Arlington Radio Public Service Club

Field Day Training – June 26, 20091

Table of Contents

1. Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

2. ETSU Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

3. Logging Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

4. Radio Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

5. Bandpass Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

6. Message Origination Bonus Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

7. Check-in Sheet for Field Day Operators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

8. Sign-Up Sheet for Field Day Shifts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

9. Operating Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

10. Welcoming Visitors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

1. Safety

Safety is the most important factor in planning and executing a Field Day exercise. Take

your time and remember you may be in very close proximity to trip hazards, high

voltage, hot surfaces (heat sinks on transceivers; electric generator) and other hazards.

Safety Officers – We have three designated safety officers who are Arlington County

employees who are responsible for general operations, the ETSU, and safety at all times

during the preparation, operations and dismantling phases of the ARPSC/RACES Field

Day exercise at Minor Hill Park: Will Doggette K3SRF, Dan Gillenwater K9SLY, and

Dave Jordan WA3GIN. Safety Officers may restrict or prohibit access as circumstances

warrant. Safety officers decide when to shut down stations if the weather turns severe,

technical problems develop, etc.

Power Lines & Cables – When handling antennas or other metal objects, first assess

whether they may come in contact with power lines. Some power lines are strung low.

Because power line voltages are so high, you can be killed by just momentarily

contacting metal you are holding to a power line.

If electric extension cords or antenna cables are present on the ground or on the floor of

the ETSU vehicle, be sure to watch where you are walking to avoid tripping and falling.

2. ETSU Vehicle

Arlington County OEM has graciously allowed ARPSC/RACES to use the ETSU vehicle

for field day. It has been newly refurbished and upgraded. Please treat the ETSU as you

would a brand new vehicle of your own. No food or drinks are allowed in the ETSU.

Note: Information in this Training Guide is subject to change. Submit suggestions to fieldday@w4ava.org.

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3. N3FJP Field Day Logging Software

Basics – The basic logging features remain the same as N3FJP logging software the club

has used during previous Field Day operations. The font size is large and easy to read.

There’s a dupe warning feature, and a section list that, if "Sections Worked" is activated,

keeps track of the sections you work.

Dupes – Field Day rules allow contacts with other stations once per band per mode.

Working a station more than once on any band or mode is a duplicate contact, or “dupe”

for short. The N3FJP logging software tells you the station call sign you keyed in is a

dupe BEFORE you even get a chance to press the enter key. If the complete call sign

you key in matches a station already worked on that mode and band, as soon as you press

the tab key to move the cursor into the next data entry field (class), the window beneath

the data entry line turns red and in black letters says "DUPE" showing the call sign and

the time and date earlier worked. Also, the software plays an audio file of a woman

saying, "Duplicate" (which you may not hear if you are wearing headphones).

Editing/Deleting Contacts – You may edit or delete log entries after pressing enter to log

the contact so that mistakes can be corrected.

CAT – The software is designed to change band and mode as the transceiver band and

mode changes through a Computer Aided Transceiver or “CAT” cable, which is

connected between a microprocessor in the radio that tracks band/mode changes and the

computer. Please remember to confirm that the software band & mode change with the

radio. If they do not, check to make sure the CAT cable is firmly connected between

radio and laptop. Manually changing the band & mode in the software will be necessary

if the radio is not communicating with the computer. Do not change band/mode

without confirming that another W4AVA station is not already on that band/mode

unless we are certain that the network version of the software allows a log file to be

updated only by one user. The N3FJP web site suggests the opposite.

CW – In regard to CW, you can log and key CW using the logging software. To key CW

you use function keys, which are configured through a pull down menu by clicking

OPTIONS at the top left of the logging screen, then TRANSMIT, then CW to reach the

"Setup" page. For the GD6000 laptops, under "Keying Options" to the right select "RTS"

and designate "Serial" as 1. Leave "None", "Winkey", and "Printer" unselected. This

configuration is subject to change.

