What Would You Do?
Patrick (N8BOA)
on
July 9, 2004
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What would you do?
You have gotten back into ham radio after a 15-year leave. While on a bike ride you meet some local hams doing the public service gig and of course you introduce and show off your mobile HF rig. The subject of Field Day comes up. You ask if they could use a CW operator, they say sure…. After weeks of preparation you show up at the Field Day site and find out they plan on being a 2A with one station on VHF/UHF the other HF SSB. You think, great plenty of room. Wrong! After given 5 good reasons why you should not operate you...
A) Leave upset.
B) Go across the parking lot and operate 1A.
C) Smile, wave and happily leave with the realization that, as a brotherhood we must sell ourselves to each other as we try to enlist new members. It should be easer to keep our members then to find new ones.
As you can guess my Field Day sucked but that ok I have learned an important lesson and the hams I met on the bike ride are the ones I'll remember from that club. I guess I was saved from joining and paying dues.
As for hamming I'll be on 30 meter CW.
Thank you.
Sean
N8BOA
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What Would You Do?
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by WB2TQC on July 9, 2004
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Well THAT sucked!!!!!! I would have left but I'd be pretty angry. A question comes to mind though. Did you attend any of the club meetings where they set up their FD plans? I know you were counting on the good word of those Hams you met but it has been my experience that "in the natural pecking order of things" ALL hams are not alike. Especially in clubs. It probably would behoove someone in your position (in the future) to insure that a club members word actually counts for something in the club........ overall though I still think you got screwed.
73,
John WB2TQC
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What Would You Do?
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by K9DI on July 9, 2004
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Hi Sean,
Wayne K9DI es Leader Dog Patriot here. I read with interest your tale of FD woes and have some questions for you.
1.) Did the weeks of preparation you mention also happen to emcompass working and planning with that club's FD committee so there would be "a place at the table" for you, or was it all personal preparation? 2.) Did you communicate with the club's FD committee?
If Not then, well, we both know what happens when assumptions are made. Having helped plan 3 club FD operations and one personal FD operation with a close friend. I can tell you that the more prep and planning that are done ahead of time the easier it is when it comes time to operate FD, another factor is flexibility. Murphy is the bane of Ham operators...:)
3.) Why did you allow their poor attitude to spoil FD for you?
You could just as easily gone home and operated as a Delta, or gone to another location and had a blast operating out in the great outdoors. The wonderful thing about ham radio is that it is big enough for everyone who wants to participate. Would have been interesting to see if you could have beaten the score they got as a 2 transmiiter operation...:)
In closing, I have to say, that I find the behavior of the club to be at variance with the experiences I've had with clubs and FD operations. Most clubs I know are more than happy to have more ops to man the stations. Especially during the overnight shift...:) A case in point is the FD 2002 and FD 2003 operations of my local club. Tom KF9HL, a "hired gun" and good friend of mine, brought his TS520 and his Leader Dog 3 hours from his QTH to operate with my local club. He was welcomed with open arms by the club, and in fact he and his TS520 racked up a goodly percentage of the points that our club scored those two years. So I think that the club you were trying to operate with cut their nose of to spite their face. I mean, c'mon tossing away QSO's that are worth double points?? Anyway, I've yakked long enough...:)
Vy 73
de
Wayne K9DI
k9di at k9di dot org
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by KF4VGX on July 9, 2004
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Clubs are filled with nothing more than control Egos with little regards as to what is really going on.As long as you do as your told your a good member. Run for the hill's and never look back. Enjoy the hobby and give back to it in your own ways.
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by K0RS on July 9, 2004
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"After weeks of preparation you show up at the Field Day site and find out they plan on being a 2A"
Huh?
Why am I having trouble with this sentence? Just exactly what were you doing during those "weeks of preparation" if you didn't even know 'til you showed up what class you were competing in?
Field Day is a great activity. It's a lot of different things to a lot of different people. But, therein lies the rub. If those different people happen to be on the same team, Field Day can be one of the most divisive activities in which a group can participate.
When JoeBob wants a weeny bake, Willy wants a contest, Bubba thinks it's an ARES drill, Elmer thinks it's a beer drinking contest, and a couple of others show up wanting to operate but not setup or tear down, the potential for conflict runs high.
The cardinal rule for Field Day is "Don't go with guys you don't know." Our group treats Field Day as a contest. Yeah, I know, lots of people don't think that it is, don't approve, don't get it, blah, blah blah... That's not the point. The point is (pay attention here): We're all on the same page. We all have the same expectations. We all have the same goal.
It's still hard enough to keep everyone focused, but it's sure as hell a lot easier than when everyone has different ideas about where we should be going. Our program is centered around making Q's and winning our class. SSB is subordinate to CW. Bonus points are assigned to individuals and it's their responsibility to make them happen. Operating is scheduled, and schedules center around the operator's abilities. The best CW ops get the highest rate times. Everyone knows this ahead of time and feelings don't get hurt. Anyway, you get the idea...
You don't have to do it this way. If a bunch of guys want to camp out and make 10 QSO's, fine. That's the beauty of Field Day. Just make sure that you understand each other first. Consider your experience as "lesson learned" on what can go wrong with Field Day. Next year, don't go with a bunch of guys you just met in a parking lot. Find a couple of kindred spirits and agree ahead of time on a mutually acceptable plan. You'll have more fun, and if you continue to be comfortable with each other, you may begin to attract other like-minded hams. But...sometimes hard, honest decesions have to be made whether to include or exclude someone who's abilities or aims don't fit the goals of your particular group.
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by KA4KOE on July 9, 2004
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Never drop in on people you don't know well. Thats always good advice.
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by KZ1X on July 9, 2004
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"Clubs are filled with nothing more than control Egos with little regards as to what is really going on.As long as you do as your told your a good member. Run for the hill's and never look back. Enjoy the hobby and give back to it in your own ways. "
I feel badly that you haven't had a chance to be in a great ham club. I've been a member of several, and they constitute the high point for my enjoyment of the hobby.
Amateur radio is not best experienced as a solo event. Fraternalism is a big part of the benefit.
Our local Field Day is _always_ fun and operators are _always_ welcomed, especially CW ops!
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by KE4MOB on July 9, 2004
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Well, I see failures on both sides of the aisle on this one folks.
A) You should have been more involved in the club's planning.
B) But by the same token, the club should have looked out for this contingency. Our club has never turned down another transmitter!! If you've got the radio and the antenna...we'll MAKE room.
I've got to admit though...turning down a CW FD operator...that *is* kinda dense, IMHO...
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by WK2X on July 9, 2004
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I think I would have gone back home and tried to run a little 1D.
