Hi everyone,

Are any of you participating in Winter Field Day? I'm bringing my old but reliable TS-440S and various antennas to set up at a local National Guard armory. We'll be in a nice conference room with a window to run coax
outside.

I'll bring my TAK-tenna (https://www.tak-tenna.com/) that was given to me to try it out.

If you've never heard of Winter Field Day: https://winterfieldday.org/

I hope to get a newer radio soon so I can run digital modes again. They're great during contests.

73 DE KS4TD,
Sean

... To the thief who stole my anti-depressants: I hope you're happy.
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Hi everyone,

Are any of you participating in Winter Field Day? I'm bringing my old but reliable TS-440S and various antennas to set up at a local National Guard armory. We'll be in a nice conference room with a window to run coax outside.

I'll bring my TAK-tenna (https://www.tak-tenna.com/) that was given to me to try it out.

If you've never heard of Winter Field Day: https://winterfieldday.org/

I hope to get a newer radio soon so I can run digital modes again. They're great during contests.

73 DE KS4TD,
Sean

... To the thief who stole my anti-depressants: I hope you're happy.
--- MultiMail/Linux
* Origin: Outpost BBS * Johnson City, TN (1:18/200)

That Tak-Tenna looks neat.

In an earlier post You mention Your GMRS Callsign.
It made me think of my old secondary license call WA9WSB.

I wanted to keep my original KY call,and did until no one in my. Family lived in the QTH anymore.
I learned I could trade in the K4ZIQ call for a One by Three 9 Land call and was issued W9ODR.
Got a W call instead of a K call issued to me.

Later I learned that The Friendly Country Cousin was allowing Hams to use their Callsign when they moved into a different Area. (after sending a 610 to them about the change of address.

Now I wish thatI had kept my original Call Sign I was issued as a Novice.
The Hams around my area know me as K 4 Zero Intelligence Quotentient.
73 de Ed W9ODR . .
(Old Dirty Rat) Now
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Ed Vance wrote to Sean Dennis <=-

That Tak-Tenna looks neat.

I was going to use it at my apartment but my property manager wasn't so hot
on it so I loaned it to a fellow ham for safekeeping. He'll be bringing it this Saturday for WFD so I'll have 10-40m capability. If I get into a place where I have a backyard, I'd like to try the 80m Tak-tenna in its "vertical" configuration.

Now I wish thatI had kept my original Call Sign I was issued as a
Novice. The Hams around my area know me as K 4 Zero Intelligence Quotentient.

I used to be known as K D 5 Codgy Old Lion. Now, my callsign is made up of
my initials: STD (yes, really). My second wife holds the call of KI4OTP or "Old Toilet Paper".

I changed my call when I decided I'll probably be living in 4 land until I
die. I'd love to change it to K4SD but who knows when that call will be available.

73 DE KS4TD,
Sean


... Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper.
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How many people out there participate in Winter Field Day?

I have only had the opportunity to work WFD 2024 due to being out of the country and inactive for 14 years. I had fun, and I think it is a great idea. However the group that runs it does seem to be a bit full of themselves.

The amount of effort that is wasted screaming that IT IS NOT A CONTEST is a bit stupid. Call it what you want, but like sailing *Any time you see another boat in front of you, you're racing!* Get a bunch of hams and tell them to make as many contacts in a specified amount of times, you have a contest on your hands.

Some of their rules are a bit daft, such as this years NEW multiplier. " Operate six continuous hours during the event: Emergencies may last days or even weeks. You may be expected to man a radio station between 4-12 hours if you are operating alone or in shifts. Can you sit and operate for extended periods of time with enough backup power? This does not necessarily mean you are making contacts the whole time, but you are in front of the radio, monitoring, and ready to pick up a microphone if you are called. OM x2"

Come on.. I am in my 50s, I can't sleep through an 8 hour strech without getting up and going to the bathroom! Does that mean I lose the multipler? When asked for clarification, not was really given...

Had another guy suggest that they make the exchange more geared to an actual EMCOM excercise. We have X beds full, X beds available, need food for X. While that might work for small scale localized EMCOM drill, could you imagine the non WARC bands filled with such traffic?

Not to mention one of the main points of field day is to entice people to get out and operate, that normally would not operate a contest while learning new modes and skills. How much of a turn off do you think it will be for new or non really active operators if they have to send long formal messages?

How would you incorporate that into FT8/FT4?

I think ARRL Field Day does a good job of introducing you to formal traffic by giving you multiplers for sending properlly formatted NTS traffic through WINLINK or a traffic net. I had a blast getting that multipler during the ARRL Field Day, and enjoyed hearing from my friends/family that the messages were recieved.

When I replied to them, that if I had to submit proof of 6 hours of continuous monitoring my station, they would be getting pictures of the bottles, and that the rules should follow the format of other contests, IE.. You must work X hours, allowing for Y breaks not to exceed Z and clearly visable in the log. Otherwise I will just check the multipler and move on.

They basically told me they have the right to ban people who they suspect of cheating.

Great, BAN ME! You are not the only contest on the block. If you want to play word games, I have a pocket full of quarters.

I was then banned from the FB group.

Seems to me, that this is another GREAT amateur radio idea that gets ruined because the organizers get too big for their britches! Sad.

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
Blog and Forums - www.catracing.org
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Hi,
Mainly I have done WFD from my home the last 3 years or so.
This year I decided to setup a blind guys group and operate in a small distributed team of 4 or 5 ops.
For my part I probably made 50 / 60 contacts or so.
If your are interested in stats of the ops try KF4YEY, W4CI and AD9CA.
I am probably missing a call sign or two.
If I can remember the team name we used I'll send it along after taking a look at the standings to see how we did.

Tom
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