The Function keys F1-F11 are dedicated and programmable CW keys, but pressing the

F12 key switches the keyboard from data entry for logging to CW and then pressing it

again reverts to data entry. This is a useful feature in case you need to converse, even

briefly, with the other station and eliminates the need to connect a separate key or paddle

to the rig. It’s also useful for spacing out characters on repeats since the function keys,

though programmable, send the characters at a fixed speed and spacing. The CW speed

can be changed through the configuration parameters, but simply pressing the F12 key

and sending from the keyboard would be much faster.

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The N3FJP logging software has variable time loop feature set by the operator (on the

Setup page) that allows repeated CQs. Pressing the ESC key interrupts the loop.

Sections – There are 70 U.S. ARRL sections and 8 Canadian sections:

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4. Radio Use

Basic Features – Learn how to turn the radios on and off, change modes (SSB, CW),

change bands, and turn VOX on and off. Please follow the owner’s instructions for

operating each radio. When in doubt, ask for assistance. Most of the radios in use at

Field Day are privately owned. Please care each radio you use as if you own it.

Cheat Sheets – Some radios may have notes that cover how to operate the basic features.

You may want to take your own notes to help you remember how to operate each radio.

5. Bandpass Filters

Bandpass filters attenuate spurious signals from other stations and protect against

receiver front-end overload where multiple stations are operating in close proximity.

6. Message Origination Bonus Points

Under Field Day rule 7.3.5, we can earn 100 bonus points by sending a National Traffic

System (NTS) style formal message to the ARRL Section Manager or Section

Emergency Coordinator from our Field Day site. The message must include the club

name, number of participants, Field Day location, and number of ARES operators

involved in the W4AVA operation. A fully serviced copy of it must be included in the

club’s Field Day submission, in standard ARRL NTS format, or no credit will be given.

On Saturday June 27 at 6:15 p.m. one of our operators will complete the message below

then check into the Virginia Traffic Net on 3.947 MHz (LSB) to send it:

Number 1 Routine HXG W4AVA Check 40 Arlington, Va. 2200 UTC June 27, 2009.

To: Carl Clements W4CAC

ARRL Virginia Section Manager

4500 Wake Forest Rd

Portsmouth, VA 23703

Phone: 757-235-4813

Arlington County independent RACES deployed by Arlington County Office of

Emergency Management together with Arlington Radio Public Service Club operating

Field Day at Minor Hill Park in Arlington as W4AVA. ___ participants, including ___

RACES certified hams involved. No ARES members involved.

Dave Jordan WA3GIN

Arlington County RACES Officer

Phone: 703-228-33185

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7. Check-in Sheet for Field Day Operators

Safety officers will maintain a sign-in sheet for Field Day operators.

8. Sign Up Sheet for Field Day Shifts

Operating and availability information will be solicited prior to the start of Field Day, but

operators may update this at any time.

9. Operating Tips

Reference Guide – Please review the ARPSC “Field Day Reference Guide” found at

http://www.w4ava.org/articles/Field%20Day%20Reference%20Guide.pdf

Calling CQ – Allow no more than about 3 seconds between CQ calls to ensure that

stations scanning for contacts (search & pounce) hear you. The N3FJP software features

a CQ loop on CW (see logging software discussion above). You must have the discipline

to continue calling CQ even when responses are few. Eventually, it may be time to

search & pounce or change bands and/or modes.

Breaks – If you need to take a break from operating, please ask that another operator

relieve you before you stop working stations or calling CQ so that the next operator can

quickly pick up your duties and avoid losing your frequency.

Propagation – Some bands favor communications at different times of the day. You may

be asked by one of our Band Captains – including Will Doggette K3SRF or Dave Jordan

WA3GIN – to change bands or modes. As mentioned above, do not change bands or

modes without first confirming that another station is not using that band/mode.

White Boards – Use the white boards in the ETSU to note our Field Day call sign and

exchange, “W4AVA 3A VA,” Band Captain who is on duty, and other notes.

10. Welcoming Visitors

ARPSC is a friendly group. Please welcome visitors and allow them to observe our

operators. Those who are not working stations, please be available to answer questions

so that the on-air operator does not have to break his or her pace.

Please give visitors one of the ARPSC brochures.

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