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Author Topic: 2018 crossband test?  (Read 22179 times)

NQ3M

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2018 crossband test?
« on: April 24, 2018, 06:12:42 AM »

Any info out there about when it will be yet? Trying to make plans an need the dates.
Thanks,
NQ3M, 73's
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KG4RUL

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RE: 2018 crossband test?
« Reply #1 on: April 24, 2018, 12:50:15 PM »

If it is typical of this event, information will be pretty much last minute.
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W5OT

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RE: 2018 crossband test?
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2018, 11:42:44 AM »

ANNUAL ARMED FORCES DAY CROSSBAND TEST
(12 May 2018)
The Military Auxiliary Radio System will host this year’s Armed Forces Day Crossband Test,
scheduled for May 12, 2018. This annual event is open to all radio operators, and will not impact
any public or private communications. For more than 50 years, military and amateur stations have
taken part in this event, which is only an exercise scenario, designed to include hobbyist and
government radio operators alike.

The AFD Crossband Test is a unique opportunity to test two-way communications between military
communicators and radio stations in the Amateur Radio Service (ARS), as authorized in 47 CFR
97.111. These tests provide opportunities and challenges for radio operators to demonstrate
individual technical skills in a tightly-controlled exercise scenario that does not impact any
public or private communications.

Military stations will transmit on selected military frequencies and will announce the specific ARS
frequencies monitored. All times are ZULU (Z), and all frequencies are Upper Side Band (USB) unless
otherwise noted.  The frequencies used for the test will not impact any public or private
communications, and will not stray outside the confines of the exercise.

The following stations will be making two way radiotelephone contacts with stations in the ARS
between the time periods listed on the frequencies listed in Kilohertz below.

AAZ / FT HUACHUCA, AZ
1500Z - 2359Z              5,330.5              14,438.5            18,211.0

AAC / BARROW ARMY RESERVE CENTER, KY
1300Z - 0100Z               5,346.5              7,542.0              13,963.5            20,920.0

ABH / SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HI
1600Z - 2300Z               5,357.0              14,438.5            18,272.0            20,997.0

ABM1 / CAMP ZAMA, JAPAN
1500Z - 0100Z              14,487.0            20,994

ADB / CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA
1500Z - 0100Z              14,487.0            20,994

WAR / PENTAGON WASHINGTON, DC
1200Z - 2400Z              5,357.0              13,963.5            18,211.0            24,760.0   
        USB + CW

WUG-2 / ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS, TN
1300Z - 0200Z              5,403.5              13,910.5            18,293.0            20,973.5   
       USB + CW

AIR / ANDREWS AFB
1200Z - 2400Z               4,517.0              7,305.0              15,807.0            20,740.0

AGA2SY / HANCOCK FIELD, NY
1200Z - 2400Z              4,575.0              7,540.0              13,993.0
AGA5SC / SCOTT AFB, IL
1600Z - 2300Z              3,308.0              4,872.0              7,545.0
AGA9TR / TRAVIS AFB, CA 1600Z - 0100Z              5,346.5
7,329.0              13,996.0            14,411.0

AFM4AF / NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY MID-SOUTH MILLINTON, TN 1200Z - 0300Z              7,375.5         
    13,498.0

NMC1 / COAST GUARD ISLAND, ALAMEDA, CA
1700Z - 2359Z              7,542.0              15,740.5            22,924.5

NIIW / USS MIDWAY CV-41 SAN DIEGO, CA
1400Z - 0400Z               4,013.5              5371.5               7,493.5             14,383.5 
          18,211.0

NWKJ / USS YORKTOWN CV-10 CHARLESTON, SC
1200Z - 2200Z              4,000.0              7,360.0              14,663.5

NEPM / USS IOWA BB 61 LOS ANGELES, CA
1500Z - 2359Z               4,043.5              6,903.5              14,463.5            18,293.0

NWVC / LST-325 EVANSVILLE, IN
1200Z - 0400Z               4,007.0              6,913.0              9988.5               13,974.0

NSS / US NAVAL ACADEMY ANNAPOLIS, MD
1300Z - 0200Z               4,038.5              5330.5               7,533.5                 
9,447.0           14,487.0       17,545.0 USB + CW

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NQ3M

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RE: 2018 crossband test?
« Reply #3 on: April 27, 2018, 06:22:39 AM »

Thanks, KC9MVP
Nice call sign, Kansas Citys # 9 Most Valuable Player

NQ3M. 73's
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W5OT

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RE: 2018 crossband test?
« Reply #4 on: April 27, 2018, 04:02:49 PM »

Thanks. It'll be available soon.  Blew thru General on the way to Extra.  Looking for a 4 digit vanity call now.  Application already submitted.

One thing I don't understand about the Crossband test.  It says open to ALL radio operators.  But other than the listed 60 meter channels, all the freq's listed are out of our legal operating bands.  How do we participate without illegal operation out of band?  Do we listen out of band and respond IN band (IE split mode??  Even if we have the capability to respond "out of band")
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N8AUC

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RE: 2018 crossband test?
« Reply #5 on: April 27, 2018, 09:40:14 PM »

Thanks. It'll be available soon.  Blew thru General on the way to Extra.  Looking for a 4 digit vanity call now.  Application already submitted.

