On Jun 18, 6:50?pm, wrote:
Folks,

What are people doing for Field Day this year?

The CONTEST called a "Readiness Exercise" is just another contest.
Always has been. If it's a Contest going on, there's little point in
listening to "the bands" (the HF ones) since there is very little
evidence of actual "Readiness" activity that is supposed to be a
hallmark of an outing in the park with buddies.

If "Field Day" were an ACTUAL Readiness Exercise I would consider
joining in once I had some portable equipment. Since I don't and
since it isn't, I'll just stay in my air conditioned home and "work on
my code."

PIC programming code, that is... :-)

Y'all have fun, heah?

73, AF6AY

AF6AY wrote in news:1182223631.882670.254980
@e9g2000prf.googlegroups.com:

On Jun 18, 6:50?pm, wrote:
Folks,

What are people doing for Field Day this year?

The CONTEST called a "Readiness Exercise" is just another contest.
Always has been. If it's a Contest going on, there's little point in
listening to "the bands" (the HF ones) since there is very little
evidence of actual "Readiness" activity that is supposed to be a
hallmark of an outing in the park with buddies.

If "Field Day" were an ACTUAL Readiness Exercise I would consider
joining in once I had some portable equipment. Since I don't and
since it isn't, I'll just stay in my air conditioned home and "work on
my code."

Our club alternates between a low power, and a high power Field
Day. While I personally like the low power FD better, some of the other
guys really like to run legal limit into a 40 meter beam on a portable
tower. So we compromise and alternate. We'll be running 3A, with a
dedicated CW station, a dedicated 40 meter station, and a Other
frequency/80 meter evening station. We'll have a recieve antenna at the
perimiter of what is allowed to eliminate the interference you get when
you have a lot of high power stations operating in close proximity.

Y'all have fun, heah?

Nothing better! Folks come out to chat as well as operate. We socialize
and have a mostly relaxing weekend (hard to call it all relaxing when I
pull the night shift on 80 meters - I'm pretty tired by Sunday afternoon)
It's always a little interesting trying to talk the local pizza places
into delivering to a field outside of town. Sometimes they do, and
sometimes they won't.

Of course Field Day isn't for everyone.

- 73 de Mike KB3EIA -

Mike Coslo wrote on Tues 19 Jun 2007 03:03:

AF6AY wrote in news:1182223631.882670.254980
:

If "Field Day" were an ACTUAL Readiness Exercise I would consider
joining in once I had some portable equipment. Since I don't and
since it isn't, I'll just stay in my air conditioned home and "work on
my code."

Our club alternates between a low power, and a high power Field
Day. While I personally like the low power FD better, some of the other
guys really like to run legal limit into a 40 meter beam on a portable
tower. So we compromise and alternate. We'll be running 3A, with a
dedicated CW station, a dedicated 40 meter station, and a Other
frequency/80 meter evening station. We'll have a recieve antenna at the
perimiter of what is allowed to eliminate the interference you get when
you have a lot of high power stations operating in close proximity.

So, it's been a Contest all along, hasn't it? Not really a "Readiness
Exercise" for "emergency communications" as has been rationalized
(seemingly forever) by lots of old-timers and the ARRL. Why don't
they come out and admit the truth of what it IS and has always been?

I see nothing wrong with having an Outing At A Park for ham radio,
particularly on a nice day in June which is ideal for northern-climate
folks (I grew up in northern Illinois and know what it is like). It's
an
ideal club "togetherness" activity away from the usual clubhouse
atmosphere. I think it would be better for all to stop the pretense
of
a "readiness exercise" and just call it what it IS, a Contest From
Field Locations.

It's always a little interesting trying to talk the local pizza places
into delivering to a field outside of town. Sometimes they do, and
sometimes they won't.

In real emergencies one could not expect pizza places to be open
and running. Even during a fine day in June. No male-oriented club
has members with a roll-away barbecue grill? There was a whole
page of Field Day Recipes in the last QST.

Of course Field Day isn't for everyone.

True enough. At least a third of respondents to the ARRL on-line
informal, unscientific Poll said they wouldn't be participating.

Emergency Preparedness drills using radio? Been there, done
that. The Army and Marines know how to do it, even at QRP RF
power levels. In all kinds of weather at any time of day or night.
The only "contesting" done is plain SURVIVAL.

Not to worry about this station in southern six-land. I won't be
radiating RF during Field Day. I'll be at a diferent picnic. Non-
ham-radio picnic. Enjoy.

