SPARC Field Day 2015
Field Day is an ARRL operating event where amateurs setup portable stations using temporary (non-fixed) antennas and radios. Field Day is a test to allow us to establish emergency communications. The contest part of Field Day helps train operators on handling a high volume of messages that would be required during an actual communications emergency. It is also a time to have fun, socialize and learn something new about amateur radio.
This year SPARC will conduct Field Day at the DMI Facility where SPARC normally holds its club meetings. We will use temporary antennas and operate from outside the regular station.
We will have 3 stations (class 3A). This means one dedicated CW station, one dedicated SSB station and one floating station (CW, SSB or Digital). We do this to try and keep all three stations busy depending upon what mix of operators we have. There will ALWAYS be at least one CW station and one SSB station.
We need volunteers. This can only happen with people to help setup, plan and bring things. You will be able to sign up at the club meeting (as well as early by emailing president@sparc-club.org) with the dish you want to share. This will be for lunch Saturday, dinner on Saturday night and even breakfast on Sunday morning.
We need people that want to help operate and setup. I cannot stress enough how you do not need experience. Field Day is a space to learn. We have plenty of people to help you operate and learn how to install a rig, computer or anything else associated with Field Day.
For those that want to get a head start on logging at Field Day, we will be using the contest program called TR4W. This is a Windows version of the TRLog software. The program has a very small learning curve and it particularly easy for those that may not be used to computer contest logging. You can download the software and try it for yourself. There is no charge for the software. You can find all the information about the program including documentation, and downloading at http://tr4w.net/
Please check back at https://www.sparc-club.org for more Field Day updates.