[K3PZN-List] 20 Meter Invitation & Stragegy for SSB Operators

[James Nitzberg]

Dear CCARCers;

For most of you, it's been quite some time since I've
seen you!  Since my (K3PZN Presidential) retirement -
I have gotten into Little League (now finished for the
season) and work - which I've been fortunate enough to
have some nice destinations in my travel schedule. 
I'm looking forward to seeing many of you this
weekend.

I would like to have many people help me staff my 20
meter operating position this weekend.  As a reminder,
this will be a very competitive field day position -
if all goes well with beam assembly Friday.  

The station will consist of a Yaesu FT-1000MP, with
all SSB filters,  a digital voice recorder (to call CQ
for you), several headphones, and a triband beam at 50
feet on top of our Club's AB/577.  As backup, I will
have a Windom at in case the beam doesn't work (we've
had some troubles with it in the past).  

20 meters is the "money" band of field day and
generally supports probagation over most of the U.S.
during the daytime.  I'm checking the field day rules,
but we may be able to "run" europe for contact points
(not multipliers) late at night when the USA shuts
down.

Several people have made commitments to me to operate
- and if you haven't; I urge you to get in touch with
me and let me know you're interested in operating. 
The times I definitely need the most help will be:

1.  6:00pm Saturday evening until 5:00am Sunday

2.  9:00am Sunday until 2:00pm Sunday.

That's right - I need LOTS of help!  I'd like two
operators to be available; one to log, one to operate,
and the two can switch off.  This is more fun than one
person doing it by themselves, and two pair of ears
can generally hear call signs/reports better than one.


I've enjoyed watching the conversation about phontics
and both the "real" and "crazy" phonetics have their
place.  Use the real ones when you're running stations
(i.e. calling CQ and getting anwers).  Use real
(correct) phonetics when you're calling other
stations.  

But when things get slow, and you're CQing, and
nobody's answering...slow down, get creative, and CALL
FOR ANYBODY.

I credit this idea to Rol Anders, K3RA (he happens to
be the captain of the W3AO effort).  You can actually
get non-contesters to come out and work you when you
say things like:

"CQ Field Day - looking for contacts with ANYONE for
help in the competition.  This is the club station
Kilo 3 Papa Zulu November - the Carroll County Amateur
Radio Club - looking for contacts with ANYONE.  You
don't have to be in the field day competition to help
me out.  Please give me a call...{repeat}"

You can get interesting with phonetics too - because
some people will tune by and work you just because
you're clever.  It's important to remember that clever
phonetics (vs. correct ones) help generate enthusiasm
and show creativity - so the non-contesters will like
that.  It's also important to remember that when you
do have many stations calling - you use the REAL
phonetics so your rate isn't reduced because people
don't get your call right.  

If our beam at 50 feet is working, the best strategy
to rack up a big score is to find a frequency, and
call CQ field day!  This is known as "running"
stations.  For those of you that don't like to "run" -
I suggest you go to the top of the band (14.350) and
work stations going DOWN.  The reason?  Most people
tune from the bottom of the band (14.150) to the top. 
This way you'll be out of phase with the other
"pouncers".  Remember that it's pretty easy to fish
the band out pouncing.  After you have done one or two
sweeps down the band, you should try calling CQ.  

Well I'm looking forward to a great time this year! 
See you soon...

73,

Jim Nitzberg  WX3B

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