[SFDXA] ARRL Suggests Taking a Creative Approach to Field Day 2020

[Bill]

    ARRL Suggests Taking a Creative Approach to Field Day 2020

This year, ARRL *Field Day* <http://www.arrl.org/FieldDay> promises to 
be a unique iteration of this annual event, with many individuals and 
groups coming up with new and interesting ways to adjust their approach. 
As an event, Field Day is structured to be versatile and can be adapted 
for any situation.

Many groups have asked how they can adjust their Field Day planning to 
address social-distancing guidelines that may be in effect in many areas 
of the country, as gathering at their traditional Field Day site may not 
be feasible or safe. Instead of participating in a group event this 
year, consider operating as a Class B, C, D, or E station, utilizing 
your own call sign.

ARRL will include club names for all participating stations in the 
published results, so the efforts of your club’s members can be 
acknowledged. While we will not publish an aggregate club score, seeing 
the name of your club associated with various individual member’s 
results is certainly a way to highlight your club’s activity.

Myriad opportunities are possible in this year’s Field Day setting. 
These are just a couple.

  * Consider having an intra-club competition among members, seeing who
    can make the most contacts during the event. You can award prizes or
    distribute certificates at a club meeting. This can be a fun way to
    bolster the activities of individual club members, even though they
    cannot all gather together at the same location this year.
  * Set up a Field Day Challenge with rival clubs in neighboring
    communities. See how many members of each club get on the air from
    their own stations and participate in the event. In addition to
    “bragging rights,” perhaps certificates to the top-scoring
    individual entries in each category can be presented as part of this
    inter-club camaraderie.

One club is planning to conduct its Field Day as a 4A club group, with 
participants spaced to comply with social distancing guidelines within 
the required 1,000-foot diameter circle and operating individual 
stations. This club also plans to set up a “Get on the Air” (GOTA) 
station. The club’s plan is to have the GOTA coach at the Field Day 
site, while GOTA operators participate via remote link.

Another club is planning to set up a remote-controlled station at its 
usual Field Day site, with club members taking turns controlling the 
station from their homes. The club is developing a schedule that 
outlines when each member of the club will be at the helm via the remote 
link.

Whatever approach you take to this year’s Field Day, keep up to date 
with the current guidelines issued by local and state health agencies 
that may impact your proposed operation.

ARRL invites your stories about the interesting and creative ways you’re 
planning to use to adapt your Field Day operation. Share these on the 
*ARRL Field Day Facebook* 
<https://www.facebook.com/groups/1966096706830030/> page.

For the latest news and updates, visit the *Field Day webpage* 
<http://www.arrl.org/FieldDay>. /— Thanks to ARRL Contest Program 
Manager Paul Bourque, N1SFE/