1. Hughes Amateur Radio Club W6HA
W6HA Field Day Field Day Technologies – Planning – Preparedness May 7, 2019
Hughes Amateur Radio Club
W6HA
April 18, 2017

2. Overview – Sharing Field Day Knowledge
Goal:
Share knowledge about technologies and methods related to Field Day
Topics:
Power sources Dale WB6MMQ
Solar – panels, regulators,
Generators – sine wave, fuel use, start, refueling
Batteries – (too much to cover in detail – just a chart of types, capacity, and preferred use is 5% rate of capacity)
UPS – use to avoid generator transients – need power to get them started
Filtering of transients – filters used at field day
Power distribution ir voltage loss in long cables, AWG rating
Radio bands and propagation Mike N6MDV
Frequency – skip zones – time of day – time of year
Solar conditions – Modeling
Types of radios and how to operate use of basic controls RF gain, filter bandwidth
Modes of operation FM, digital, CW, SSB
Personal and community safety, shelter, food, sun protection Bob AD6RW
Logging of messages and traffic – Betty N6VZF
National Traffic System NTS Messaging – Steve KI6GUY
Nets – Forms – scheduling a time and frequency – Steve KI6GUY
Winlink – Mike N6MDV
Field radio station setup and organization – equipment list and why
Transceiver
Antenna – band pass filters – cables – switches
Multi station set up and physical orientation
CW keys/paddles, microphone, headsets
Display/keyboard
Transporting equipment – safely

3. What is Field Day
Hams setting up radio stations to develop skills to meet the challenges of emergency preparedness
Acquaint the general public with the capabilities of Amateur Radio
W6HA Goals:
To have fun - keep it light and enjoyable for all
Train, learn, share knowledge
To make many radio contacts - more each year
To test new equipment, antennas, and methods
To engage with the public and explain how we are preparing for emergency communication operations
Method:
Set up temporary radio stations
Transceivers
Antennas
Emergency power
Work as many stations as possible on the 160, 80, 40, 20,15 and 10 Meter HF bands, as well as all bands 50 MHz and above
Learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions.
W6HA Approach:
Wilderness Park – Redondo Beach
Family camping weekend
Setup on Friday
Around the clock operation
3 to 4 HF stations
1 Get On The Air (GOTA) station
1 VHF station

4. Band Pass filters minimize Inter station interference 40M dipole
15’ lower than pad
40M dipole A
amphitheater
308d
100’
HF3
22d
185’
TH3JR N
TH3MK4
+ inverted V
VHF cluster
64d
175’ A R A
HF1&2
25d
150’
40d
175’
326d
65’
TH3JR
GOTA
TH3JR
230d
130’
pine R A
HF4
A – Antenna
R – Radio
g - generator
Info – Public Information Table
GOTA – Get on the Air Station
info
30’
Wilderness Park – Redondo Beach
pond
Antenna Placement
Magnetic Headings
Distances between stations
70 degrees beam orientation
Optimum for East Coast and midwest
Northern states & midwest 30 deg
East coast late afternoon 15M 50 deg
Hawaii 260 deg
Alaska 330 deg
Park Entrance

5. W6HA 2019 Field Day Stations
20 Meter Station with 3 element yagi on 55’ crank up tower
10 & 15 Meter Station on yagi on 55’ tower with duplexer
Plus 80 Meter 80M inverted V from tower
40 Meter Station with North South Dipole
GOTA HF/VHF Atation with 3 element yagi on 20’ pushup & VHF/UHF vertical
VHF Station with 5 element 6M yagi, TBD other antennas on 20’ pushup poles
15/20/40M Digital / CW Station Triband yagi on pushup plus NVIS dipole
Plus
2 Honda power generators
Solar
Information table
Logging computers

6. Field Day Power Class A – No Commercial Mains Generators, fuel Solar, Batteries – UPS Power cables and Filters
WB6MMQ
Dale

7. Non-Commercial Power – Class A – Multiplier: 2 x
4 Pole Filter
Rated 30 Amps
Aux. Fuel Tanks – 6 Gal. and 4 Gal.
Honda 2000i
Generator
Line A (Black)
Honda 2000i
Generator
Line B (Red)
Backup Generator – Older Honda
Day Use Only
Photo Credit: Steve Sakai

