[SCCC] Field Day - Please help out the locals

Mon Jun 24 21:31:39 EDT 2024

If you don’t report the results for D class and make it annoying enough to
do it, people will at least make the totally minimal effort of attaching a
battery to their transmitter.

Clayton Nall
http://www.nallresearch.com
Cell: (617) 850-2062

On Mon, Jun 24, 2024 at 5:05 PM Phil Minch <ki4mug at gmail.com> wrote:

> My point being that scoring is a mighty weak incentive.
>
> On Mon, Jun 24, 2024 at 4:13 PM Clayton Nall <clayton.nall at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Exactly—the scoring rules are the incentives to go to the field (or
>> not)!nugh
>>
>> Clayton Nall
>> http://www.nallresearch.com
>> Cell: (617) 850-2062
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Jun 24, 2024 at 3:48 PM Phil Minch <ki4mug at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Changing the scoring rules back doesn't seem to be an effective way to
>>> encouragee people back into the field. Scoring should not be the focus,
>>> participation should be. You all have tunnel vision here.
>>>
>>> On Mon, Jun 24, 2024 at 2:40 PM Dino Darling <dino at kx6d.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> > Ryan, it wasn't a problem before. No need to reinvent the wheel. Just
>>> > remove the incentive to work from home and the problem goes away all by
>>> > itself. Same rules from 2019. No changing how you make a call.
>>> >
>>> > Dino - KX6D
>>> > ________________________________
>>> > From: Ryan Huggins <KI6BTY at pm.me>
>>> > Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2024 10:52:27 PM
>>> > To: Dino Darling <dino at kx6d.com>
>>> > Cc: neiljessen at hotmail.com <neiljessen at hotmail.com>; k0xp at k0xp.com <
>>> > k0xp at k0xp.com>; Southern California Contesting Club <
>>> sccc at contesting.com>
>>> > Subject: Re: RE: [SCCC] Field Day - Please help out the locals
>>> >
>>> > Dino,
>>> >
>>> > Thank you for the background.  Although I've been licensed since 2007
>>> and
>>> > a general since 2017, this was only my second field day with my first
>>> being
>>> > last year.  If that rule went into effect I suspect they'd need to
>>> change
>>> > the exchange then to spell out what your station class is prior to
>>> making
>>> > the contact.  Otherwise there would be a lot of people upset at the
>>> wasted
>>> > time and I'd suspect that would have a significant impact on the alpha
>>> site
>>> > scores too, as I'd imagine that if you had to go through the exchange
>>> just
>>> > to find out you can't count it, that would upset a LOT of people,
>>> myself
>>> > included.
>>> >
>>> > So you know what my experience is, the three clubs in Ventura County
>>> had
>>> > 41 stations setup between them, which is the same number of stations
>>> we put
>>> > together county-wide last year.  The club I belong to, The Conejo
>>> Valley
>>> > ARC was the largest (likely in the country... again) as a 21 Alpha.
>>> > Ventura (K6MEP) was a 13A and the Simi Settlers were a 7A.  Conejo ran
>>> > 80m-6m every mode, had VHF/UHF stations and a satellite station setup,
>>> > etc.  In my area, according to the Field Day wrap-up meeting we had
>>> > tonight, I was one of three D stations in the club's region and we did
>>> have
>>> > one mobile setup as well.  Last year three of the top six scoring
>>> clubs in
>>> > the nation were right here in Ventura County.  I do not say this to
>>> brag,
>>> > but to illustrate that we have a very robust Field component and
>>> > participation out here.  Our club was not hurting for people to operate
>>> > stations and there were only a couple of B or D stations in operation
>>> out
>>> > here.
>>> >
>>> > If you desire, here is a picture from last year's FD when the club was
>>> the
>>> > largest in the country as an 18 Alpha:
>>> > https://www.cvarc.org/2023/06/18-alpha-sierra-bravo/   The site
>>> layout is
>>> > pretty much the same this year, just a lot hotter!  The local Cal State
>>> > college's radio club joined us.  I only worked from home because there
>>> were
