Eastern Mass ARRL

Bill Ricker, N1VUX

Sections of this page: Thoughts § Scoring § Rules & Bonuses § Power § PR § Band-Dups/Transmitter Control

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• Expand eligibility for bonus points (not just A Class stations) "Many bonus point categories are available to all entry classes." See Rule 73.
• Count of transmitters for class is tightened. See Rule 4.
• Youth Bonus (Rule 7.3.15). 20 bonus points--up to a maximum of 100 (20 or 40 for Class B) -- for youth (18 y.o. or younger) who operates Field Day (complete contact).

2004 Notes carried forward - ARRL Story on rules changes. The rules comments below were based on the FD01 rules but have been updated for the obvious changes in the 2002 - 2003 rules; no guarantees about subtleties. The FAQ-Q&A sections of the 04fdpack are interesting and helpful.

2003 Changes / or clarifications noted or stressed by ARRL:

• Frequencies like 10GHz is a band, so is not of itself a non-traditional demo mode. Any mode eligible for QSO points, like PSK31 is not a demo.
• 50 pt bonus for submission of score via ARRL Web Application; must include summary sheet completed on the site.
• Bulletin must be copied during  F.D. (2003)

2003 Notes carried forward:

Hint ... look at the logo for the 2m frequenchy to meet other FD stations on -- 146.550. Remember 146.52 is offlimits.

Rules Changes 2003:

• Class F stations
• Rules reduce from 400 to 100 the number of QSOs that the "Get On The Air" (GOTA) station needs to make to claim a 100-point bonus. "GOTA stations still may work up to a maximum of 400 QSOs to go towards the main station's score."
• Separated the public official bonus categories--100 points for the elected official and a separate 100 points for a representative of a served agency.

Thoughts

• Previoulsy I'd suggested arranging 147.420 as VHF calling frequency with local clubs, but since the FD Logo has 146.550 on the pin for 2003, that will be the defacto FD 2m calling frequency. [2003]
• Consider options for band-control, transmitter-control & dup-sheet/file transfer. - see "Control" section.
• Illumination -- I've seen both relatively low wattage external flood-lights up high on the mast and high-wattage "work lights" at eye-level pointing in from the generator site -- the higher vantage lower wattage is less harsh, easier to see in both directions. High-contrast can be poor security.
• Using an inkjet printer, could easily make ARRL/FD2005 logo souvenir window decals not only as souvenirs but also to identify our vehicles to both our own security patrols but also local constabulary. [The parks some clubs operate in are closed after dark, with special exception for our vehicles. Highest price but best production value would be heavy stock clear "Window Cling" inkjet stock. [2005] ]

Thoughts § Scoring § Rules & Bonuses § Power § PR § Band-Dups/Transmitter Control

