[NLRS] Follow up regarding Field Day VHF/UHF Activity

[John (JK) Kalenowsky, K9JK]

Hello Northern Lights Radio Society,

As I mentioned during the business meeting at Aurora '05, an 
effort has started (blame Mark, N9UM, though I will accept 
'co-conspirator' charges) to increase activity on VHF and UHF 
at Field Day. Maybe we can call it "FD VHF-UHF Mania"?

Matt, KF0Q, and I 'scheduled' and completed (on 2m anyway) a 
QSO between our respective FD Groups (W0NE for Matt and 
K9MOT for me) during the 2004 Field Day so we have 'proof' 
that contacts can be made between non-adjoining states!

I'm thinking that "we" can do more...I presume that many of you 
go out for Field Day with OTHER Groups...likely with Groups 
that are in Class 2A or higher, for which a 'free' VHF/UHF 
station is permitted.

What we are proposing...

Let's make sure that the VHF/UHF Stations at Field Day are 
'capable' stations rather than 'afterthoughts'...try and bring more 
than just 6 and/or 2 meters...seems it should be quite easy to 
have 6, 2 and 432 at Field Day with the prevalence of rigs like 
the IC-706, FT-100 and FT-8X7 family (though it would be 
'nice' to have more power than an FT-817). Consider 222 MHz, 
1296 MHz, even 903 MHz. I've also _heard_ that there is a fair 
'contingent' of 10 GHz equipment in the Twin Cities area...I 
suspect that some notice would be taken by the League if there 
were 10 GHz contacts listed in a few Field Day logs!

Let's be sure to make contacts on CW as well as on SSB (or FM)...
there are no limits on band/mode changes for 50 MHz and up and it's 
another contact in the log! Use it as a 'demonstration' to show what 
CW can do on the VHF/UHF Bands...perhaps it will spark some 
interest in learning the code by some of the 'voice only' operators?

"Activity times" - several periods where some focus can be given to 
VHF/UHF operations...grab one of the CW experts from the HF 
CW station to be there to make the CW contacts...pass between 
the bands that the stations have. Looking at 3 separate one hour 
slots through the 24 hours of Field Day. For folks NOT operating 
'in the field' a chance to get on an exercise your VHF/UHF station in 
Class 1D and knowing when other stations will be on and 'focusing' 
on VHF/UHF Activity.

Establish a list of the FD Stations that will have VHF/UHF operations 
that includes: Field Day Call, Club Name, Location (6 character Grid 
Square if possible), what Bands will be operational (VHF Contest 
Band codes, e.g. ABCD9EFI), contact person (e.g. VHF/UHF 
Station 'captain'). I have 'volunteered' to coordinate that so please 
e-mail such info back to me directly.

     An example of such a listing:
     K9MOT  Motorola ARC  EN52xb ABCDE(possibly 9) K9JK

I have also proposed a Yahoo Group or some other way to share 
info and plans but am waiting for more comments regarding that.

Thanks in advance for your interest and, hopefully, participation.

73, JK