Actually, that's what I was planning on doing this field day. I was looking at only having an hour or two to operate, and that late at night. So I go down into my shack at the appointed time and listen around on 40m phone (my favorite FD band) and there's quite a bit of stuff. As soon as I try transmitting, though, I notice something's not quite right. The SWR on my 4BTV has gone thru the roof and I'm not able to transmit at all!
As it turns out, my little mini-schnauzer had chewed the shield conductor connection right off of the vertical. It was dangling in the breeze not connected to anything - the only reason I could hear anything was because the center conductor was still connected (barely). I managed to get it fixed up (and hopefully schnauzer-of-Satan-proofed) - after Field Day was over.
The point? Don't feel too bad - you weren't the only one who had a sucky Field Day this year. :)
73,
Bill - Wk2X
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by N8MMZ on July 9, 2004
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Sounds like you should have been more involved in the planning OM. If you hadn't really talked to them in those two weeks - how were they to know that you'd really show up?
However, they were somewhat inconsiderate and dumb. So why not be just as inconsiderate and dumb - here's what you should have done:
Go upwind and set up your 1A station. Call back home to your wife on your cell and ask for her to look up phone numbers for pig roaster rentals (or hog roaster if you prefer) and get one delivered, hog and all. Start up the fires and get that hog roasting, with the 2A station operating down wind of you. Call up some of your buddies to come on out. Operate 1A while the hog cooks up and make small talk with the 2A operators who come to observe your operation (they will gravitate to the source of the smoke). Quit operating when the pig is cooked, and deny the 2A guys from having any of the hog - because "I don't have enough provisions for you - I hadn't planned on you coming". Be sure and have some pork dangling out of your mouth when you say that phrase, and smack loudly!
73s de N8MMZ
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What Would You Do?
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by OBSERVER11 on July 9, 2004
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very interesting.. I would like for you to name names and give the reasons why they said you could not play with them.
I know that the CLUBS (PLURAL!)I belong to welcome volunteer ops, we can never seem to get enough, especially the CW guys.
There is nothing in the rules that says that you cannot set up your own station and operate from your back yard... that is exactly what I did.
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by WA9SVD on July 9, 2004
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I'm still a bit confused. If they were operating 2A, they could claim the VHF/UHF set-up as a bonus position, and have TWO operating positions on HF, as well as a "GOTA" position, and still be 2A. WHY were they considering the VHF/UHF station in their transmitter count? If they were that unfamiliar with the rules of Field Day, perhaps it's just as well you didn't participate with them.
I hope you have a much better experience next Field Day. Get involved with a GOOD club, and remember, some clubs start planning for next year's FD before the rigs have cooled off from this year's. Get involved early. And most of all, HAVE FUN! Good Luck.
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by K0RGR on July 9, 2004
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What were the "5 good reasons you shouldn't operate"?
Unless it's a very small club, I hope it wasn't because you were the only CW op available, and you didn't intend to operate the whole weekend. Sadly, I'm afraid this is becoming more likely all the time.
Maybe it's time to increase the multiplier for CW contacts?
In the meantime, I guess I'd look for a club that represents my own interests, or I'd try to find others in the club that are interested in CW contesting, and then insist on a CW station next year.
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What Would You Do?
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by KC0NPF on July 9, 2004
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Wow, exactly, the VHF/UHF station doesn't count for a transmitter (officially) and niether does the GOTA station. I didn't even get a FD this year, I wound up going to a wedding instead-which wasn't all bad, I just didn't make any contacts on my new (heathkit :-) HF station. I think the barbecue option was great hi hi, but ya our CW station from last year made more contacts per hour than the phone station or digital station when he was on the air, and he said it was a slow day!
anyway, very sorry to hear about your bad club experience, the one i'm a member of seems to be fine.
KC0NPF
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by WR8D on July 9, 2004
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Sounds like that club is like the one here. Full of chickenband hams. They don't know "how" to work cw. Thats the real reason you were not welcome. They never had another ham that could give you a break or log for you etc. You really are much better off that it came down the way it did.
73
John WR8D
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by KA4KOE on July 9, 2004
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N8MMZ
You sound like a Georgia boy talking about roasting a hog like that. Yours is the best solution yet!!!
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by N8CPA on July 9, 2004
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I too want to know the 5 good reasons you couldn't operate with them. Was one of them brassophobia? Vocolomania? Please list those reasons.
Reading just what you posted, it sounds like they set up in a public area. In my experience, public phone only operations don't impress the general public--they equate the use of microphones with CB. Digital positions tend to be confused with wireless internet. The reason CW ops are ususally so welcome is that brasspounders make visitors stop and ask questions. The general public doesn't see that technology very often.
If the group knew what they were doing, they would have welcomed the doubled points, above and beyond the potential for public appeal.
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What Would You Do?
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by WA4ET on July 9, 2004
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Although I would have to say that was prety sorry on their part, but I am sure your FD didnt SUCK half as much as mine did
First a group of us decide to do a FD from a State park, kinda like what I would call a real FD. You make reservations to camp, plan out everthing pretty much, and then weeks ahead, almost everybody bails out for one reason or another. WE wont get into reasons here, its enough that they commited than cancelled. Then with FD being still several weeks away, you send a note out to some friends and other Ham groups,saying yoou needs some more ops for FD from a state park. You get a number to commit again. So know you start planning everything, a week before FD, almost everybody bails out again, and the balance you never hear from.
SO what the hell, I will go and play by myself, no big deal right. The XYL and I pack up the camper and drive 3.5 hrs to the park, set up camp, and start to open my camper, and the winch coupling shears off in my hand. NOw your are really, #$@%#$. So you pack up everything and go home, just another 3.5 hours of my life. You spend Saturday at RV service center, and go home the afternoon. Sunday I went over to operate an hour or two, doing releif breaks, down the street from my home
NOW thats my version of SUCKS!!! so grin and bare it, no matter how bad you thought it might be, somebody always got it worse
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by K6BBC on July 9, 2004
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My suggestion, get the book HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE, then find yourself some.
K6BBC
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by W2WJO on July 9, 2004
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yep, its true, hams can let you down just a bad as regular people! move on and find some better friends, you'll do fine!
73 Walter W2WJO
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What Would You Do?
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by NJ0E on July 9, 2004
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what would i do?
o i would help out with handling the logging
o hang out and chit chat with the others who aren't
actively operating
o eat chips + drink beer
o bring some food; maybe fetch something for
sunday morning breakfast
o check on the generator; fill it with gas when it
needs it
o tell any non-ham visitors who drop in about
amateur radio
o and by all means help out with taking down
the station when it's all over!
and by the end of it i will have firmly
established my reputation as a guy who does alot
of the "heavy lifting" involved in running a
successful field day.
my own field day participation actually went
alot like this. i did get to operate a little,
cw though, about 4:30 am sunday morning when the
qrp phone op needed a break.
sometimes you have to make an investment,
especially if they don't know you from adam.
my 2c
scott nj0e
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by W4UDX on July 9, 2004
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A very similar thing happened to me many years ago. Seems the clubs have one or two guys that call all the shots and if you don't fit in to their agenda, too bad. After my experience, WR4F and myself decided that from then on we would operate by ourselves as 2B and if anyone else wanted to join us we would welcome them and change our category as needed to reflect the power type and number of transmitters. This has worked out well for us over the years. My advice, next year, get with a good ham friend you have known for years, set up at a local park or flea market, and have fun!