Maximixing Scoring & Abiding with Rules Commentary

• See also comments in Rules section, particularly under Bonuses .
• Carefully measure circle of operations so you don't violate the A and B class rules.
• Do the bonuses first (as early as possible). In particular, work the big local stations (e.g. N1FD) & other easy 2mFM's on Solar, not on the genny! Plan to hit all bonuses. These will require planning. See "Bonuses" section below.
• Multipliers.
  • To Maximize your score, Have enough Transmitters declared for what you can use, have enough operators to keep them warm. Not only does each claimed Transmitter score a bonus of 100 (for A and B classes), it also should be generated QSO's. Analysis of previous years winners of each transmitter class and of EMA same-club scores past two years shows that more transmitters tends to increase the score, but more operators are also essential. Winners have 1000 to 3000 points per Transmitter claimed, 200 to 400 QSO's per Tx, 40 to 140 Q's per Op, 5 to 10 Ops per Tx. Clubs adding Transmitters and Operators added points over previous years.
  • To Maximize your score, Don't use more power than the competition, at least not past a multiplier breakpoint, you'll never make up the Q's. No class winner used more power than a multiplier: all Battery class winners in 2001 used the x5 multiplier for <=5W (not mains or motor-generator; Rule 7.2.1), all other class winners used the x2 multiplier for <=150W.
  • To Maximize your score, Use Old or New Digital. The x2 multiplier for all CW and Digital QSO's really helps. Nearly all class winners had >50% CW/Digital QSOs. The only exceptions were 3 uncompetitve categories: 10A-Battery, 30% CW (only entry in class); 6A-Commercial, 22% CW (only 2 entries in class); 4A-Commercial, 19% CW (only 4 entries in class), and one rather competitive category 2A, 44% CW (397 entries in class, this one had 13 Ops, only moderately high for a winner but good for 2A, and cranked out 4077 Q's for 11934 Pts on only 2 Transmitters, 1800ish on the CW and 2200ish on the Phone, 315 Qs/Op, 918Pts/Op, Astounding.).
• New for 2002, Log IARU Region 2 stations as FD contacts.
  • "DX stations from across Region 2 – encompassing North and South America – are now invited to fully participate and submit scores to the ARRL for inclusion in the results. DX stations should give as their sent exchange their entry category (just like W/VE participants) as well as the designation “DX” – in lieu of an ARRL section."
  • As with other unintentional Field Day contacts, you may have to tell them they're 1D DX for home on commercial or 1B DX if driving mobile, etc, so they can tell you their exchange. Of course, some DX may be 1E or 1B-Battery-1Op every day. If you take the time to explain it, you may get a valid exchange.
• Work Them Again!
  • But The Best way to get more points, and have more fun, work the same stations again! (Legally: More bands or modes)
• What Additional bands/modes possible?
  • The obvious is CW vs SSB, and changing bands. Moving them up on HF is now legal -- 15 minute QSY rules is gone. If you pay an extra transmitter class, out of your Field Day's allocated claimed total, You can band-switch or mode-switch a single HF transmitter between two modes or bands within a 15 minute period. (or more for more), and, if your contact does likewise, you can work each other on the other band/mode immediately. Or the contact may be ready to make their every-15-minutes hop and you can follow them if you either pay the extra transmitter or haven't hopped in 15 minutes and stay for 15 minutes.
  • Digital HF: Worth 2·pts, same as CW, in addition to CW! Anyone want to do RTTY / PSK31 / MFSK16 whatever on HF? Can get it all in one or two programs on a PC today. Should have someone who's experienced with it to avoid having a horrid signal and making enemies.
  • 10m will likely be might not be open; 10m Phone (SSB and FM) CW & Digital, are all to be considered. (Note that SSB and FM are both Phone, and count as one mode; Digital and CW are two modes.) But better, can spend a transmitter and have a station on 10m; it should have a scanner set to 10m FM calling freq and a shortwave receiver on 28.500, and put both in memories and hop back & forth. Can work 'em on 10m-Phone, 10m-CW. (Hopping modes will require counting a second transmitter, however, unless you wait 15 minutes; see Control.)
  • Novice-Tech "GOTA" Station [Please note 2002/2003 changes] is a great option. No longer requires actual Tech-plus-codes or Novices, no longer restricted to Novice sub-bands. GOTA operators are those who've not used the bands the station is on or the ham radios in general in the last couple of years. The GOTA station does not have to avoid the band/mode in use by the Club callsign. The GOTA Station, since it's using a separate callsing and separate Dup sheet, can work the same stations in same band and mode as the Club station!
    • 400 Qs plus bonus 100pts could be 900pts Phone (10m) or 1700pts CW, assuming you're using the <150W x2 multiplier. And in 2003, the a 100 bonus pts are received for first 100 Qs, next 300 are gravy.
  • VHF - move 'em up.
    • The number of FD sites in range of anything but SSB or CW on VHF is low, but extra bands for the easy ones is worth something.
    • It's apparently legal to ask all 2m FM/SSB and 6m SSB local contacts if they have higher bands or a CW key and QSY 'em to other band/modes and score 'em on all of 'em - no TX penalty if same operator, original Tx silent while QSYd. Can also ask 'em to meet us on 10m FM/SSB, but that takes a transmitter. So ask 'em what else they got. No rule even requires you to move a phone contact to a CW subband to do a CW QSO? I'm not sure if it's ok to advertise what frequencies you're listening or make scheds for later on an existing contest QSO only, or if only direct QSY now is allowed.
    • FM Simplex - not just 2m: 6m FM, 220 FM, 440FM - VHF/UHF tent should be monitoring simplex calling frequencies on the other bands, in case anyone else is calling. So have a scanner scanning 'em. (Calling freqs are legal except for 2m.) Just don't answer on 6m FM is 6m SSB is in use. 2m FM is probably a separate station, but must be counter-locked from 2m SSB. Note: 146.52 is OFFLIMITS. Thanks to the Pin, 146.550 is the "official" FD-FD frequency; try 147.420 for ARES-ARES coordination.
    • 1.2 Gig? If several clubs with hill sites in an area all take a 1.2G FM HT up the hill, there could well be activity on the 1.2G FM simplex calling frequency. Worth a try, particularly in areas where 1.2Gig repeaters are being planned/considered/are in use. The sponsors of the repeaters might even loan HTs to FD groups.
    • Microwaves. 2.4, 5.0, 10 Gig are homebrew or very expensive. 10Gig is cheap via lobotomized radar detectors, but they usually are built in pairs with matched offset/modes; the UHF+/Microwave contester offset/modes are a little harder. But if you can get a Microwave contester to help out ...
    • Light band? Nanometers is legal for hams. UHF+ rules say must have one level of electronic amplification or detection, if memory serves. Unclear if can move 'em from Light/CW to Light/Phone to Light/Data :-) Would require true line-o-site and hard w/o dark-horizon/dark skies; and note that the FAA is getting itchy about laser over open terrain, due to the hazard for pilots. So probably not a Field Day mode.

