[Elecraft] FD - Some Comments about the Event

[Dan Romanchik KB6NU]

Well, my daddy always told me, "Son, if it walks like a duck and  
quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck." That being the case, if  
it's not a contest, then why award points. FD is a slightly different  
kind of duck than most contests, but if points are involved, then it's  
a contest.

I pretty much agree with all your other points and would add one of my  
own. Field Day is about camaraderie. Events like this help hams who  
already know one another to get to know one another better and to meet  
new hams (and potential hams) who may come to visit.

73!

Dan KB6NU
----------------------------------------------------------
CW Geek and MI Affiliated Club Coordinator
Read my ham radio blog at http://www.kb6nu.com
LET'S REALLY MAKE THE ARRL THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HAM RADIO


On Jun 29, 2008, at 7:59 PM, Lee Buller wrote:
> I've been reading on the FD comments and would like to make a couple  
> of points and post some opinion.
>
> FD is not a contest....it is an operating event.  True!  ARRL has  
> said this for years.  I don't think the League even likes to rank  
> station that participate as to who made how many points.  If FD  
> allowed multipliers (rather than mode points) then we would have a  
> contest.  (I would like to see it run like NAQP...now that would be  
> a fun contest!)
>
> FD rules are so loose you can change your class at anytime.
>
> FD is to test equipment is rather harsh conditions.  I am sorry to  
> hear that at least one K3 died.  It would be interesting to know why.
>
> FD is to show off your new rig (read here K3).
>
> FD is about (for the most part) modest antennas and weak signals.   
> (Unless you are me and decided that air conditioning and the lack of  
> bugs were more important this year)  It would be interesting to see  
> how many vertical and dipole antennas were used this year.  I know  
> some clubs put up beams and towers, but in a "real" world situation,  
> I found that a dipole hung on the local school's flag pole is about  
> all you can do in the dark and it works fine.
>
> FD is about how to put several transmitters in a 1000 foot circle  
> and making it all work.  I've never been to a 22A, but I bet that is  
> interesting on HF.
>
> FD is about bad or poor power.
>
> FD is about cooperation with other hams and learning from mistakes  
> in  the event of a "real" disaster.
>
> FD is about training (both in technical and operating) skills.
>
> FD is about bad or good food depending on who is catering the  
> event.  I've had both, and the K3 can't improve that at all.  Hey  
> Wayne and Eric, put a good MENU in the K3...would you?  KC Strip  
> Steak, baked potatoes, green beans, a nice slice of pie, and a "cold  
> one" in the menus.  That would be CONFIG>KC S>BP>GrnB>IR2>807
>
> FD operation tests the "metal" of both rigs and operators.
>
> Final Thought:  The hardest part of FD is unloading the vehicle when  
> you get home and putting all the equipment away when your bone  
> weary, bug bitten, sun burnt to a crisp, heartily hungry, and ticked  
> off at all the operators who failed to learn anything.  Then you  
> realize you got to go to work tomorrow!
>
> Lee - K0WA