Field Day 2019 “The Big List” - June 21, 22 & 23
This working document last updated: June 20, 2019
If you see something requiring correction or needing an update, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. immediately. Thanks!
Get Your Field Day Stoke On!
Check out the videos from last year:
[VIDEO] Field Day 2018 by VA7SZ
[VIDEO] Cranky Time-Lapse by VA7SZ
and the photo gallery:
http://norac.bc.ca/index.php/photos/2018-field-day
This year will be bigger and better with more radios, more activities, more campers, more kids and even more fun.
For details on the event and official rules, please visit: http://www.arrl.org/field-day
"What Is Field Day" (Printable PDF Flier)
http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2019/2019-Field-Day-Packet-Complete.pdf
Get Your Schwag
Visit https://www.arrl.org/shop/Field-Day-2019-Supplies/ to purchase Field Day apparel, hats, patches, stickers, mugs, etc. Yes, shipping to Canada is an expensive endeavour - group your order with a friend and split the shipping cost.
Dates & Schedule
NORAC Club Meeting & Final Field Day Planning Meeting Thursday June 20th. The People Place, downstairs, starting at 7:30pm.
Setup Friday June 21st. Starting around 5pm local time.
Field Day Event - Saturday June 22nd - Sunday June 23rd (24 hour radio contest)
Pot Luck Supper - 5pm on Saturday June 22nd
Teardown Sunday June 23rd after 11 AM when the event ends
Location
Our host is Ralph VA7NU at his home acreage at 3780 Murray Drive, Armstrong BC.
Contact Information
Email me, the official event coordinator, with all of your updates and questions:
Mike VE7KPZ at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bands and Modes
Bands: 160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 Meter HF bands, as well as all bands 50 MHz and above.
All modes.
Band plans (click on thumbnail for a high-resolution printable PDF):
The plan is to run 1A again this year, in casual contest style. This means one HF 160m through 10m station and one 6m through microwave station. Operators can book 1 hour blocks with their favourite logger on the station of their choice and test their contesting prowess.
We'll do a little bit of solar powered work to get some bonus points, but going 1AB is not going to be in the cards in such a lull of the solar cycle. 1AB, while giving a big power-multiplier for the QSO points, requires QRP operation. If we were just a CW and digital modes club, sure, but we want to work SSB as well, and for that you need 100 watts of RF output to get reasonable DX.
If anyone asks for our grid, it will be DO00 (Delta Oscar Zero Zero), or more precisely, DO00JK if anyone asks for a six character grid.
Tasks
| Task | Who |
| Cranky - Insurance | Grace VE7IGB - done |
| Cranky - Transport | already on site |
| Cranky - Setup and/or Teardown | VE7KPZ, VE7WWJ, VE7KBK, VE7VZ, VE7MHE, VE7TRZ, VA7AZZ, VE7LWK, VE7XY, VE7WEA+1, VA7TBD, VE7FI, VE7MZP, VE7WBM+1, ?, ? |
| Cranky - Rotator service | VE7LWK, VE7MZP |
| Generator Fuel | Mike VE7KPZ, Mike VE7FI |
| Flagging and Pickets |
Ralph VA7NU, Bud VE7KBK and Keith VA7TEE. Required to mark off-limits areas (around Ralph's antenna farm, anchors and guylines, RF-exposure areas). Update: VE7KPZ has a box of flagging tape provided by VA7TEE. It's in an orange box stored under the Cranky's storage box. Ready for safety crew to implement first thing on Friday before we bring vehicles into the field. |
| Signage for Parking and Camping |
Parking signs and pickets required for day visitors using lower parking area. Camping signs and pickets required to identify area for overnight camping. Field Day location signs and pickets for general public and invited guests.
|
| Tools | Best practice is for everyone to bring what you can, come prepared and keep track of your tools. VE7KBK will bring his hi-lift hack and chain again for stake removal |
| Primary HF station transceiver | Club Yaesu - Mike VE7KPZ, or BYOR (bring your own radio) for your turn working (if running phone, make sure your radio has a voice keyer) |
| VHF/UHF/6m station transceiver |
Club VHF/UHF Kenwood D700 - Mike VE7KPZ |
| Primary HF antenna | 20/15/10M beam on rotator atop Cranky - already on site |
| Secondary wire antenna for 40m and 80m |
? There's a dipole in Cranky's storage box. It might be for 40m, or may be long enough for 80m. If you have an 80m dipole, could you bring it along just in case? There's some talk about setting up a 160m loop. Please contact Lorne VE7LWK and Murray VE7MH if you are interested in helping out with this project. VE7LWK - 80m OCF dipole and tuner. |
| Tuner for 40m and 80m | Doug VE7VZ, Lorne VE7LWK |
| 14 meter fiberglass mast and guying | Mike VE7KPZ |
| big tree | Ralph VA7NU - already on site |
| Primary VHF/UHF antenna | colinear vertical atop Cranky - already on site |
| VHF SSB antenna | see Satellite cross-band yagi antenna |
| Satellite cross-band yagi antenna | Fred VA7UN |
| 6M beam antenna for FT8 |
Note: FT8 via Sporadic E is not uncommon at the end of June. A 6m station can be operated as the "free" VHF station for a while if the band is open.
