FIELD DAY 2020: BALANCING TRADITION AND SAFETY IN THE COVID-19 ERA

==> FIELD DAY 2020: BALANCING TRADITION AND SAFETY IN THE COVID-19 ERA

The fourth full weekend of the month (June 27 – 28) promises to be
different for many amateurs, as the annual ARRL Field Day
<http://www.arrl.org/field-day&gt; operating event will be held under
unique circumstances. Somehow, the traditions of the weekend must be
balanced against the exigencies of the current need to operate safely,
in an appropriate social-distancing environment. Most groups have had
to adjust their plans to ensure that the physical health of their
members is protected.

But that’s one of the great things about amateur radio in general and
Field Day in particular. There is no one single way to approach the
event, and no single goal that defines the success of the weekend. Fun
still awaits the tens of thousands of participants. “Business as
usual!” for many this year becomes, “How do we address these unique
challenges?”

An important fact to recognize is the disappointment many will feel at
not being able to congregate at their tried-and-true operating
location to do their “usual” thing. Groups in some states face fewer
restrictions than others — and that’s okay, as Field Day isn’t a
competition. Most groups will not be able to host the traditional
social aspects of the weekend. The covered-dish extravaganza that
accompanies a club Field Day may be canceled this year. The
interaction of sharing amateur radio with the general public as they
wander over to your setup may be non-existent for many groups. The
opportunity to test your club’s interface with your various served
agencies may have to be put off for another time. Your annual teaching
session with local youth groups — scouts, school clubs, CAP cadets —
may have to be revisited down the road, after the situation
stabilizes.

Remember: If you operate as a Class D station (home station on
commercial power), you may work all other stations, including other
Class D stations, for contact credit. All Field Day 2020 entries
wishing to have their individual scores credited to their club to be
aggregated for a “club score” should add the club name to their
summary sheet. Use the Field Day Web Submission Form
<https://field-day.arrl.org/fdentry.php&gt; to turn in your log.

Yes, things are going to look and feel different in 2020. But when it
comes to the basic activity of Field Day, the event doesn’t have to
sound different. CW signals will still “light up” the ether. Stations
calling “CQ Field Day” on phone will still fill the bands. The unique
“warbles” of tried and true — as well as new and exciting — digital
modes will still beckon the experienced operator and the curious
newcomer, inviting them to reach out and make contact in this unique
year of social distancing.

Over the past few weeks, several articles have been posted to the ARRL
website <http://www.arrl.org&gt; with some suggestions on how groups and
individuals may vary their participation in Field Day 2020 from
previous years. The theme running through them is one that’s familiar
to amateurs — adaptability.

Read more on the ARRL Field Day <http://www.arrl.org/field-day&gt; web
page. — Thanks to Dan Henderson, N1ND

Reprinted from The ARRL Letter for June 17, 2020

The COMPLETE 2020 FIELD DAY PACKAGE can be downloaded from

http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2020/2020%20Field%20Day%20Packet%20Rev%20a.pdf

KIDS DAY IN THE AGE OF COVID-19

==> KIDS DAY IN THE AGE OF COVID-19

Under normal circumstances, Kids Day <http://www.arrl.org/kids-day&gt; on
Saturday, June 20, would offer an opportunity for individual radio
amateurs or clubs to introduce the next generation to amateur radio.
This year, however, Kids Day is likely to look a bit different, due to
precautions — both advised and in place — during the COVID-19
pandemic. ARRL recommends that mentors and young operators adhere to
prescribed COVID-19 guidelines in these difficult times.

“We encourage you to take the advice of your local and regional health
officials as to whether it’s wise to gather in groups and what
precautions are necessary,” ARRL Contest Program Manager Paul Bourque,
N1SFE, allowed. “If inviting individual youngsters or groups into your
shack is not advisable, look instead into other ways of mentoring
youngsters.”

One possibility, Bourque said, is mentoring over social media, via
Zoom, or using other non-contact means. “This year might not be the
time to invite youngsters into your shack, but that doesn’t mean that
you cannot encourage the next generation of amateur radio operators,”
he said. “Of course, if you have kids at home you’ve been trying to
interest in ham radio, Kids Day offers the perfect framework, and
COVID-19 precautions would not be necessary.”

