Well I agree that the ARRL evolved FD has become a coat of many colors.
My main point was that there is already an annual emergency
communications exercise, the SET, under ARES as the emergency
communications arm of ARRL. And I think FD is so large because it is
made up of many facets.
However, SET is much smaller than Field Day has become. Could that be
because points are under-emphasized and SET is sometimes a county ARES
group made up of members of several clubs? Thus, you don't have that
direct competitive reward. In the larger states, you compete in SET by
sections, and you don't really know the persons in the other state
sections the way you know members of other local clubs because
memberships may lap over more than one club.
I guess the ambiguous nature of FD has evolved because it either was
directed to offer something for the non emergency comms ham, or it
gravitated towards that direction to provide something for everybody in
a club to participate in. I am always amazed at those who come out but
do not operate when given plenty of chances. My hat is off to those of
that group who do come out early and help set up! (and take down, the
next day). But, most groups find a larger turn out just before the
announced meal serving time.
I think I have read that in its earliest days, it was a get into the
outdoors kind of thing, an early summer, pleasant weather event for the
most part; picked to happen in late June, when weather is neither too
hot nor cold in CT, home of ARRL. Now, those of us in the desert
Southwest have to sweat if we stay outdoors and risk sun stroke every
year we do Field Day! There is strong sentiment in the Southern ARRL
divisions for moving FD to a milder weather time of year for all, like
Spring or Fall. Or have a choice of having one in Winter or one in Summer!
But, another thing has changed. Emergency communications no longer
operates from a tent outdoors. There are comms vans, with built on
antennas, or you operate a real emergency from an EOC. There is now
provision for that in FD, thankfully (EOC operation). If they change up
FD to be more of an emergency comms exercise you lose many of the casual
hams, who otherwise often come to FD for the first time and get lured
into exploring more about Em Comm.
I don't think most realize how much preplanning has to happen to put on
a FD. I speak from putting on my first with four stations in 1958.
Now that was an experience on OJT!!
Permission for the location, notifying the Police, (NO, Martians are not
landing this coming weekend), and even the provision of ice, water,
necessary amenities, food, rest areas, and hundreds of details about
antenna supports, antennas, feeds, equipment, PR, power, and Safety
above all, are needed ahead of time. We have to have an annual how to
work in hot weather training session, how to spot and treat various
forms of heat induced illness, etc. among other planning sessions.
With the many Public Service requests clubs get once they look for other
events where communications can be practiced, and with multiple SET type
events for ARES in some states, groups are finding that too much
training wears out the members, or takes too much time away from family.
And that is
a big factor in how to approach radio events, not alienating the family
support of the ham.
Not all ham's families are also hams. The all ham family is as rare
today as it was in the 1950's from my observations, and keeping peace at
home then becomes a prime task.
But trying to get back on Ten Tec topics, how many used an Eagle at
Field Day, and what were your experiences in operating it?
-Stuart Rohre
K5KVH
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