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Author Topic: history of field day  (Read 347 times)

KD8IWZ

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history of field day
« on: June 27, 2022, 03:42:24 PM »

During field day this year I began wondering about how and when it began. After a short search I found some very interesting reading, if anyone would care to read it google "field day a mirror of amateur radio history". If you have a few minutes I would suggest taking a look at it. I enjoyed reading how it has evolved.  And no, I wasn't around for that 1st time in 1933!
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WX7Q

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K7LZR

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Re: history of field day
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2022, 07:44:46 PM »

Very cool, thanks for sharing :). I haven't participated in filed day since 1983. Back then it was a grand affair here but now just a shell of what it once was. 
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K5LXP

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Re: history of field day
« Reply #3 on: June 28, 2022, 05:51:53 AM »

LZR, wondering why you would say that.  I've been working Field Day since the early 80's and you could participate in exactly the same ways today as you did then, if that's what you want to do.  I frankly could care less about the "publicity" and the other bonus point hoops, but enjoy my time immensely setting up equipment in the field and working ops I recognize year after year.  FD is in the top 3 of my favorite things in ham radio.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM
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K7LZR

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Re: history of field day
« Reply #4 on: June 28, 2022, 04:50:31 PM »

LZR, wondering why you would say that.  I've been working Field Day since the early 80's and you could participate in exactly the same ways today as you did then, if that's what you want to do.  I frankly could care less about the "publicity" and the other bonus point hoops, but enjoy my time immensely setting up equipment in the field and working ops I recognize year after year.  FD is in the top 3 of my favorite things in ham radio.

Oh quite true but here locally, we used to have much, much more participation and enthusiasm. A large camping area with many stations in tents, RVs, and some just mobile in their cars & trucks :). Central 20kw diesel generator powering any who needed. Club comm trailer with 5-7 ops available, rotating shifts. A big, custom sign near the entrance road telling what it was all about. A really big banquet was prepared mid Saturday, buffet style. Most everyone contributed something. Lots of young folks checking things out and asking questions, sometimes operating as guests under club call. We really went all out.

Not anymore. Nowadays, 3-5 people inside club mobile communications trailer, only. Nothing else. Located in a small outdoor space either at the local airport or in a downtown parking lot if allowed, or wherever they can beg room. Same 3-5 participants every year and often begging for more operators. Don't hear a lot of CW nor SSB from them, mostly digital modes such as FT8.

Sadly, I'm one of those who lost interest. Most of my good friends from those days were much older than I and have long since passed away.

I know that I should participate but it would be forced. The magic and the passion are just not there. But I still give out contacts to FD stations from home sometimes.

I'm glad that there are many who don't feel as I do :).
« Last Edit: June 28, 2022, 05:01:42 PM by K7LZR »
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N8AUC

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Re: history of field day
« Reply #5 on: July 04, 2022, 07:51:21 PM »

FD is in the top 3 of my favorite things in ham radio.

Mark K5LXP
Albuquerque, NM

1000% agree. Field Day is my #1 favorite thing in ham radio.
Has been for years, and will continue to be, probably as long as I'm still breathing.

73 de N8AUC
Eric
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K3TN

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Re: history of field day
« Reply #6 on: July 05, 2022, 04:48:27 AM »

ARRL Field Day in 2021 had close to 6,000 logs sent in that showed almost 30,000 participants - by far the largest single country on air operating event (to avoid using the "contest" word...).

CQ WW contests get over 8,000 logs but that is from all countries and it probably represents  under 12,000 ops since most are single op entries.

How I do FD is way different than I did 40 years ago but there are new and younger groups that are doing the big energetic efforts - a very cool tradition in our hobby.

73 John K3TN
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John K3TN
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