Well, my daddy always told me, "Son, if it walks like a duck and
quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck." That being the case, if
it's not a contest, then why award points. FD is a slightly different
kind of duck than most contests, but if points are involved, then it's
a contest.
I pretty much agree with all your other points and would add one of my
own. Field Day is about camaraderie. Events like this help hams who
already know one another to get to know one another better and to meet
new hams (and potential hams) who may come to visit.
73!
Dan KB6NU
----------------------------------------------------------
CW Geek and MI Affiliated Club Coordinator
Read my ham radio blog at http://www.kb6nu.com
LET'S REALLY MAKE THE ARRL THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR HAM RADIO
On Jun 29, 2008, at 7:59 PM, Lee Buller wrote:
I've been reading on the FD comments and would like to make a couple
of points and post some opinion.
FD is not a contest....it is an operating event. True! ARRL has
said this for years. I don't think the League even likes to rank
station that participate as to who made how many points. If FD
allowed multipliers (rather than mode points) then we would have a
contest. (I would like to see it run like NAQP...now that would be
a fun contest!)
FD rules are so loose you can change your class at anytime.
FD is to test equipment is rather harsh conditions. I am sorry to
hear that at least one K3 died. It would be interesting to know why.
FD is to show off your new rig (read here K3).
FD is about (for the most part) modest antennas and weak signals.
(Unless you are me and decided that air conditioning and the lack of
bugs were more important this year) It would be interesting to see
how many vertical and dipole antennas were used this year. I know
some clubs put up beams and towers, but in a "real" world situation,
I found that a dipole hung on the local school's flag pole is about
all you can do in the dark and it works fine.
FD is about how to put several transmitters in a 1000 foot circle
and making it all work. I've never been to a 22A, but I bet that is
interesting on HF.
FD is about bad or poor power.
FD is about cooperation with other hams and learning from mistakes
in the event of a "real" disaster.
FD is about training (both in technical and operating) skills.
FD is about bad or good food depending on who is catering the
event. I've had both, and the K3 can't improve that at all. Hey
Wayne and Eric, put a good MENU in the K3...would you? KC Strip
Steak, baked potatoes, green beans, a nice slice of pie, and a "cold
one" in the menus. That would be CONFIG>KC S>BP>GrnB>IR2>807
FD operation tests the "metal" of both rigs and operators.
Final Thought: The hardest part of FD is unloading the vehicle when
you get home and putting all the equipment away when your bone
weary, bug bitten, sun burnt to a crisp, heartily hungry, and ticked
off at all the operators who failed to learn anything. Then you
realize you got to go to work tomorrow!
Lee - K0WA
_______________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Post to: [email protected]
You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
