OAUSA Net - 07-01-21 - Field Day Wrap up

[toms]

The net this week is a discussion of the great fun and successes of Field Day 2021.

We want everyone to post up pictures and comments about their experience at Field Day.
Everything from contacts, radios and antennas, public involvements, equipment, location and food- especially Chili.

[lrsrngr]

If you would like to help with this discussion please let me know, rngr86@juno.com, KK6CTT, Rick, and we'll get your information posted.

Thank you.

What are the pieces that contribute to a "successful" ARRL Field Day event?

Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.

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The quintessential factor of FD drives the rest of amateur radio, the people who participate and share the "sport" with others... But wait, absolutely, there is more to it: The food, the location (quite possibly the adventure getting to/from the location), the techniques used, the contacts made and did I mention...the food...the people?

Let's start out with the the pieces that make/made up FD:

All the particulars for the ARRL Field Day 2021 can be found here: http://www.arrl.org/field-day

• The Field Day Guide: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Pubs/Fie ... &_zl=lGNv1

• Field Day Rules: http://www.arrl.org/field-day-rules

• You can also watch their video called "Get ready for 2021 ARRL Field Day" | June 26-27: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohZW7aCJDps

Why is this significant? Because there are three major components to this "exercise."

Part I: This is an open house for amateur radio operators and it is an opportunity to showcase our craft to the public and potentially bring them into fold just like we were once non-hams.

Part II: This is a social event for many agencies and clubs that come together at least once a year to practice radio camaraderie as a group which includes planning, participation, funding, mentoring, choosing a location that supports the event and all that it entails. Just like Part III below, this is an exercise that may be as simple as a single station contributing to the event to many people operating on many radios taxing the limits of a group's planning and logistical capabilities.

Part III: And, it is an exercise that ARRL describes as an opportunity to be exposed to "contesting" in an environment that lends itself to continued exposure to amateur radio to include community radio, emergency communications with a healthy slice of competition mixed in; that is "Field Day."

[lrsrngr]

Part I: OUTREACH

Let's take a look at how we reach out to our community to make them aware of amateur radio what we do:

GOTA Station: Get on the Air

It is nice to put the GOTA station in a high traffic area with all the bells and whistles to attract attention. This example is the walkway from the parking lot going into the March Field Air Museum (MFAM). At this station they provided an example of the Winlink system straight to a non-ham's cell phone while being briefed...what a great example of capabilities.

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This is a view of the overall site as you passed the GOTA station. It is a little busy because there is a lot going on. Represented are two inverted-V antennas representing 6m and 10m (front-center-left). There is an Ed Fong style antenna for VHF/UHF (center-right white vertical) and two wire antennas. one a close to horizontal dipole, the other an off-center-fed dipole (both hard to pick out in this photo).

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4.1.1.2. The GOTA station may be operated by any person licensed since the previous year’s Field Day, regardless of license class. It may also be operated by a generally inactive licensee. Non-licensed persons may participate under the direct supervision of an appropriate control operator. A list of operators and participants must be included on the required summary sheet to ARRL HQ.

7.3.1. 100% Emergency Power: 100 points per transmitter classification if all contacts are made only using an emergency power source up to a total of 20 transmitters (maximum 2,000 points.) GOTA station and free VHF Station for Class A and F entries do not qualify for bonus point credit and should not be included in the club’s transmitter total. All transmitting equipment at the site must operate from a power source completely independent of the commercial power mains to qualify. (Example: a club operating 3 transmitters plus a GOTA station and using 100% emergency power receives 300 bonus points.) Available to Classes A, B, C, E, and F.

[lrsrngr]

Part II: SOCIAL

I think this tenet rings true in any volunteer or club setting, "If there is food they will come..." I did not take a lot of food-to-mouth shots but there was the traditional burgers and hot dogs with homemade potluck and ARRL chili for dinner; and, pancakes, eggs and bacon for breakfast that was a welcomed treat for everyone. There can and is a lot work involved and getting some of the calories replaced is perfect in this setting. W7DTH, Steve, MVARA President, gearing up for food prep and grilling.

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Now, the OAUSA FD experience of 2018 was also a very memorable one and I cannot in good conscience speak about FD without highlighting a few things from my experience log. The food at almost any OAUSA event is in the Honorable Mention category!

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The whole process of bringing a club together through planning, preparation, discussion, division of labor, assigning tasks, identifying and honing skills is invaluable to the people who participate and this is for many organizations the highlight function of the year. When you are done, "hot wash" what was good, what needs improvement and decide how next year might look because the planning for this event can and is a good part of the next year's planning and preparation cycle.

Here we have an example of a CW over iOS system and a birthday cake for KJ6FQP. If there is anything that screams "social event" birthday cake has to be on that list.

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Now there are other parts to this social event that need mentioning as well...although I am partial to the food. There are usually drawings that help defray some of the costs associated with a project like this and helps to put another level of excitement into the event. There was even a novel technique used to incentavize the whole process of visiting training stations with your "adventure card" in tow (we'll call on others to explain the Mountain Top Amateur Radio Association's techniques & stations).

