SBARC,

SBARC Field Day 2016    June 24 to 26 at Elings Park

What is Field Day?

Field Day is the annual emergency readiness exercise sponsored by the ARRL.  The goal is to contact as many stations as possible during a 24 hour period.  Each contact consists of a short mutual exchange of three pieces of information.  If you have not participated in a Field Day before, you are in for a pleasant surprise.  After just two hours in to Field Day, we will have contacted more than 30 states on HF frequencies.  It is run as a ‘just-for-fun’ contest.  It can be exciting when you hear four or more stations at the same time all over the US and Canada trying to make contact with us.  It can also be challenging to make as many contacts as possible under these conditions.  A single station typically makes a thousand contacts during Field Day.  SBARC has done very well in past years finishing in the top ten stations running as a three transmitter club station.  In recent years, we have run with a ‘just have fun’ attitude. 

Field Day is intended to simulate an actual emergency.  The goal is to operate somewhere in an open field, away from structures and electrical power.  Most stations operate this way while others may choose to operate from a building.  This year we are fortunate to hold Field Day at Elings Park.  We will be in a grassy field on the top of a hill and away from power line noise.  Elings Park has amazing views of the ocean and mountains.

What Can I Do?

We usually have two person teams that work in two hour shifts consisting of the radio operator and a logger.  The operator makes the contacts by saying “CQ Field Day Kilo 6 Tango Zulu”.  When another station replies, the operator sends our contact information of “K6TZ 2 Alpha Sierra Bravo”.  2 Alpha is our operation of two transmitters club station running on emergency power.  Sierra Bravo is the ARRL Section Code of Santa Barbara.  The logger enters the calling station identification, their designation, and their section such as “K1AB 3A NJ” by a keyboard.  The computer program helps with data entry, logs contacts, and checks for duplicates.

The operator and logger may trade positions if they desire.  The radio we use is an Elecraft K3 with a voice recorder that makes it easy for the operator.  After the message is recorded, just push a button to send the message.  At least one of the operator / loggers must be a General or Extra class.

The hours for each shift are:

Saturday              11 AM to 1 PM                  June 25

                `               1 PM to 3 PM

                                3 PM to 5 PM

                                5 PM to 7 PM

                                7 PM to 9 PM

                                Night Shift

Sunday                 5 AM to 7 AM                    June 26

                                7 AM to 9 AM

                                9 AM to 11 AM

We also need at least four people to assemble the antenna and mount it on the Rover.  We also need four people to take it down when the contest is over.  This is easy work and takes less than an hour.  The antenna is only 60 pounds, but is too big for two people to safely move it to the roof of the Rover and mount it on the mast.

Setup will be Friday afternoon starting at 1 PM.

Take Down will be Sunday at noon.

How to Get to the Field Day Site

SBARC will be at Elings Park South Park area.  This is the southeast section of Elings, near the hang gliders.  You can take a dirt road from Cliff Drive, just east of Las Positas Road.  It is not accessible from the main Elings Park entrance on Las Positas.  We will be about 300 yards northeast of the hang gliding area.  Another way to get there is to take Flora Vista, the first street east of Las Positas, then take the second left turn to the end of Calle Andalucia.  Park on Calle Andalucia and walk about 200 yards.

Other Information

Thanks to Haydn Brooke, KK6OYV, we will run two transmitters on HF.

We would like to have a celebration BBQ Sunday at 1 PM at Escondido Park.  This park is one-half mile north of Cliff Drive on Flora Vista.  The club will provide hamburgers and hot dogs.  All SBARC members and their guests are welcome to join the celebration.

How Do I Volunteer for Field Day?

Just respond to this message or email tsaund@cox.net.  You are welcome to bring family members or friends.  Please specify what time(s) you prefer.  If you have any questions, please contact me.

'Good Luck in the Contest'

Tom Saunders        N6YX

Mobile (805) 452 - 0840

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FAX       (805) 364 - 5120