Thoughts § Scoring § Rules & Bonuses § Power § PR § Band-Dups/Transmitter Control

Download or read the Official rules from ARRL contest page.

Unofficial Commentary follows. Paragraph-numbered Text like this and this are quotations from the official rules, 2005 edition. Bold is ARRL's indicator that the text is new or important. My comments will be in Roman Italics like this. My annotation of changes are color coded by year as always.

Below 30 MHz, once a transmitter is used for a contact on a band, it must remain on that band for at least 15 minutes. [Deleted 2005: The 15 minute rule is deleted. Actual number of simultaneous transmissions is now the rule.]

(Class D) Home stations: Stations operating from permanent or licensed station locations using commercial power. Class D stations may only count contacts made with Class A, B, C, E and F Field Day stations. [In other words, Class D stations may NOT contact each-other, but can contact everyone else.]

A Class F station may claim the emergency power bonus if emergency power is available at the EOC site. [This is for harmony between the volunteers and the professionals. If emergency power is professionally maintained, you don't have to test it on the weekend, the professionals will test it in their own time, so you can count it without using it!]

A person may not contact for QSO credit any station from which they also participate. [2005 Supposed clarification, still doesn't define Participate at the other end -- if a SM or SEC or Fire Chief visits 12 sites but only operates at his/her club site, are they "participating" where they sign the guest roster or only where they sign-in as a operator / support person? Participants in English would not normally include spectators, but would include non-operator cooks, which the usage elsewhere of "operators and participants" seems to include -- but doesn't distinguish carefully.]

Bonuses

Public Information Table: 100 bonus points for a Public Information Table at the Field Day site. The purpose is to make appropriate handouts and information available to the visiting public at the site. A copy of a visitor's log, copies of club handouts or photos is sufficient evidence for claiming this bonus. Available to Classes A, B and F.

• Table up front; club banner.
• Order more handouts from ARRL HQ
• Visitor log - nice form.
• Be sure to take photos for this and other specials.
• Staffing.
• See also message handling. The PI Table can help the public generate traffic for you ...

7.3.5. Message Origination to Section Manager: 100 bonus points for origination of a National Traffic System (NTS) style formal message to the ARRL Section Manager or Section Emergency Coordinator by your group from its site. You should include the club name, number of participants, Field Day location, and number of ARES operators involved with your station. The message must be transmitted during the Field Day period and a fully serviced copy of it must be included in your submission, in standard ARRL NTS format, or no credit will be given. The Section Manager message is separate from the messages handled in Rule7.3.6. and may not be claimed for bonus points under that rule. Available to all Classes.

• Operator/Member sign-in sheet must have ARES MEMBER column; or,
• Have ARES signup forms handy, your EC can enroll all operators on site! [2004]
• Must format message & send preferably Saturday night in NTS nets.
• EMA ARES Requests you transmit to both your SM W1MPN and your DEC, rather than to just your SEC. Do all three if you like.

7.3.6. Message Handling: 10 points for each formal NTS style originated, relayed or received and delivered during the Field Day period, up to a maximum of 100 points (ten messages). Properly serviced copies of each message must be included with the Field Day report. The message to the ARRL SM or SEC under rule 7.3.6. may not be counted in the total of 10 for this bonus. Available to all Classes.

