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NCARC

NCARC. “FIELD DAY MADE EASY”. Overview:. Why, When, Where Objectives Rules / Limitations The “Exchange” Strategies & Structures Do’s and Don’ts Logging Safety Operations Finally…. Why?. Camaraderie and friendship Chance to try different radios & modes Learn your radio!

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NCARC

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  1. NCARC “FIELD DAY MADE EASY”

  2. Overview: • Why, When, Where • Objectives • Rules / Limitations • The “Exchange” • Strategies & Structures • Do’s and Don’ts • Logging • Safety • Operations • Finally…

  3. Why? • Camaraderie and friendship • Chance to try different radios& modes • Learn your radio! • Knowledge building and learning new skills • Recruiting new hams and new CERT members • Challenge of operating in abnormal situations and in less than ideal conditions • Contest/competition • Media/Public Service exposure FUN!!!

  4. When? JUNE 25 – 26, 2011 (Last full weekend in June) Setup Starts Saturday at 0900 (9:00am) (Donuts provided) Radio Operations start at 1300 (1:00 p.m.) Tear Down Sunday at 1300 (1:00pm)

  5. WHERE? NAVARRE PARK US Highway 98 LARGE CENTER PAVILLION (Look for the Midway FD Command Bus)

  6. Navarre Park (Map)

  7. Navarre Park (Photo)

  8. Who’s Running the Show? W4SJV N4DG N K4RVZ: Member Volunteer K1HG: Antenna Captain

  9. Field Day Objectives • Learn about HF operations • Gain valuable HF operating experience • Contact as many other stations as possible • All amateur bands (excluding 60, 30, 17, and 12 meter bands) • Demonstrate amateurradio to visitors • Media exposure

  10. General Rules/Limitations • Work each station once per band per mode (Voice, Digital, CW) • No repeater contacts • No 146.52/446.0 contacts • One transmitter per band/mode • Contacts between the Field Day station and an individual participant of that station are not valid • All radios must operate on an alternate power source – NO COMMERCIAL POWER!

  11. FCC Rules • A control operator with proper privileges MUST be present • Individual with General or higher license will be present at all times • Unlicensed persons may participate • Contacts with DX stations are allowed, but do not count for points • Limit contacts to US and Canadian stations and their territories (e.g. Puerto Rico)

  12. The Field Day “Exchange” • In order to make a valid contact, the information to be exchanged and logged consists of: • The number of transmitters at our site: 5(?) • Class of operation: A (See next slide) • ARRL Section: North Florida • Examples • On voice: “Five Alpha, North Florida” • On CW/Digital: “5A NFL” • See the green folder at each station and logging software.

  13. Operating Classes • Class A – Portable, a group of 3 or more, 100% Emergency Power • Class B – Portable, 1 or 2 persons, 100% Emergency Power • Class C – Mobile stations • Class D – Home Stations, Commercial Power • Class E – Home Stations, Emergency Power • Class F – Emergency Operations Centers

  14. ARRL Section? You mean state? • 71 ARRL Sections + 9 CRRL Sections • Most states/provinces are their own section. • HOWEVER…Some are into two or more sections: MA: 2 NY:3 NJ: 2 PA: 2 FL: 3 TX: 3 CA: 9 WA:2 • Logging software will help with correct abbreviation

  15. Strategies For Making Contacts • Search and Pounce (S&P) • Tune the band looking for stations who are calling CQ and answer them • Staying on one particular frequency, calling CQ, and wait for stations to answer you

  16. Structure for the Contact – S&P CQ Station: CQ Field Day, CQ Field Day, W1AW Whiskey One Alpha Whiskey S&P Station: Kilo Charlie Four Echo Romeo Tango CQ Station: KC4ERT Copy Three Foxtrot, Connecticut S&P Station: QSL Copy Five Alpha North Florida CQ Station: Thanks. Whiskey One Alpha Whiskey • The CQ Station always gives his/her exchange first and the S&P Station doesn’t give his/her exchange until he/she has copied the CQ Station’s complete exchange and received any needed fills.

  17. Structure for the Contact - CQ • Search for a clear frequency • Don’t jump on top of another station • Ask if the frequency is in use CQ Station: CQ Field Day, CQ Field Day, KC4ERT, Kilo Charlie Four Echo Romeo Tango calling CQ Field Day Answering Station: Whiskey One Alpha Whiskey CQ Station: W1AW copy Five Alpha, North Florida Answering Station: QSL. Copy Three Foxtrot, Connecticut CQ Station: QSL. Thanks and good luck. QRZ from Kilo Charlie Four Echo Romeo Tango?

  18. Do’s and Don’ts • DO ask for repeats/fills of the exchange, if needed. • DON’T repeat what you THINK you copied and ask if it is correct. • DON’T clutter the exchange with unneeded words • Operator name • Weather • “How yadoin’?”

  19. Do’s and Don’ts • DON’T yell into the microphone • You won’t necessarily be heard any better by the other station • DO pause a few seconds to let stations reply to you • Don’t “rapid fire” • DO use standard ITU Phonetics

  20. ITU Phonetics http://navarrecert.org/commo/phonetics_template.php

  21. Logging • All logging will be done via computer using N3FJP Field Day Log program • Its free and easy to use! • Able to network all stations together • Each radio stationwill have a computer assigned

  22. Safety • During Set-up: • ANTENNA CAPTAIN IS IN CHARGE! • Pre-plan antenna erection before starting • Everyone needs to be aware of what’s going on • Watch for power lines • Keep unauthorized people out of set-up area • Use hard hats and gloves when necessary • Secure guy wires/ropes and mark with flagging ribbons and/or cones • Use buddy-system

  23. Safety • During Operations: • Use buddy system • Keep hydrated • Make sure generator is cooled down before refueling • LIGHTNING / THUNDERSTORM: • Cease all radio operations immediately • Disconnect antenna cables from radios • Cover equipment with tarps if in pavilion area • Lift electrical cables off of floor

  24. Safety • During Tear-down: • Use buddy system - FATIGUE • Watch for overhead power lines • Keep unnecessary people out of tear down area • Use hard hats and gloves when necessary • Allow generators to cool sufficiently

  25. Operations • Work as a team • Radio operator • Logger • Use the GREEN folder for help • When in doubt, ASK. • If you think a question might be dumb, ASK. • If you want to see if you can do something a different way, ASK. • If you’re not sure… ASK!

  26. Operations: GOALS: • Get our scores higher: • 2009: 216 QSO’s, 1,586 points • 2010: 444 QSO’s, 2,202 points • In NFL, we were #21 out of 53 stations • Top station had 4,977 QSO’s, 15,902 points • Learn how to operate HF during a “controlled chaos” radio event, much like aftermath of a disaster

  27. Operations • Most important: Have Fun!

  28. Finally… • Questions? June 25-26, 2011 Navarre Park Set-up: Sat @ 0900 Ops: Sat @ 1300

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