Field Day 2024

 

Field Day, June 22-23 2024, 2pm local Saturday to 2pm local Sunday. This 24 hour event is the highlight of the Amateur Radio World. As usual GBARC will be participating in this special event.

In years past Field Day has been well attended and lots of fun for everyone who came. This year we hope to have another exceptionally good turn out and lots of stations on the air. However to properly prepare we need to know who's coming and what radios they will be putting on the air.

This year, as in years past, GBARC is hosting our Field Day event at Grey Sauble Conservation. This will be a multi-station event so we'll need lots of operators to cover all twelve hour time slots over the operating schedule. Directions

We also need to know if participants will be bringing an RV, trailer or tent to the site. Knowing this in advance will help us select our operating location. Being well organised requires that we have good information well in advance.

Our club objective is to have stations on the air during the entire  24 hours. Station operations over the 24 hours will be divided into 2 hour shifts representing 12 blocks of time. The more operators we have the better we can cover the schedule.

The call to action for members of GBARC is to contact me by email with the following information if you plan to particitate / operate at Field Day June 22-23 2024.

• Will your participate in Field Day 2024?
• Will your participation include actually operating the stations?
• Will you be available to site setup / preparation?
• Will you be bringing an RV, Trailer or tent?
• What radio(s) will you bring for your station, including a windows computer with N1MM+ installed and correctly set up?
• What station accessories such as a swr/power meter, desk mic, voice keyer will you bring?
• What antenna including feedlines will you bring?
• Will you bring a generator?
• Will you be attending dinner on Saturday? Whether this is a catered meal or pot luck will be finalized later.
• Will you be available to help dismantle and clear the site at the end of the event?

To let the organizers know your intentions please send email

All Field Day logging will be done using N1MM+. This software will also allow computers to be networked across the Field Day site and individual logs captured into a single log.  Each station must have an HF radio, a Windows computer with N1MM+ logging software installed and the interface between the radio and computer. (newer radio's have them built-in).
This arrangement MUST be installed, setup and operation verified PRIOR to field day.

N1MM+ runs on the Windows operating system only, Linux or IOS or raspberry pi or even your phone will not be acceptable. All N1MM+ software must be updated to the latest version and all stations must use the same version.

 

Adam VE3FP is fluent in the installation, setup and operation of N1MM software. He has volunteered to assist operators install, set up and operate this important piece of software. The link to download and install N1MM+ as well as help files are located on this page above , but those who need assistance can reach out to him directly.

Volunteers needed

Site Planner(s), to look at where things like antenna and stations will be located.

The Field Day site needs have a central Access Point/Router so that all stations logs can communicate using Wifi. Supply a router, stand to put it on, either 120vac from a generator or devise and supply a battery backup that will last for 24 hours. Configured as an "access point" all we need is a username and password.
Adam VE3FP will supply the router   UN= GBARC PW= osarc123

The 20-15-10 beam and tower is located near Shallow Lake. A volunteer with a vehicle and trailer to move the portable tower and accessories to the field day site and return them afterwards. Dave VE3WI has agreed to provide trailer transportation of the tower and accy's

A person to take charge of the Saturday meal. A club mailing will be used to gather preferences. We have in the past had a pot luck or ordered from a local restaurant. Pizza etc

Supply a tent and a GOTA Station. Provide help and assistance to the general public, to explain or discuss our reasons for our club and field day. The club banner and sandwich boards should be brought by whoever has them. Our MPP, the Mayor and officials should be contacted. The Sun Times may have a local activities column.

Make up and supply handouts or audio/visual learning aids. Costs covered by the club for any commercial printing required. 

 

The club should consider supplying fuel or reimbursing those who provide generators.

On Saturday, it is usually planned to have dinner at the field day site as a group. Bring a chair, jacket, bug spray and whatever else for your comfort, maybe a pot luck.

Each station on the layout should, by and large, stay on the band they are assigned, the 80m and 20/15/10 stations can easily run the FT8 mode by easily changing the radio's configuration with an SD card (this is the 7300's secret weapon), I'm not sure if Adam is set up for FT8.

The 3 stations are selected because they all have an auto-tuner and not a manual arrangement such as the clubs IC-707. It indeed could be used, however there will be those operating it that are not familiar with it. The 7300 just needs a button press to auto tune anywhere.

The GOTA station itself will only see action from the public on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning. Other than that it could operate experimentally as Doug and Marvin  have suggested.

With the use of N1MM+, it is quite easy to operate the station by just the operator. The station logger is only needed if the station operator wants one. Please, please, please...do NOT write down qso's on paper thinking to enter them later, enter the contact immediately into the log. As a result, each station should have a foot operated PTT and a desk mic  so that your hands are on the keyboard and not the mic.

REMEMBER, we are amateur radio operators who like to brag about how well we communicate, so lets do some communicating. There is a scant 3 weeks till the event, it will go by quickly...get things set up and done now, don't wait.

This is a compilation of the responses received from emails sent to the group.

A BBQ or camp stove is needed, can you help?