Mark W4UDX
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What Would You Do?
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by KR4WM on July 9, 2004
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Next time you want to operate CW at Field Day, you'll be
welcome here in Myrtle Beach, SC!!! The other guys are
right about VHF/UHF not counting towards transmitter
count.
We generally try to estimate the number of ops who
will remain overnight, and base our number of
transmitters on that. We have plenty of ops during
the day.
-KR4WM
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by W6TH on July 9, 2004
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Guess this is another no code club. There are other clubs have the same setup. Did you check the 20 meter ssb and heard every frequency was taken.
What I would do and had done on the past field day was to go home and become active as a 1D, or could go as a mobile and enjoy the fun.
Of a matter of course, yes using the paddle and the keyer, called cw.
.:
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by W4TME on July 9, 2004
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I had the exact opposite experience happen to me in 2002. I have been the band captain for the W4DW digital station for several years now. Our club approaches FD as a contest / social event, but over the past few years it has been harder and harder to get operators to work the stations during off peak hours. We have our "hard core" regulars and get a good crowd during Saturday PM, but as soon as the free food is gone, so goes the crowd.
A few years back, I ran into several hams in the parking lot of the local grocery store in my town. I identified them by their state issued "Amateur Radio" license plates. I struck up a conversation and invited them to the FD site which was only several miles away. They agreed to come and appeared to be genuinely excited about participating. We exchange e-mail addresses and they were involved with the planning aspects of the station and agreed to do some operating on Sunday AM.
FD came and went and no sign of them. Nothing. No phone call or call on the local repeater. There were some very sleepy midnight shift operators that had to work Sunday AM shift due to there absence. After FD I tried to get in touch to see if something serious had transpired, but never got a response. Oh well. I occasionally see them on the road, but I have no desire to find out why they left us high and dry.
I can't believe that with how hard it is to put on a "serious" FD effort by getting operators, equipment and site access, that anyone would be as inconsiderate as the group that N8BOA associated with. Sean, you are more than welcome to our FD operation no matter what mode you want to operate. MI is a long way from NC, but your still welcome to come down and enjoy some southern hospitality and wear out a bug or two.
As has been said here, when you get group of people together, strange things can happen. It is just the psychology of a mob. The important thing is to enjoy the hobby. If you can’t find a club in your area that you “click” with, then do your own thing. Ham radio is an equal opportunity hobby, you just have to take advantages of the sometimes hard to identify opportunities.
-Tim W4TME
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by W4TME on July 9, 2004
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K2WH,
Obviously you haven't been working FD.
You can find out what "2A" is by reading the contest rules at
http://www.arrl.org/contests/rules/2004/rules-fd-2004.html
-Tim W4TME
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by AB5XZ on July 9, 2004
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Why didn't you join the club and pay dues?
Do you think a radio club runs on hot air only?
Sorry about your "weeks of preparation"; Field Day for a club is a group effort, requiring cooperation and lots of planning. I have a good friend who complains about not being able to drop in with his PSK31 QRP rig on a past Field Day. This year, if he had been paying attention, he could have operated the club's FD PSK31 station for the whole weekend, making a major contribution to the club's score. Instead he stayed home.
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by W6TH on July 9, 2004
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Now hear this:
I am an individual. I practice personal responsibility, I do not govern
anyone.
73, W6TH
.:
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by WB2WIK on July 9, 2004
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Too bad about what happened, but as others have pointed out, when you're not part of the planning, it's easy to be left out of the plan.
You missed a couple of great Field Days in the 1980's when even the WARC bands were eligible for FD use...you could have been the 30m station! Alas, that changed.
I "guest operated" at a major FD here in southern CA when I first moved here and didn't know anyone at all locally. I attended exactly one club meeting (the first one I knew about!) and FD was the next month. I hadn't been invited, but decided to drop in, as it sounded like a huge event. Before dropping in, I thought, "What can I contribute? These guys already have everything!" So, I brought my little QRP rig, a gel cell to power it, a keyer paddle, some premade dipoles and coax, a cooler full of food and drinks, and a couple of hand-made funny signs to hang up, hoping they'd never seen these before. My signs screamed, "DANGER! 50,000,000 OHMS!" and stuff like that. The club members almost fell over laughing. Luckily, they hadn't seen this stuff before.
I was not only invited to operate, but ended up pretty much running the 40m CW station and making 386 QSOs with 5W and a dipole, being the second-highest "scoring" station at their very well-established Field Day.
I was invited to return the next year, and the year after that I became Field Day Operations Manager for this large and well-established club.
I think it was the funny signs.
WB2WIK/6
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What Would You Do?
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by AD7DB on July 9, 2004
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Kind of reminds me of something I saw happen at "A Large Well Established Long Time Radio Club" around here. I visited one of their club meetings one time to hear their guest speaker who was from the Red Cross.
The speaker mentioned that they always have a need for experienced ham operators.
One of the attendees, an overly smug guy, spoke up and said, "Right after the 1994 earthquake, I came over to the emergency center and told them I was a ham operator and ready to provide assistance. They turned me down. What do you say about that?"
The Red Cross guy didn't quite know what to say. But I was thinking, "I know why they turned you down. You didn't train with them ahead of time, you don't know their procedures, and you're an unknown factor. They're better off being a little short handed than having to constantly watch someone who's new."
There are plenty of such hams who will show up after the disaster's hit. They want to be visible as a Communication Hero while the area is getting its 15 minutes of fame. Maybe make it into Newsline or QST.
I don't know what happened to you with that club. I don't know if you worked with them during your FD preparation or just showed up out there. I don't think they should have turned you down if you had brought up all your own stuff though.
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by KY6R on July 9, 2004
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Some clubs are fun and inviting, and some are closed and not so inviting. If you look a little more you will find a club or group of hams that you will enjoy hanging out with.
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What Would You Do?
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by KB6NU on July 9, 2004
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Without a doubt, these guys could have handled the situation better. It makes no sense to turn anyone away, especially since they could have operated the phone station, your CW station, and the VHF station and still have been 2A. Actually, it makes no sense to turn anyone away, period.
They're only human, though.