Sincerely, Len, AF6AY

AF6AY wrote in
oups.com:

Mike Coslo wrote on Tues 19 Jun 2007 03:03:

AF6AY wrote in news:1182223631.882670.254980
:

If "Field Day" were an ACTUAL Readiness Exercise I would consider
joining in once I had some portable equipment. Since I don't and
since it isn't, I'll just stay in my air conditioned home and "work
on my code."

Our club alternates between a low power, and a high power
Field
Day. While I personally like the low power FD better, some of the
other guys really like to run legal limit into a 40 meter beam on a
portable tower. So we compromise and alternate. We'll be running 3A,
with a dedicated CW station, a dedicated 40 meter station, and a Other
frequency/80 meter evening station. We'll have a recieve antenna at
the perimiter of what is allowed to eliminate the interference you get
when you have a lot of high power stations operating in close
proximity.

So, it's been a Contest all along, hasn't it? Not really a "Readiness
Exercise" for "emergency communications" as has been rationalized
(seemingly forever) by lots of old-timers and the ARRL. Why don't
they come out and admit the truth of what it IS and has always been?

Not sure that I understand. We come out and get on the air, with
different styles of operation from year to year. Certainly if it
were done in contest fashion, our approach would be different.



I see nothing wrong with having an Outing At A Park for ham radio,
particularly on a nice day in June which is ideal for northern-climate
folks (I grew up in northern Illinois and know what it is like). It's
an ideal club "togetherness" activity away from the usual clubhouse
atmosphere. I think it would be better for all to stop the pretense
of a "readiness exercise" and just call it what it IS, a Contest From
Field Locations.

Field Day is designed to get people on the air. For some, this is
the only weekend that they do get on the air. In our club, they work
and learn how to put a station together, and how to operate. We
encourage the newbies or less experienced folk to do some operation.
If it were a contest, there would only be about three of us
operating the whole time. The new guys and gals can only operate at
about 25 percent the rate that our more experienced Ops can.

Field day was how I was enticed to go for my General license. A
patient and more experienced amateur had me log for him for a couple
hours, then turned the mic over to me. I am a quick study, but my
operation in that first Field Day cost the club quite a few points.
Now I run Field Day for them...



It's always a little interesting trying to talk the local pizza places
into delivering to a field outside of town. Sometimes they do, and
sometimes they won't.

In real emergencies one could not expect pizza places to be open
and running. Even during a fine day in June. No male-oriented club
has members with a roll-away barbecue grill? There was a whole
page of Field Day Recipes in the last QST.

I've had these conversations often with local Hams about the very
subject. While it is very true that the conditions do mot emulate
the likely reality of an emergency, the basics of what is needed is
the ability to erect a portable station that operates off of the
mains, operate the station and gain or practice proficiency in that
operation, and then tear down and pack up when it is over.

After all, in a real emergency the operators might be freezing,
injured, starving, suffering from malaria or radiation poisoning or
even worse.

Probably would be hard to get many volunteers if we insisted on
literal accuracy of conditions! ;^)


- 73 de Mike KB3EIA -

Hi everyone:
"Mike Coslo" wrote in message
6...
It's always a little interesting trying to talk the local pizza places
into delivering to a field outside of town. Sometimes they do, and
sometimes they won't.

Well that's because of (And in response to) what happened to that one pizza
delivery guy who wound up taking part in a bank robbery with a bomb strapped
to him. Remember that?

I wonder if they caught the mastermind moron responsible
for that...

Of course Field Day isn't for everyone.

Hey...Not all of us are in love with the gnats ya know! *LOL!*

Cheers & 73

Pat Cook, KB0OXD
Denver, Colorado
WEBSITE - http://www.qsl.net/kb0oxd/
**NEW VIDEO SECTION - http://www.qsl.net/kb0oxd/cybershacktv/

On Mon, 18 Jun 2007 23:27:32 EDT, AF6AY wrote:

If "Field Day" were an ACTUAL Readiness Exercise I would consider
joining in once I had some portable equipment.

And what training and qualification of proficiency do you have to slip
into the seat at a disaster EOC/ICP or field position and be an
effective communicator, such as familiarity with the operation and the
communication needs of the site and served agency or even the message
protocols and formats in use and where and how they are to be passed?

In an emergency or disaster situation, we need TRAINED "message
passers", far more than untrained drop-in volunteers. We are always
ready to train folks before anything happens, but we really don't have
the time or resources to train folks when the stuff is flowing.

And our Team does run Field Day as a Readiness Exercise, complete with
call-outs and dispersal assignments.

73 de K2ASP - Phil Kane
Member, Washington County (Oregon)
Emergency Communications Team
ARES/RACES and HEARTNET Qualified

Phil Kane wrote in
:

And our Team does run Field Day as a Readiness Exercise, complete with
call-outs and dispersal assignments.