• [2001 HQ Comments] Traffic handling is an important part of Field Day. We have amended the Traffic Handling Bonus for 2001. You may now claim 10 points per message, up to 100 points maximum for every message originated, relayed or received and delivered. In the past, this bonus was only available for messages received and relayed. You may not include the message your group originates to the Section Manager or Section Emergency Coordinator in this total, since it already receives a separate bonus.
• Note that "Originated" means on behalf of someone else in the NTS jargon; messages coming from the Field Day operators don't count, they need to be On Behalf of the Public. One might be able to argue that a message under the Club callsign that's Signed by your ARES EC was Originated by the Field Day Operator not the EC, as long as the operator doing the NTS work on behalf of the club call is not  the EC. To indicate this, you might include an BREAK - Op Note: N1ABC Op. after the Signature.
• The real win is getting Visitors to send ARL FIFTY ONE AMATEUR RADIO FIELD DAY messages using the ARRL Radio Gram abbreviations; that translates as "Greetings by Amateur Radio. This message is sent as a free public service by ham radio operators at ______. Am having a wonderful time." FSD-3 at http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/
• Have several different message handling forms at Public Service / PR table. http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/forms/
• NTS Posters
• PR to push "birthday or solstice greetings" opportunity
• Perhaps a special Happy Solstice message form for 2002?
• Perhaps a Field Day message origination form should be available from ARRL fileserver (new link TBD)

7.3.7. Satellite QSO: 100 bonus points for successfully completing at least one QSO via an amateur radio satellite during the Field Day period. Under the "General Rules for All ARRL Contests" (Rule 3.7.2.), the no-repeater QSO stipulation is waived for satellite QSOs. Groups are allowed one dedicated satellite transmitter station without increasing their entry category. Satellite QSOs also count for regular QSO credit. Show them listed separately on the summary sheet as a separate "band." You do not receive an additional bonus for contacting different satellites, though the additional QSOs may be counted for QSO credit. The QSO must be Earth-Satellite-Earth in nature. Available to Classes A, B, and F. [The E-S-E clarification appears to disallow ISS and Shuttle contacts, and require a full ARRL Field Day exchange with another FD station if using Packet Satellites. "Groups" implies that a one-operator Category B station doesn't get it a free station, so would use is 1 transmitter to earn this bonus.]

• First completed QSO logged worth 100 points plus it's regular points!.
• Note that getting a Dup-sheet from Satellite tents would count as extra QSOs, they're their own "band".
• AMSAT Field Day runs for WHOLE period, so don't cut their power, just grab their ARRL Field Day Dup Sheet at close of the site's ARRL FD Operating Period & power-down.

7.3.8. Alternate Power: 100 bonus points for Field Day groups making a minimum of five QSOs without using power from commercial mains or a petroleum driven generator. This means an "alternate" energy source of power, such as solar, wind, methane or water. This includes batteries charged by natural means (not dry cells). The natural power transmitter counts as an additional transmitter. If you do not wish to increase your operating category, you should take one of your other transmitters off the air while the natural power transmitter is in operation. A separate list of natural power QSOs should be submitted with your entry. Available to Class A, B, E, and F.

• You must count this as a transmitter; the Alternate Power is not another free transmitter. We think it's ok to do these with the "Free VHF" transmitter, though.
• Do these first, as whatever band they're on, the ones workable with QRP will be the easy ones, which someone else at your station will already have worked if you don't work them this way first.
• Usually 2m FM, but could be QRP CW on lemon-cells -- they say no dry cells, but don't say anything about improvised, natural wet cells!

7.3.9. W1AW Bulletin: 100 bonus points for copying the special Field Day bulletin transmitted by W1AW (or K6KPH) during its operating schedule during the Field Day weekend (listed in this rules announcement). An accurate copy of the message is required to be included in your Field Day submission. (Note: The Field Day bulletin must be copied via amateur radio. It will not be included in Internet bulletins sent out from Headquarters and will not be posted to Internet BBS sites.) Available to all Classes.

• Plan this carefully - who, what mode, when?

7.3.10. Non-Traditional Mode Demonstrations: A maximum of 300 bonus points (100 points for each demonstration up to three) for setting up a demonstration of a non-traditional mode of amateur radio communications. This includes modes such as APRS, ATV, and SSTV. Available Class A, B, and F.