>>> > no available stations on the signup list by the time my schedule
>>> cleared (I
>>> > think I mentioned that before).  Being self-employed in a field that is
>>> > traditionally client-facing on weekends and having logistical issues to
>>> > work through on top of that, it is not possible to commit to an all-day
>>> > event, or a 24 hour+ one, more than a week or so in advance.  Last
>>> year I
>>> > was a home station because I had to work throughout the day.  This
>>> year I
>>> > had the time "off" from work, but not far enough out to get a seat at
>>> the
>>> > table.
>>> >
>>> > I do not doubt that the rules have made it so that clubs are hurting
>>> for
>>> > people for their Alpha stations, out here in my corner of the Santa
>>> Barbara
>>> > Section it is not the case.
>>> >
>>> > Now while I was not operating "in the Field", I did provide support and
>>> > assistance leading up to the event.  I was involved in a few of the
>>> prep
>>> > meetings, I provided coolers and chairs for people to use, I brought in
>>> > supplies, and I even used my station to help the club troubleshoot a
>>> > problem with one of their radios.  I was the offsite ears to see if
>>> they
>>> > were getting out (which the were not).  I also broke bread with them at
>>> > dinner and hung out afterwards and participated in our weekly Saturday
>>> > night net from there.
>>> >
>>> > On the "humble brag" side, I did more than double my score from last
>>> > year.  Last year I had a total of 65 Qs and 410 points and this year I
>>> had
>>> > 236 Qs and 944 points.  Plus this year I was able to get roughly 250
>>> bonus
>>> > points on top of that.
>>> >
>>> > Our county has "micro field days" each month with a solid average of
>>> 10-20
>>> > stations each time setting up and getting on the air, myself included,
>>> so I
>>> > have plenty of field time throughout the year, in the heat, in the
>>> rain,
>>> > and in the wind.
>>> >
>>> > -73
>>> > Ryan, KI6BTY
>>> > On Sunday, June 23rd, 2024 at 7:35 PM, Dino Darling <dino at kx6d.com>
>>> wrote:
>>> > Ryan, the problem isn't the Delta stations. They have been around for
>>> > decades and a good source of points for the club stations.
>>> >
>>> > The issue is, starting in 2020 they changed the rule that now allows
>>> delta
>>> > stations to contact delta stations for points. So the guys stopped
>>> going to
>>> > the field and all the delta stations with superior antennas are
>>> talking to
>>> > eachother. The guys in the field with wire antennas couldn't get heard.
>>> > There is a reason that rule existed and after Covid they should of put
>>> it
>>> > back to the 2019 rules where Deltas could count any stations for
>>> points,
>>> > except for other deltas. Its very simple even a Division Director could
>>> > figure it out. Yet that rule exists still and there is no incentive to
>>> put
>>> > in the effort to go to the field. If they want Home Day they should
>>> start
>>> > their own contest.
>>> >
>>> >  2020 was a disaster for Field Stations. So much so they had to change
>>> the
>>> > rules again for 2021, and again for 2022!!! I wouldn't have believed
>>> that
>>> > people at HQ could be this stupid but they have proven me wrong.
>>> >
>>> > Just take away the points of D to D contacts and this problem goes
>>> away in
>>> > an instance. Even the Class D'Souza with amplifiers wasn't a problem in
>>> > 2019. We never saw 7D or even 3D before 2020. Why now? Because its
>>> easy to
>>> > sit at home and ruin it for the guys in the field. One rule change. One
>>> > SIMPLE rule change back to the way it was for DECADES...for good
>>> reason.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Dino - KX6D
>>> > ________________________________
>>> > From: Ryan Huggins <KI6BTY at pm.me>
>>> > Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2024 11:06:59 AM
>>> > To: neiljessen at hotmail.com <neiljessen at hotmail.com>; Dino Darling <
>>> > dino at kx6d.com>; k0xp at k0xp.com <k0xp at k0xp.com>
>>> > Cc: Southern California Contesting Club <sccc at contesting.com>
