Field Day News #6 - Operating Tactics

OVARC will participate in ARRL Field Day on June 22-23.

For those unfamiliar with radio contests, I will describe the two basic techniques for operating.

RUN stations stay on one frequency calling CQ and working stations who respond.  Typically, stations with big signals will run for hours on end.  Stations with peanut whistle signals will be unable to hold a frequency for calling CQ, thus will not be running.

SEARCH & POUNCE (S&P) is the technique of tuning systematically up or down the band working CQing (RUN) stations which are not yet in the log.  Stations lacking big signals typically spend most of their time doing S&P, but all stations use this technique at some times during a contest, especially when RUNning is not productive.

N1MM Logger provides for both RUN and S&P techniques.  The HELP files in the program elaborate on them.

The first part of the FD exchange is the station class, which consists of a number (corresponding to the number of transmitters in simultaneous use) and a letter, A through F.   Letter designations are described in details on the ARRL website.  OVARC will be class 3F, meaning 3 transmitters operating from an EOC.

While Field Day is a simple contest, copying the exchange requires some familiarity with the ARRL Section and its abbreviation, which is the second part of the FD exchange.  You can find the list at:  http://www.arrl.org/section-abbreviations

The complete printed list will be available at each operating position during FD.  Note that while some sections are the same as their US state, such as AZ for Arizona, other states have more than one section.  California has 10 separate sections!  The section, not the state or province, is what must be logged for a legitimate contact.  The logging software will reject abbreviations other than those on the list, as will the sponsor of the contest (ARRL) 

One more time: there is a terrific instructional video detailing how to use the logging software that we will be using.  Program is called N1MM Logger, and link is:

http://n1mm.hamdocs.com/tiki-index.php?page=Video+-+Operating+N1MM+Logger+on+Field+Day#Video_Operating_N1MM_Logger_on_Field_Day

If you plan to operate a FD station, PLEASE view this video!

Questions or suggestions:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  or (520) 572-0554

73 de Tom, W8TK

June 2013 Membership Meeting

The regular June membership meeting has been cancelled as this is the same weekend as Field Day.  Field Day will be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 22 and 23.   Set up for Field Day will take place on Friday, June 21.  We will be holding Field Day at our usual location at the Oro Valley PD Tangerine Substation next to Walmart in the Oro Valley Marketplace at Tangerine and Oracle in Oro Valley. 

July 2013 Membership Meeting

July 19, 2013

7:00PM

Resurrection Lutheran Church
11575 North 1st Ave. 
Oro Valley, AZ

Amateur Radio and High Altitude Balloon Launches

Presented By 

Professor David Iadevaia, KF7MZY

Prof. Iadevaia will speak on the importance of Ham Radio in high altitude balloon launch, tracking and recovery. The high altitude balloon activity is part of NASA Space Grant program which sponsors high altitude balloon programs at the colleges and universities in Arizona.

Some topics he will cover from an actual flight:

APRS
Cross Band repeater
Flight Computer
Accelerometer
Video
Photographic imaging
How to get involved
ANSR (Arizona Near Space Research)
Video from 87,000 feet over Picacho Peak

Here is an example of an actual photo taken from the balloon: