The ARRL has a great guide for VHF Field Day Operating - http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2013/2013%20Above%2030%20MHz.pdf

I suspect there will be some FM activity on 2 meters and maybe 440, but I don't think these are very popular for field day because they are almost entirely line-of-sight - there are just loads of contacts to be made anywhere else on the bands. If you could do 6 meter SSB, then I think you'd have a much more enjoyable and busy time.

You can order optionally ice/snow cords with the K4KIO beam. I'm in Northern Utah and worried that I didn't get the snow cords, but even with some heavy, wet snow and ice this winter, the beam barely flexed at all. I'm very happy with it (almost 200 DX entities worked in 10 months) and am sure you will be too.

If someone was using FM on 50.130, they were using a non-standard mode for the frequency, and one that nobody else is likely to be using there.


You're misinterpreting me. I'm not saying "that's your problem" as in "it serves you right", but "this is your problem" as in "if you are listening in FM mode to SSB transmissions on 50.130, you're going to have problems understanding it". I'm not sure how to say it any more gently or well.

That's you're problem. What you are hearing is SSB, not FM - that's why it sounded so bad.

After a full day of logging ARRL VHF contest QSOs on my cross-country trip, the iRover iPad app I was using for logging crashed and all of my log data is gone. What a waste! And apologies to those I worked that will not be getting a contest log confirmation or QSL. Beware of Pignology products that are programmed so poorly that they continually crash and lose all stored data.
</rant>

If you have trees, use them, otherwise I'd recommend a dipole or fan dipole in an inverted V. It's a very simple antenna to put together and your poles as a center mast and some rope to extend the ends will get you on the air nicely. Here's a photo of such an operation in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming where there wasn't a tree for miles - http://smithplanet.com/radio/7qp/7qp1.jpg

I'll be on a LONG road trip from Utah to Missouri and plan to operate rover putting DN41, DN51, DN61, DN71, DN81, DN91, DN90, EN00, EN10, EN20, and EM29 on the air.

All I know is that anybody that can program and use a D-Star radio deserves DXCC no matter who they work.

Last night there was an all out, no holds barred pileup on 20 meters for... England.

97.3: (6) Automatic control. The use of devices and procedures for control of a station when it is transmitting so that compliance with the FCC Rules is achieved without the control operator being present at a control point.

These rules include being able to terminate transmissions, monitor them, etc. I'm not sure how this would be possible with a transmitter that is entirely under the control of a non-ham.

I'm no expert, but I think the legality of this would be a bit questionable seeing as the hams would not be in control of the transmitters, and I don't think they'd want to be responsible for transmitters in someone else's vehicle anyway.

I was able to work out a pretty simple solution. They just have to have a web browser open on a GPS-enabled mobile device (iPhone, iPad, Android, etc.). I use geolocation to show their real-time position on a Google map. I also added paths for the race course, feed zones, etc. I collect their positions from the geolocation API and transmit them via AJAX to a central database every 30 seconds when moving. I combine this data with the APRS.fi data for APRS-enabled vehicles to create placemarks for all vehicles so anyone viewing the map can view (near) real-time locations for all support vehicles.

This works pretty slick. Of course they have to have a mobile device powered on all day and have data connectivity, but this is much easier for non-hams than getting licensed and installing an APRS tracker. :-)

Hessu-

Thank you for the clarification. I see that this would be an issue if a local igate were to transmit the non-ham data.

And thank you for the tip about setting up a non-RF APRS-like system for tracking. This sounds like it would take some effort, but may be a possibility. We have another possible alternative we're going to try. Thanks again!

That doesn't exactly clear things up. It talks about "non-amateur radio content", but doesn't really define it. It does say "APRS Objects are specifically apropos for non-amateur radio information." and we'll be creating APRS objects for tracking non-hams, so this suggests it is appropriate.

I'm helping coordinate support for a public service event involving many mobile support vehicles. Many will have APRS. We have set up a custom map to monitor APRS-enabled vehicles so anyone can monitor their location. We'd like to be able to monitor ALL vehicle locations, even those of non-hams. Mobile apps like OpenAPRS, PocketPacket, etc. allow you to send position data entirely via the internet and a mobile phone, iPad, etc. NO RF IS USED OR REQUIRED, so they are clearly not violating FCC rules.

So the question... is there anything wrong with a non-ham setting up this software for their use?

All they need is a tactical call and passcode to send data via APRS-IS for others to monitor their position on APRS.fi, etc. Because absolutely no RF is involved with them, I see nothing wrong with this, unless there's some APRS policy against it.

Thoughts?

Field day is the largest operating event on the planet, and it doesn't require a signal report. I'd think if it were required for a valid QSO, that the ARRL would require it.