7.3.10.1. This bonus is not available for demonstration of a mode for which regular QSO credit is available, such as PSK31.

7.3.10.2. A complete portable packet system may be included as one of the demonstration modes. This system must include a temporary, portable node and must be completely separate from the existing packet infrastructure of your area. Simply setting up a packet station does not qualify as a demonstration mode.

[By "simply ... packet station" they mean an end-user terminal station isn't enough, the Demo must be Temporary Infrastracture, BBS Node+Digi or equivalent. Who will talk to it if it's outside the existing structure? Doesn't matter, it's a demo. You could demo with another FD site that does the same thing, or just have a couple of terminal stations around the site too. I guess the point is to demonstrate a system of several field-deployable packet station that coulds connect a couple shelters and an EOC? Why not say so? ]

• This is the only quasi-exception for a mode that is allowed for QSO credit -- Packet simplex contacts count for QSO, packet digi counts for demo.
• consider portable Packet BBS + Digi?
• Portable Node is easy on APRS!
• D700/D7 doesn't count here, it's not a Digi - but you'd want an APRS display setup anyway.

7.3.10.3. Demonstration modes may not include communications carried outside of the amateur radio spectrum (such as Internet relay).

• Drat, that rules out ARES Flexibility demos via MURS and GMRS as demonstration modes too.
• Both IRLP and EchoLink are specifically rejected by the new rule above.

7.3.10.4. Frequency bands, such as 10 GHz are bands, not modes of communications and do not qualify for the demonstration mode bonus.

But what is a "mode" that is "non-traditional" but not eligible for QSO credit?.

[hq comment in prior years:] This would include such things as APRS, ATV or one of the modes that is not covered by the three categories of QSOs - CW, digital and Phone. Be careful when you choose this mode. The digital category already includes such things as RTTY, and PSK31, so they don't qualify for the bonus.

Many of the obvious ones don't count as most are eligible for QSO (Sat PSK31 etc).
The obvious ones are:

• ATV fastscan, camcorder & 435MHz module?
• SSTV (ATV slowscan), with laptops & digicams/camcorder capture/stored impage?
• APRS
  • Trackers
  • MicKey via repeater?
  • Maybe a digi with portable weather station! (do I really want it on genny power? Good conditioner?)
  • D7A / D700 messaging
  • What else is new?
• Packet BBS / portable digi, as listed -- must be a complete system, not just a station.
• What else is left? Has to be something not eligible for QSO points, and not "normal". Check handbook, ops manual, magazines, ask mailing list what's exciting.
  • Imagery besides ATV: At least analog imagery: Hellschriber, Fax?, and maybe digital imagery too. Even if computer manipulated, I assume, as not a Digital QSO mode in sense of FD - but it's not spelt out. Rules require passing & copying an exchange, which is contrary to most image-mode styles, while not impossible. Are Digital Imagery modes eligible for digital QSO points?
• What makes a mode ineligible for QSO points?
  • Repeaters (aside from satellites) aren't eligible for QSO points. Of course, Repeaters are pretty Traditional.
    So what about repeaters could be "non-traditional"? Things we'd like to be Traditional but aren't yet!
    • ICS Logistics Net demo (not getting contacts for FD stations, that's not allowed -- getting volunteers! probably too traditional, but worth doing & listing as a non-points ARES demonstration).
    • Mic-Key -> APRS via repeater tap
    • On-channel microwave repeater (passive or otherwise)?
    • ATV repeaters are just more ATV?
    • Field-deployable emergency repeater (not just a parrot box)
    • Parrot box with fully legal ID and control scheme (legal on a Parrot box is "non traditional"? it's a stretch :-)
    • A new band is not non-traditional enough!
      According to latest HQ Commentary in current rules, an odd frequencies aren't enough ...
      Apparently 60m/5MHz channelized on-center-freq wouldn't even be non-traditional enough, alas?
    • Does EME count for FD QSO? Never heard of anyone trying it. Well, it'd be really hard from FD station anyway, on the low VHF/UHF bands. But it's QRP doable at microwave 1.2G & 10G, with 10-12' dish, 1-40W, with PUA-43 and EME-2 modulations … but those require the DSP-10 SDR. If it uses SDR, I guess it's non traditional. Other modulations?
    • How about a PSK31 repeater?
  • No exchange:
    • Logging ham propagation beacons? That's a mode!
      SWLing Hams? (not quite a mode but…)
    • Sats w/o QSO: Beacons, tracking, Amsat telemetry downlink - as long as it's not eligible for QSO
    • WEFAX/SatFax RX -- No, WEFAX isn't in Ham spectrum
    • Radio Control aircraft (w/ ATV or w/ham control)
    • Balloon Telemetry
    • RDF (Too traditional, unless outlandish means?)
    • Radio Telescope at sunrise (sat-dish-aiming meter on a small dish.) (It's Solstice!) -- or Jupiter? If in Ham spectrum?
  • Cross-band is not available for points, so
    • crossband-mobile with proper legal id (the legal id is the non-traditional demonstration component here, it needs demonstration!)
    • odd-ball remote base on repeater: e.g., 10gig control.
    • Cross-band Microwave & Light QSO? [does outdoor laser has FAA regulations?]
    • ?
  • Otherwise Invalid for contest -- Other quirks, not quite a Mode, wrong service, etc.
    • Aeronautical Mobile stations are now legal for QSO, so no longer demo bait.
    • Low Frequency(LF), below 1MHz, is a non FD Band, and is intrinsically Slow Speed CW -- is that a non-traditional mode? It's not Amateur Radio spectrum per se, so maybe not: http://www.amrad.org/projects/lf/
    • Spread-Spectrum http://www.amrad.org/projects/ss/ http://www.tapr.org/tapr/html/ssf.html TAPR kits?
      I trust they won't say this is just "Digital" or "Phone" -- which is it?
    • Software Defined Radio http://www.tapr.org/sdr/ [TAPR making DSP-10 2m SDR a kit.]
    • Simplex auto-QSY / ALE (not quite a mode?)
    • EMWIN? If relayed on Ham bands.
    • I-Q stereo reception (not per-se a mode, but might be amusing, might even be helpful on SSB or CW, and decidedly non-traditional - but use in QSO operations might invalidate even if "not a mode" didn't)
    • ARES Flexibility: In the spirit of EmComm Cert class, demonstrate we can use non-Ham radios too, we're the communicators: MRS Business band, MURS, GMRS, FRS, Part15 toys, Cellphone, Scanner, React/11m, Hingham Fire Ground, whatever we can legally use. (Can't count it outside of Ham Spectrum per the new rules interpretation, as virtuous as this may be. Worth doing anyway, as part of Information and Visit bonuses.)

