[K3PZN-List] Field Day Proposal

[Curt Milton]

Andy

Thanks for your ideas and stimulation of the topic
anew.  

In terms of CW operation, we generally have enough
operators, rigs and band opportunities to operate 3
stations.  Reducing this to only one station (or
transmitter in contesting lingo) would greatly reduce
operator participation.  

Given the spectrum we have available, we really need
to work the challenge of operating multiple modes in
the same band.  FD stations operating at 100w
successfully work this - it can be done.  

Solutions: 
(a) antenna design, orientation and spacing - this is
the primary means
(b) use the best rigs available!  the IC-703 used last
year on digital last year gives up a lot of dBs in
blocking dynamic range compared to other rigs we have
access to
(c) filtering - i know it is used at many contest
stations -- but CW and digital are too close in
frequency, and it would limit SSB to only the high
part of the band (ok for running stations)

Also remember than John W3JJH suggested we consider
having 2 separate FD operations -- and this gives us
more freedom:

(1) we can operate CW in battery QRP class (and get
the multiplier bonus) AND operate a second set of
stations in a different class

(2) two separate FD entries allows us to separate our
antennas even further -- but we may not be able to
take full advantage of this from the FTC (??)

My original proposal was (a) fewer operating rigs with
better antennas and (b) more fun.  

I think 3 total is too few for a club that has had as
many of 8-10 effective stations running at once. 
Maybe the idea number is at least 5 transmitters, with
each additional transmitter having to buy its way in
with enough operators and a planned effective antenna.
 

As for transmitter power, we have the matter of
supplying the electrical (AC or DC) power.  Batteries
work well for CW, especially with K2's that consume
very little power on receive.  

Note the higher transmitter power portion of our FD
operation can use commercial mains - IF emergency
power operation is tested during the event.  No real
definition of testing is given, but perhaps we should
make it a goal to operate FD for some period of time
with emergency power.  

My proposal is to suggest John's approach:

FD station 1: 3 transmitters operating at up to 100w,
concentrating on SSB and digital modes.  class F

FD station 2: 3 transmitters operating using battery,
primarily CW.  (SSB could be used, but only with freq
coordination with station 1 ... and we may not run out
of CW opportunities).  either class A-battery or F,
depending upon whether we use an existing antenna.  

Effective antennas for FD:

dipoles at a good height for operating band,
verticals, direction wire antennas, or beams.  it
appears that 20, 40 and 80 will be our most effective
bands (but don't count out possibility of E-skip on
10m!).  there are 3 good antennas already available to
a class F operation.  we need approx. 3 more good
antennas for 80/40/20 and perhaps a second useful
antenna that can be used on 10m.  

we should manage our resources before, during and
after the contest to maximize our fun and
communications usefulness.  we certainly need to
maximize the experience of everyone's participation.  

some image-mode demo's might impress any public safety
authorities that show up ... a picture of a 'disaster
site' sent over SSTV on VHF ... a link with another
nearby FD site to send a kids picture and get a
response from the other end.  hmmmm?  

73, curt

PS - did anyone see the novel little no-PC-required
PSK terminal in QST ?  




--- Andy Leeds <wo3l at comcast.net> wrote:

> At the last meeting I offered to put together a plan
> for field day based 
> on an operation from the FTC. The following proposal
> is a hybrid that I 
> hope captures some of the features of both A and F
> operations.
> 
> Background - Over the past few years the club has
> operated QRP class F 
> from the FTC. Before that operations were class A
> from various locations 
> around the county. The main input that I have seen
> for this year's field 
> day is a desire by some members to have full power
> (100W) for better SSB 
> operation. Others have expressed a desire to operate
> from a portable 
> location, while still others prefer a fixed
> structure with air 
> conditioning and restrooms.
> 
> Proposal - we use the FTC site while setting up a
> few additional 
> antennas to support the number of stations in
> operation. Since we would 
> be using the FTC and some of the fixed station
> assets we would be a 
> class F entry (even though some of the stations
> would likely qualify as A).
> 
> Details - 3 main stations, one each SSB, CW, and
> Digital. Since we are 
> at least 2 stations that gives us the bonus GOTA,
> VHF, and bonus points. 
> To minimize interference we would operate only 1
> station on any given 
> band (10,15,20,40,80,160) at any time. This will
> require 4 (minimum) HF 
> antennas. I'm told that the station currently has a
> beam and a windom 
> that are working well. This operation will require
> at least 2 more 
> antennas be set up on Friday/Saturday morning. The
> station layout would 
> use our meeting room, and club station rooms to
> split up the stations a 
> bit. The band pass filters and some judicious
> spacing of the antennas 
> should minimize the interference between stations.
> 
> Andy
>
-----------------------------------------------------
> BREAK
> -----------------------------------------------
> 
> CCARC Elections at the next meeting on Monday, March
> 10, 7:30 PM at the Emergency Services Training
> Center in Westminster.
> 
>
------------------------------------------------------
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