Kids Day gets under way on Saturday, June 20 at 1800 UTC and concludes
at 2359 UTC. Sponsored by the Boring (Oregon) Amateur Radio Club, the
suggested exchange is first name, age, location, and favorite color.
Beyond that, contacts can be as long or as short as each participant
prefers.

Look for activity on these frequencies: 10 meters: 28.350 – 28.400
MHz; 12 meters: 24.960 – 24.980 MHz; 15 meters: 21.360 – 21.400 MHz;
17 meters: 18.140 – 18.145 MHz; 20 meters: 14.270 – 14.300 MHz; 40
meters: 7.270 – 7.290 MHz, and 80 meters: 3.740 – 3.940 MHz. Repeater
contacts are okay with permission of the repeater owner.

As with any on-the-air activity that includes unlicensed individuals,
control operators must observe third-party traffic restrictions
<http://www.arrl.org/third-party-operating-agreements&gt; when making DX
contacts. Additional details <http://www.arrl.org/kids-day&gt; are on the
ARRL website.

 

Heathkit radios

Hello,

I have two Heathkit radios posted up on Craigslist, a transmitter SB-401 and receiver SB-310. I am looking to find these radios a good home. I am located in Wyckoff.

SB-401:

https://newjersey.craigslist.org/ele/d/wyckoff-heathkit-sb-401/7126448749.html

SB-310:

https://newjersey.craigslist.org/ele/d/wyckoff-heathkit-sb-310/7126437695.html

Thanks,
Owen Fuhr
KD2GKH                fuhrowen@gmail.com

 

 

The National Weather Service is working to revolutionize severe storm warning

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2020/05/03/nws-facets-storm-warnings/

VE Day: The Nazis’ last transmission: Message from German WWII radio station ‘closing down for ever’ that was decrypted by Bletchley Park is released by GCHQ

The last Nazi message

On the 75th anniversary of VE Day.

Are Quantum Radios The Future??

Quantum receivers

A priority for the Defense Department, quantum receivers are a leap forward in radio technology.

Bob Shohet, KQ2M,Continues on his Winning DX and Contesting Practices!

 

Bob Shohet, KQ2M, a Superstation unto himself, presents (circa 2016) his winning techniques from decades of hard work and hard knocks. Bob clues you in to his strategies, listening more than just *putting* it out there, and how a little courtesy before and after contest events can make easier contacts in the future.

Enjoy- 

w2nz

Night of Nights XXI * Sunday, July 12, 2020

Night of Nights XXI

 

Sunday, July 12, 2020 

Night of Nights is an annual event held on the 12th of July by the Maritime Radio Historical Society (MRHS) to commemorate the history of maritime radio and the closing of commercial Morse operations in the USA. These on-the-air events are intended to honor the men and women who followed the radiotelegraph trade on ships and at coast stations around the world and made it one of honor and skill.

Many of the KPH transmitters are 1950s vintage RCA sets. KFS uses a 1942 vintage Press Wireless PW-15 transmitter on 12Mc. This is the transmitter that was in service at KFS on the “last day” of American Morse and is thought to be the last PW-15 in service in the world.

K6KPH, the amateur radio station of the Maritime Radio Historical Society, will also be on the air receiving signal reports and messages from Morse code enthusiasts around the world. This gives Maritime Radio Historical Society information about how well the stations are being heard and gives amateur stations the experience of what it was like to work a real coast station.

Members of the public are invited to visit the receiving station for this event. The station will be open to visitors beginning at 3 pm PDT. The station is located at 17400 Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and is on the route to the Point Reyes lighthouse. Transmissions start at 5pm (0000 UTC 13 July) until Midnight (0700 UTC).

KQ2M – Bob Shohet on DXing & Contesting

This is a color enhanced and audio improved Redux of a 2016 Guest Presentation FIRST at FairLawnARC.org! We tweaked a little hear (LOL – Audio) and little there –> color adjustments. 

For the best enjoyment I found using my monitor headphones provided the best audio capture, if you’re a Ham you have headphone use them!

Stay safe and be well as we all manage through the nCovid-19 Challenges.

73-

w2nz

Thom

 

 

Silent film reel shows staff connected to Bletchley Park for first time

Bletchley Park and Enigma code breakers

A recently discovered home movie shows the off-duty activities of the code breakers of  Bletchley Park Enigma fame. The faces of these code breakers were considered top secret and this movie would have compromised many people during World War II had its protection been lax.