8. Non-Commercial Power – Class A – Multiplier: 2 x
Honda 2000i (inverter) – 6 Gallon Aux Fuel Tanks
W ea, Total 3600 Watts – Runs 24 hours W/O Refueling
Line filter – 30 Amps (just in case)
Power Cord – 130 ft AWG – 4 conductors
Safety-Green, Shared Neutral-white, 2 Hots – Black & Red
Distribution / Breaker Box – 2-20 & 2-30 Amp Breakers
Amp; A Twist Lock
Various 100 ft. #10 & #12 Extension cords
Quad Box Cords 25 to 50 ft. (box w/ 2 – Duplex Receptacles)
Lights ~6 w/6 ft. cords & 40W – 60 W bulbs (incandescent)
Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) (desktop Logging CPUs)
Note: Generator Wiring is different than building wiring. In buildings, Both the Neutral and the Green wire safety wire are grounded at the service entrance.
In generators, the Green Wire is connected to the generator chassis and earth ground by the user (presumably) – The Neutral is NOT connected to the chassis or earth ground. Some UPSs complain about this.

9. Non-Commercial Power – Class A – Multiplier: 2 x
30 AWG-4 Conductor Power Cord and Distribution Breaker Panel

10. Non-Commercial Power – Class A – Multiplier: 2 x
Installation Requirements & Goals
Safety First !
Air-Line Power and Internet Cables
No trip hazards – No Clothes line hazards
Minimum Height: 8ft, Goal: 10ft.
Use Ropes to pull cables up
Do NOT try to throw heavy cable over branches etc.
GOAL:
Put up power and internet Cables 1st before other things get in the way.
Complete before 3 PM Friday afternoon inspection
Needs Two Teams of 2 people each. – 4 people
Plus an occasional helper
Throwing or pulling the cables over branches and through crotches is:
1.  More dangerous than you might expect. (We did have a close call.)
2. A lot more work
3. You can get a light line over a higher Branch easier too, so that the sag in the middle of the cable is higher.
4.Take down is faster, easier and also safer, if you can just loosen the line and lower the cable.

11. Alternative Power - Solar - 100 Points
Photo Credit: Steve Sakai

12. Non-Commercial Power – Class A – Multiplier: 2 x
Alternative Power – 100 Bonus Points
Solar Panel – 100 Watts (12 ~ 8 Amps)
Charge Controller – 30 Amp
Power Pole Connectors
Batteries – 12 volt Ahr Sealed Lead Acid (SLA)
Usually used at the VHF station.
Qualifies for Alternative Power Bonus 100 points
Must make a minimum of 5 contacts for the bonus

13. Radio Bands and Propagation Frequencies, skip zones, time of day Solar conditions Modeling i.e., how do we get our signal to them?
N6MDV

14. Simplified High Frequency Propagation Why Antennas, Frequency and Time of Day Matter
During day use higher frequencies
Use Near Vertical Incident Skywave (NVIS) for close access
Vertical antennas have lower take off angles – but may be have more noise
High yagi’s have even lower take off angle
55’ tower with 20 meter frequency antenna is 0.8 of a wavelength high
Same tower at 10 meter frequency is 1.6 wavelengths high and will have lower takeoff angle
Ionosphere ionized layers
D, E, F1, F2 – stronger and lower during day
Mid angle e.g. yagi closer to ground
High take off angle
e.g. NVIS dipole close to ground
Lower take off angle
e.g. yagi higher above ground
CA during day
Western US at night
Texas for yagi .75 wavelength high
Atlantic states for yagi 1 wavelength high

