[W1SMH] GOTA clarification

Wed, 17 Apr 2002 08:27:01 -0400

Thanks Joe,
This needs further discussion at the next meeting, Maybe a GOTA/Rover
station would be a good idea, Non Hams and inactive hams to work GOTA
and when those run out roer kicks in. Just my ideas.
73,
Martin L. Pyne, KB1DRL
SHMARC EMCOM Team

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of [email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 7:17 AM
To: W1SMH
Subject: [W1SMH] GOTA clarification

Hi All,

To clear up the point I brought up at the meeting last evening, I am
including the FAQ (Frequently asked questions) from the ARRL web site
under the field day rules.  The FAQ is an explanation of the official
rules in plain language.

The GOTA portion refers to the rules
section 4.1.1.1 which also states that a different call must be used for
the GOTA other than the Field day primary call.  This says that W1SMH
cannot be used for both the GOTA station and the primary field day call.

The bold section below (close to the end of the FAQs, refers to rules
4.1.1.2 on what "generally inactive hams" means and the fact that
seasoned hams do not operate the GOTA station.

You can find the complete package at the following URL under Field Day
2002 about half way down the page.

http://www.arrl.org/contests/forms/

as "2002 Field Day Package (All forms, sheets, rules, info):"

GOTA Station FAQs (from Field Day 2002 package)

Q. What is the GOTA station?
A. It is an opportunity for Novice, Technician, Technician Plus
licensees, other generally inactive licensees, and non-licensed persons
to experience first-hand the fun of amateur radio by allowing them to
GET ON THE AIR.

Q. How many GOTA stations may a club have on the air?
A. Only one GOTA station may be on the air at any given time. Remember
that a transmitter is considered to be on the air for a fifteen-minute
period once it first transmits. If the club has a GOTA station on VHF,
it may not also have a GOTA station on an HF band simultaneously.

Q. What are the bands for the GOTA station?
A. The GOTA station may be operated on any amateur band on which Field
Day is permitted. Operation may be on either HF or VHF.

Q. What modes and frequencies may the GOTA station use?
A. The modes and frequencies are determined by the person in control of
the GOTA station when it is in operation. If the person has a valid
amateur radio license and is the control operator, they may operate on
any band and mode permitted by their license. If the person does not
have license privileges for the specific band and/or mode where the
station is to be operated, there must be a control operator permitted to
use the frequencies and modes desired in direct control of the GOTA
station at that time.

Q. What callsign does the GOTA station use?
A. The GOTA station uses a callsign separate from the call being used by
the main group Field Day operation. Remember that you must have
permission of the holder of the callsign in order to use it for the GOTA
station. Also remember the rules of station identification. A
two-by-three call issued to a Technician licensee may be used, but if
the call is being used outside of the privileges of the licensee, it
must also include the callsign of the control operator (WA4QQN/N1ND for
example).

Q. Who may the GOTA station contact?
A. The GOTA station may contact any other amateur radio station, with a
couple of exceptions. The GOTA station may not work its own parent Field
Day station. It may not contact any station operated by a person who was
involved with their group' s Field Day operation. Also, remember that if
a DX station is involved, the FCC rules involving Third Party
participation may come into play.

Q. What is considered a generally inactive licensee?
A. The GOTA station is not for everyone. The intent and the spirit of
this station is to provide an opportunity for persons to gain valuable
on-the-air experience. This is not a station that a club "ringer" should
operate in order to rack up points. The list of operators of this
station must be submitted with the Field Day entry . A couple of
guidelines to keep in mind when allowing persons to operate the GOTA
station:
1) If the GOTA station operates on HF bands, a licensee who has never
made HF contacts would be considered inactive.
2) If the GOTA station operates either HF or VHF/UHF, someone who has
made no QSOs in the last two years would be considered inactive.
3) A person who operated the GOTA station as a generally inactive
licensee this year would not be eligible to operate the GOTA station in
the following Field Day. Any operator of the GOTA station is limited to
completing a maximum of 100 QSOs of the 400 total QSO limit. The
club/group must provide a list of operators and the number of QSOs each
operator makes at the GOTA station. Clubs should use their judgement in
determining the operators of the GOTA station.

Q. May someone operate both the GOTA and main Field Day stations? A. It
is permissible for someone to operate both GOTA and the main stations.
However, remember that to use the GOTA station, you must meet the
requirements of license class, be generally inactive, or a non-licensed
person. It would not be permissible for a  seasoned operator to operate
the GOTA station.

Q. May a non-licensed person operate the GOTA station?
A. A non-licensed person may participate in the GOTA station by speaking
into the microphone, sending CW, but may do so only under the direct
supervision of a properly licensed control operator.

Joe
W1TW

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