[CTSARA] Field Day: SARA Comparison With GNARC

[Jon Perelstein]

GNARC has just posted their preliminary FD results.  In many ways we outdid them, as follows:
Phone:  SARA 1942 QSOs vs. GNARC 1596 QSOs  (both figures include GOTA but our numbers were higher in both the "for real" QSOs and the GOTA QSOs)CW:      SARA 530 QSOs vs GNARC 1106 QSOsDigital:  SARA 58 QSOs vs GNARC 0 QSOs
Both clubs had comparable kinds of activity on the bonus points such as elected officials, field day messages, youth participation, etc.  SARA did pass formal NTS message traffic, which GNARC did not pass (and we did it via digital means).  Although we don't get Field Day points for it, at this Field Day we cemented the deal to teach a Ham Radio licensing course to a major served agency here in Fairfield County this fall.
Clearly the big difference in points is going to be the CW QSOs (which are each worth 4 points versus 2 points for the phone QSOs), but we've started to make up that difference with increased use of digital modes (which are also worth 4 points each).  The difference is that in an emergency, we'll be able to meet the needs of our served agencies by passing data and handling logistics using high speed digital modes with built-in error correction while GNARC will still be relying on sending CW messages to Curacao so that the messages can then be returned to Fairfield County via carrier pigeon.
Jon KB1QBZ