Phil, I would bet if an enterprising fellow were to write up
something about their operations, it might be pretty well received.. (wink
wink) 8^)

I am very interested in how your group does it. I'm always looking
for ways to generate some interest, and this could be a great way to work
with our EC.

- 73 de Mike KB3EIA -

Phil Kane wrote on Tue, 19 Jun 2007 19:13:38 EDT:

On Mon, 18 Jun 2007 23:27:32 EDT, AF6AY wrote:

If "Field Day" were an ACTUAL Readiness Exercise I would
consider joining in once I had some portable equipment.

And what training and qualification of proficiency do you have to slip
into the seat at a disaster EOC/ICP or field position and be an
effective communicator, such as familiarity with the operation and the
communication needs of the site and served agency or even the message
protocols and formats in use and where and how they are to be passed?

I did not target ANY specific "EOC/ICP" organization. My diatribe
was directed towards the ARRL and the old-timers who've
mouthed all those legendary rationales about FIELD DAY being a
"readiness exercise."

I used the word CONSIDER in my sentence you quoted. I've
never claimed to know every procedure and protocol used by
each and every "EOC/ICP" in existance. I've considered lots of
things in my life.

Well, I'll have to rescind my consideration. I am so unworthy.
Besides, I don't reside in Oregon, not even close to it. If I were to
CONSIDER any REAL emergency preparedness group it would
be the Los Angeles Auxilliary Communications service. One of
their base stations is loaned to the ARRL VEC as a site for US
amateur radio license examinations. So far, nobody at "Old
Firehouse Number 77" has snarled at me for any reason.

I don't consider myself knowledgeable or trained enough to
"slip into the seat of an "EOC/ICP" position and "push traffic
through." I HAVE been good enough - without training - to
assist in communications of utility companies during a real
emergency on 17 January 1994. But, I don't claim that is
good enough to "slip into any [emergency comms] seat"
and do what is Right and Proper. I have been trained in the
military to do very portable communications under simulated
explosions and automatic gunfire common to combat
conditions. But that doesn't count towards being able to
push traffic according to protocol and procedure of any
particular civilian volunteer group.

In an emergency or disaster situation, we need TRAINED "message
passers", far more than untrained drop-in volunteers. We are always
ready to train folks before anything happens, but we really don't have
the time or resources to train folks when the stuff is flowing.

Now what have I been saying elesewhere about training? OF
COURSE there needs to be training, drills, observation of
effectiveness and revision of plans if that seems necessary.
That does go on down here and did before 17 January 1994.
it works. I've seen it work. In a real emergency.

And our Team does run Field Day as a Readiness Exercise, complete with
call-outs and dispersal assignments.

Well, good on "your Team." However, the ARRL-sponsored Field
Day is a Contest in its basic form. Will "your Team" get a good
score in that contest with everyone trained and motivated for
emergencies? Isn't a good score the epitome of any Field
Day outing?

Does "your Team" do its drilling and training and whatever on
NON-Field Day weekends? I hope they do. Readiness isn't a
holiday-sort of thing and exercises shouldn't planned months in
advance, advertised in national magazines. Real emergencies
can strike without any advance warning. QST won't know
about it until well after the fact.

Do real emergencies allow perfect protocol and procedure
to work? I'm not sure about that. Can everyone keep their
cool when a sudden aftershock trembles everything around
them? Some real emergencies can actually destroy some
comm nodes or the personnel to man them.

Hey, I apologize for ruffling feathers of other organizations
by directing my comments to the ARRL. So much so that
I don't think it is worthwhile to comment much on anything
any more in this newsgroup. Too many get all upset at
contrary-to-established-ideas. :-(

AF6AY

"AF6AY" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jun 18, 6:50?pm, wrote:
Folks,

What are people doing for Field Day this year?

The CONTEST called a "Readiness Exercise" is just another contest.
Always has been. If it's a Contest going on, there's little point in
listening to "the bands" (the HF ones) since there is very little
evidence of actual "Readiness" activity that is supposed to be a
hallmark of an outing in the park with buddies.

If "Field Day" were an ACTUAL Readiness Exercise I would consider
joining in once I had some portable equipment. Since I don't and
since it isn't, I'll just stay in my air conditioned home and "work on
my code."

PIC programming code, that is... :-)

Y'all have fun, heah?

73, AF6AY


No need to have portable equipment. Many take down their base stations,
pack them up, take them out to the field day site, set them up and operate.
One guy brings out his full size Ten-Tec.

Dee, N8UZE