RARC 2008 Field Day Weblog
69.251.10.72 (c-69-251-10-72.hsd1.md.comcast.net) wrote on Fri, 21 Mar 2008 11:08:21: I added our info to the ARRL FD locator (http://www.arrl.org/contests/announcements/fd/locator.php) -- Robert N3IC
128.231.88.7 (fernwood-arbiter-b.net.nih.gov) wrote on Mon, 24 Mar 2008 10:42:57: Suggestions for improving 40m points: 1 Moxon and NVIS need to be on A/B switch. 2 NVIS should get a reflector for significant improvement in gain. (Assuming ground conductivity is fair to poor) 3 40m NVIS must be used during daylight hours 4 Often NVIS will help receiving of nearby stations more than it helps with transmitting 5 Late day operators: NVIS can reduce QRM from foreign broadcast stations as the skip get longer.
98.169.87.95 (ip98-169-87-95.dc.dc.cox.net) wrote on Mon, 26 May 2008 22:25:56: I'm confirmed, however Joel will be AWOL since FD is so late that he will already be in camp. Anyone been on the air lately to know if the bands are any better than last year? I hope to start assembly of the antennas on site on Friday (early evening) to make it less hectic on Saturday. Anyone want to join me? - Frank
98.169.87.95 (ip98-169-87-95.dc.dc.cox.net) wrote on Thu, 29 May 2008 21:20:35: I just did a quick comparison of our score to the N1NVT (Northern Vt Club #2 in the nation for 2A). Here is their breakdown:
N1NVT #2 cw phone total Qs Compared to N3IC 80m 279 542 821 2x 40m 490 327 817 1.25x 20m 416 1443 1859 4x 15m 83 139 222 3xHere is our breakdown:
N3IC #25 cw phone total 80m 319 98 417 40m 330 312 642 20m 231 216 447 15m 15 52 67I can't find their antenna inventory, but it seems like they must have run simultaneous cw and phone on 80m and 20m to generate those scores. Anyone with other thoughts? Here is the #1 Station K0gQ too:
cw phone total compared to N3IC 143 501 644 1.544364508 643 627 1270 1.978193146 527 365 892 1.995525727 120 6 126 1.880597015I know they had a separate stack of Monobanders for cw & ssb.
98.169.87.95 (ip98-169-87-95.dc.dc.cox.net) wrote on Thu, 29 May 2008 22:26:31: Don't forget the new Rule this year that replaces the demonstration modes: (WE NEED SOME OF THESE) # 7.3.10. Educational activity bonus: One (1) 100-point bonus may be claimed if your Field Day operation includes a specific educational-related activity. The activity can be diverse and must be related to amateur radio. It must be some type of formal activity. It can be repeated frequently during the Field Day period but only one bonus is earned. For more information consult the FAQ in the complete Field Day packet. Available to Classes A & F entries and available clubs or groups operating from a club station in class D and E with 3 or more participants. Also, We still could use: 1) More GOTA Operators (those that have a general or above and operated last year, can no longer do so). 2) Kids - for the kid bonus 3) Satellite Operator - just one contact gets us 100 points 4) Site visit by Agency served by ARES (Law enforcement personnel would count for this). 5) Site visit by govt official
74.242.87.140 (adsl-242-87-140.gsp.bellsouth.net) wrote on Sat, 31 May 2008 10:56:06: From the 2008 FD rules posted on the ARRL web site. 4.1.1.2.1. A person who operated a GOTA station the previous year is ineligible to be a GOTA operator. License class, or even having a license, is immaterial. Have we identified any GOTA candidates yet? Should we drop GOTA this year and use that rig to monitor for openings on 15 and 10?
74.242.87.140 (adsl-242-87-140.gsp.bellsouth.net) wrote on Sat, 31 May 2008 11:01:10: This and the prior post are from K3AN. Win-FD for 2008 just needs some final testing before I send it to Robert. It now supports both Winkeyer USB and regular DB-9 serial port CW keying.
98.169.87.95 (ip98-169-87-95.dc.dc.cox.net) wrote on Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:57:14: Bill, Actually, I emailed Dan Henderson (N1ND) and your interpretation (above) isn't quite correct. Any Licensed Operator that operated GOTA last year can not operate GOTA this year. Any non-licensed person is not technically operating GOTA (you must be licensed to operate)- they are a 3rd Party, and they can use the GOTA station again this year. For example, Joel (if he was coming) could again use the GOTA station since he isn't licensed. Even if he did get his license this past year, he could still operate GOTA because there is an exemption for anyone who received their license since the last FD. Finally, a Novice can operate the GOTA since it will be operating outside his/her normal privileges. Also, the GOTA station this year can operate on VHF/UHF. - de wa3ofc
71.191.163.169 (pool-71-191-163-169.washdc.fios.verizon.net) wrote on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:36:05: Frank, does that mean that Technician class licensees can operate GOTA since they will be operating outside of his/her normal privleges (80m - 15m)? - de K3MZ
72.147.62.250 (adsl-147-62-250.gsp.bellsouth.net) wrote on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 22:17:20: From K3AN- If a Novice can operate every year, then KA4YVY will be able to get 100 CW contacts for the GOTA station. That makes it worth having the GOTA station. Paul, I will bring my Winkeyer (and necessary cables) so there will be two. Have you tried N1MM logger with the Winkeyer yet? Finally, I think the ARRL bunch blew it this year because that published rule is pretty explicit. Now Henderson says that's not really the case.