15. Modeling Background Using VOAAREA modeling tool
Smoothed sunspot numbers for June 2019 with 10 SSN (lowest we’ve used)
Model our antennas on EZNEC
Model receiving antenna at 8dBi
Consistent with dipole at other end (2db higher than last year modeling to reflect observations)
Modeling presumes 100W out
Suitable for SSB and CW, but high for digital
90 percent reliability based on SNR
45 dB for SSB (blue on following charts)
27 dB for CW/digital (grey on following charts plus near by green)
Plots at 6am, 9am, 11AM (18Z), 1PM, 3PM, 5PM, 7PM, 9PM, and 11PM pacific
Antenna models – Pattern and gain determined from EZNEC
20M and 15M tri element yagi at ¾ lambda above ground
70 deg orientation from North
40M NVIS North South dipole
80M NVIS not updated from last year, pattern is about the same

16. How to Read Chart S9+ SSB Time Band SKIP ZONE
CW/Digital in green, grey, and near by white
S9+
02 UTC = 7PM
14.1MHz = 20 meter band
June with smoothed sunspot of only 10
***** Good time of day for midwest and east coast
SKIP ZONE
Antenna Direction
One Hop and Two Hop Signals

17. 3PM
20M 3 Element Yagi on 55’ tower, 15M 3 Element Yagi on 25 ft pole, 40M NS NVIS, 80M NVIS
Use digital or CW
Maybe Phone
15 Meter
20 Meter
80 Meter
40 Meter

18. Best QSO Periods By Band
o o o o o X
5PM o o o o
midnight o o
NEEDS UPDATING FOR 2019
THIS IS OLD DATA
o o o

19. Types of Radios Basic Controls Modes of Operation at W6HA Field Day
N6MDV

20. Transceivers We will have a mix of radios
Mobile HF/VHF – compact: buttons for key items, menus for rest
Base station – bigger: buttons for nearly everything
Radio owner will set up the basic configuration
Items you need to check or change are:
Turn radio on – power switch
Mode: single side band, FM, or data
Power output: set to 100W except digital modes use 20W
Select antenna: Some stations will have multiple antennas:
Set antenna switch and ensure that appropriate band pass filter is in place
Change band and frequency on transceiver suitable for that antenna
Tune Frequency: Using VFO knob – check SWR
SWR – Antenna tuner: activate tuner, confirm SWR is good (<2 prefer <1.5)
Change listening volume level: AF knob
Change RF gain to reduce unneeded noise: RF gain knob
Attenuator on/off if strong signals are causing distortion
Select receive filters (bandwidth) to reduce noise
Push to talk button: when transmitting voice
VOX or other control for digital transmissions

21. All Radios at our Field Day
Get instructions from band captain or radio owner
If uncertain about how to use: Don’t
Always check that antenna is attached and SWR is <2 before transmitting
Set volume control as you need it
Too loud can be tiring
If radio has RF control, turning down RF gain can reduce noise and distortion – lower it until signal is still audible and noise is reduced
If radio has receive filters, select narrower bandwidth to reduce noise and adjacent station interference
SSB suggest 2KHz, CW suggest 1KHz while tuning and 100Hz on a signal

22. Many Radios Most will have a VFO A and a VFO B
Stores two frequencies
Buttons normally swap A and B frequencies and copy A into B
Convenient way to monitor a frequency occasionally while searching for other stations – just swap A and B occasionally
Most of our stations will have band pass filters between the transceiver and the antenna
Reduces cross band interference – significantly! (80dB)
Know what filter you have, only transmit on the same band as the filter – otherwise will damage the transceiver
Our filters are limited to 200W – transmitting with higher power will burn out the filter (smoke)
Most radios have RIT knob – for quick field day contacts normally not used, but use it if you are “running” and other guy calling you is too hard to understand
RIT = Receiver Incremental Tuning: changes receive frequency without changing transmit frequency

23. Triplexer Triplexer Allows three radios to use the one highest antenna
-Connects to Tri-Band antenna
-Separates each band to a connector
-Saves work – Don’t need separate pushup
masts and antennas for each station.
Connecting cables 2018
1 - Shorter Cable for the tower ~ 65 ft
2 – 20M cable ~ 25 ft
3 – 15M cable ~ 100 ft.
4 – 10M cable ~ 100 ft (if used)
Photo Credit: Steve Sakai