I'd stick with these guys, and work with them, if you can. Clubs can be a lot of fun, and if they're not operating any CW now, it sounds like they have a lot to learn from you. If you give it your best shot, and you're still treated like a pariah, then take your membership money elsewhere. :)
In your situation, I think what I would have done is set up across the street as you suggested and work the hell out of the bands. With your two points per Q, my guess is that your single op CW station would have had a good chance at outscoring their multi-op SSB station. That woulda showed 'em. :)
Finally, if all else fails, I invite you to come work our Field Day next year here in Ann Arbor. It's a bit of a hike, but you're certainly welcome. Next year, we're thinking of going 4A with two phone stations and two CW stations.
73!
Dan KB6NU
------------------------------------------------------
President, ARROW Comm. Assn. (www.w8pgw.org)
ARRL MI Section Affiliated Club Coordinator
CW Geek (FISTS #9342)
Read my ham radio blog at www.blurty.com/~kb6nu
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What Would You Do?
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by KA8VIT on July 9, 2004
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Pat,
I would like to invite you to come operate with us next year (BTW, that's June 25 and 26th, 2005).
ANY field operation can always use another person, planned or not.
73,
Bill KA8VIT
USS Cod Amateur Radio Club - W8COD
Check out our pics at: http://www.qsl.net/ka8vit/codfd2004
or at:
www.arrl.org/contests/soapbox
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by KF4VGX on July 9, 2004
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. Be sure and have some pork dangling out of your mouth when you say that phrase, and smack loudly!
Good, very Good :) Call me when you have this pork BBQ .
Have Car will Travel . Just the way you talked about it tells me your well experenced FD operator .
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by W4MY on July 9, 2004
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I was treated with a cold shoulder once when "showing up cold" at a FD site after reciently moving to a new town. However, I showed on Friday to help when it happened. (I knew they were starting on Friday afternoon because of an announcement I read in the newspaper. It was a general invitation so I felt it was OK to do this) But I just shrugged it off.
Later that year I started attending the meetings in hopes to get to know everybody. Long story short, a number of hams in this club were snobs and fit every description of what is wrong with ham clubs today. However, I met a few hams not like that and since we have become very good friends. Over the intervening years the club grew despite the negetive efforts of the "old guard" until it reached the point where they were no longer in the majority. They left in disgust after loosing control, (and loosing their hold on FD) so today we have a pretty good group. We did 3A for FD this year and may be expanding to 4A next year! Everyone is welcome in our group. Visit us (Tar River ARC) in Rocky Mount,NC if you ever get a chance!
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by KI4DUK on July 9, 2004
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I just moved to the west coast 11 days before Field Day. Saw an article in the local paper that an area club was planning FD operations from a park nearby, so I looked up the website and read about the setup plans for Friday.
I showed up Friday, introduced myself as a new ham, new to the area, and that I wanted to help! Met some great people, helped with tower setups, general lifting and toting, and asked questions that helped me understand what was going on. I learned some neat things about propogation and antenna placement.
Saturday, I worked the GOTA station for a short while, made a few HF QSOs, and joined the club. I had to work that night, but came back after work Sunday morning to check on the night crew.
I guess the club makes a huge difference, but I am going to my first meeting tonight, and really look forward to it.
Sorry you had a bad experience, but my first Field Day was great!
I look forward to having my General next year, so that I can be a bit more help as an operator.
Joe
KI4DUK
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by W3DCG on July 9, 2004
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Well, that does suck-wind!
I wished that hadn't happened to you.
Me, I'm too busy I discovered to be active much if at all at clubs, but I do wish I had the time for it. I often wonder how it might be if I just showed up one of those Tuesdays.
As it is, I'm lucky to have operating time, and then I'm at home with my wife and kids, so such ham activity is at least possible.
I would however, be pleasantly surprised, had I the time to check into clubs for eye ball Qs, and maybe start some new personal relationships, if I wasn't somehow, sometimes, disappointed- It really depends on one's mind-frame. I'm afraid in your case you were mislead, the framing was assisted by those who seemed alright with your proposition, but then apparently could care less about you and what you might have offered.
Therefore, I think if it were me, and I'd already blocked off the time and sanctioned the event for portable CW operations, and brought my equipment, I would have said something like, "Wow guys, good work, great operation ya'll have here..." Depending on if the remark was even acknowledged in any way, I might then say I have to check something about my rig- but if no one seemed to hear nor care, I'd have marched my merry little butt straight back to my car, and in the true spirit of Field Day, set up, find some logging tools, and operated as you say, 1A, or whatever the classification is for mobile, and had a blast until I got tired of it.
Then, I'd drive home earlier than expected, to a surprised and totally stoked wife and kids who would be so happy that I'm spending time with them!
Thus, everbody won, except for those that at least, got you out there, even if it was under false pretense. Bassackwardsly, they did the small favor of getting you out there, ready to rock and roll.
73.
CW Forever.
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by KG4PIL on July 9, 2004
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Thank God we have a small club with no runaway egos. We set up 5 stations this past FD and Several unexpected visiting hams came by and helped us out emensely. Everyone had fun taking turns at the controls and it was great. We didn't set any records for QSOs but we weren't trying to either. Our equipment worked and we had fun and that was good enough for us.
de George KG4PIL
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by K1CJS on July 9, 2004
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By KF4VGX:
"Clubs are filled with nothing more than control Egos with little regards as to what is really going on. As long as you do as your told your a good member. Run for the hill's and never look back. Enjoy the hobby and give back to it in your own ways."
Indeed. The other type individuals at clubs are the card carriers--they never show up or do anything. At most clubs, you may get involved and make friends, but the first time you have a serious disagreement with one of the 'power' members, you find yourself in left field all alone. Oh, they'll still want you around for the bull work, but for anything else, you don't exist.
Also, if you join a club, you're expected to think the same way as the ruling clique, heaven help you if you don't!
I second the thoughts of KF4VGX, enjoy the hobby--not the club. There are more individuals doing that than there are active club members.
Oh, and if there are any people who know me through one of the many clubs I do or have belonged to, take this rant for what its worth.......
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by AETHERBURNER on July 9, 2004
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This one is real easy. If you are a fist op, visit the three clubs that I stopped at on Field Day. I was offered to work any position, CW or Voice, at all three sites but I declined since I was planning to do four hours of 1C in the evening and I did not want to contaminate them from making a Q with me if it happened.. So what if the club that you stopped at was working 2A. You come with your key/paddles, ask if you can pound some brass for them and they end up getting points and you get more points/Q on the fist than voice. Very short sighted club and not worth the effort to deal with if they didn't offer you a few minutes of air time. I was once with a club on Field Day and they were running 3 stations - one VHF/UHF, one voice, and one CW. A good fist op can rack up points faster than a voice op any time. That comment is not a troll but reality. Everyone could work the mode that they wanted. All guests with licenses that visited were invited to work the mode of choice. If you did not have a license, there were licensed ops available to supervise or you could try your hand at the GOTA station.Don't let the snub push you away. Come to Wisconsin. We practice equal-opportunity hamming here and don't forget to bring your armament-of-choice and fist.
