[Wswss] KX9X Comments On "VHF and Field Day 2011"
Dennis Kidder
w6dq at att.net
Wed Feb 2 11:00:29 EST 2011
Pete,
Agree with you whole-heartedly! Many thanks to Sean and the HQ gang for
inclusion of operating tips for VHF. I am a fairly recent addict to VHF and up
operating and I strive to follow the rules and agreements on operating. And I
think it is most important to give other operators an opportunity to learn the
same in a non-threatening manner. (In other words, NOT in the heat of a contest
on their own!)
There are some great opportunities for teaching operating skills -- having a
lecture at a club meeting is where it starts. What I have begun doing with the
Fullerton Radio Club here in DM13 is to have operating "clinics" at my QTH. We
will have a group on the air for the VHF and UHF contests and will use those as
coaching sessions for our club members. We try to have several experienced
operators on hand to watch over the new ops. For some of our members this has
even been their first time on the air! They not only learn proper operating
techniques but they learn to use the logging tools as well as working as a
team. We aren't going to win any contests, but we do have a lot of fun in the
meantime.
I admit that we are not perfect, there are mistakes made, but we're only human.
We set a goal for the club last year to train a new crop of operators for Field
Days in the future - mainly because us old-timers aren't going to be around
forever. This was one of several ideas that we came up with for training the
future Field Day organizers and operators.
I think that if more clubs took on this type of hands-on training we would see
some improvements over time.
I challenge other clubs to get their members on the air for the contests -- not
just VHF but ANY contests. What better way to educate the newcomers than with
hands-on experience with skilled guiding hands?
I note that from the last ARRL UHF Contest that there were only 13 multi-op
entries. Let's see other clubs pick up this task and get their members on the
air!
One last thing I would add ... there are numerous VHF weak signal nets around
the country. We have many here in Southern California. We need to encourage
more folks to participate in those nets. So many HF rigs these days also
include 6 M, 2M and 70 cm, let's get those owners to make use of those radios
for something other than FM repeaters. Let's get them to participate on the
nets.
But that's just part of the solution. The other part is to use the nets as
training events. We can provide information and oeprating techniques via the
nets for the newcomers. It is important to make them part of the community.
Give them the incentives to participate and learn.
Again, thanks to Sean and Steve for the additions to the Field Day package! And
I hope to see more folks on the air for the VHF activities!
73,
-dennis W6DQ
Fullerton CA DM13
________________________________
From: "n6ze at aol.com" <n6ze at aol.com>
To: kx9x at arrl.org; vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu; wb8imy at arrl.org;
PNWVHFS at googlegroups.com; wswss at mailman.qth.net
Sent: Tue, February 1, 2011 4:13:41 PM
Subject: Re: [Wswss] KX9X Comments On "VHF and Field Day 2011"
Groundhog Day, 2011
Kudos to Sean, KX9X, and Steve, WB8IMY, on the newly revised "VHF & Field Day
2011" narrative. This will do a lot to alleviate the historic Field Day vs VHF
problems.
BUT virtually all 6 meter beacons are between 50.060 - 50.080 MHz.
In regards to the 2 meter Calling Frequency: The frequency of 146.52 MHz FM
Simplex should be specifically stated in the Field Day Rule narrative. I have
observed that many licensed hams do not know what that frequency is.
Quote from Field Day 2011 Rules: "Important 6 Meter SSB/CW tips: 1) 6 meter SSB
activity is from 50.125 to 50.200 MHz, and can go up to 50.300 MHz if the band
is open and packed with signals.