24. Yaesu FT1000MP with power Amp
Buttons for everything
Focus on main VFO – A
May have a power amplifier – see additional instructions
SWR Check
Antenna Tuner
On/Off switch
Filters
Band select
Attenuator
Frequency select
Volume control
RF gain control

25. ICOM 7300
Combination of button and menu plus touch screen with soft buttons
Pan adaptor and waterfall display shows where signals are
On/Off switch
Band select touch screen
Filters
Antenna Tuner
Frequency select
Preamp & Attenuator
Volume control
RF gain control
SWR Check touch screen select SWR meter

26. Elecraft KX-2 KX-3 similar but with more buttons for filter control
Few buttons & each has multiple functions
Tap for the white function
Hold for 1s for the yellow function
Swapping between A and B VFOs easy
Return to a frequency for search and pounce
Band select
SWR Check
Volume control
Pre amp & Attenuator
Filters
Tap and then use knobs
Antenna Tuner
coarse
VFO A/B save and swap
RF gain control
Menu item
Frequency select
On/Off switch press both at once

27. Safe Operating If SWR is too high (>2)
Check proper band pass filter for this frequency band
Check antenna is attached
Check all coax connectors – be sure fully engaged
Some have been bent in past
Check cable with dummy load and analyzer
Check tuner is engaged and set correctly
Ensure no one is in your antenna area: RF exposure
Be sure radio is set to appropriate frequency
Band plan mode restrictions
Within your license privileges
Not too close to band edges or “special frequencies”
Such as slow scan TV
<50.1 for weak signal ops
Not on 2 meter call – QSY up once initial contact or announce

28. Field Day Safety Antennas Power Personal
AD6RW

29. Field Day Safety Considerations
ARRL Requirements for Safety Officer (SO)
RF Safety Considerations
Environmental/Venue Concerns
Common Sense Safety Considerations
Field Day is to be fun - Injuries are prohibited!
All participants are deputized as SO's
Stay Safe - Have fun!

32. Other Safety Considerations
Antenna installation - dangers here!
Ladder safety (team effort)
Proper Tools for the job (gloves, spin tights)
Know your limitations (none of us are getting younger)
Wire/Coax routing - overhead, out of reach
RF Safety Considerations - exposure limits, overloads
Environmental/Venue Concerns - Civilians, Fire, Bees!
Liberal use of safety/barrier tape
Common Sense Safety Considerations
Walk, don't run. Think before you act
Sunscreen – sun hat
Field Day is to be fun - Injuries are prohibited!
(and might get us uninvited next year)
All participants are deputized as SO's
Stay Safe - Have fun!

33. Supporting Documentation
and
Signage

35. NO SMOKING / NO OPEN FLAMES
GASOLINE STORAGE AND USE AREA
Make as many copies as need to be posted

36. SAFETY EQUIPMENT HERE PLEASE RETURN AFTER USE HARD HATS WORK GLOVES
SAFETY GOGGLES
CAUTION TAPE
SUN SCREEN
FLASH LIGHTS
SIGNAGE MATERIALS
PLEASE RETURN AFTER USE

37. FIRST AID KIT
HERE
SERIOUS INJURIES – CALL 911

38. FIRE EXTINGUISHER HERE
Make as many copies as need to be posted

39. HOT WEATHER SAFETY STAY HYDRATED - DRINK WATER
AVOID SUN - STAY IN SHADE
WEAR APPROPRIATE CLOTHING
AVOID WORK DURING HIGH HEAT
USE SUNSCREEN
MONITOR YOURSELF AND OTHERS
FOR HEAT RELATED SYMPTOMS

40. MINIMIZE RISKS / CONTROL HAZARDS
ALL OVERHEAD CABLES ABOVE EASY REACH
ALL EQUIPMENT PROPERLY GROUNDED
CAUTION TAPE AROUND ALL HAZARDS
CAUTION TAPE ON GUY LINES / CABLE DROPS
TENT STAKES MARKED / OUT OF TRAFFIC AREAS
MARK OR ELIMINATE ALL TRIP HAZARDS
NO RUNNING / USE FLASHLIGHTS WHEN NEEDED
NO COOKING/STOVES OTHER THAN PARK FURNISHED
NO OPEN FLAMES – GASOLINE IN USE
KNOW WHERE FIRE EXTINGUISHER IS LOCATED
PROTECT PUBLIC ACCESS TO REST ROOMS
SAFETY OFFICER / DESIGNEE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES