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by KA8NCR on July 9, 2004
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I've been involved with my club's field day for over 20 years and 13 of those have been in some fashion of planning. Some years I'm mostly the guy that makes sure the logging gets done properly and scores submitted, and others I plan it start to finish. Either way, I'm also in charge of the delicate political manuevering to make sure everyone has a good time and doesn't get their feelings trampled.
It seems that every other year, we have new club members that show up with a truckload of gear and want to fire-up not knowing the rules nor the plans of the club that were discussed at the last two club meetings and published in the newsletter. I appreciate and encourage their enthusiasm. Nevertheless, I've had some awesome temper-tantrums thrown my way over the years because I had to tell them their operating intentions would hurt the club's operation in one way or another; be it interferrence, adding to the transmitter count, logging or rules violations. I'm sorry, but the rules and the intentions of the club are pretty cut and dried and you can't expect the operations of 20 people to yield to just one person. Worse still, when we have let them operate, the ops pack up their gear at dusk and are never seen again. So there we are, operating (X-1)A.
If you're invited to a field day and the plans are discussed, then I see no reason why you were told that you can't operate. I'd waste no time in telling them that you were invited by (insert amateur names from the biking event here) and it was to operate CW. If they still say no-go, then operate HF SSB for a while, leave or whatever. Personally, I'd hang out for a bit to see what the club was about, see if the people that invited me showed-up (that'll tell you a lot right there) and try to see if the whole thing is a misunderstanding. After all, you're already there, might as well give them one last chance. If they still are not to your liking, at least you didn't waste any more time on a club that seems to have a poorly planned field day operation.
I can't think of any good reason why you couldn't have operated your station. Even if it was for a few hours on bands away from the SSB guys, you'd be giving a huge boost to their score. You quite possibly could have been the GOTA station, depending upon your current level of activity (rule 4.1.1.2). Worse, your CW station wouldn't have increased the transmitter count because they would still be a 2A as their VHF/UHF station would move to the freebie covered under rule 4.1.2. In either case, your QSO's would have been just more points for them.
Most importantly though, don't sweat it. This is a hobby for cryin' out loud. There are TONS of clubs that will not only accept you and your gear, but will probably feed you and swat the mosquitoes away as you operate. If you ever get to Michigan, we'd not only welcome you and your gear, but we'd make sure you had plenty of caffeinated beverages and DEET. Although not necessarily mixed together, I've tried it and it doesn't taste very good and the high produces a horrible headache the next morning.
73
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by AC9TS on July 9, 2004
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Does is matter? It could have been weeks of re-arranging his schedule to have the weekend open or spending 2 weeks in bed catching up on his sleep. Whatever it was, it was something that was done solely so he could work FD.
At least that's my take on it........
Tom - AC9TS
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by WB4QNG on July 9, 2004
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You should have went to the club meetings and offered your services there. That way you would have had the clubs understanding of what you were doing. I don't know if I would want a complete stanger come to my event and start operating. I guess it would be OK if you had a couple of spare operators to check out and see what he was doing. Same way in an emergency I don't know if I would stick a complete stanger in charge of anything with out strict supervisions. Just because he is a ham doesn't mean a whole lot. I have been to FD sites most of them are glad to show me around and ask me what I thought of their operations but few have ask me to operate. I turned them down and never pressed the issue at the other sites. I think in emergency operations and I consider FD a simulated emergency you are better off at home doing what you can do from there. Now if they have a general call for operators by all means show up if not then they must have enough operators to take care of the situation.
Terry
WB4QNG
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by KE2IV on July 9, 2004
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Hey N8MMZ,
Darn you, OM. You got my mouth to waterin' and everything just reading your thing!
Nothing like a pig roast to get the juices flowing - I espescially like to chow down on the hind quarter section - you know - THE HAMS!
73,
George
KE2IV
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by K6BBC on July 10, 2004
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Basically, what we have here is a self-esteem issue. First mistake was getting involved with theses creeps in the first place. Associating with such narrow, cruel people shows a lack of judgment and people skills. The end of the story was written from the moment the relationship began. My advice, be careful with whom you associated with, and never allow the small-minded to injure your self-worth. This was a hard lesson in human behavior, one from which I hope one grows stronger from.
K6BBC
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by OMNIPRESSIVE on July 10, 2004
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LOL, you're a CW operator and your last name is "Coady". Maybe if your last name was "mikey" they would have let you use a microphone.
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by WA9SVD on July 10, 2004
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Quote<< K2WH on July 9, 2004 >>
First, I have to ask, what is a "2A"????
====================================
2A, (or Two Alpha) is the Field Day designator for a station, one of three elements needed for a Field Day exchange: Designator, ARRL Section, and Callsign.
2A indicates that the station is a club or individuals participating as a group, set up in a non-permanent location, running two HF transmitters at any one time. You can get more details at the ARRL web site (look under contests and Field Day rules) or in QST for May 2004. The rules often change a bit from year to year, so it's important to check each year. (If that sort of thing is important to you.)
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by N5LXI on July 10, 2004
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Well. I worked FD 1E (one op emergency power via battery) 5-watts QRP all SSB. Only did 80+ contacts, but had fun this year and didn't take it too seriously.
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by N8CPA on July 10, 2004
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For those to whom Field Day is new, a breakdown of FD classes
A--Portable stations, using no permanent amateur radio facilities, operated by more than 2 personnel.
B--Portable stations, using no permanent facilities, operated by fewer than 3 personnel.
C--Any kind of mobile station from skateboard to space shuttle/station.
D--Stations using permanent facilities; home, clubhouses, etc, using commercial power mains.
E--Stations using permanent facilities, running emergency power.
F--Stations located at community EOCs.
The number portion (eg. 2A) refers to the number of HF transmitters at the site. Whatever the class, FD operation is supposed to be fun. And in most cases, it is!
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by K7VO on July 10, 2004
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I left Field Day angry this year. I won't go into why on a public forum. Funny, now some folks are angry at me for not operating and are either cold or simply not talking to me. Best of all, they didn't bother to ask me why I was upset or why I left. You know, I don't miss talking to those people.
I've already decided I want to do QRP-ARCI Milliwatt Field Day next year. I'll invite friends and do a nice setup. If nobody else wants to do QRP I'll operate 1A. At least I won't get nearly so upset. BTW, Milliwatt Field Day isn't really at milliwatts of power. It's just plain QRP with separate certificates.
What would I do? Well... for different reasons I left angry. If I were you from hear on out I'd ognore the people who upset you and deal with the rest of the amateur radio community.
