ARRL Field Day: Is it a Contest or Not? The Contest Crew Opines

nothing to see here except the loss of using 20 m for a 27 hour peroid

 

Correct , I probably made a fool of Myself trying cw at 7wpm, but then, How do you get experience otherwise? I had a great time and with help , made 6 contacts.

 

That's true of any contest, really. I often go on-air during a contest to give others a few points, but never submit an entry myself.

Martin G8FXC

 

You did not make a fool of yourself. You know who does do that? Operators who insist on replying at 25-30 w.p.m. to someone sending at 15 w.p.m.

 

It's a pity the rest of the world can't enter the contest given the global impact of FD on HF.

 

Who says they can't? They do.

 

But I get points and listed in the standings...... lol

 

I can do this with any contest.

 

The facts that its original purpose was a contest, the fact that it is a contest by definition aside, My club uses it as an opportunity to get now and future hams involved. We also use it as a social event, we also use it to teach each other things. We also use it to show off our setups. I like to try to get as many points as posable. My point is Just call it what it is. A contest, and use it how you like.

 

"Yes, Virginia, of course Field Day is a contest!"

You collect points, you submit logs, you place well and your call gets published in QST.

 

Maybe it should be made into a multiplier along with poison ivy rash.

 

"Field Day is open to all amateurs in the areas covered by the ARRL/RAC Field Organizations and countries within IARU Region 2. DX stations residing in other regions may be contacted for credit, but are not eligible to submit entries."

 

To me, Field Day is like the biggest of all contests! There's no way one person can work all the hours of it. I just set a goal for how many contacts I wanted to obtain. They were all there for the gettin'. I used CW exclusively, and this brings all the practice and preparation to the forefront. I do enjoy contesting, although in the past few years, I was intimidated by the faster pace of CW operators on FD. Not so much now, but still... this is Amateur Radio! There's something for every licensed operator to enjoy as we gather in person or on-the-air for some Com-a-Raderie. Hopefully, more people were introduced to Ham Radio to perpetuate the future for this hobby.

See y'all agn down the log.
73 Bob AI7FF ..

 

I look at Field Day as an emergency preparedness excersise. In various other industries, they hold disaster drills. Isn't this the point of field day--learn and practice how to be prepared?

 

Anyone work the WARC bands this FD ?