>>> > Subject: Re: RE: [SCCC] Field Day - Please help out the locals
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Out of curiosity, since the clasification isn't mentioned until after
>>> > contact has been made, how would you know someone is a D so as not to
>>> work
>>> > them?  Seems like that would be a big waste of time if you get into a
>>> qso
>>> > just to have to leave midway through.
>>> >
>>> > Interestingly, I probably have more D stations in my log than A
>>> stations
>>> > and barely and Bs.  No Cs or Es
>>> >
>>> > I'm over 200 QSOs and closing in on 900 points with what's left of the
>>> > people out there.  I suspect that most of the A stations are done for
>>> the
>>> > day now.  I know mine is, due to the 24 hour rule if you setup early.
>>> >
>>> > -73
>>> > Ryan, KI6BTY
>>> >
>>> > Sent from Proton Mail Android
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > -------- Original Message --------
>>> > On 6/23/24 10:57 AM, Neil Jessen wrote:
>>> > I worked several "Delta" stations with multiple radios.  7D, 8D, 4D.
>>> I am
>>> > ok with Delta stations (gives old-timers, people with limited mobility
>>> a
>>> > chance to participate, etc.) but the emphasis for FD is Field...not
>>> working
>>> > from home.  Delta to Delta shouldn't count. It shouldn't be made
>>> attractive
>>> > to stay inside and work from home.  That's my $0.02.
>>> >
>>> > 73,
>>> > Neil - N6VHF
>>> >
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > -------- Original message --------
>>> > From: Dino Darling <dino at kx6d.com>
>>> > Date: 6/22/24 7:31 PM (GMT-08:00)
>>> > To: Ryan Huggins <KI6BTY at pm.me>, Steve Harrison <k0xp at k0xp.com>
>>> > Cc: sccc at contesting.com
>>> > Subject: Re: [SCCC] Field Day - Please help out the locals
>>> >
>>> > So much with keeping the FIELD in Field Day! The ARRL has been screwing
>>> > the pooch these past few years but really went too far when they
>>> allowed
>>> > Class D stations to count other Class D stations for points. There was
>>> a
>>> > reason that rule existed for DECADES. The newbies love it and the
>>> event is
>>> > now called Home Day.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > Dino - KX6D
>>> > ________________________________
>>> > From: SCCC <sccc-bounces at contesting.com> on behalf of Ryan Huggins via
>>> > SCCC <sccc at contesting.com>
>>> > Sent: Saturday, June 22, 2024 10:56:00 AM
>>> > To: Steve Harrison <k0xp at k0xp.com>
>>> > Cc: sccc at contesting.com <sccc at contesting.com>
>>> > Subject: Re: [SCCC] Field Day - Please help out the locals
>>> >
>>> > No, not a typo.  I was 4D last year and there were a fair amount of 5D
>>> and
>>> > 6Ds last year as well as one guy who was a 9D!
>>> >
>>> > It's the number of transmitters that are sending at once.  Four of my
>>> > stations are FT8, that's a no brainer.  Click "Enable TX" and you're
>>> good
>>> > to go.  The LoRA is a similar beast.  Press send on the phone, it
>>> > bluetooths to the device and TXs the message.  #6 and #7 will be me
>>> > pressing the pickle on two HTs at once and calling CQ on 2m and the 220
>>> > calling frequency.  I figure I'll work the HTs like that for most of
>>> the
>>> > day and see what happens.  I'll be between the three main HT bands.  I
>>> > don't expect to get many points from VHF/UHF or 6m for that matter, but
>>> > we'll see.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > -73
>>> > Ryan, KI6BTY
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On Saturday, June 22nd, 2024 at 10:16 AM, Steve Harrison <
>>> k0xp at k0xp.com>
>>> > wrote:
>>> >
>>> > > On 6/22/2024 10:13 AM, Ryan Huggins via SCCC wrote:
>>> > >
>>> > > > The Conejo Valley ARC will be operating 20A today on all bands and
>>> > modes.
>>> > > >
>>> > > > I'm operating 7D from home,
>>> > >
>>> > >
>>> > > Izzat a typo, 7D???
>>> > >
>>> > > Stve, K0XP
>>> > >
>>> > >
>>> > >
>>> > > _______________________________________________
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>>> > > SCCC at contesting.com
>>> > >
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>>