Oh, and year, a 2A station can include 2 HF stations, 1 VHF/UHF station, and 1 GOTA station. Those idiots who treated you like dirt penalized themselves by operating 1A and claiming 2A. That should tell you just how sharp they are.
73,
Caity
K7VO
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by N9AVY on July 10, 2004
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Sounds like a group you don't need to be a part of...any FD group who doesn't understand 2A category and would turn down a CW OP has to be amazing stupid.
(I assume you are a good CW op.)
We had a situation like this with local club a few years ago; so, we formed another group and let the results speak for themselves...we were very near the top of our category (with emphasis on CW) while the club was in the cellar (not a decent CW op in the bunch!).
So, find yourself a group of local CW ops and/or contest types and start planning for FD 2005 !
Jerry, N9AVY
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by F5VJH on July 10, 2004
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One comment. Nice to see that the responses were all fairly measured and none abusive as sometimes seems to be the case.
John
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by K8LEA on July 10, 2004
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Probably would have left too....
But the other posts are instructive. You really don't know what'd doing until you spend some time at a meeting or three.
Reminds me of the time, 35+ years back, when the 20M CW gang asked me to log....
I'm a Tech....
(The paperwork's here - gotta grab the VE, but that's another story.)
The good news was that I could read call signs & RST's at 13 WPM, give or take.
The better news is that they found a real CW OP to log before I screwed things up. That wasn't the year I blew up the 6M transmitter either.... (Two toggle switches to go between receive and transmit. This one, then this one.... Right.... How long would it take to get the sequence wrong when the band opened?)
Stu K8LEA
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by KK6KF on July 10, 2004
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well I had just gotten back on HF was going to operate 1D for field day. I have a TS430S and a MFJ 1786 Hi Q Loop up at 12 feet above the ground that all I can get it up because I cannot have it any higher. It was working great on 20 meters. so I was all ready to start opering on 6/26. I tune up and started to call CQ Field Day on 20 SSB. 5 hrs later all I had to show for it was 10 contacts and a very scrachy voice, it took me 45 mins to get in my call to one station. High power station running more then 200 Watts should not be allowed on FD. that defeats the whole point. Us stations who were running 100 watts or less cannot compeate with them. I tried later in the PM (2300 PDT) on 20 meters nabed a few more but got bump with high noise levels. ARRL should revise the power limits. because me runing 100 watts will not be heard with a ststion running 1500 watts when I am at 100w vs 1600w is 12db difference which is going to be heard on a freq? this is why I am piss off. I am home bound and was looking to have some fun operating. my modest station was no match for the many others here in Northen CA.
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by K7LA on July 10, 2004
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Sean's experience is more common than people think. It's no surprise why a lot of hams leave local clubs or decline to join due to the actions of a few self-appointed control freaks.
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by K2JX on July 10, 2004
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Sean, if your ever in New York or on Long Island during FD weekend please come to the Larkfield FD site in West Hills Park,in the Town of Huntington. We will welcome you with open arms. You will meet greet people, enjoy good food and get to operate CW to your likeing. We run 3A and have a good time.
Sorry about this year.
73, Jack K2JX
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by K2JX on July 10, 2004
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Sean,
I forgot to mention that you can view the pix of our FD operations going back a few years. Log on to
www.Larkfield.org and follow the links. In addition we are posted on the ARRL's web site this year under the "Field Day Soapbox". Our FD call is W2LRC,plug that in to the search box and follow the links.
de K2JX
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by KK6KF on July 10, 2004
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I used to live in Queens back in the early 80's and did FD up in NH in the mid 80's with my kids. I had fun then but this year like I had said before the ARRL should limit Power output. we would all be on a equal stance. making antenna more efficant etc. and that is my second opione again.
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by KI4CRA on July 10, 2004
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As FD Chairman for the Vero Beach Amateur Radio Club (www.vbarc.net)in Vero Beach Fl. We had a great FD and we were only a 2A, we had ample oppurtunity for hams to operate on 6m ssb,2m ssb, we had a gota station, I put my IC706MKIIG to good use on 40m with a wire antenna (read yo-yotenna deluxe)great little dipole antenna. After I left, (was still recovering from knee surgery 2 days before), another ham put my 706 to great use and made over 150 contacts on cw. There is something for everyone at FD. It's just to bad you didn't find the right group to hook up with. Wishing you the best of luck for next year though!
73 de Mark KI4CRA
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by MZ412 on July 10, 2004
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Had it been me Id have just went home and sparked up some herbs and just settled for a night with maryjane and did my own thing.
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by K8NQC on July 11, 2004
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Ham radio has many facets of operating interest. It also has a wide variety of people. We all have our own preferences in each category. At home we can choose the bands, modes, and content we want. As we tune the bands, we can select those with whom we want to share a QSO. Those setting up for a group operation will usually set up the kinds of operation with which they are familiar. If we want to show or demonstrate an alternate mode or band, we have to make the setup for that purpose. More than once, I have seen one station shut down at FD to permit a different experience for the people there. If a group is not open to that, a different group might be more fun.
It is possible that the people in charge had been put down or embarrassed by a lack of good CW skills and wanted nothing to do with that mode. Many old timers used CW proficiency as a measure of merit for a ham operator and did think they were better than others on this measure alone. The tension from this will be with us until the generation of hams rolls over. Until that happens we will need to make sure we are among hams with our shared interests.
Better luck next year. 73,
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by KF3EG on July 11, 2004
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Sean:
Your story is not new to Ham radio, earlier this year a local club member called me and asked me to rejoin the local club. He told me they had no CW operators for Kids day or FD. I rejoined payed my dues and went to a few meetings. I was told I would be contacted to help build antennas for FD, never happened! I would be notified before FD to check out the location and give some ideas,never happened!
Field Day came and went and never heard a word.
So the club I quit years ago and has gone thru major changes in officers is still the same old crap that its always been, if your not in the click your not in.
73
Jim
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by GHOSTRIDERHF on July 11, 2004
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Call the Police from a cellphone and report that there are drugs at the location -- the police will show up and it will take hours to unscrew everything thus ruining their Filed Day ... that will teach a lesson -- huh!!!
LOL
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by N5HNY on July 11, 2004
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It doesn't matter if it is a ham radio club or a car club etc. There is always a pecking order. It's human nature. It's when the people at the top of the pecking order go out of their way to make sure everyone is involved and happy, that you have a great club.
I know the feeling. I have been a member of many clubs and it is the same ol thing. For those who belong to a great club, consider yourself lucky.
For me, I find large FD efforts no fun. There is a lot of interference from each of the stations trying to operate. That is if any get up and going. There is always some disaster or hard feelings afterward.
Take my advice, if you want to have fun at Field Day, make it a one to four man effort and you will have a great time. There is ususally one transmitter and one logger going at a time. The others are doing site duty like generator upkeep, talking with people coming by, etc. A large effort can be fun too I guess, just ain't seen one.