7.3.11. Site Visitation by an elected governmental official: A 100-point bonus may be claimed if your Field Day site is visited by an elected government official as the result of an invitation issued by your group. Available to all Classes. [Nice that this was split in 2004, but (1) this wording is unfair to communities in which the elected City/Town Councillors hires a Town/City Manager instead of electing a Mayor. (2) In larger cities, appointed Assistants to the Mayor do some of these Visits, why not count them? (3) And if they show up as a result of the Publicity, shouldn't that count? Better include an Invitiation in the wording of the press release! ]

7.3.12. Site Visitation by a representative of an agency: A 100-point bonus may be claimed if your Field Day site is visited by a representative of an agency served by ARES in your local community (Red Cross, Salvation Army, local Emergency Management, law enforcement, etc) as the result of an invitation issued by your group. Available to all Classes. [It was nice to split Official and Agency in 2004. Bu the 2004 clarification hasn't helped, it's all too clear now. (1) If a representative of an agency that ARES isn't serving presently shows up, that's even better -- why not count points for that? (2) If the Agency represented is served by a non-ARES ham team with MOUs or unofficial cross-membership with the club, why doesn't that co unt? If a SATERN club isn't able to count a SA visit without being ARES, this effectively is points reserved for clubs that are ARRL affiliates; (3) As above, better include an open invitation in the PR so an un-invited guest doesn't lose points! (4) To avoid abuse, could require a qualfied Leadership representative, not just any member of the agency - as written, any member of a Fire Department served by a ARES or joint ARES-RACES team qualifies for points, (5) even if he's also a member of the club.]

[2003]: Now 2 bonuses possible, one for Elected Government and one for Agency.

[Previous HQ commentary]One of the biggest motivations behind Field Day is to show the public and public officials what we can do. Make certain that you contact your elected governmental officials and representatives of agencies that Amateur Radio can serve in times of emergency in your area. If one of your special invited guests visits your set-up, you earn an additional 100-point bonus.