Will Attend

VA3TS Tom
VE3WI Dave
VA3GUF Frank
VE3VCG Marvin
VA3EAC Janet
VA3DNY Dan
VE3PAV Bobby
VA3KOT John -Sat only
VE3RQY Greg
VE3BQM Bernie
VA3NIR Norman
VE3FP Adam

Will Operate

VA3TS
VA3DNY
VE3PAV
VA3KOT
VE3RQY-Sat
VE3BQM
VE3FP

Trailer to house a station

VA3GUF

Tent to house a station

VE3PAV
VE3RQY-large gazebo /tent

Has Tables/Chairs

VE3PAV 2 chairs
VE3RQY 2-6ft tables

Will bring a radio station

Includes mic, pwr supply, power bar,tuner,laptop running N1MM+, table, chair, light

Station 1 VA3TS , IC7300, 80/40/20m Trap Dipole

Station 2 IC7300, Club Beam

Station 3, TBD

GOTA TBD

VA3KOT QRP Demo

Antennas

VA3TS Tom, trap dipole

Club has a portable tower and tri-band beam...transportation supplied by VE3WI Dave

VA3KOT WHIP/SWA

VE3FP- T2FD

For the pot luck. 
If your callsign begins with A to M , bring a meal item, if N to Z, bring a snack or desert item.

VE3RQY-I will make a batch of 'Billie's Chili' for Saturday ( red kidney beans, tomato, meat(organic moose burger) onions, chili powder, garlic,salt and pepper, no oil. Does anyone have disposable bowls, spoons, paper towels, etc. On Saturday will there be anything to heat the chili? Bbq, hot plate, etc.? It will be in a stainless steel pot.

VE3BQM-.Will Bring a salad for putluck

VE3FP- - coffee maker & coffee, sugar. Bring your own cup,- bean salad.   - camp stove & propane
  

Each station on the layout should, by and large, stay on the band they are assigned, the 80m and 20/15/10 stations can easily run the FT8 mode by easily changing the radio's configuration with an SD card (this is the 7300's secret weapon), I'm not sure if Adam is set up for FT8.

The 3 stations are selected because they all have an auto-tuner and not a manual arrangement such as the clubs IC-707. It indeed could be used, however there will be those operating it that are not familiar with it. The 7300 just needs a button press to auto tune anywhere.

The GOTA station itself will only see action from the public on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning. Other than that it could operate experimentally as Doug and Marvin  have suggested.

With the use of N1MM+, it is quite easy to operate the station by just the operator. The station logger is only needed if the station operator wants one. Please, please, please...do NOT write down qso's on paper thinking to enter them later, enter the contact immediately into the log. As a result, each station should have a foot operated PTT and a desk mic  so that your hands are on the keyboard and not the mic.

REMEMBER, we are amateur radio operators who like to brag about how well we communicate, so lets do some communicating. There is a scant 3 weeks till the event, it will go by quickly...get things set up and done now, don't wait.

Each station on the layout should, by and large, stay on the band they are assigned, the 80m and 20/15/10 stations can easily run the FT8 mode by easily changing the radio's configuration with an SD card (this is the 7300's secret weapon), I'm not sure if Adam is set up for FT8.

The 3 stations are selected because they all have an auto-tuner and not a manual arrangement such as the clubs IC-707. It indeed could be used, however there will be those operating it that are not familiar with it. The 7300 just needs a button press to auto tune anywhere.

The GOTA station itself will only see action from the public on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning. Other than that it could operate experimentally as Doug and Marvin  have suggested.

With the use of N1MM+, it is quite easy to operate the station by just the operator. The station logger is only needed if the station operator wants one. Please, please, please...do NOT write down qso's on paper thinking to enter them later, enter the contact immediately into the log. As a result, each station should have a foot operated PTT and a desk mic  so that your hands are on the keyboard and not the mic.

REMEMBER, we are amateur radio operators who like to brag about how well we communicate, so lets do some communicating. There is a scant 3 weeks till the event, it will go by quickly...get things set up and done now, don't wait.

Dave VE3WI kindly summarized the contest rules, they are:
DATE Sat 22 Jun - Sun 23 Jun

ALLOWABLE OPERATING TIME PERIOD
Normal: 1800 UTC (2 PM) Saturday: 1800 UTC (2 PM) Saturday - 1800 UTC (2 PM) Sunday
(If site setup does not start before 1800 UTC Saturday: can extend ops to 2100 (5 PM) UTC Sunday
Site setup can not start earlier than 0000 UTC (8 PM) Friday

CATEGORY & CLASS
Category = number of transmitters capable of simultaneous transmission NOT INCLUDING GOTA & satellite stations
Class = A (club)
Class A rules:
- may not be a regular station location
- may not use any permanent structure erected specifically for FD
- all equipment including antennas must be within a maximum 1000-foot circle
- must use non-commercial power (there is a separate class for Class-A-Commercial)
Example: 3A = Club event with 3 stations (plus GOTA & satellite if used)

EXCHANGE: Category + Class + Section  Example: 3A ONS

GET ON THE AIR STATION (GOTA)
- A Class 2A or higher site may also have one GOTA station
GOTA rules:
- GOTA transmitter is not included in # of transmitters for determining Category
- must use different callsign from the main stations
- exchange must be the same as the main stations
- contacts are added to main station contacts for site totals

VHF/UHF (SATELLITE) STATION
- Class A sites may also operate one station on bands above 50 MHz
- VHF/UHF transmitter is not included in # of transmitters for determining Category
- must use same callsign and exchange as the main stations
- contacts are added to main station contacts for site totals

OTHER RULES
- contacts may use phone, CW or digital modes
- stations may be worked once per band per mode
- Fully automated contacts are prohibited.  All contacts must include contemporaneous direct initiation by both operators making a contact.
- for any mode, only one signal may be transmitted on a band at a time (i.e. 20m SSB + 20m CW is OK, two 20m SSB is not OK) Exception:

GOTA station may operate in parallel with main stations)
- cross band contacts are not permitted - except satellite contacts
- repeater contacts are not permitted

Also, here is a summary of the  bonus point schedule, many of which we can apply for:
2024 FD Bonus Schedule