2) 6 meter CW activity will range from 50.080 to 50.100 MHz. from 50.000 to
50.080 MHz, you can listen for CW beacons to help see if the band is open.
3) 50.100 to 50.125 MHz is the 6 Meter DX window, which is reserved for stations
attempting intercontinental QSOs. Please do not make Field Day QSOs in the DX
Window. There are many non-Field Day operators that focus on 6 meter DX’ing and
request the DX window be kept clear."
bt73
Pete Heins, N6ZE/K1FJM
-----Original Message-----
From: Kutzko, Sean, KX9X <kx9x at arrl.org>
To: vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu
Sent: Tue, Feb 1, 2011 4:01 pm
Subject: [VHF] VHF and Field Day 2011
Hi folks-
Immediately following Field Day 2010, there was a lot of activity on
his reflector about the inexperienced operators on 6 and 2 meters. At
hat time, I wrote that I would address some of these issues for Field
ay 2011.
Specifically, I wrote:
-----Original Message-----
rom: Kutzko, Sean, KX9X [mailto:kx9x at arrl.org]
ent: Monday, June 28, 2010 5:40 PM
o: MT; vhf at w6yx.stanford.edu
ubject: RE: [VHF] Field day on VHF
Hi Folks-
This topic greatly interests me. I, too, was a Field Day participant (no
m prop to my location, though) and read numerous reports of clearly
nexperienced ops on 6 Meters.
Many of the comments I saw flamed the operators for their misdeeds. Yes,
aving somebody call "CQ FIELD DAY" on 50.110 as you're trying to work a
X station is annoying. Yet, I'd be willing to bet they sure would've
iked somebody to answer their CQ.
Okay, so what can we, the VHF community, do about it? Screaming at
omebody that doesn't know any better won't solve anything and will
ikely drive potential new VHF'ers away. I recall a saying from the
960's that said, "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of
he problem." So, as representatives of the VHF community, let's take
ome collective steps on a constructive solution. We all want more
ctivity on the VHF/UHF bands...let's take this opportunity to do what
ield Day in general can do: educate the inexperienced on how to
perate.
1) I'll draft up a "how to operate the VHF bands in Field Day" document
nd make sure it's included in the 2011 Field Day packet and highly
isible elsewhere in the promotion before Field Day 2011.
2) I'll provide heavier promotion of the free VHF station that's
vailable for eligible Field Day entry categories.
3) What can YOU do? Can you give a talk during your club's Field Day
lanning committee on how to operate VHF correctly? Can you take the
ime to be a VHF coach during your club's Field Day? Can you provide a
raining course to club members a week or so before your club's Field
ay on where to call CQ and point the antenna?
It's far easier to sit on your duff and complain about something than it
s to get involved and address the problem. I've outlined what I'm
illing to do from here... what about you?"
*************************************
Here's a status update for 2011:
1) The 2011 Field Day info has just been posted to the web at
ttp://www.arrl.org/field-day. There is a document for 2011 that is a
HF Operator FAQ. This document, written by ARRL staffer Steve Ford,
B8IMY, existed as part of the Field Day packet before this year, and
oes a very good job of covering FM and Satellite operations. For 2011,
expanded this document to include much more coverage on operating 6
nd 2-meter SSB/CW during Field Day. I specifically mention to avoid the
Meter DX window. I also mention that all Field Day VHF stations should
now the grid square they are operating from, in case somebody asks for
grid.
2) In 2010, the free VHF station was only available to Class A and F
tations with 2 or more transmitters. For 2011, the free VHF station has
ow been made available to ALL Class A and Class F entries, regardless
f number of transmitters. I feel this is a very good move for Field Day
nd VHF in general and will continue to promote the responsible,
roductive use of VHF/UHF weak-signal activity during Field Day.
I feel I have lived up to my end of the bargain by getting these items
ddressed for Field Day 2011. Now it's your turn. What are you willing
o do to help promote VHF weak-signal operating in your area for your
ocal club? Can you be a VHF operator at a Field Day effort and provide
roper training? Can you give a talk or lecture at your local club
eeting before Field Day occurs to teach good VHF operating skills?
Here's the ball... run with it.
73,
Sean Kutzko, KX9X
ontest Branch Manager
ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio(tm)
25 Main St.
ewington, CT 06111
60-594-0232
kutzko at arrl.org
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