Category — Contesting

Sean, KX9X, has started a “contest blog” off of the ARRL site.

I don’t think it is a blog, but it is certainly a web site to get official contest news out of the ARRL.

From Sean:

This is where I will be posting official information on all things Contest-related, such as when results for ARRL contests are put online, when awards are going out the door, and if there are any problems you need to know about. This blog will cover both HF and VHF+ contests.

The site does not allow comments (hence, it isn’t a blog…), but you can certainly subscribe to the site with your RSS reader (click link to see how subscriptions work. It is for the K9JY site, but the principle is the same) — the orange RSS symbol at the top of the site. I would subscribe because the posting, unlike a blog, will be highly irregular and the RSS feed will send you updates as they occur rather than you having to go look.

Scot, K9JY

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I have my friend Eric, K9GY, sending me pics of Dayton. Every year the Society of Midwest Contesters meets in one of the Hooters in Dayton for the chicken wings and chatting with their fellow contesters.

Who are these great contesters?

Or these!

Ah, yes. What goes on the Internet STAYS on the Internet.

Thanks, Eric!

Scot, K9JY

I have a friend who is sending me pics from Dayton. Here’s the first one — Tim, K3LR way in the front of the picture with his opening remarks on Contest University.

Looks like 200 or so hams getting educated…

Hat tip to Hamventioneer Eric, K9GY!

Scot, K9JY

One of Field Day’s great pleasures is the food! Clubs have many different methods of providing food at the Field Day site. Some will use club money to fund the food, some will orient themselves to one large meal, and others will simply bring their own food.

The driving force in planning by the club for food at the Field Day site participation. Two transmitters and two people? Simple. Nine transmitters and 45-people? Whole different story.

My participation in Field Day has been with larger groups. So, the food planning was more rigorous. As was the equipment planning. As was scheduling the cooks and helpers.

The surprise about the food is there is usually a group in your club that loves to cook for a Field Day. More than operating. It allows them to do a great service, share in Field Day, do their own planning and execution, and chat with everyone at the event. I’ve always had great respect for these people – they make Field Day a great event.

How does your club handle food for Field Day?

Scot, K9JY

Field Day always has the opportunity to have bonus points — points that you can achieve that count above and beyond the actual contacts made during the Field Day hours of operation.

The ARRL does bonus points for three specific reasons (in my humble opinion…):

1. Encourage little used modes for points
2. Publicize the Field Day event
3. Introduce new hams to the contesting environment

Let’s look at some of the bonus point categories:

• Get On The Air (GOTA) Station. This is the classic station that is used to introduce new hams to the contesting environment. This is also a great place to show the public how new hams can learn about operating new modes.
• “Free” VHF Station. When your club has two or more transmitters, you may also operate an additional VHF transmitter without it counting against your entry qualification. This is the “little used” modes to create additional activity on the bands.
• 100% emergency power. DOH! This is an event to test portable capabilities in an emergency.
• Media publicity. 100 bonus points for attempting to have media at your event. I suggest three ways to get media to attend.
• Pubic location. 100 bonus points for operating in a public place — such as a public park.
• Public Information Table. 100 Points for having handouts available for people who come visit your site.
• Message Origination to Section Manager. 100 points for origination of a NTS style formal message to the ARRL Section Manager for your group. Hey, it’s a message.
• Message Handling. This is up to 10 messages at 10 points each for messages relayed, not including your Section Manager message.
• Satellite QSO. This is 100 bonus points for completing at least one satellite QSO during the Field Day event. A little used mode and a great method of getting the media to your event.
• Alternate power for 100 points from a minimum of five QSO’s without power from commercial mains or petroleum driven generator. Like solar — or peddling a bicycle. A great media draw.
• W1AW Bulletin. 100 points for copying the bulletin. Who do you have copying this?
• Educational Activity Bonus. Another way of exposing ham radio to others.
• Site Visitation by an elected governmental official. Not a candidate, but already elected. We need government on our side!
• Site Visitation by a representative of an Agency. Served via ARES. We provide help in communications and Field Day is representative of our capabilities.
• Web submission. 50-points for no human interface with your submission.
• Field Day Youth Participation. Points for QSO’s by people 18 or younger. We want youngsters participating in ham radio.

What a list!

From the club perspective, one needs to have a plan to earn each of these bonus points that are available to the club. This means a plan, a defined person or station captain responsible for getting the bonus points, and a validation that the  bonus points were earned by the Field Day Chairman or designate.

One can argue that the bonus points are nuts, crazy, too hard or whatever. But each of the categories make a point about extending the range of operation or including others in our hobby.  The bonus points, while worth going after, tell us where we need to be taking the hobby as a club.

Who will earn the bonus points for your club this year?

Scot, K9JY