2014 Field Day Planning

[DaveK]

ARRL Field Day Overview

ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. Each year over 35,000 amateurs gather with their clubs, friends or simply by themselves to operate.

ARRL Field Day is not a fully adjudicated contest, which explains much of its popularity. It is a time where many aspects of Amateur Radio come together to highlight our many roles. While some will treat it as a contest, most groups use the opportunity to practice their emergency response capabilities. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to local elected community leaders, key individuals with the organizations that Amateur Radio might serve in an emergency, as well as the general public. For many clubs, ARRL Field Day is one of the highlights of their annual calendar.

Objective:
To work as many stations as possible on any and all amateur bands (excluding the 60, 30, 17, and 12-meter bands) and to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. 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.


Planning:
For an effective Field Day event, we will need to secure several radio operators and a number of equipment items. This first post will be updated as volunteers step up, both for radio purposes and equipment as well. We will operate this year on the following bands: 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 and will need band captains for each. Equipment needs will include generators, tables, co-ax, chairs, pop-ups, extension cords, band pass filters and more.

Here is a start:

Band Captains (We will need 5 volunteers for 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10. Assignments to be made later):
Larry

Generators
Larry - 2000w

Band pass filters
Larry - 15, 20, 40
DaveK - 80 & 10

Extension cords
Larry - 2 x 50 ft

Power strips
Larry - 2 x 6 outlet each
DaveK - 1 x 6 outlet

Pop-up canopies / shade tarps

Chairs
Larry - 2
DaveK - 2

Tables
Larry - 6 foot

Co-ax cables and connectors
Larry - Several 50-75' coax cables, a few short connecting cables, and a selection of female-female cable connectors

Wire antennas
Larry - 15m, 20m, 40m (and RigExpert AA230 Antenna tuner)

Lights - for night time use (either lanterns or AC)
DaveK - 1 AC and 1 Coleman
Larry - 1 ARB 12V Camping light, 1 Coleman

Portable heaters - for night time use
Larry - (2) Propane heaters

Radios and power supply
Larry - Yaesu FT-450AT, Icom 7600 (possible), 2 power supplies

Headphones
Dave
Larry

2M/440 radios for monitoring repeaters
Larry - in vehicle 2M, 440, HF, multiple handitalkies
DaveK - in vehicle with cross band - 2M and 440

Computers for logging contacts
Larry
DaveK

Antenna masts
DaveK
Larry

General equipment - contact logging items, cheat sheets, script, pencils, paper


Let us know how you would like to participate.

[Crismateski]

I cant make it this year, but I work a couple miles from Larry, if you guys need any power cords, power strips, rope for guy lines let me know

[cruiserlarry]

I cant make it this year, but I work a couple miles from Larry, if you guys need any power cords, power strips, rope for guy lines let me know

Sorry you can't be there - we'll miss you

Guy line rope and extension cords are always handy - I'll let you know as we get closer to the event....thanks

[hmfigueroa]

Put me in for icom ic-7200 logging computers coax antenna mast guy ropes antenna I will give details soon.