Outdoor Adventure USA

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.

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?


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."

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



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.

Part II: SOCIAL



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.


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).

Part III: EXERCISE

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

o Why an exercise not a contest?

More from KF6LEX, Chris' FD 2021:

KK6CTT Honorable Mention(s):


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

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.

Please check in -

John - KN6VL

Bruce - KD6GCO