98.169.87.95 (ip98-169-87-95.dc.dc.cox.net) wrote on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 19:45:04: Storm damage closes Washington Monument State Park The Associated Press 2008-06-06 15:44:17.0 BOONSBORO, Md. - Storm damage has prompted state Natural Resource officials to close Washington Monument State Park until further notice. Park Manager Dan Spedden says Wednesday's storm caused extensive damage at the 147-acre park named for a stone tower believed to be the nation's first completed monument to President George Washington. Winds knocked out phone, electricity and water to the park and the main road and hiking trail to the monument are blocked by fallen trees and branches. The museum and water treatment plant were also severely damaged, but no one was injured. Spedden says camping reservations for the weekend have been canceled and the park will stay closed while staff assesses the damage. de WA3OFC
74.242.89.150 (adsl-242-89-150.gsp.bellsouth.net) wrote on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 10:36:08: Uh-oh. With tight government budgets and the re-opening of a park having a relatively low priority, its extremely unlikely the park will be open by the 27th. And it may be tough to find another site this late in the game. Then there's the logistics. Would noisy generators be allowed? Could we run QRP on batteries with the K2 and K3? Does everyone's laptop have an automobile (12 Volt DC) power supply? What's the tree situation? It may not be possible to put up the quads and Moxons so can we have a couple of G5RVs ready? Paul, is your lake property available?
96.241.162.131 (pool-96-241-162-131.washdc.fios.verizon.net) wrote on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 11:51:40: My other place is available if we want to go there. It is relatively flat, but there are some trees. Its altitude is much lower than Washingtom Monument state park. It is about a 2 hour drive from my house. Let me know if we want to go there. What about Gambrill? de K3MZ
69.251.10.72 (c-69-251-10-72.hsd1.md.comcast.net) wrote on Sat, 07 Jun 2008 12:28:07: There are still two shelters available at Gambrill and I was about to reserve them, but thought I'd verify the dire circumstances at Wash. Mon. first. So I just talked to someone there. There is no damage at the shelter area, the only problem right now is road access to the park. It is being given high priority, and contractors have been hired to handle the clearing. She is nearly certain that there will be no problem for us in three weeks. I will check back with her mid-week. -- Robert N3IC
96.241.162.131 (pool-96-241-162-131.washdc.fios.verizon.net) wrote on Sun, 08 Jun 2008 15:42:22: Robert, thanks for checking. I was wondering if we should reserve one of the shelters at Gambrill. Will we be able to cancel and get some of our money back? I am willing to reserve them, even if we get no money back, just in case we can NOT get into Washington Monument State Park. I think being at Gambrill will be the next best thing to Washington Monument State Park. de K3MZ
74.242.88.3 (adsl-242-88-3.gsp.bellsouth.net) wrote on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 06:41:05: Oops, I thought the solar flux index couldn't go below 66. Today it's at 65. Gonna be mighty quiet on 15 and 10 this Field Day. DE K3AN
N3IC at 69.251.10.72 (c-69-251-10-72.hsd1.md.comcast.net) wrote on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 15:59:07 (Pacific time): Testing new Weblog version.
N3IC at 69.251.10.72 (c-69-251-10-72.hsd1.md.comcast.net) wrote on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 21:10:45 (Pacific time):
In the Translate to cw box put the requested word like this (for "QST"): --.- ... - (use . and - with one space between letters).
Also, you can use these shortcuts:
fd.ICengineering.com = current year Field Day page
rarc.ICengineering.com = RARC home page
n3ic.ICengineering.com = N3IC's home page
birdcam.ICengineering.com = BirdCam page
N3IC at 69.251.10.72 (c-69-251-10-72.hsd1.md.comcast.net) wrote on Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:57:07 (Pacific time): I just spoke with a couple of people at Wash. Mon. park. They will reassess when the park will reopen on Monday, and could not assure me it would be open for FD. 28 trees are down and the contractors are working on other state areas, too. They just got their telephone lines working today. So to minimize mental aggravation, I reserved shelter #2 at Gambrill for us as well ($80 more, completely nonrefundable after 6/21, 50% prior). This is the same shelter we've used previously -- we're lucky it is still available this close in. -- Robert
K3MZ at 192.91.171.36 (proxy1c.external.lmco.com) wrote on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 06:31:00 (Pacific time): Robert, thanks for taking out the insurance policy at Gambrill. de K3MZ
wa3ofc at 98.169.87.95 (ip98-169-87-95.dc.dc.cox.net) wrote on Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:39:58 (Pacific time): I've created a 2nd 80m antenna so we can try to run both stations on 80m at night. de wa3ofc
N3IC at 69.251.10.72 (c-69-251-10-72.hsd1.md.comcast.net) wrote on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:03:02 (Pacific time): Just spoke with Wash. Mon. park; it is re-opening as of noon TODAY. Museum and water pumping station damaged (latter temporarily fixed). Should be okay for FD. Question: should I try to get a $40 refund for Gambrill (of the $80) or keep it as insurance? Must be done today. -- Robert
K3MZ at 96.241.162.131 (pool-96-241-162-131.washdc.fios.verizon.net) wrote on Fri, 20 Jun 2008 18:56:26 (Pacific time): Robert, probably too late, but I think the $40 is a good insurance policy.
