[WriteLog] RE: Field Day purpose ... was something else ...

[Steve Baron - KB3MM]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary McConville" <wb4sq at yahoo.com>
To: "Jim Brown" <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com>; <writelog at contesting.com>
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 18:26
Subject: Re: [WriteLog] RE: Field Day purpose ... was something else ...


> Jim,
> 
> The ARRL is real careful not to call FD a contest but we all know it's
> the BIG ONE! 

HUH!
 I've lost a few dinners over that bet.
> 
> My feelings are that only those who value ham radio participate.  The
> others aren't really amateur operators.
> 
> Gary - WB4SQ
> 
> 
> --- Jim Brown <jim at audiosystemsgroup.com> wrote:
> > >It is not a contest so why do you treat it like one?
> > 
> > Ah, but it IS a contest, and in the 49 years I've been a ham, has
> > always been a 
> > contest!  But it is a different sort of contest -- one that
> > emphasizes group effort 
> > among local clubs and ad hoc groups, emergency preparedness,
> > temporary 
> > setups, socializing, public relations, nurturing new hams, and most
> > important, 
> > LOW POWER AND SIMPLE ANTENNAS!  
> > 
> > Field Day is a contest that is won by a group effort by many people,
> > not by big 
> > money spent on elaborate antenna farms, complex antenna switching, 
> > expensive radios, and big power amps. It is a contest where a good
> > operator 
> > with 100 watts and a dipole can be competitive. In short, it is a
> > contest for folks 
> > who either can't or don't care to BUY a big score. 
> > 
> > Our local ham club maintains two repeaters and holds monthly
> > meetings, each 
> > with a speaker who presents an interesting program. But Field Day is
> > our 
> > biggest club activity by far. We did quite well on Field Day this
> > year, and may 
> > place in the top 5 in our category. If we did, it will be because we
> > planned for it 
> > for half a year, because a team of six guys spent Friday afternoon
> > putting up a 
> > half dozen fine antennas, some more guys came in Saturday morning and
> > set 
> > up the rest of the gear, some more guys came in and spent time
> > operating, 
> > some more contributed the work to get us nearly all the possible
> > bonus points, 
> > some more guys showed up to to cook, several of our guys used the
> > GOTA 
> > station to recruit new/inactive hams and contributed 400 QSO's, and
> > some 
> > more guys showed up to tear down when it was over. Several of us
> > built 
> > antennas specifically for Field Day, and we learned stuff in the
> > process. 
> > 
> > If I had my way, ALL contests would be limited to 100 watts, and
> > there would be 
> > separate classes for those who, either by choice or necessity, use
> > only wire 
> > antennas. An increasing number of hams live in cities, where big
> > antenna farms 
> > are difficult or impossible. In my 49 years as a ham, I've never run
> > more than 
> > 100 watts and I've never had an HF beam. It is a blot on our hobby
> > that folks like 
> > us can't be competitve in most contests. 
> > 
> > I think it's great that some of us are able to build nice antenna
> > farms on remote 
> > sites,and I'm becoming a partner in one myself.  But success (or even
> > viability) 
> > in contests should not be limited to those who can. And IMO, Field
> > Day is the 
> > single most important activity in ham radio, and by far the most
> > important 
> > contest. 
> > 
> > Jim Brown  K9YC
> > 
> > 
> > _______________________________________________
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> > 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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