[W2CRA] New FD Rules for 2002 - GOTA Station Replaces Novice Stn.

[John Crovelli]

Hi Folks. Saw this posted....and to me the change will increase the 
operating possibilities for our newer operators on more HF bands.

John W2GD

full info at:  http://www.arrl.org/news/stories/2002/01/29/1/?nc=1


ARRL Field Day, Affiliated Club Competition Changes Announced

The design of the Field Day 2002 pin reflects the fact that all IARU Region 
2 countries--North and South America--have been invited to take part in 
Field Day. Field Day 2002 pins and T-shirts may be ordered via the ARRL Web 
catalog.


NEWINGTON, CT, Jan 29, 2002--The ARRL has adopted rule changes affecting 
Field Day and the ARRL-affiliated club competition. The changes were 
included in the report of the Membership Services Committee (MSC), presented 
to the ARRL Board of Directors at its January meeting in Fort Worth, Texas.

The primary Field Day change--effective with this year's event June 
22-23--phases out the Novice-Technician station and replaces it with a new 
station category, the "Get-On-The-Air"--or GOTA--station. A GOTA station is 
intended for operation by Novice and Technician operators or by generally 
inexperienced or inactive amateurs as well as by as-yet-unlicensed or 
"under-licensed" operators working under the privileges of a licensed 
control operator. Under the revised rules, any Class A Field Day entry 
operating at least two transmitters may include a GOTA station, which will 
not count as an additional transmitter for the purpose of entry category.

The GOTA station may operate on any Field Day band and mode, but only one 
GOTA transmitter may be in use at any given time. The GOTA station may 
complete up to 400 QSOs to be counted toward the group's total Field Day 
score. A Field Day group can claim 100 bonus points, if its GOTA station 
successfully completes 400 QSOs. The GOTA station does not affect the 
additional VHF/UHF station provided under Field Day rule 4.1.2.


Field Day 2002 will mark the first in which stations throughout the Americas 
have been invited to participate. As approved at the July 2001 ARRL Board of 
Directors' meeting, all International Amateur Radio Union Region 2 
countries--North and South America--may take part in Field Day starting this 
June.

Complete Field Day rules and information packet will be available on the 
ARRL Web Contest Forms and Rules page in early February. Field Day 2002 pins 
and T-shirt may be ordered now via the ARRL Web catalog.




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