41. THINK
SAFETY
FIRST
Make as many copies as need to be posted

42. SAFETY
LOG
LOG ALL SAFETY ACTIONS / INCIDENTS / INJURIES

43. DESIGNATED SAFETY OFFICERS

44. SAFETY ACTIONS / INCIDENTS / INJURIES

45. Logging Messages Traffic – Contacts Server, Software, Logging station
N6VZF

46. Field Day Logging Each contact recorded with this information
Frequency Band
160M, 80M, … 440MHz
Mode
CW, Digital, Phone
Time in Universal Time Coordinate UTC
Starts at 1800Z and goes to 1759Z on Sunday
Call sign
Other stations call e.g., W6TRW
ARRL section
Most are the state, some states have multiple sections like North Florida NFL
Class of station: examples 7A or 1B
Number of transmitters and type of station
A – club of 3 or more people
B – 1 or 2 people
C – Mobile
D – Home station
E – Home station emergency power
F – Emergency Operations Center
Each station can be recorded once per band and mode
Thus each station call sign could be recorded up to 30 times if they used all bands and all modes (extremely unlikely)

47. Why Log?
Provides excellent practice for getting an accurate message through
Requires careful listening to what the other station says
Requires recording that information accurately
Akin to what one might do in an emergency operation to pass information accurately and keep track of what was sent / received.
It’s required for computing our score

48. How we do it Laptop or desk top computer at each radio station
Server computer
Fast enough to keep up with workload
With graphic display of logging results
All computers networked together with Ethernet cable and switch
Local network – NOT WiFi
N3FJP logging software
Preloaded on each logging computer
Stores contacts on the local computer & copies onto the server
All logging computers can see the contacts that have been made so far

50. The bottom of the screen will display the current: Band; Mode; Field Day Station Call, Class and Section; Time in local and UTC formats 50

51. To change the current operating Band, click Band on the menu and select the new Band51

52. To change the current operating Mode, click Mode on the menu and select the new Mode52

53. To change the Operator Initials, click Operator on the menu – Enter the new initials then click Done to save 53

54. Move from one field to the next by pressing space bar, tab, or simply type the exchange and the software will tab automatically! Try it!
Data Entry Window 54

55. As you enter a call, a list of possible duplicates will be displayed below55

56. If you determine that the call you are entering is a duplicate, click on clear or press Esc to erase all fields 56

57. When you have a valid Call Sign entered, press the space bar, tab key or simply start typing the class to move to the Class entry field.
TAB 57

58. Enter the Class then press the space bar, tab key or just start typing the section to move to the Section entry field. The software will tab automatically!
TAB 58

59. If you enter an invalid Section designator an Error window will appear – Click on Yes to correct the entry 59

60. When you have a valid entry, press the Enter key to save60

61. Your entry will appear at the top of the Recent Contacts list – The Date, Time, Band, Mode and Operator Initials will be automatically filled-in 61

62. To Edit or Delete a contact entry, scroll to the contact, click on the entry and two boxes appear62

63. If you click on Edit, an edit window appears – Edit any entry fields then click on Cancel to not save the changes or Done to save your changes 63

64. If you click on Delete, a confirmation window appears – Click on No to leave the entry in the log or click Yes to permanently delete the entry 64

65. When a Section is worked for the first time, the abbrev-iation is highlighted in Blue65

66. As Contacts are added, statistics are continually updated66

67. Clicking Map on the menu bar produces a graphical representation of sections worked67

68. Field Day Messages National Traffic System Types of messages How to send
KI6GUY

69. Radiograms for Field Day 2019
What was done for 2017 & earlier – voice
At least 30 minutes to send our 11 messages
Required setting up a “private” session or sending during a “public” time
Going digital for Field Day 2018 & on
Simple format for Radiogram in body
No external coordination needed
Sent radiogram via ham radio directly to addressee's address using WinLink2000
Used VHF Gateway in Torrance in 2018
Registered W6HA as WinLink user (reregister?)