N3IC at 69.251.10.72 (c-69-251-10-72.hsd1.md.comcast.net) wrote on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 07:34:34 (Pacific time): Verified this morning that the park is now open. Will be open for FD barring "a hurricane or tornado" i.e. the same risk as any other year. I cancelled the backup reservation for Gambrill and sweet-talked a full refund of the $80 not technically due. Added Bill's QSO history spreadsheet (above) to the webpage. Keep me updated as to attendance plans. 73, Robert.
K3MZ at 192.91.173.36 (proxy3c.external.lmco.com) wrote on Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:22:34 (Pacific time): Robert, Wes, KG4NXZ will be coming as will Mike, KM4MAC. I am still working on Itay - KG4URX. Glad you got the full refund. I have also set up Bill's new program on a laptop for the CW station and on another laptop for the phone station. Bill will be using his laptop for the GOTA station. :) PK
WA3LTJ at 128.231.88.6 (b12-arbiter-b.net.nih.gov) wrote on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:14:42 (Pacific time): I plan to make the midnight shift, along with lighting.
WA3IRQ at 12.50.98.2 (12-50-98-2.att-inc.com) wrote on Tue, 24 Jun 2008 13:19:01 (Pacific time): I will be there late Sat morning/early Sat afternoon depending on traffic coming from the South Sat morning. Joel will not be attending this year. Lee
wa3ofc at 98.169.87.95 (ip98-169-87-95.dc.dc.cox.net) wrote on Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:22:27 (Pacific time): Next week is ARRL Field Day. There are no predicted geomagnetic upsets on June 28-29. The predicted planetary A index for June 27-29 is 8, 5 and 5. Maybe we'll get lucky and see a sunspot or two. There is a very good chance that conditions could be much as they were last year with fairly low geomagnetic activity (although the predicted activity for this year is lower) and no sunspots. de WA3OFC
K3MZ at 192.35.35.35 (proxy3b.external.lmco.com) wrote on Fri, 27 Jun 2008 05:46:20 (Pacific time): Good news, Itay will be coming.
N3IC at 68.55.91.80 (c-68-55-91-80.hsd1.md.comcast.net) wrote on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 13:05:11 (Pacific time): I reserved the Wash. Mon. site for FD2009 yesterday. Thought that someone said my Kenwood wouldn't work on phone, which is why it was swapped with the K3 for cw use. Unpacked it this morning and made a couple of contacts with my mic and it is working fine. Reminder: you have to translate the blue word into cw (use . and -) at the righthand box to post your comments (see my 09 Jun 2008 post). Robert
wa3ofc at 87.6.149.237 (host237-149-dynamic.6-87-r.retail.telecomitalia.it) wrote on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:27:51 (Pacific time):
Here is the pvrc score breakdown. looks like digital is getting popular. Anything else we can learn from their contacts? de wa3ofc
The W3AO PVRC/CARA Field Day team apparently set a new all time Field Day scoring record, breaking previous Field Day scoring records set by W3AO in 2000, 2001 and 2002.
This should also be the tenth consecutive #1 Field Day score submitted by the W3AO team.
BAND CW QSOs SSB QSOs Digital QSOs 160 61 63 80 603 952 29 40 1074 1893 180 20 1172 1950 248 15 415 645 82 10 127 505 50 23 91 144 11 53 222 2 2 432 4 7 903 2 2 1296 3 3 2304 1 1 3456 1 1 --------------------------------- Total 3499 6168 539 Total QSOs: 10206 (plus GOTA) HF/VHF/UHF QSO points 28,488 GOTA QSO points 1,000 Satellite QSO points 2 Total bonus points 4170 Total score 33,660
??? at 74.179.135.28 (74.179.135.28) wrote on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:50:39 (Pacific time): Congratulations everyone, for the third best score ever. Who knows how many more QSOs we would have made if we hadn't done that precautionary shutdown on Saturday evening.
N3IC at 98.233.162.241 (c-98-233-162-241.hsd1.md.comcast.net) wrote on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:21:14 (Pacific time): Completed submission to ARRL today -- Robert
wa3ofc at 98.169.87.95 (ip98-169-87-95.dc.dc.cox.net) wrote on Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:32:35 (Pacific time): Two items: 1) Let me know if anyone felt we didn't have a dominant signal on some band or if we had cross-rig qrm. 2) Here is a good article on keeping those lead-acid batteries in good form for next year: http://www.solarnavigator.net/battery_charging.htm Remember they must be kept charged or they won't work.
N3IC at 98.233.162.241 (c-98-233-162-241.hsd1.md.comcast.net) wrote on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:01:42 (Pacific time): ARRL has posted the 2008 FD scores (December QST not arrived yet) -- updated website. Robert