This may get us anywhere from a couple of contacts up to a hundred if we catch the right band opening.
VE7VZ's Buddipole with mast (plus the ATAS-120 on VE7VZ's vehicle).
Anyone have a 6m multi-element yagi? |
| Logging |
VA7AEJ has two laptops ready to go. Can install N3FJP Field Day 2019 logging software on any additional laptops. For more info on the logger we'll be using, see: http://www.n3fjp.com/fieldday.html |
| Internet feed, WiFi bridge + campsite AP |
Ralph VA7NU with Mike VE7MHE, Terry VE7TRZ as techs Ralph has moved his WiFi to the window facing the field and will provide the details to Mike and Terry for bridge setup. Ideally the club AP is on a 2.4GHz/20MHz channel for the field as some of the laptops are older. |
| Contest Points Submission | Mike VE7KPZ |
| Shelter 10x10 Picnic Tents for stations area (we need 4) Tents for info table (we need 2) |
VE7EZI, VE7KPZ, VE7KBK, VE7FI, ? |
| Station Tables (we need 3-4) Info booth table (we need 1-2) |
VA7NU with 2 tables, VE7KPZ with 2 tables collected from the NORAC storage trailer, ? |
| Station Chairs |
Operators, please bring your own chair |
| Plywood for solid flooring (this would be REALLY nice) | ? |
| Headphones, clipboards, cw key, and pen's, etc. | All operators bring your own, VE7KPZ club mic and cw key |
| Extra Points, media coverage, etc. |
Site Safety Officers: Kevin VE7XY with Nic VA7AZZ Mike VE7KPZ media/political liaison Mike VE7KPZ, Brad VE7WBM, David VA7SZ for solar powered activities All operators please read the rules to find out when bulletins to copy are being transmitted. |
| Official Photographer | Jane VE7WWJ |
| Official Videographer | David VA7SZ |
| Backup Generator | Mike VE7KPZ, Mike VE7FI |
| Additional Radio Gear (Backup) | Brad VE7WBM with his FT-991A, Mike VE7KPZ with his FT-891 for his HF use and 6m use, Mike VE7FI (phone and digi mode HF rig), ? |
Camping
Our host is Ralph VA7NU at his QTH at 3780 Murray Drive, Armstrong BC.
RVs and tenters are welcome, please contact Ralph for info on the site. Please contact Mike VE7KPZ with details on what RV/tent you are bringing so we can organize where everyone will go. Some folks have large vehicles and space is limited considering antennae, guy lines, etc. If you have a special request, like "I have to leave early Sunday morning", let Mike know so we can put you in a perfect spot.
We are expecting a lot more folks coming with RVs and tents this year. Unless otherwise indicated, there are no hookups or facilities available for campers. You need to be self sufficient in regards to power, water, waste, garbage, etc... the site needs to be left with no trace of our presence. Although Ralph has offered up one of his toilet+sink bathrooms for attendee use, it would still be advise to use your RV toilet if equipped. We won't need to rent an outhouse, but we also don't want to overrun Ralph's facilities.
Here are the campers identified so far:
Mike VE7KPZ and Jane VE7WWJ - Unimog with home-built camper (ask Jane or Mike for a tour)
Karen VE7WBZ, Phil VE7PAZ + 3 kiddos (ages 9 through 11) - truck with home-built camping trailer
Fred VA7UN - LR Discovery II with home-built roof top tent
Jake VE7WEA + 1 with car and tent
Mike VE7FI + n with vehicle and tent
Brad VE7WBM + 1 (no kiddos) - with car and tent trailer
Mike VE7MHE with car and tent
Kevin VE7XY with pickup truck (sleeping in the back)
Rob VA7MF (from Kelowna) with tent (Saturday night only)
Shawn VA7TBD (from Kelowna) with 29 foot travel trailer and tow vehicle (early Sunday morning depart)
VE7MZP + n with truck and small trailer
Chris (from Kelowna) - TENTATIVE
Lorne VE7LWK and Denny VE7ASY - TENTATIVE
Events
24 Hour ARRL Field Day Contest - the informal "contest" aspect of Field Day
Friday Pizza & Beer - Friday evening for setup crew. (BYOE - Bring your own beer and a couple of bucks to pitch in for pizza)
Saturday Morning Pancakes - Jane VE7WWJ and Mike VE7KPZ will be cooking Mike's-Dad's-stuffed-Dutch-style pancakes for all of the tenters who stayed over Friday night.
Saturday Club Dinner & Social - Saturday evening for club members and guests. Roast (meat) to be provided by the club. Otherwise, a potluck. (see below for more info)
Camp fire, music, anyone play any suitable instruments?
Educational activities for youth ages 4-94 - Bob VE7EZI will provide interactive educational activities around basic electronics (maker/explorer activity). Mike VE7KPZ will bring the "fox" to hunt - it will be hidden somewhere on Ralph's property.
