[PPRAANet] Field Day - a few changes from before

[Dan Scott]

Ever notice that as soon as you get use to the way a computer program 
works (at home or at work) some idiot changes it!  Well.. I've been in 
corporate IT for way more years than I really want to admit, and of 
course have been through the IT training designed to annoy as many 
people possible with minor to major changes.  As you know we are taught 
that it works best if occurrences of change depth, duration, and 
interval, are as random as possible.  It's really a drag that Field Day 
is only yearly and the uptime is set, this means I can't mess with 
Duration or Interval, so I'm stuck with much messing with the depth of 
changes.

Over the past 4 or 5 Field Days we have been using Genlog.  Genlog is a 
very nice contesting program but I always got messed up trying to 
correct my typing errors.  Moving to N1MM should make my frequent typing 
errors less of an issue, I'm hoping you will find this to be the case as 
well.  N1MM is also capable of being networked between the various 
stations (more on this below)

Originally we were going to 3A to pick up a digital station (Why? 
well... I've never participated in digital contesting, it added a 
learning situation in the form of an interference problem and I like 
learning new things).  3A did make a group of us re-think our set up, or 
should I say, after a site visit we decided we really didn't want the 
stations spread out so far (building the light rail between stations 
would put us over budget).  Of course the problem is keeping digital and 
CW from interfering with each other.  We came up with a different game 
plan, way different than any Field Day I've ever been involved with.  I 
guess I liked what we came up with because it is different and will 
provide another new learning experience (positive or negative learning 
experience is yet to be determined).  

Here's the game plan (I'm hoping it will be much more flexible than 
first meets the eye):
   Day operation:
       Station-A 40-CW, Digital
       Station-B 20-SSB, Digital, CW
       Station-C 15-SSB, Digital, CW
   Night operation
       Station-A 40-CW
       Station-B 40-SSB
       Station-C 80-SSB, Digital, CW
Obviously if the bands cooperate, this is a fairly solid plan.  But when 
we start playing the "what-if" game, is there a contingency play?  Well, 
yes there is, thanks for asking.  By networking the logging program, 
N1MM, between these three operating positions, the hard division 
outlined above can become fuzzy boundaries.  For instance, assume that 
40 is closed at Field Day start time, by networking the logging program 
and coordinating the move, Station-A could operate 20-CW until 40 opens 
back up, this will lock Station-B out of both CW (rules) and Digital 
(interference), but there would be no technical reason not to make this 
transition.

I know PPRAA use to run Field Day as a major contest effort.  But many 
of us have never had this type of Field Day experience, and have never 
had the opportunity to decide if we like it or not.  This this year I'm 
asking each of us push ourselves.  You don't have to be the best 
contester, but just give the spirit of major contesting a try.  
Remember, the only way to see of you like it is to get on the air.   
Believe me, most contesters want to help expand their ranks and like 
nothing better than helping you into their numbers!!  I suggest showing 
up a little early for the time slot you signed up for, watch how the 
person is operating and then do your part by first becoming comfortable 
with the setup and working the station.  Once you get the feel of it, 
start pushing yourself.  Because pushing for contact numbers is a 
different operation style then many of us are use to (me included), I'm 
working at getting people at each station capable of mentoring.  How in 
the world do folks make that many contacts, keep their communications 
clear and concise, and not loose track of what they are doing?  There 
are many amateur radio activities outside of contesting where learning 
efficient quick communications is a real plus.

I will to have a per station sign-up passed around during the opening 
meeting (Saturday 11:30).  We've had this at the stations over the last 
couple years but they have not been used by many.  I'm trying to fix 
that problem.

Can we make a major contest effort and have a fun social event?  Someone 
told me you can't have it both ways.  That of course turned into a 
personal challenge and I'm really working hard at making this a fun 
get-together and a great contest effort. 

73,
Dan
kb0ppm