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by N8UZE on July 11, 2004
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"What Would You Do?
by KF3EG on July 11, 2004
Sean:
Your story is not new to Ham radio, earlier this year a local club member called me and asked me to rejoin the local club. He told me they had no CW operators for Kids day or FD. I rejoined payed my dues and went to a few meetings. I was told I would be contacted to help build antennas for FD, never happened! I would be notified before FD to check out the location and give some ideas,never happened!
Field Day came and went and never heard a word.
So the club I quit years ago and has gone thru major changes in officers is still the same old crap that its always been, if your not in the click your not in.
73
Jim"
_____________________________________________________
Did YOU ever bother to call them??? Perhaps they simply forgot. Not everyone has great organization in their personal lives. Sometimes you have to take the initiative. If you don't, it will indeed look like a click when it is just plain old human forgetfulness or even a little bit of laziness.
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by K1ZF on July 11, 2004
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After many years, I’ve learned that the collective IQ of any group is inversely preoperational to it’s numbers.
AI1D, 1B CT (operator K1ZF)
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by N5GEJ on July 12, 2004
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D)Hang around and get to know the folks there. See if there is anything else I can do to help the effort.
Hay you've already cleared your schedule for Field day!!! Maybe FREE drinks/dinner and make new friends?!?
Or you'll really know how they are for next year.
If you've operated as many field days as I have. You would know that very late at night or very early in the morning there's ALWAYS room to operate.
The CW op's I know don't show up till 2300-0000 loc.
>>Remember when you get lemons MAKE lemonade!!!
73's
Marcus
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by N8AUC on July 12, 2004
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We sure could have used another CW operator!
Next year, pack your camping gear, and come to Cleveland for Field Day! It's not that far away. Food and rig provided.
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by KB3JNR on July 12, 2004
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I guess the beauty of the system we used for FD was that the group I work with is not a club and doesn't have these ego and control issues. We also communicate well enough that we would have known to make our class compatible with the addition of a willing CW operator.
Believe me, we would have welcomed the experience and exposure to a CW operator and his portable station.
I'd spend more time feeling people out before next year, and if you lack faith in the locals, we'll take you in my neck of the woods.
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by N6PEH on July 12, 2004
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Sean,
There's a lot of dynamics happening during a FD operation. The most critical are the ones prior to FD event.
This year is the first year I've been back in ham radio after a 8 year break. I decided I would run my own station for FD. I got three other hams, I didn't know to operate with me. This was a 1st for me. I had to give one of the guys "the boot" because he could not follow instructions. This happens. Some people are just helpless and need a Mommy or Daddy to take care of them.
The planning stages for this event were a lot of fun too. I got the ARRL rules off their website and went to work. By the way, if you would have read the rules, you would have known that in a 2A station you get a free VHF/UHF station. Ding dong, Avon calling, anyone home. Relax, just kidding!
I'm sure next year your FD experience will be better. It sounds like your a capable op so there should be no reason why you should have to suffer next year. If you can't find a club, do your own thing with some buddies! What the hell!
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by N0FP on July 12, 2004
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Choosing to work FD somewhere is a great opportunity. You spend time with fellow hams. You operate in less than optimal conditions. You use unfamiliar equipment and thereby learn a thing or two about ham radio.
I would categorize FD operations into three types: 1) ham picnic / casual operations on Saturday afternoon; 2) public demonstration of ham radio / casual operations / social activity for 24 hours; and 3) all out, take no prisoners, pound 'em into the log as fast as you can contest operations. I've done them all. They can all be great fun. But showing up to a #1 thinking you are heading into a #3 is going to be a downer for sure. Likewise, having 3 fellas at a #3 strap you to a radio for 14 hours when you just showed up for hot dogs would be down right scary!
To be fair, there is no 'correct' approach to FD. Like most everything in radio, there are about as many ways to do something as there are folks doing them. I like the number 3 approach because there becomes a purpose to being a participant. There is purpose to doing things better-faster-smarter. To get the most from FD, you have to be involved from beginning to end. Finding like-minded folks to operate your favorite style FD can be the tough part.
For me, FD is an opportunity to press the limits of ability. You want to operate? You better be here to help with the planning. And don't be late for set-up and tear-down! You just show up at our FD (type #3) and you MIGHT get to cook some of your own hot dogs on the grill one of us took the time to haul to the site! To do an all-out effort, plan on breaking a sweat during set-up. 3 towers, 5 computers, generators, 1/3 mile of feedlines, a dozen antennas to assemble, tune and connect--ALL IN ONE MORNING! FD is more like a Triathalon! Plan on breaking a sweat OM! Memorize the schedule and be at the radio when you are supposed to be. Accept responsibility! Be a part of the team. Find needs and serve your fellow team members. Learn a thing or two. Put your heads together to figure stuff out. Pitch in and help fix stuff when Murphy shows up too. Being prepared for every snaffu. Either help out or get the heck out of the way! That's what I like about FD...
So you had a loser FD experience. What did you learn? You going to do it better next year? How? With whom? Figure it out. That's FD!
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by AB5XZ on July 13, 2004
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The best thing about our Field Day operation this year was that we made some mistakes and learned from them.
We didn't announce the FD location until Saturday morning, during a planned simulated Skywarn emergency net. That was confusing to some, but it was fun.
We didn't bring a long enough ladder for the new FD site.
We had a fantastic rig for our HF SSB station, but band changing was too complex - and there were no instructions.
We had a commitment to bring a generator that fell through, but we called on someone else who stepped in.
One of our VHF antennas had intermittently bad coax somewhere.
The site was superb.
- lots of room for antenna spacing.
- few trees, but there were poles to hang antennas from.
- AC mains available for the computers and fans.
- hard concrete surface, well drained.
- high domed ceiling on the pavilion.
- clean rest rooms in the pavilion.
- lots of parking.
- interested visitors came by
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by K4HSM on July 14, 2004
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I'd like to know the callsign of this field day operation, because it sounds hauntingly familiar to a certain emergency club in my neck of the woods. I had not one, not two, but three hams come to our FD operation and mention that one club at the Red Cross as being VERY excluding of anyone they didn't know. Funny, I thought FD was supposed to bring the public out and be a warming experience...
And WHY would this club turn down double the points per contact? CW is, after all, worth 2 points to 1 for voice...
And how can it be 2A when I thought that UHF/VHF did not count towards the transmitters? Looks like he could have operated with his CW equipment and they still would've had 2A.
Per the rules:
4.1.2. Any Class A group whose entry category is two or more transmitters may also operate one additional transmitter if it operates exclusively on any bands or combination of bands above 50 MHz (VHF/UHF) without changing its basic entry classification. This station does not qualify for a 100-point bonus as an additional transmitter. This station may be operated for the entire Field Day period for the club and all contacts count for QSO credit. It is operated using the primary callsign of the Field Day group.
