[KYHAM] Fw: This Year's Field Day

[n4dit]

Information for those of you who may not have seen this note.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "ARRL Web site" <memberlist at www.arrl.org>
To: <n4dit at insightbb.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 4:18 PM
Subject: this year's Field Day


--- From the ARRL Web Site ---

NEWINGTON, CT, Feb 2, 2005--Those planning to participate in this year's
> Field Day will need to bone up in advance on a few changes in the rules
> for the ever-popular
> operating event. Field Day this year takes place June 25-26. The 2261
> Field Day entries for 2004 were the most ever. While similar in format
> to a contest, Field Day
> is primarily a means to exercise and demonstrate Amateur Radio's
> emergency operating capabilities while having fun at the same time. ARRL
> Contest Branch Manager Dan
> Henderson, N1ND, says that among other things rule changes for 2005
> expand eligibility for bonus points. 
> 
> "All groups will be eligible for some kind of bonus points," Henderson
> said. "Make sure you carefully read Field Day Rule 7.3." That rule
> spells out how to qualify for such bonus points as 100 percent emergency
> power, media publicity, message handling, making satellite contacts,
> using an alternative power source and copying the W1AW bulletin, among
> other things. Many bonus point categories are available to all entry
> classes. 
> 
> Henderson notes that some large clubs often compete among themselves to
> see who can claim the highest number of transmitters. Under the revised
> rules, all transmitters
> must be on the air with an operator to count toward a club's entry
> class. "You have to actually have individual people and sufficient
> equipment capable of operating
> simultaneously," Henderson emphasized, referencing Rule 4. "The key word
> there is 'simultaneously.'" 
> 
> The Field Day exchange consists of the number of transmitters on the air
> followed by the participation category (A through F). Operators would
> send "3A," for example, for a club or non-club portable setup with three
> transmitters on the air at the same time. Rule 4 also specifically
> prohibits switching and simulcasting devices. 
> 
> The 2005 Field Day rules also modify the number of transmitters eligible
> for bonus points that a group can claim for its operating class. "You
> can only claim the
> emergency power bonus points for up to 20 transmitters," Henderson
> explains. "That's a maximum of 2000 emergency power bonus points." There
> no limit on the number of
> transmitters eligible participants may have on the air, however. Field
> Day rules already generally prohibit the use of more than one
> transmitter at the same time on
> a single band-mode. 
> 
> In addition, Field Day 2005 will introduce a new "Youth Element" bonus
> category (Rule 7.3.15). Clubs or groups operating in Class A, C, D, E or
> F now can claim 20
> bonus points--up to a maximum of 100--for each person aged 18 or
> younger, who completes a valid Field Day contact. Single-operator Class
> B stations can earn a
> 20-point bonus if the operator is age 18 or younger. Two-person Class B
> setups can claim a 20-point bonus for each operator age 18 or younger,
> for a maximum of 40 points. The maximum number of participants for Class
> B entries remains at two. 
> 
> Another rule change clarifies that Get On The Air (GOTA)
> stations--instituted a few years ago to encourage new or comparatively
> inexperienced operators to gain
> operating practice--use the same exchange as the "parent" station. The
> maximum transmitter output power for GOTA stations is 150 W, and GOTA
> stations may only operate on the Field Day HF bands. 
> 
> Free transmitters do not count toward a group's total, and GOTA stations
> and free VHF stations for Class A entries do not qualify for bonus point
> credits. 
> 
> Henderson encourages Field Day participants to submit their Field Day
> summaries electronically using the Web applet form. "You may input your
> summary information at
> that site for a 50-point bonus," Henderson points out. Last year,
> approximately half of the Field Day entries arrived at ARRL Headquarters
> via this route. 
> 
> The Maritime Radio Historical Society's K6KPH, comprised of former
> operators of the KPH commercial shore station, now an historic site,
> again will augment W1AW Field
> Day CW and RTTY bulletin transmissions for West Coast participants.
> K6KPH will use the traditional W1AW frequencies. 
> 
> Finally, Henderson urges Field Day participants to share their
> experiences and photos with others via the Online Soapbox, which has
> become one of the most popular
> additions to Field Day. 
> 
> The 2005 Field Day rules and forms are now is available on the ARRL Web
> site
> 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
> ARRL Kentucky Section
> Section Manager: John D. Meyers, NB4K
> nb4k at arrl.org
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
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