[lrsrngr]

Part III: EXERCISE

• The Field Day Guide: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Pubs/Fie ... &_zl=lGNv1

These pages are out of the ARRL Field Day 2021 Guide. This is a great download that can be found in post 2, the initial part of the forum and can be used as a tool for next year's event and I recommend archiving documents to knock the cobwebs out next year.

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o Why an exercise not a contest?

Here, KG6GIA, Dave ran his HT with solar charge system and multi-band antenna. A minimalist setup but very effective especially when it is all you have.

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More from the FD 2021 Guide. FD is not over until the scores have been tallied. For most of us we will never get a chance to see everything that goes into this process but this score sheet helps to put it all together and get it ready to submit to ARRL to finalize the FD activities and submit for review how your organization stood up to other groups running similar setups.

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KM6IVE's station was as simple as a single radio, in this case an HT, working through an Ed Fong antenna in a common area where others were afforded the opportunity to ask questions. More of a novelty and outreach in this hospital setting rather than a contesting station.

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Another example of an off grid station (from KF6LEX) operating on a home-brew LiFePO4 battery box and antenna system good from 2m-20m bands based on aluminum extensions for the radiating element.

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[lrsrngr]

More from KF6LEX, Chris' FD 2021:

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[lrsrngr]

Location, location, location! Having your FD at a nice venue, whether Mother Nature's or the March Field Air Museum for example...it definitely adds to the experience. Of course the RFI that you may experience really has to be addressed in the planning. Solar arrays, lighting systems at night or "special aircraft" or airfield procedures may become an issue. For more information on this specific aircraft: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWeTJ5t8bb8

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Military mast systems make a good anchor point for wire antennas and if configured right they can also work for other configurations as well.

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Getting briefed off of the station binder that contains more specifically the information needed to transmit for the station. It really helps to have this all lined up for the "mic shy" and less experienced operators.

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Inviting and having visits from ARRL or local government officials is also part of FD. Dick Norton, N6AA, the ARRL Southwest Division Director stopped by and visited with us.

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Having a competent CW operator, like Ed, is always nice to hear and see. Amateur radio is an amazing sport.

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While having those die hard operators, like Dirk, who spend more then their fare share of time at the station is part of making sure your stations are up and running at all times. If you want to get those points you need to have a good schedule of operators dedicated to making contacts.

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Off grid power is a consideration and you see some very good examples of solar power being put to work. The wire antenna out of the patio umbrella base; a 6m & 10m inverted V out of a 1:1 balun.

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The champion source of power for this FD and others that I have visited are the use of a sufficiently powered generator. This example is a Harbor Freight 4375 watt running on approximately 33 lbs/8 gallon propane cylinder (it ran all 24 hours without issue).

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WU6D, Carl Gardenias, ARRL's Orange Section Manager stopped by and had a bite to eat and some face time with the group as well.

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As the sun goes down the group gathers to talk and share the Saturday evening meal. A successful first day in the log book.

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A great working display of the U.S. WWII Army Air Force Gibson Girl SCR-578 Survival Radio Transmitter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKTHFSnOElI

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Sunset and the night shift prepares for their all-nighter.

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[lrsrngr]

KK6CTT Honorable Mention(s):

Meters can increase your probability of contact in the preparation, execution and post-operation phase. They can be very simple checks with little left to do but fine tune or they can save you from disastrous outcomes in their absence. Make sure you have several adapters and pigtails for proper connectivity concerns.

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System meters:

• Multi-Meter

• Traditional SWR and impedance meters

• NanoVNAs (vector network analyzer)

• Antenna Analyzers

Publicists:

• Hats off to anyone of you who had the responsibility of, "getting the word out..." I never realized how much coordination and scripting goes into this (if you are doing an effective job of putting out very concise information).

• I miss working with my former mentor on this and hope she is well

Last but definitely not least of all; FD Chair/Coordinator/Executive/CEO...whatever you want to call the position:

• The FD lead has a huge job and we all need to recognize that and understand they will need help!

• Vice chairs and committees should be an integrated part of the process with folks who are willing to put in a good to great effort

• It won't get done by itself: Volunteers you rock and make or potentially break the overall success of this event; it is a real simple equation

Have a great Independence Day from the crew at Outdoor Adventure USA! Location, Location, Location...!

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[KA9WDX]

Check in please - Thanks - Bernie

I'll be listening, but I didn't participate in FD this year, and neither did the local club.

The local club had decided to get together on FD, but they were having problems with signal breakups at times on their repeater,
so what they decided to do was to put up a temporary antenna system at about 30 feet or so, at the repeater site, instead of
having the repeater connected to the repeater antenna at 140 feet up, then have people drive in different directions to see how
the signals were.

The person who would normally climb the tower, to probably replace the repeater's antenna, wasn't available right now, otherwise
they have a new antenna to try.

Anyway, the club did get together, but not for the purpose of FD.

They usually have a get together on FD, for the purpose of FD, sometimes as a serious activity, sometimes as a more relaxed
activity for fun, make some contacts and eat picnic style, but not this year.

I did get on 20 Meters and 40 Meters and gave out a few contacts to help others and that's about it this year.

[NotAMog]

Please check in -

John - KN6VL

Bruce - KD6GCO