Central Alberta Amateur Radio Club
Nov 1st
This is some of my Field Day story. What is yours? Anyone else who participated in Field Day is welcome to post about their efforts to this web site.
This post is a follow-up my post of October 27, “Preparations for Field Day 2020 at VA6SJA.â€
Although I have participated in or visited a Field Days operation every year except four since 1994, this is the first time that I have set up and operated my own station for Field Day.
I regularly carry my cellular telephone around with me, alas, my first reaction is not to take photos when something happens. So unfortunately, I have no photos off this period
Since I was operating Class 1E, all radio operations including receiving the Bulletin would have to be under emergency power, from any of my gasoline generator, my truck battery (in my truck), and a small gel cell, as well as my laptop battery. I did however plug my laptop in to my generator power.
Oct 27th
This is some of my Field Day story. What is yours? Anyone else who participated in Field Day is welcome to post about their efforts to this web site.
I have always enjoyed Field Day since my introduction to the ARRL sponsored annual event as a new amateur in 1994.
To adapt CAARC’s 2020 Field Day efforts to today’s COVID reality, as CAARC appointed Field Day leaders, Paul VA6MPM and I decided to encourage participation from individual stations this year rather than gathering in a big group to set up and operate a Class A station. This resulted in amateurs participating from their regular home stations, either using commercial power or using emergency batteries or generators, or participating in portable stations of 1 or 2 participants (Class B).
Here is the story of my setting up my 2020 Field Day Station.
Partly because of my family’s frequent moves, I do not have a permanent outside amateur radio antenna infrastructure. More >
Oct 21st
World 2020 contest schedule, if anyone is interested.
WA7BNM Contest Calendar
Oct 16th
Oct 4th
Oct 1st
My buddy in the US has designed this transformer for SOTA activations. It is light weight, good to 50 watts and looks “cool”, BNC connector. I am placing an order for winter antenna projects, they are about $10 each so please let me know if you would like me to increase the order for your needs. I use one on my EFHW 20/40 meter SOTA antenna. 
Jul 2nd
Jun 14th
Comments and questions about small groups participating in Field Day.- final opportunity for discussion.
Wednesday June 17, 2020 at 19:00 hrs MDT
On CAARC repeater network VE6QE, VE6VHF and VE6UK. You may link if you wish.
What do you wish to discuss?
John VA6SJA will start the meeting at 1900 hrs.
Jun 13th
CAARC Participation in 2020 ARRL Field Day
In case you need a break from the writing style of this series:
Listen to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDMTmDMXbJI , they actually have harnesses on, but his platform couid make you jealous.
Et pour André, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxdKQyaxSCY
Now :
In all cases when you find a conflict between this advice and ARRL rules or advice, use what the ARRL says! Some mistakes or stale rules may have crept in to these descriptions.
Another video about Field Day Planning is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W48NZVngQ6A .
This series has been an attempt to describe operating in Field Day. We hope you have found it informative and that it my have helped you decide to participate this June 27 and 28. Tell us if it has been helpful.
In the immortal words of Porky Pig, “That’s all folks!â€
Background, official rules, and many hints can be found at http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2020/2020%20Field%20Day%20Packet(1).pdf .
ARRL’s official Field Day site is http://www.arrl.org/field-day .
Comments or questions to Paul VA6MPM (find his email on QRZ.com), or John VA6SJA, va6sja@rac.ca .
John VA6SJA and Paul VA6MPM
Jun 13th
CAARC Participation in 2020 ARRL Field Day`
Keeping accurate log of your Field Day QSOs is important.
You may log on paper. ARRL provides Log Sheets to download at http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2019/2019%20FD%20Log%20Sheet.pdf .
When you are reporting, the ARRL asks for a “Dupe Sheetâ€, they can be downloaded from http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2019/2018-Field-Day-2-page-dupesheet.pdf . You can print them double sided on 8 1/2×11†paper. You could use one for each expected band-mode on which you will operate. In contests before computer logging was/is applied, dupe sheets were used to quickly see if a particular station had been worked. That would save time and probably lead to higher scores for all stations, because a second contact on the same band mode between two stations does not increase the score. So, enter the QSO in the log, then quickly enter the call sign in the dupe sheet under the appropriate heading. At the end of the Field Day period count up all the call signs of station worked in each band-mode for competing your station report. It is probably better to work directly on the log sheet rather than use scratch paper, you can strike through “busted†contacts but you won’t forget and won’t need time to transcribe at the end.
Michael KB9VBR states that logging on paper gets “really cumbersome†if you make more than 50 QSOs in his presentation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W48NZVngQ6A about preparing for Field Day. He is suggesting computer logging if you expect more. He is expecting to use the N3FJP ARRL Field Day Contest Log Software.
Contest logging programs check for Duplicate.