Information Booth - Doug VE7VZ will print some of his fantastic info pages and pamphlets on the topic of Amateur radio. We'll have a table for these and a team of Elmers will monitor the booth in case of any inquiries
Saturday Social & Supper
This event is a fantastic opportunity for a pleasant summer get-together for hams.
Scheduled start time is approx 5:00pm on the Saturday.
Club provides meat of some sort for chef Ralph to BBQ.
RSVP to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and bring your own drinks/beverages. Please bring something to contribute like appetizer, side dish, salad, dessert, buns & butter, pickles, etc
Bring your own seating if the weather is nice and we can eat outside, if it's too hot or raining we may go indoors.
| Who | Bringing |
| VA7NU with Shannon | Our hosts: providing facilities and BBQing the roast |
| VE7WWJ with VE7KPZ | potato salad |
| VE7WBM with Jennifer | dessert |
| VE7KBK | |
| VE7WEA + 1 | |
| VE7FI + n | |
| VE7WBZ with VE7PAZ + 3 | lotsa buns, dessert |
| VE7MHE | |
| VE7UIH | |
| VE7TRZ + 1 | |
| VA7AZZ + 1 or 2 | |
| VE7IGB with VE7EZI | a couple of cases of bottled water and a bit of pop for those who forget their drinks/guests |
| VA7MF | |
| VE7LWK, VE7ASY | greek salad |
| VE7MZP + 3 | lotsa pickles, etc. |
| VE7XY | pie |
| VA7TBD | something extravagant cooked on site |
| VA7GGB with VA7EIM | fruit salad |
| VE7LTW Dave Facey (KARC Treasurer) | pasta salad |
| VE7ZDL with Fern | |
| VE7VZ | chips and chips and chips |
| VA7KB with VA7SZ | caesar salad |
Rough supper count = 42
Operator Timeslots
There will be some times when the stations will be idle, and in those cases, walk-ups are welcomed. However, some attendees will have limited time at the event and may wish to reserve a block of time to ensure that they get a chance to operate. Please either edit this article or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to put your callsign down for a specific time slot and station.
If, on the day, you can't make your spot or have run out of contacts and are just scanning the band, let me VE7KPZ know so I can find your stand-in/alternate operator. Let's see if we can keep our stations active all 24 hours and our QSO rates up.
| Timeslot | Main Station Op/Logger | Main Station Mode + Details | Alt Station (VHF/UHF/6M) Op/Logger |
Alt Station Mode + Details |
| Sat 11 AM - 12 PM Pacific | VE7ZDL/? | Phone | VE7KPZ/VE7WWJ | VHF and UHF FM simplex phone on solar power |
| Sat 12 PM - 1 PM Pacific | ||||
| Sat 1 PM - 2 PM Pacific | VA7NU/? | CW | ||
| Sat 2 PM - 3 PM Pacific | VE7WEA/Jake's YL | Phone | ||
| Sat 3 PM - 4 PM Pacific | VE7MZP/? | Phone | ||
| Sat 4 PM - 5 PM Pacific | VE7EZI/VE7IGB | Phone + CW | ||
| Sat 5 PM - 6 PM Pacific (dinner) | VE7IGB/VE7EZI | Phone | ||
| Sat 6 PM to 7 PM Pacific | VE7ASY/VE7LWK | CW | ||
| Sat 7 PM to 8 PM Pacific | VE7FI/newb | Digital | ||
| Sat 8 PM to 9 PM Pacific | VE7XY/newb | Digital | ||
| Sat 9 PM to 10 PM Pacific | Phone | |||
| Sat 10 PM to 11 PM Pacific | VE7ASY/VE7LWK | CW | ||
| Sat 11 PM to 12 AM Pacific | ||||
| Sun 12 AM to 1 AM Pacific | ||||
| Sun 1 AM to 2 AM Pacific | ||||
| Sun 2 AM to 3 AM Pacific | ||||
| Sun 3 AM to 4 AM Pacific | ||||
| Sun 4 AM to 5 AM Pacific | VE7KPZ/ | Phone | ||
| Sun 5 AM to 6 AM Pacific | ||||
| Sun 6 AM to 7 AM Pacific | ||||
| Sun 7 AM to 8 AM Pacific | VE7WBM/ | Phone with FT-991A | ||
| Sun 8 AM to 9 AM Pacific | VE7FI/newb | Phone/Digital | ||
| Sun 9 AM to 10 AM Pacific | ||||
| Sun 10 AM to 11 AM Pacific | NORAC Net Controller | N/A |
Learn The Logging Software
We will be running N3FJP's Field Day logging software in a networked configuration for our HF and 6M/VHF/UHF stations.
In addition to being one of the easiest logging packages to use, the software also has an API for digital mode software integration. Check out the details on which digital mode softwares currently integrate with the logging software.
Lastly, check out this great overview video. If you are participating as a first-time logger, this video is a must-watch.