• Invite your Salvation Army and or Red Cross contact … and his mobile kitchen :-)
• Get at least a draft MOU drawn up and distributed ... so they count as served!
• Invite Mayors & Emergency Management Director of your city/town/county ... and adjacent towns w/o clubs; and elected state/federal representatives.

7.3.13. GOTA maximum achieved. A 100-point bonus may be claimed by a group whose GOTA station completes a minimum of 100 QSOs. Available to Class A and F.

Still mis-named, as Maximum remains 400 and bonus scored at 100 [2003/2005].
• [FD02] "The old Novice/Technician station from previous years has been replaced by a GET ON THE AIR
  (GOTA) station. The GOTA station will allow Novice, Technicians, and generally inactive hams a chance to GET
  ON THE AIR to help the group’s Field Day effort. Non-licensed persons may also participate in the GOTA station,
  under the direct supervision of an appropriate control operator. Please review Field Day Rule 4.1.1. for information
  on the new GOTA station. You may complete up to 400 QSOs to your group’s score with the GOTA station. Each GOTA QSO counts for normal QSO points, plus the first 100 count towards a 100pt bonus [2003].
• [FD02] "The list of operators of this station must be submitted with the Field Day entry . Any operator of the GOTA station is limited to completing a maximum of 100 QSOs of the 400 total QSO limit. The club/group must provide a list of operators and the number of QSOs each operator makes at the GOTA station."
•  See the GOTA FAQ and Rule 4.1.1 in the 04fdpack.pdf file from HQ for more rules and advice on running a GOTA station.
  • GOTA operators must not show up on prior contest logs for same bands nor on next year's GOTA station; this is not a ringer station but a new ham / rediscovered ham / pre-ham / upgrading ham station.
• Work'em Twice! If the Get-On-The-Air station (replacing Novice-Tech station) books the full maximum 400Q's, that's good points by itself; and they score an extra 100Pts over and above the points for the first 100Qs. 400 Qs is the median per Tx for a Winning station, running one Q per 4 minutes. If these are CW Q's at x2 power <150W, that's 1700pts from a free transmitter, more than pulling it's own weight. The 100 bonus is "bigger" for a voice GOTA station (relative to the QSO points), but either way, it's nice icing on the cake. And GOTA QSO points are icing on the club station's score, since they're working the same easy stations on the same HF or VHF bands as the main station.

7.3.14. Web submission. A 50-point bonus may be claimed by a group submitting their Field Day entry via the www.b4h.net/cabforms web site. Available to all Classes.

7.3.15. Field Day Youth Participation.

7.3.15.1. A 20-point bonus (maximum of 100) may be earned by any Class A, C, D, E, or F group for each participant age 18 or younger at your Field Day operation that completes at least one QSO. [So an 18 year-old who turns 19 in 2 days is an adult under law but a Youth for the purposes of this rule. They must make a contact and complete a full QSO, not just sign in. They apparently do not have to be licensed, they can be operating under a control operator. ]

Thoughts § Scoring § Rules & Bonuses § Power § PR § Band-Dups/Transmitter Control

Power

• Have SAT, VHF Free, Talk-in on separate branch, genny or 12v battery or UPS, as they can operate before/after main-station start & shutdown time of the operating period.
• Have 12v batts on float w/ any gear that is on 12v supplies running off the genny, to allow operation during genny refueling.
• If using computers, laptops with working batteries or a UPS would allow operation during genny refueling (and graceful close too)

Thoughts § Scoring § Rules & Bonuses § Power § PR § Band-Dups/Transmitter Control

PR (Publicity / Public Relations)

• Get Press Release carefully edited -- to attract a newspaper or TV News editor's attention! -- and released early for Calendar section lead-times.
• Push message origination at Booth, since it's good for points this year as well as public outreach.
• Guided tours
• PR or Central table whiteboard might be used to list States Worked, running tally score, Bonus's scored, next scheduled event. PR or Central table signboards show what bands are in operations and current & authorized # of TX's.
• "Public Welcome" sign may need to be BIG if in the corner of some parks, FD can look like a private event.