70. 100 point Radiogram
NOTE: Current LAX Section Manager, Diana Feinberg, AI6DF
Script for preamble (“..” denotes pause): “number one..
routine.. whiskey six hotel alpha.. four.. redondo beach
initials charlie alpha.. june two five..”

71. Complete script for 100 point Radiogram
Sample: How to send by voice a radiogram
Complete script for 100 point Radiogram
Script (“..” denotes pause): “number one.. routine.. whiskey six hotel alpha.. four.. redondo beach initials charlie alpha.. june two five david greenhut I spell golf romeo echo echo november hotel uniform tango.. amateur call november six hotel delta.. initials lima alpha x-ray.. initials sierra mike.. .. figures two one seven eight one.. ventura I spell v e n t u r a.. initials bravo lima.. initials november oscar.. figures two four three.. .. woodland hills.. initials charlie alpha.. figures nine one three six four.. .. figures eight one eight.. nine nine two.. five five zero seven address I spell november six hotel delta atsign A R R L dot org.. break figures four five.. visitors so far break barry colston I spell charlie oscar lima sierra tango oscar november.. amateur call kilo golf six november whiskey juliet”
Read slowly so receiving station can copy
Spell phonetically names and othes not common

72. 100 Point Message Text File Template

73. Field Day 2019
In 2018 I created text file & Brian AB6UI provided laptop & radio – neither can be at FD this year
Previously sent “welcome to ham radio” message to hams who passed FCC exam since last FD
Suggest members send something like “I might contact you via ham radio message after the Big One if commercial landline and cellular and infrastructure are damaged or overwhelmed”
I can do paper forms & text file if necessary
Need laptop with WinLink2000 connected to radio on FD

74. References
LAX Field Day National Traffic System (NTS) Messaging Information:
Global Amateur Radio
client download:
How to:
Gateways:

75. Field Day Station Setup and Organization Equipment List Logistics Field day site

76. Equipment Prep List Amazing amount of gear for a 3A or 4A station
Per Station
Antenna
Coax
Band pass filter
Antenna switch
Transceiver
CW Key, microphone
Power strip
Computer – digital modes
Computer - logging
Displays – Keyboard - Mouse
Tent – EZ Up – tarps
mosquito netting
Table
Chairs
Lights
Pens/pencils
Logging paper
Band plans
Operating guidance sheets
Per Field Day Site
2KW Generator + fuel
Power filter
Power cords
Rope to hang cables
Fire extinguisher
Hughes Aircraft Club Sign
Information table Sign in list
Info table flyers
Computer – logging server
Ethernet cable
Ethernet switch
First aid kit
Safety signs
Safety tape 1.5 rolls
Personal gear
Layered clothing – hat
Sunscreen
Tent/sleeping gear
Snacks/water

77. Radio Stations 4A LAX 20 M Phone station 1 – Kenwood 930S transceiver
M Yagi on 55 feet tower (North Pad)
10M/15M/80M Phone/CW/Digital station 2 – Yaesu 1000 transceiver
Triplexer onto the main 55 foot tower
Plus 80M dipole in trees
40M Phone station 3 – ??? transceiver (NE field)
40M NVIS dipole
Digital station 4 – ICOM 7300
M Yagi on pushup pole (West pad)
GOTA phone station (Near info station)
KX-3 and ??? VHF FM radio
M Yagi on pushup pole
Plus VHF/UHF vertical
VHF Station – TBD transceiver (East pad)
6M 5 element yagi
2M yagi
Vertical/yagi
All equipment is TBD until owner concurs
TENTATIVE FOR 2019
Separate 6M receiver to monitor for Es openings, possibly prefer omni directional antenna for monitoring

78. More Prep Things Mosquito netting is a good idea
Chairs provided by many individuals worked well
Caution tape works well. Used about 1.5 full rolls
Keep public away from antennas
Block off pathways that through traffic will be a problem
Many interested visitors on Friday and again Sunday afternoon.
Suggest flyers and info booth be set up earlier and left up until the end
Frequency band plan charts in each station worked well
Ditto the charts as to what to say… CQ CQ FD

