[K3CAL] FW: Field day update from AARL

Sun Apr 12 14:08:46 EDT 2020

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I hope that everyone is staying safe and healthy.

With regards to Field Day, the current situation offers ham radio 
operators a real crisis and demonstrates how well we can react to a 
crisis.  (Granted, I would have preferred that this never happened, but 
...).  If I may a few thoughts which I hope you would consider:

   1. We need to change the scoring to allow for greater use of 
different power sources and relax/redefine the rules for scoring. (In 
the past, ham radio operators have focused on the lack of infrastructure 
and service.  We need to shift our focus.)
   2. As we go into Field Day, we should 'redefine' what is a club field 
day site.  I would suggest that the definition of club field day be 
changed.  We could set up temporary field day sites using repeaters 
and/or digipeaters.  Extending this concept would be to stand up a 
temporary repeater/digipeater and use it to operate a 'virtual' field 
day site.
   3. On the topic of scoring, define a new class of station, the mobile 
operation.  If you are operating a station from your vehicle offer a 
multiplier or special classification.  (the thinking here is to 
encourage setting stations that can be moved to a location where ham 
radio operators could interact and support the in place community 
resources.)

In the long term, if the repeater/digipeater based notion of a field day 
site takes hold (in some form or fashion), we need to offer points for 
setting up remote operations at community locations (police stations, 
firehouses, hospitals, etc)

Just some thoughts and I still miss you.

73s,

kb2bcg at arrl.net
-----

On 4/9/20 11:12 AM, Dave via K3CAL wrote:
> There is a great discussion on qrz forums about FD this year.  We 
> could each operate from home but we would have to establish what power 
> source was to be used.  We can't have a mix of commercial and 
> emergency power sources, for instance. We could aggregate our contacts 
> into one club log and submit that.
>
> Dave H
> KB3RAN
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter Holt <mistralholt at comcast.net>
> To: Calvert Amateur Radio Association - K3CAL <k3cal at mailman.qth.net>
> Sent: Thu, Apr 9, 2020 12:30 pm
> Subject: Re: [K3CAL] FW: Field day update from AARL
>
> Thanks, Dave,
> We will have to see how the social gatherings restrictions contnue.  
> We have a ways to go.  It is probable that Field Day will be changed.  
> Operating on emergency power from home is a likely scenario in a 
> pandemic.  What frequencies and how would it be organized?  Would 
> everyone use the same call sign?
> Peter  KB3SXB
>> On April 9, 2020 at 12:19 PM David Weaver <w3pqs at comcast.net> wrote:
>>
>> *From:*David Weaver [mailto:w3pqs at comcast.net]
>> *Sent:* Thursday, April 9, 2020 12:02 PM
>> *To:* k3cal-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>> *Subject:* Field day update from AARL
>> *Field Day 2020 — A Time to Adapt *
>> /03/27/2020/
>> Many individuals and groups organizing events for *Field Day* 
>> <http://www.arrl.org/field-day> 2020 have been contacting ARRL for 
>> guidance on how to adapt their planned activities in this 
>> unprecedented time of social distancing and uncertainty.
>> “Due to the unique situation presented this year, this can be an 
>> opportunity for you, your club, and/or group to try something new,” 
>> ARRL Contest Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE, said. “Field Day isn’t 
>> about doing things the same way year after year. Use this year to 
>> develop and employ a new approach that is in line with the current 
>> circumstances.”
>> Social distancing and state and local requirements very likely will 
>> impact just how — and even whether — you are able to participate in 
>> Field Day this year. ARRL continues monitoring the coronavirus 
>> situation, paying close attention to information and guidance offered 
>> by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (*CDC* 
>> <https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html>). If social 
>> distancing means that Class A with a 30-member team set up in a city 
>> park won’t work this year, then it’s time for a Plan B. Part of the 
>> Field Day concept has always been adapting your operation to the 
>> situation at hand. At its heart, Field Day is an emergency 
>> communication demonstration. Field Day rules are flexible enough to 
>> allow individuals and groups to adjust their participation and 
>> strategies in a way that still addresses their needs while being fun. 
>> Some possibilities:
>> ·Encourage club members to operate from their home stations on 
>> emergency power (Class E).
>> ·Use the club’s repeater as a means for individual participants to 
>> keep in touch during the event.
>> ·Family members interested in operating Field Day and unable to 
>> participate as part of a larger group may want to consider setting up 
>> a portable station in the backyard with a temporary antenna.
>> One big impact this year will be a decline in public visibility and 
>> any interaction with the visitors. Prudence may dictate dispensing 
>> with the ham radio PR table to attract passersby, should you set up 
>> in a more public location. It’s okay not to score all the bonus 
>> points you may have attempted in the past. Local and served agency 
>> officials may be unwilling to visit, which is understandable under 
>> the circumstances. Do be sure to reach out to them as part of your 
>> preparations and remind them that you look forward to continuing your 
>> working relationship with them in the future.
>> The impact will differ from place to place, so ARRL recommends that 
>> all amateur radio clubs participating in Field Day stay in regular 
>> contact with local or state public health officials for their advice 
>> and guidance on hosting Field Day activities.
>> Demonstrating an understanding of the health crisis we all face and 
>> your willingness to adapt will show that you and your club or group 
>> are good working partners with local or served agencies.
>> “With any emergency preparedness exercise, it’s not about adapting 
>> the situation to your operation, it’s about adapting your operation 
>> to the situation that presents itself,” Bourque said. “Try something 
>> different. Learn something new about how you prepare. It may be a 
>> challenge, and you may have to ask yourself if you’re up to the 
>> challenge. We hope to hear you on the air over the June 27 – 28 
>> weekend.” /— Thanks to Paul Bourque, N1SFE, and Dan Henderson, N1ND /
>> //
>> /Thanks for Looking /
>> /Dave W3PQS/
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> K3CAL mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/k3cal
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:K3CAL at mailman.qth.net
>> Unsubscribe: mailto:k3cal-request at mailman.qth.net?subject=unsubscribe
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html 
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> K3CAL mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/k3cal
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:K3CAL at mailman.qth.net <mailto:K3CAL at mailman.qth.net>
> Unsubscribe: mailto:k3cal-request at mailman.qth.net 
> <mailto:k3cal-request at mailman.qth.net>?subject=unsubscribe
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/>
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> K3CAL mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/k3cal
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:K3CAL at mailman.qth.net
> Unsubscribe: mailto:k3cal-request at mailman.qth.net?subject=unsubscribe
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mailman.qth.net/pipermail/k3cal/attachments/20200412/4c7b5991/attachment-0001.html>