This is your Field Day Primer. Much of the information contained in this communication was extracted from the ARRL rules which can be found at http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/fd-2009-packet.pdf.
This email is targeted at the Station Captains, as identified in the Field Day Planning Meetings. This is an explanation of our classification (as a site) and your responsibilities as Station Captains.
As I’m sure you’re well aware, Field Day entries are classified according to the maximum number of simultaneously transmitted signals at the given site, followed by a designator indicating the nature of their individual or group participation.
We will be operating as a Class A entity, meaning a group of three or more persons set up specifically for Field Day. Shane O’Neal (NS5D) is the trustee responsible for the group entry K5EOC.
Our exchange is our Field Day operating Class (A) and ARRL / RAC section (South Texas). Example: a six transmitter “Class A” station in South Texas which also has a GOTA station and the extra VHF station would send “6A STX” on CW or “SIX ALPHA SOUTH TEXAS” on Phone. A specific criterion determines your transmitter class. Most importantly, you must be able to transmit a signal on the total number of band/modes that you claim simultaneously. For example, if you claim 7A, you must be able to transmit 7 different signals at the same time (remember that a band/mode counts as a separate band). Changing to another band on the same radio does not count as a “different signal.” If you are claiming 7 transmitters, you need 7 stations capable of operating at the same time – remember operating means sending AND receiving. K5EOC will be either “6A-STX” or “7A-STX” depending on how many simultaneous working stations actually get up and operational on the 27th.
Our Field Day site qualifies as a Class “A” site because it is located in a place that is not a regular station location and does not use facilities installed for permanent station use, or use any structure installed permanently for Field Day. All equipment (including antennas) remains within a circle whose diameter does not exceed 300 meters (1000 feet) as defined in the aerial photograph posted to the Bexar County ARES Yahoo Group.
We attempted to register our site as a Class “F” (EOC), but did not meet the qualification standard associated with that class. Dan Henderson, N1ND (ARRL Regulatory Information Manager) said:
“The “test” is – are you practicing what you would be doing in a real emergency? Using their training facility may be nice, but if it isn’t where you would be during the real thing, it really doesn’t meet the requirement. The key to the Class F station is testing how you interact/operate with the actual EOC staff during an emergency. So it needs to be more than just operating from their training facility or mobile command post.”
All Class A, contacts must be made with transmitter(s) and receiver(s) operating independent of commercial power mains. To rephrase for our particular situation, while your lights and computers are allowed to be plugged in to the existing electricity (at each of the pavilions) but your transmitter(s) and receiver(s) must be powered by battery or generator. If your station does not have sufficient resources (batteries, generator or a laptop for logging) available, now is the time to make your requirements known to the organizing committee (NS5D, N5RXS, K5AUW, W5BLH, KC5BJI or KD5YZU).
Other Field Day Rules:
1) A person may not contact for QSO credit any station from which they also participate.
2) A transmitter/receiver/transceiver used to contact one or more Field Day stations may not subsequently be used under any other callsign to participate in Field Day.
3) Exception: Family stations are exempt provided the subsequent callsign used is issued to and used by a different family member.
4) Phone, CW and Digital (PSK, PACKET, RTTY, SSTV et. al.) modes on a band are considered as separate bands. A station may be worked only once per band under this rule.
5) All voice contacts are equivalent.
6) All non-CW digital contacts are equivalent.
7) Cross-band contacts are not permitted (Satellite QSOs cross-band contacts are exempted).
8) The use of more than one transmitter at the same time on a single band-mode is prohibited.
9) Exception: a dedicated GOTA station may operate as prescribed in Rule 4.1.
10) No repeater contacts are allowed.
11) Batteries may be charged while in use.
12) The batteries must be charged from a generator.
13) To claim the power multiplier of five, the batteries must be charged from something other than a motor driven generator or commercial mains.
14) All stations for a single entry must be operated under the callsign K5EOC, except for our dedicated GOTA station which uses a single, separate callsign W5SC.
FCC rules as they apply to Field Day.
Of course, every station must have a control operator (97.103). On Field Day, you will be using the callsign K5EOC (except for the GOTA Station). The station licensee is ultimately responsible for all transmissions from their station. During Field Day, the station licensee must designate control operators who are responsible for the operation of that station when the licensee is not in direct control. Both the station licensee and the control operator are equally responsible for all transmissions (97.103(a) and (b)). When the station licensee designates others as control operators, they should make a note in the log. You are no longer required to carry a photocopy of your license whenever you are the control operator of a station, but it’s still a good idea. A third-party is defined as anyone who does not have operating privileges on the frequency being used.
Safety rules as they apply to Field Day.
1) Safety First! Follow the ARRL safety code as you set up. K5AUW is appointed as the “safety officer” and is charged with making sure no accidents happen.
2) More people are killed by contact with regular 120-V line service than by any other voltage. The voltages in many power supplies can be lethal! Don’t take any chances!
3) Ground anything and everything. Never use “three-prong” adapters to connect your equipment to your power source. Remember, the power coming out of your generator is as lethal as the AC plugs at home!
4) Find out who is qualified in First Aid and CPR at the Field Day site (make friends with them).
5) Always kill all power circuits completely before opening up a piece of equipment and trying to troubleshoot it.
6) Never allow anyone else to switch the power on and off for you while you’re working on something.
7) Never try to fix something while you’re tired or sleepy.
8) If you’re working on older tube-type gear, or an amplifier, always unplug the unit from the AC mains and wait at least 5 minutes before you begin. When troubleshooting this kind of equipment, always keep one hand in your pocket, as a precaution against accidental shock.
9) Never wear watches or jewelry when you’re working on gear.
Every station needs an operator, a logger and a tour guide. Tour guides are persons ready to guide any visitors who might happen by your station and show an interest in ham radio. Not only is this a chance to show off our hobby in a favorable light, but it is also worth some bonus points! When giving a tour, make sure not to lapse into “ham speak”: try to explain what people doing in easy-to-understand language. If the media comes by, make certain that something is going on. TV, radio and print journalists will be much more impressed to see antennas going up and people making contacts than they will by a group of guys sitting around.
First, and foremost, Field Day should be a fun activity. Field Day serves as one of the biggest introductory “drawing cards” we offer in trying to expand interest in the hobby. A Field Day that is technical in set-up may well produce a good score. But remember that a Field Day that practices the “KISS” principle (Keep It Simple, Silly) is more likely to attract interest and participation than one which is run like a hard-core contest.
If you desire to become more familiar with the rules and options regarding Field Day, I encourage you to read the package foud at ARRL rules which can be found at http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/fd-2009-packet.pdf. There is a section devoted to GOTA, that W5API and W5QS need to take a look at, and another section devoted to nothing but bonus points.
The best way to ensure a successful Field Day is good planning. Don’t show up at the EGG on Saturday afternoon asking if you can borrow a battery, because you didn’t know you needed one. Deploy to the SAFD Training Facility as if you were deploying to a hurricane.
Make a list (check it twice)
That’s all for now.
Get with NS5D, N5RXS, K5AUW, W5BLH, KC5BJI or myself with any questions.
de Erik KD5YZU