79. More Field Day Actions
Tour guides and people manning the info booth were very useful, friendly
For CW operations we need a pig tail adaptor from ¼” jacks to 3.5mm jacks as some radios need the smaller fitting. Likely need an adaptor back the other way too.
Thursday 1:30PM load the trailer
Hanging cables high in the trees – use rope to pull up in places
Note 200 foot Ethernet cable was barely long enough to get to the 40M tent
Social media and newspaper media release worth 200 points
Start with the city as early as January to ensure we have a place at the park. They work well with us.
Go to Alta Vista park office and be sure we are in the reservation book for Pine Campground

80. Tower Trailer Instructions
1 7/8 inch ball
2 chains
2 long turn buckles
3 large plywood pads
2 cranks
1 for winch
1 for trailer
2 wood blocks for legs if on soft ground
Be sure chains are crossed when bracing legs to trailer
Bring bubble level to be sure trailer is horizontal

81. Sample Text for Press Release
For Immediate Release
For additional information contact:
Brian Johnson
Amateur Radio “Field Day” June 23 – 24 at Wilderness Park in Redondo Beach.
Demonstrates Science, Skill, and Service
The Members of the Hughes Amateur Radio Club will be participating in the national Amateur Radio Field Day exercise, June 23 – 24 at Wilderness Park in Redondo Beach Camino Real Redondo Beach, CA We will be at the North end of the park in Pine Campground. The park is open to visitors 10am-4:30pm.
Since 1933, ham radio operators across North America have established temporary ham radio stations in public locations during “Field Day” to showcase the science and skill of Amateur Radio. This event is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to attend.
For over 100 years, Amateur Radio — sometimes called ham radio — has allowed people from all walks of life to experiment with electronics and communications techniques, as well as provide a free public service to their communities during a disaster, all without needing a cell phone or the Internet. Field Day demonstrates ham radio’s ability to work reliably under any conditions from almost any location and create an independent communications network. Over 35,000 people from thousands of locations participated in Field Day in “It’s easy for anyone to pick up a computer or smartphone, connect to the Internet and communicate, with no knowledge of how the devices function or connect to each other,” said Dave Isgur of the American Radio Relay League, the national association for Amateur Radio. “But if there’s an interruption of service or you’re out of range of a cell tower, you have no way to communicate. Ham radio functions completely independent of the Internet or cell phone infrastructure, can interface with tablets or smartphones, and can be set up almost anywhere in minutes. That’s the beauty of Amateur Radio during a communications outage.” “Hams can literally throw a wire in a tree for an antenna, connect it to a battery-powered transmitter and communicate halfway around the world,” Kutzko added. “Hams do this by using a layer of Earth’s atmosphere as a sort of mirror for radio waves. In today’s electronic do-it-yourself (DIY) environment, ham radio remains one of the best ways for people to learn about electronics, physics, meteorology, and numerous other scientific disciplines, and is a huge asset to any community during disasters if the standard communication infrastructure goes down.”
Anyone may become a licensed Amateur Radio operator. There are over 725,000 licensed hams in the United States, as young as 5 and as old as 100. And with clubs such as the Hughes Amateur Radio Club, it’s easy for anybody to get involved right here in the South Bay. For more information about Field Day, contact Brian Johnson or visit
Send to Daily Breeze

82. Field Day Operating Guides

83. Field Day Operations TENTATIVE FOR 2019 Field day is
part contest
part experience building
and intended to be Fun!
The contest is measured by number of contacts made – called QSOs
We can contact every radio station once
Per band (160m, 80m, 40m, 20m, 15m, 10m, 2m, 1.25m, 70cm)
Per mode (Phone, CW, digital)
If we try working the same station more than once on a band and a mode, that is called a duplicate or “dup” (doesn’t count, but no penalty either – have fun be courteous)
Contacting on all modes and bands we have 27 contacts with that station
Which part of the country reached varies with time of day and type of antenna
Sun ionizes the atmosphere – enables higher frequencies
Antennas have angles that they put out most energy
TENTATIVE FOR 2019
Guidance to frequencies and modes to use during which parts of the day