Thoughts § Scoring § Rules & Bonuses § Power § PR § Band-Dups/Transmitter Control

Band/Transmitter Control

Requirement is to prevent two transmitters being on the same "band". (for purposes of contest, that means Band & Mode pair, where Mode is one of Data, Code, Phone - FM, AM, SSB are same "mode" for Field Day contest "Band" purposes.)
Tricky bits:

• If more than one HF transmitter with key or with mic, must ensure they don't wind up on same band at same time.
• on HF, a transmitter counts on that band for a minimum of 15 minutes, so must count extra transmitters if "moving contacts up the bands"
• on VHF+ (and including 10m), FM and SSB/AM are both Phone, so must ensure no Field Day contacts made on Simplex FM when VHF WS station is working 2m SSB.
• 146.52 is no longer legal for Field Day. (Some say it never was, but HQ once told me it was.)
• If a different station works the same mode later, having acquired the token, if they work a station we'd already worked from the first, it's a dup and doesn't count; embarrassing if they tell us, and negates points later for both of us if caught later. So want the first's dup-sheet or dup-file passed to second. If they call us, they may not have it logged right, so it may be worth working them again.

Several classes of solution
Solutions address Logging-for-Dups, Visual Control or both

Computer per mode or band/mode (Dups)

Somewhat drastic, but if bands were sensibly grouped in a 3A or 5A operation … all HF phone on one laptop, all HF CW on another, all VHF+ on a third … moving Dups is automatic by moving the laptops. For larger number of physical transmitters, group bands that don't open at the same time on the same computer. Transmitter control is automatic, you need the logging computer for the band/mode.

Diskette per band (Dups)

A Diskette can be a Band Token! Pop in the diskette for the band you're working, you've automatically got the right dup-file. Still need visible tokens on the board, so Diskette & Visible Token must pass together. Only diskettes matching the token should be used.
Is the "re-writing the floppy on multiple PCs" problem still a problem? Seems to me I've run into it recently on what I thought were new enough PCs that I shouldn't have.

Log-sheet / dup-sheet per band - real paper (Dups)

Only the Dup Sheet must be turned into HQ. Computer logs and even log sheets are not required. So the Dup Sheet is the important record! Paper logging is immune to power glitches, cheaper, and easier to correct. Penmanship can be a problem.
Each "Band" (band-mode) has One active dup-sheet, paired with the Band Token. Active sheet must be returned with Token to Central file, and checked out with token.
Q - Will one dupsheet last the whole contest? What good is it if it doesn't? (ARRL has Domestic and DX versions. Plenty of room.)

Band-checkout/transmitter checkout tokens & boards (visible control)

Central table has a board with a series of tokens, one for each authorized transmitter (the free and the counted); tokens not in use cover a number, so the number in use and free are obvious at a glance.
Also posted at central table is a board of tokens for all possible band-mode "bands", making it immediately obvious which are in use or reserved, and which are available. (UHF+ likely combined on one!)
Each Station has a card to post one or more transmitter tokens and one or more band tokens. Each station must have rules posted -ARRL FD rules and our Token control rules; and ARRL Section id list!

Rules for control

HF rules: Station with one transmitter must have as many tokens as the number of bands worked in the last 15 minutes, which bands' tokens must be posted next to the transmitters' tokens. Other bands "reserved" for future QSY are posted separately. QSY to a band is only allowed if it is next to a transmitter token. If a Transmitter-token has no band next to it, a band token from the reserved set may be placed on the transmitter, allowing QSY. After 15 minutes off of a band, it may be retired to the "reserved" row. If more than one HF station is equipped for the mode in use, bands not likely to be used should be returned to central; new tokens may be acquired as may be useful.
VHF rules: Station needs as many tokens as transmitters being simultaneously operated (number of QSO operators), with all bands in use on that token posted next to it. Band-QSY on one transmitter is legal on one token, if both bands' tokens are held. QSY to another transmitter is also permitted by same operator, on one token, VHF+. (Note: 10m FM is still HF for this purpose?)
Physical: Tokens and central & station signboards are likely magnetic material - which can now be fed through inkjet printers. (Alternative is cardboard / plastic pockets with pocker-chip technology - more handycrafts required and less Presentable, but possibly more tactile satisfaction?)
Central board has 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 to be covered by Tx tokens; numbers higher than authorized covered by the "A" on a wide tag, and Tx tokens filed away for next year. Extra spots for each Free transmitter's token. Separate sign for bands available/in use. Maybe a separate sign counting which Bonus points have been scored, are in progress, and remain to be scored as a visible reminder system. [maybe bring a white-board?]
Signs in addition to being magnetic should have Velcro at corners, maybe grommets too, for versatile hanging.

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