One thing I don't understand about the Crossband test.  It says open to ALL radio operators.  But other than the listed 60 meter channels, all the freq's listed are out of our legal operating bands.  How do we participate without illegal operation out of band?  Do we listen out of band and respond IN band (IE split mode??  Even if we have the capability to respond "out of band")

Well if you read the third paragraph of the announcement, it says:

<quote>
Military stations will transmit on selected military frequencies and will announce the specific ARS
frequencies monitored. All times are ZULU (Z), and all frequencies are Upper Side Band (USB) unless
otherwise noted.  The frequencies used for the test will not impact any public or private
communications, and will not stray outside the confines of the exercise.
<end quote>

So basically, the hams listen on the mil freqs, and the mil station will tell you where they are listening
in the ham bands. You transmit where they are listening, and listen where they are transmitting.

It should work pretty well.

73 de N8AUC
Eric
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NQ3M

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RE: 2018 crossband test?
« Reply #6 on: May 02, 2018, 11:00:17 AM »

As N8AUC said, although it's been my experience in the past the MARS operator sometimes forgets to pass his listening freq if he has a pile up. A pan adapter (if you have one) will help you sort that issue out. Most of them are good about the listening freq, but every now an then you'll get someone who is just getting up to speed persay, so those of us who use to wait until most of the pile up was over would remind them of same. If your new to this test, every once in a while there will be a mistake or two made about their transmitting freq's, or someone forgets everything starts on Zulu time/date but that is the part I enjoy, tracking them down is part of the fun.  LOL.

Hope everyone enjoys this years test.
For me it's the biggest radio day of the year, an after it's over I'm already looking forward to the next one. Always find things after every test I can improve upon be it me or the station. Although ABH always seem to elude me one day I'll get them. All of the others I mostly have no issue with but, for whatever reason during the test I can not hear HI. (ABH)

I really enjoy it as during my military days I was either transitioning that station for whatever reason an it brings back memory's, (both ways).
« Last Edit: May 02, 2018, 11:02:42 AM by NQ3M »
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WD8DBY

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RE: 2018 crossband test?
« Reply #7 on: May 10, 2018, 01:15:55 PM »

Two new stations will be working AFD this year...one of them will prove quite a challenge!

USNS Mercy Hospital Ship vicinity Vietnam!
1200-2400Z
14,487
18,272
20,997
24,760
all USB

MARSRADIO
1400-0100Z
7,460
14,606
16,298
20,991
24,448.5
all USB

Good luck to everyone!
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KA4YZR

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RE: 2018 crossband test?
« Reply #8 on: May 12, 2018, 03:22:36 AM »

No QSL log forms seems to be available !!
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WD9EWK

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RE: 2018 crossband test?
« Reply #9 on: May 12, 2018, 10:01:17 PM »

No QSL log forms seems to be available !!

A QSL Request Form is at:

http://www.usarmymars.org/events/armed-forces-day

You don't have to give details on the QSOs; just your information and which station(s) you worked. I filled it out for my QSOs already, and now I wait to see QSL cards in my mailbox...

73!
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Patrick WD9EWK/VA7EWK
http://www.wd9ewk.net/ - Twitter: @WD9EWK or http://twitter.com/WD9EWK

NQ3M

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RE: 2018 crossband test?
« Reply #10 on: May 13, 2018, 05:34:15 AM »

Well it's in the books now. I missed 6 stations total as I could not hear them at all. However 4 stations had the same transmit freqs which did not help at all. Some of the stations I did get required some skills to find them, as they were either on the wrong freq or were using the wrong emission mode.
My missed stations were
USNS Mercy
ADB Japan
ABM1 "
ABH Hi.
AIR US
AAC US

Some stations I made contact with twice on different freq's.
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K5TED

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RE: 2018 crossband test?
« Reply #11 on: June 02, 2018, 06:00:59 PM »

We are doomed... If there can't be a simple sked on a few well defined frequencies, without any over complication or failure to tune to a frequency, then we are essentially doomed.

Channel 6 CB operators and Channel 28 CB operators are able to tune to a frequency every day and blast out whatever. Hams can't? MARS ops can't ? Seriously?

Maybe we need to be looking to the Superbowl and Baby Bowl ops to save the world WTSHTF? Obviously Hams and Military ops can't handle the pressure.
« Last Edit: June 02, 2018, 06:08:19 PM by K5TED »
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NQ3M

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RE: 2018 crossband test?
« Reply #12 on: July 05, 2018, 11:39:05 AM »

We are doomed... If there can't be a simple sked on a few well defined frequencies, without any over complication or failure to tune to a frequency, then we are essentially doomed.

Channel 6 CB operators and Channel 28 CB operators are able to tune to a frequency every day and blast out whatever. Hams can't? MARS ops can't ? Seriously?

Maybe we need to be looking to the Superbowl and Baby Bowl ops to save the world WTSHTF? Obviously Hams and Military ops can't handle the pressure.
I doubt we are doomed. I tend to believe everyone makes a mistake or two at some point. It could have been as simple as totally new operators, or dyslexic issues. I see no need to get wound up over a test? If there were lives at stake, or it had been a true SHTF event I'm sure it would have played out differently. Besides if it were just a plug an play what would that teach? I've learned more about radio operation during the cross-band test than any other radio event I tuned to from day one. When we quit learning where does that leave us?
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