[K3PZN-List] 11 Days to Field Day

[W3JJH]

All:

Let me start by again offering my thanks to those who are helping with planning
Field Day.

Putting on my MDC Asst. Section Manager's hat, let me encourage everyone to
participate in Field Day.  Of course, everyone is welcome to join us at the
CCARC site and give QRP operation a try, but if you can't be with us, the
Carroll County Contesters and the PVRC/CARA sites will also be nearby.  If you
can't make it out to one of the sites, try operating 1D from your home station.

Changing back to my CCARC cap, please take a look at the list of stations below.
 If we can man them all (including the GIOTA position) during the 15 min push,
we will be a 13F operation.  Since everything will be run from either batteries
or solar power, that's 1300 bonus points to start.  Show up for the push! It's
important.

Let me explain what the GIOTA operating position is for those who haven't been
following this thread.  GIOTA stands for Get It On The Air.  This isn't
official; it's something we've come up with because it might be fun.  There are
lots of simple QRP rigs that are fun to use but not in the came league as a K2
or an Argonaut V.  This position will be a place to operate such rigs when the
main stations are not covering a particular band and mode.  For example, if the
main CW rigs are on 80, 40, and 15 m, I might fire up my Powermite on 20.  Bring
your Rockmites, Tuna Tin 2s, homebrew rigs, or whatever, and have fun. 
Remember, there are canoe anchor rigs (such as Benton Harbor Lunch Boxes) that
are QRP.  We'll have an inverter at the GIOTA station to provide 120 V ac from
the battery.

GOTA, on the other hand, is an official part of Field Day.  This year a GOTA
operator only earns QSO bonus point in blocks of 20 QSOs.  There is no partial
credit for a partial block.  If we have a GOTA Coach helping the operators (but
not operating or logging), the bonus points double.  We need a GOTA Coach or
Coaches.  Volunteer(s)?

Each young person (18 or younger) who makes at least one QSO earns 20 bonus
points.  Bring your kids and invite their friends.

N8PK will be coordinating the bonus point activities.  If you see something you
can do, let Pat know.

One set of bonus points can be earned by having Non-Traditonal Mode
Demonstrations.  N8PK will be setting up an APRS demo.  N3TOT and N3SB will be
setting up one of the County-provided Go Kits configured as a temporary packet
node that meets Rule 7.3.10.2.  That's two out of the three possible demos.  We
could use a third.  Volunteer?

The Alternate EOC is not the best spot for a picnic, so we plan to order in
supper as we did last year.  Supper will be around 6 pm on Saturday.  There will
be coffee and bagels on Sunday morning, and there will be snacks and drinks
(including plenty of coffee) available from setup until tear down.  However, no
one has yet volunteered to be Food Captain.

Station / Captain / Radio / Power Source / Antenna

HF CW1 / N3SB / Elecraft K2 / ??? / EOC Antennas
HF CW2 / N3WM / Elecraft K2 / ??? / EOC Antennas
HF CW3 / ??? / Elecraft K2 / ??? / EOC Antennas
HF DIG1 / K3KWO / IC-703 / Big Battery / Outbacker
HF DIG2 / N8PK / PSK20 / DIG1 Battery / 20 m Dipole
HF PH / W3JJH / Argonaut V / Big Battery / 132 ft ladder-line fed inverted-vee
VHF PH / KB3GHE / FT-817 / Solar Array / Club VHF-UHF Quad
VHF CW / N3III / FT-817 / Small Battery / Small Yagis
2m PH / ??? / IC-W32 / Internal / Rubber Duckie
220MHz PH / ??? / Alinco DJ-280 / Internal / Rubber Duckie
70cm PH / ??? / TH-79 / Internal / Rubber Duckie
23cm PH / ??? / IC-T81 / Internal / Rubber Duckie
GOTA / ??? / Index Labs QRP+ / Big Battery / Outbacker
GIOTA / W3JJH / See List / Medium Battery / 132 ft ladder-line fed inverted-vee

There are rumors of a 3rd HF DIG station and a 2nd HF PH station lurking.

GIOTA Rigs so far:

Elecraft K1 (40, 20, 15 m; also 30 m, but not for FD)
Elecraft KX1 (80, 40, 20 m; also 30 m, but not for FD)
Heathkit HW-7 (40, 20, 15 m)
Heathkit HW-9 (80 ... 10 m)
MFJ-9315 Cub (15 m)
Norcal 2030 (20 m)
TenTec 1340 (40 m)
TenTec Powermite 3A (40 and 20 m)
Tuna Tin 2 / TenTec 1254 combo (7030 and 7040 kHz)

Non-Traditional Mode Stations:

APRS / N8PK
Separate Packet Node / N3TOT

There has been a request for a VE Session as a part of Field Day.  I think that
is a fine idea, and we'll do it if we have 3 VEs present.  I suggest that we run
it on Saturday morning so that those who pass can use their new privileges
Saturday afternoon.  Do we have 3 VEs?  The VEs let me know ASAP so that I can
post the date and time on the web site.

Finally, I should mention that we don't yet have a Food Captain.

72 de W3JJH
John

Keep up with the latest info concerning the CCARC Field Day at <www.k3pzn.org>.