I, too, am curious to know the 5 reasons he was given. I can guarantee they're not good ones.
************************
Never drop in on people you don't know well. Thats always good advice.
************************
That's your opinion, and you're entitled to it. We were prepared to operate with mostly non-CW ops at our FD operation and a group of hams came up (we never met them before) and offered their CW skills to us, in exchange we got to use their bus for A/C and the diesel generator that it had when ours conked out. Turns out that the CW ops had more contacts than the other 3 voice radios combined...of course, getting ppl to use them was another issue...
Anyway, when I headed up the FD for the local club a few years ago, I made it a point to have people greet and welcome all guests, whether they were non-hams passing by or were ham radio newcomers. As a result, we had (I felt) more positive feedback from them about their time at that FD site. I again wanted to have "greeters" at this year's FD and it proved very valuable. Had we turned our noses to many of these hams, we would not have done as well in the final scoring as we did.
If you're setting up in PUBLIC, it helps to have a PUBLIC-MINDED ATTITUDE and be at the ready to ensure the PUBLIC is made to feel welcome. Who knows how much better that club (and any club with this same mentality of exclusivity) would have fared, not just this year, but next year when these people decide whether or not to come back...
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What Would You Do?
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by W6MU on July 14, 2004
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In general our local FD operation was an all out contest operation. Not something I like to do. Since they were looking for max points and I was looking for something more casual, I offered to provide the 100 point satellite contact bonus.
The contesters brought in a crane and put up some amazing antennas - not the least of which was a 4 element 40 meter beam.
On the other hand, I came in around noon Saturday with a couple of spare satellite antennas and a small roof type tower in my utility trailer. Spent a couple of leisurely hours putting the antennas and the Az/El rotor system up. The first pass of SO-50 was a bust, but sometime around 0300 UTC we worked a KL7 on SO-50.
Instant 100 points. Mission accomplished. Time to relax.
Had dinner and took a 4 hour nap and got up at 2 am with the scoutmaster and listened to packet racket from the ISS for the next two passes. On the second pass around O'Dark Thirty something, we had some young scouts with us and we observed the ISS visually go from the pre-dawn darkness into the sunlight. The youngsters were thrilled.
Took another nap and got up in time to do a voice QSO with Astronaut Mike Fincke, KE5AIT, operating NA1SS on 145.800.
On later passes (Mike was actually calling CQ) we were able to help three other hams have their first ISS voice contacts using their own calls.
So we had a nice casual fun time that:
1. did't require rabid contesting.
2. introduced some old and new hams to satellite ops.
3. taught some scouts about radios and doppler.
4. helped the club get the satellite bonus.
Like most things, Field Day is what you make of it. Take the time to get to know who you're planning to play with and what their goals are. If you're a good CW op, you won't have any problem finding a great group to play with on FD. Life is too short, don't let the bs and politics that seem to consume some clubs ruin the fun of amateur radio for you.
73
Tim
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RE: What Would You Do?
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by K8CPA on July 17, 2004
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>As it turns out, my little mini-schnauzer had chewed >the shield conductor connection right off of the >vertical. It was dangling in the breeze not >connected to anything - the only reason I could hear >anything was because the center conductor was still >connected (barely). I managed to get it fixed up >(and hopefully schnauzer-of-Satan-proofed) - after >Field Day was over.
I would shot the dog. 8-P
-Chuck K8CPA
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What Would You Do?
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by PHINEAS on July 17, 2004
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Field day is what you make it. This field day, I was driving around visiting, then wound up at this local club field day. I did not intend to stay long, until I saw they were using an FM radio for 6 meters, on an M2 antenna 40 feet high. Well the word infiltrate came to mind. I went to my van, pulled out my 706, and voila, I became to official 6 meter operator. People were coming by talking about how I would not make hardly any contacts on 6 meters. Then 6 meters opened up. Made 18 contacts, they rest were gotten by some of the child operators that were hanging around. Turned out to be a blast.
I went to another field day a couple of years ago that did not have a CW station. I wound up taking the radio out of the van, ran a coax back to my van, and used the antenna off the van. Made quite a few contacts doing that.
Last year, all I did was sit around playing with my CW Decoder, and telling war stories.
I hate to say this, but may be you just did not try hard enough to make the best of the situation.
Phineas
K0KMA
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What Would You Do?
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by W4AWM on July 19, 2004
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I ran into this more or less same problem 5 years ago. At the time, my work hours made belonging to a club as an active member impossible. I have always loved Field Day and would, as time allowed, visit sites in the area. Sometimes I was invited to operate, other times not.
That particular year, I made a surpreme effort to show up early at a local club site. I helped with all fascets of setting up and when contest time began, I was invited to operate. I am not the worlds best operator, but I was racking up contacts one or two a minute. After about a half hour, I was asked to move over and let some of the kids operate. It was not my club so I readily relinquished the hot seat. Some folks sat down and tuned and tuned......and tuned. After 30 minutes, they had not answered a single call, nor made one. In disgust, I moved to another position where the situation was much the same. Many of these folks had arrived after contest time started and had not assisted in setup.
I just left. The next year, I decided to have my own field day. The scene was a community park in our subdivision. I set up with all the trimmings, generator, 3 rigs with 3 antennas, an information table 2 tents, and some publicity. I was operating 1B and had an absolute ball! Now, 3 years later I am still at it. This year, I made 864 clean contacts and earned 550 bonus points. All this and I only operated 20 hours, sleeping for 3 and fighting with Edsal Murphy for an hour at the start. I plan to keep this up until I am no longer able to do it.
If you are having problems finding a club, working with a club, or just like to do it your way, try 1B,
"You'll like it!"
73,
John, W4AWM
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by K3MD on July 20, 2004
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This is unfortunate. As ex-FD chairman for a number of years, and class B "winner" x 3 (if this is a contest, which they say it is definitely NOT), there was not enough co-ordination for FD planning between you and the club. FD is potentially the most fun ham radio activity there is. It is fun 1A, 1C, 1B1B, 2B2, 3A, 6A, F.
This year I was invited to op FD with 4 clubs, mostly as a result of my NCJ article on FD (which was very good for my inflated but fragile ego), but my main advice would be:
If you are having trouble with the "group" thing in the club setting, try 5W 1B1 with an all-band dipole or class C from your car or boat. You will have a blast. You will never have trouble getting someone to take an FD message, just look up the SM's address on the ARRL site! Copy the FD message yourself (it is LONG WINDED these days).
After all, Charlie K3WW "won" 1B1B 7 years straight operating from his front lawn with an all-band dipole and a Vertex!!
73,
CQ FD,
John K3MD
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