messages to put in and it takes forever and ties up whichever club's repeater they're using for a good couple of hours.

I'm not an NTS ham, though I'm familiar enough with it to not make a complete fool of myself; I'm the 6/2 contest station and, last year but not this year, I had to give up an hour or two of good contest conditions to do NTS. Maybe what I need to do is find somebody local who can take them from me on PSK or CW and get them in the system.

We have a local packet node and I usually send em' out via packet since I'd rather not sit on a net for x amount of time tying up the net and repeater sending the same "Hello from Field Day" type message to 10 different people and the SM. With an 2m rig and a laptop I can send the messages electronically by hitting the packet node at the touch of a few buttons. If you're lucky enough to have a working packet node it's a far nicer way to go.

[WA7PRC]

...I'd love a bonus for running any station using a improvised non-commercially built antenna, put together on-site. Beer can verticals...

You can count on lots of offers to help in obtaining the necessary parts... even a four-square array for 160m! :: burp ::

[AA7EJ]

Here is what I would change in next FD.
I would take away points from SSB score of these kind of operations:
100 points from operators who consistently repeat the exchange received
100 points from station operators who do not use common phonetics
100 points from station operators who use phrases “ we are ...”, “please copy ours... “ etc.
100 points from station operators who work pileup and than ask for callsign.
100 points from station who think that since I replyed to their call they are coming in 20 over 9.
100 points from station operators who cannot follow instructions – when I ask for section I get the whole exchange again. Arrg!
100 points from station operators who pepper their contacts with “QSL” here and “QSL” there.

I did not keep accurate records, but my wild guess is 75% of FD stations would have their score lowered by few points!

And add 1000 points extra bonus to any class “F” operation!

And do some serious training on HF operation! QSL??

73 de N5BPS sub Cavalla 1A STX Galveston TX

[KE4KY]

Here is what I would change in next FD.
I would take away points from SSB score of these kind of operations:
100 points from operators who consistently repeat the exchange received
100 points from station operators who do not use common phonetics
100 points from station operators who use phrases “ we are ...”, “please copy ours... “ etc.
100 points from station operators who work pileup and than ask for callsign.
100 points from station who think that since I replyed to their call they are coming in 20 over 9.
100 points from station operators who cannot follow instructions – when I ask for section I get the whole exchange again. Arrg!
100 points from station operators who pepper their contacts with “QSL” here and “QSL” there.

I did not keep accurate records, but my wild guess is 75% of FD stations would have their score lowered by few points!

And add 1000 points extra bonus to any class “F” operation!

And do some serious training on HF operation! QSL??

73 de N5BPS sub Cavalla 1A STX Galveston TX

While you take your gas-x for your indigestion...I guess we could hope that Field Day is somewhat of a training ground for those participating. I simply enjoy getting the Q...if it is from a "novice" contester on the other end who is simply trying his best I enjoy it even more. I remember that I was there once.

Maybe guys like you, and contest clubs, should start with a 1000 point deficit just to "make it fair."

Of course...I mean no disrespect...just as you meant none to the folks who may have participated in their first Field Day.

[W7WST]

I'd require that stations claiming emergency power not be able to use commercial power for shack lighting or logging computers.

73,
Don W7WST

[KJ4VTH]

You guys worry way too much. After all Field Day is not a contest!

[KB9LXP]

Disqualified if you bring a Divorced Hams ex wife to the outing and expect no hard feelings!
Happened to our group one year.
Mike