tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12559579.post2743862994564637336..comments2024-03-28T05:17:55.293-04:00Comments on W2LJ QRP - When you care to send the very least!: Field Day changes?QRP - When you care to send the very least!http://www.blogger.com/profile/08707602309223956112noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12559579.post-28995567161753322522010-06-28T18:46:17.421-04:002010-06-28T18:46:17.421-04:00RE starting early - we did the classic "calli...RE starting early - we did the classic "calling cq,making non logged/non contest qsos" for about 15 minutes before the start time - basically holding a run frequency, testing our setup. At the tick, we went from CQ 20, thank you, see you in the contest and good luck, to CQ Field DayKG2Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13350584786062942799noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12559579.post-17367601145009999412010-06-28T12:05:34.716-04:002010-06-28T12:05:34.716-04:00I wouldn't object to it being a one day event ...I wouldn't object to it being a one day event as long as the other rules remain the same. I wouldn't want to disallow generators or even home stations or EOC stations running on commercial power. Home stations, and especially EOC's with emergency power capabilities should at least test it even if they choose to not run on it during the entire event.<br /><br />Our club runs a 2A operation with GOTA station that makes extensive use of generator power. (Or would the inclusion of a GOTA station make it 3A? I can't remember.) We secure donated fuel and drag a couple of communications trailers out into a field for the event. The public is invited as well as elected officials. During the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina the Red Cross had a staging area in an abandoned K-Mart building here in Montgomery, AL and members of our club were heavily involved in that effort. Our experiences with field day were invaluable preparation for that.<br /><br />This year I operated 1E from my home. I had planned on running my generator but when then generator wouldn't start I dropped back to plan B and ran on battery power. I still view it as a success because I found out that my generator needs work and that even without it I can still maintain effective communications on battery power.<br /><br />Considering all of that, I really don't see the point in changing anything. If you've got the stamina, or man power, to go the whole 27 hours (assuming you didn't start setting up early in which case you're limited to 24 hours) then do it. Otherwise operate as much as you want or are able.k4gdwhttp://www.greendragonweb.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12559579.post-28831685763436161182010-06-28T10:06:15.525-04:002010-06-28T10:06:15.525-04:00The 80 meter CW "iron ear" hams are slow...The 80 meter CW "iron ear" hams are slowing becoming extinct. They're the only thing that really buoyed scores in the midnight hours. I operated 1D 20 meters while the sun was up and turned off the rig at 9pm.Rob Carlsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14099588941024685854noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12559579.post-75669566828786551572010-06-28T09:02:51.747-04:002010-06-28T09:02:51.747-04:00I have no problem with generators... they are defi...I have no problem with generators... they are definitely "emergency power" and a lot safer to deal with than a stack of batteries.<br /><br />I'd like to see it moved to a 1000 UTC saturday to 1000 UTC sunday sort of event with setup on Friday night. I see no reason to wreck all the non-WRC bands with a contest (ANY contest) for the entire weekend.<br /><br />Where we were, we could her some US stations starting their contest QSOs 10 minutes early... That was unfortunate, but I guess when there's points there will also be cheaters.<br /><br />73 de VE3OIJ<br />-DarinEvolving Squidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01652337040136033626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12559579.post-9790855858857095972010-06-28T07:04:11.267-04:002010-06-28T07:04:11.267-04:00We ran a 1E with 2 operators, and manned it for al...We ran a 1E with 2 operators, and manned it for almost the entire 24 hours (we both DID stop for dinner)1129 QSOs, up in NNJ<br /><br />Part of the reason for the overnight/24 hour gig is so that everyone gets a taste of all the conditions you'll get for the day<br /><br />As for batteries - we used to run a 24 hour 3A, totally on solar recharged batteries, so that's not much of a limit - we've found that 2 or 3 90Ah deep cycle batteries per operating station gets us 24 hours - of course, we're recharging for a week after, but (heck, we were on Batterypower from Midnight till 8:00am with the 1E, and it's sitting on a solar power charger right now)KG2Vhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13350584786062942799noreply@blogger.com