84. Operating Methods – Club Guidance
the Exchange determines that we had a contact
Call sign – Class of station – ARRL section
We are: W6HA – Whiskey 6 Hotel Alpha
4A LAX
Keep it fun and polite - keep the day friendly
Add a phrase, like:
QSL, Thanks
Have a great field day 73
Two methods:
Search and Pounce
Easier to do, but has slower QSO rate
Running
Needs strong signal e.g., S9 to hold onto a frequency
TENTATIVE FOR 2019

85. Search and Pounce Guidance
Exchange is:
Call sign – class of station – ARRL section
We are:
W6HA – Whiskey 6 Hotel Alpha
4 Alpha
LAX (Lima Alpha Xray)
Search and Pounce
Dial slowly up and down the band, listening for stations calling CQ
Listen to their call – if we have it on that band and mode, move on
Helps to keep a scratch sheet of paper with call signs/frequencies as that station may be on that frequency for a while
Respond with “Whiskey 6 Hotel Alpha”
If it is a busy station (pile up)
Best respond immediately after their call – anticipate or
Wait a moment until all the others have called, then be the last one in
Speak up for more energy
If they hear you, they will say something like
W6HA please copy 5A South Texas
You respond with:
QSL, please copy 4 Alpha LAX or
QSL, please copy 4 Alpha LAX have a great field day
TENTATIVE FOR 2019

86. Running Guidance TENTATIVE FOR 2019
Exchange is: Call sign – class of station – ARRL section
We are: W6HA – 4 Alpha LAX
Running – You call CQ and control the pace
Find a spot on the band that does not have someone on it
(stay within the band plan, band edges, and class of license)
If you can find 3KHz open, that is likely good, 5KHz would be better
Listen for a minute or more – then ask: “Is this frequency in use, W6HA”
Wait 20 – 30 seconds and ask again: “Is this frequency in use, W6HA”
If no response, consider this portion of frequency yours
Call CQ like this
“CQ CQ CQ Field Day Whiskey 6 Hotel Alpha” or
“CQ CQ CQ Field Day, this is Whiskey 6 Hotel Alpha calling any station”
If someone responds, they will just give their call sign
Be alert and ready to copy their call sign
You respond with:
<their call sign>, please copy 4 Alpha LAX
Listen for their answer which should be something like:
“5 alpha lax”
Respond with
QSL, thanks have a great field day, Q R Zed
Or just go back to calling CQ as above
See next page for more guidance
TENTATIVE FOR 2019

87. Running Guidance – Special conditions
Assuming you have your frequency staked out, the following conditions may happen
Some other station asks if frequency is in use
Answer Yes, this is W6HA, then immediately go back to calling CQ
Or some other station encroaches on your frequency without asking or is so close that there it disrupts your communication
Option A Keep calling CQ and persevere, they may just move away (about half the time this is true)
Option B See if you can move up or down 1 KHz and avoid the other person a bit without over riding someone else
Option C Look for another part of the band – there will be some very high power stations and we will not be able to hold a frequency all the time. In fact, if you hold it for 30 minutes that could be very good.
(Note as the sun moves, stations we couldn’t hear before may come into range. It could be that you both had the same frequency and now you are interfering. Be polite – this is for fun and experience. Move to new frequency)
Your CQ is answered by a bunch of calls
If you can pick out one call sign clearly, respond to them
If you hear only a portion of a call, say something like:
“Station ending in Foxtrot, go ahead, others stand by”
In these cases, after completing the QSO say “thanks, Q R Zed”
Which means who is calling me – like CQ but you have someone who wants to talk with you.

88. Constraints All operators are welcome
Control operators must work within the constraints of their license
OK to have a control operator with more privileges and operator with less or none
Stay within the band plan frequencies for phone, CW, or digital
Keep it fun and polite!
Each station has 1 or 2 band pass filters – stay within your band to keep transceivers happy and to avoid self interference
GOTA station has same bands as 10/15M station, coordinate which band is in use to avoid interference