[SMCARA] Field Day Aftermath

[Chris Ordiway]

Tom,

A comment worth at least 2.5 cents in my book. Good description of FD 
and pretty much what I think about it as well. I was tickled to see the 
handful of folks who did brave the weather to come and check us out.

Chris Ordiway - KC3DIG

On 06/28/2015 02:32 PM, Tom Shelton, ND3N wrote:
> Chris,
>
> My two cents worth.  FD specifically is not a contest or an emergency 
> practice.  It is an opportunity to show the public what ham radio is. 
>  Unlike the November sweepstakes, the exchange is very short.  Unlike 
> every other contest there are no multipliers.  You can earn more 
> points for being visited by elected officials and the media than many 
> stations earn by making contacts.  Having a gota station is free 
> points because it encourages visitors to get first hand experience in 
> making a contact.  You get extra points for having a media table with 
> hand outs.  The free VHF  station shows how easy it is to make 
> relatively short contacts, which in case of emergency may be more 
> important than being able to contact Hawaii (though I think the latter 
> is certainly cooler).
>
> Everything about FD is meant to show the public our value. Having a 
> contesty set up, encourages people to operate, which shows our radios 
> being used and provides a conversation starter.
>
> There will always be those who take these things to extremes, whether 
> the pig farmers on 80 or the hardcore contesters.  I thing they're 
> both missing the point.   As with all my comments, your mileage may vary.
>
>
> Tom Shelton, ND3N
> 240-434-3811
>
> If it ain't broke,  let's fix it until it is...
>
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Chris Ordiway <kc3dig at gmail.com>
> Date:06/28/2015 1:23 PM (GMT-05:00)
> To: smcara at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: [SMCARA] Field Day Aftermath
>
> All,
>
> With Field Day fresh in our minds I'm wondering about something... Ham
> radio Facebook pages are abuzz with complaints about FD being nothing
> more than an annoying contest clogging up the airwaves. I've seen
> several comments that it is supposed to be a way to practice emergency
> communications (etc., etc.) and that the ARRL has ruined it by making it
> contest-like. Soooo.... If I'm not telling the other guy "3A MDC" what
> am I supposed to say on FD? The points system is clearly just a way to
> encourage participation. If the argument is that we shouldn't have the
> points system then how is it any different than any other day of playing
> radio? And why would I set up in the pouring rain, blistering heat or
> nearby tornado when I can be safe and dry at home to test my gear? The
> points and awards don't actually mean anything in the grand scheme but
> they are motivation to give it a go. Do these guys actually work FD
> style at other times, with all of the effort it takes, because they
> *really* think emcomm is important? I know what I think about that...
>
> So what do you think? Is FD too contest-y? How would you do it different
> so we can collectively practice emcomm? I'm curious to hear other points
> of view because so far those comments I'm seeing just don't make much
> sense to me.
>
> Chris Ordiway - KC3DIG
>
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