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  • FCARC Field Day 2023

    Sat-Sun June 24-25 rain or shine 

    7 Brattleboro Rd Leyden – Avery Field/Town Offices  (15 min from Greenfield I-91 rotary)

    Casual, not competitive.  It’s about eyeball contacts!  Bring a guest.  Kids welcome.

    Door prizes every 20 minutes!

    Sat  2:00pm – 6:00 pm: Picnic (free)  Pavilion has restrooms and AC power.

    Sun 9:00am  Pancake Breakfast (free).

    Operate our radios: IC-9700, IC-7300, IC-705, or bring your own gear.

    AC1L will be operating QRP battery/solar   QRO operators welcome.

    Have gear to sell or donate?  Tailgating welcome.

    RSVP to W1BCC@arrl.net for a free door prize ticket.

    Bring this card and/or your QSL for more free door prize tickets.

  • Field Day

    I was asked to compile a 2022 Field Day “after-action report” during July’s General Meeting.  Some Field Day participants have offered feedback, which is outlined below, loosely arranged into categories.  

    Recommendations & Suggestions:
    EQUIPMENT
    On-site back-up generator.

    Have UPS or battery chargers for rigs and computers in case the generator runs out of gas or malfunctions.  Even if they only provide enough power to shut down, that would prevent possible equipment damage.

    Try to get desk microphones for the radios, as it is much easier to repetitively call CQ than with a hand mike.  Also easier to log.  Even better if there is a foot activated switch.

    Have extra headphones available.
    Provide desk lamps that clamp to the table and swing from the top.  Working with a lantern does not light up the entire desk when you need to look for something or are manually logging.

    Have another antenna for 40 at least and 80 if possible for CW operation at night. This will require some careful positioning if we want both Phone and CW on the same band.  I understand the club has another antenna that could be deployed.

    PLANNING
    We need to start planning and getting commitments early.  Best practice is to have band or mode captains who are responsible for getting commitments from members to set up, operate and take down the stations.  We shouldn’t burden one person to do it all.  

    Firm commitments from at least 10-12 club members to put up and take down.  There were too few people doing too much work, which in the heat created an unsafe environment for all.
    Computers with updated logging software for both CW and Phone stations should be identified or obtained 8 weeks in advance of the event.  There was at least one club member who said that he had one that could’ve been provided if given a heads up.
    Evening access/entrance gait issues should be resolved prior to the event.  Set up the orange cones at the bottom of the hill at 10:00 p.m. to help remind people that the park closes at 10.

    If there are any equipment needs at all they should be requested at least 6 weeks in advance.  There were other antennas in the possession of club members that could have been deployed, such as one for 2 meter contacts.  

    Have a briefing sheet for proper techniques for Field Day operating including:
     – the club’s Field Day exchange
     – what the other stations’ exchanges mean
     – how to call CQ and answer CQs
     – how to ask for fills and respond to fill requests
    Print an 8″x 11″ sign so you can easily see the A1CL and the 2A (or whatever) and WMA.  

    Make sure everyone is aware of the clearly-marked binder with copies of our license, Poet Seat permit and Field Day Packet.
    Have at least 25 hard-copy log sheets available on a clipboard in case of generator/laptop/software issues.  Ensure that all folks operating know how to fill them out properly and that notebook entries with insufficient information should not be counted.
    Obtain a firm delivery commitment from the chosen port-a-potty vendor well in advance of the event.

    HEALTH/SAFETY/ENVIRONMENTAssign a position like a “health monitor” to be responsible for observing attendees for signs of heat, over-exertion or other health-related issues.
    Have a reasonably equipped on-site first aid kit.

    Have extra chairs there or ask all attendees to bring their own.  
    Ensure that the generator/s are set up at a sufficient distance to prevent exhaust blowing into the operation tents.  

    Request that evening operators know to keep the operation tent flaps closed at all times, in order to mitigate the “bug situation.”

    “The CW tent was very hot.  Do we have, or can we get another set up like the Phone tent had?  Even an easy-up to shade the sun facing window would improve air circulation.”

    For much of the night, there were only two members on site.  We need commitment for three or four knowing that last minute considerations might mean someone might need to leave.
    Be sure that if someone has been working a radio for a while and another operator comes up, the person on the radio should relinquish it.

    Have more water bottles available during the day and coffee/condiments available for the night shift operators.

  • FCARC Store

    The FCARC store has reopened! Place your order online here: https://cart.silverscreendesign.com/fcarc/shop/home Don’t miss your chance to display your name and call sign in your new FCARC gear. Orders will take about 2 weeks as these are custom made after your order. Please allow plenty of time before you need them.

    https://cart.silverscreendesign.com/fcarc/shop/home

  • July August Newsletter 2022
  • Nets on FCARC 146.985 Repeater 2022 Q3

    Tuesday 2 meterEmergency Net
    Tues Jul 5 Chris KB1NEKTues Aug 2 Chris KB1NEKTues Sep 6 Beth K1BRL
    Tues Jul 12 Beth K1BRLTues Aug 9 Beth K1BRLTues Sep 13 Bob KA1HAH
    Tues Jul 19 Bob KA1HAHTues Aug 16 Bob KA1HAHTues Sep 20 Brad W1BCC
    Tues Jul 26 Brad W1BCCTues Aug 23 Brad W1BCCTues Sep 27 Chris KB1NEK
    Tues Aug 30 Chris KB1NEK

    Thursday 2 meter FCARCInformation Net
    Thur Jul 7 Al N1AWThur Aug 4 Al N1AWThur Sep 1 Al N1AW
    Thur Jul 14 Mark W1MHGThur Aug 11 Mark W1MHGThur Sep 8 Mark W1MHG
    Thur Jul 21 Chris KB1NEKThur Aug 18 Chris KB1NEKThur Sep 15 Chris KB1NEK
    Thur Jul 28 Dick N1RCMThur Aug 25 Dick N1RCMThur Sep 22 Dick N1RCM
    Thur Sep 29 Al N1AW

    Update to below: All slots are filled through September.

    Note we have a vacancy in the schedule for the Tuesday Emergency Net. I am willing to take those slots until someone else volunteers to step in, but I’m leaving it as “Open” as a reminder – I really don’t want to commit myself to this one.

    Also, there is nothing magical about a rotation of four, if one or two other people  want to join the  rotation that will make things easier for everyone.
      
    Some other nets have dedicated Net Control Stations who direct the net every week. While this means the dedicated NCS gets a lot of practice, it often leads to chaos when the one and only for some reason does not make it. The big advantage of having a rotation is that there is almost always someone ready to join the net who can step up when and if the scheduled operator doesn’t show up at 7 p.m.  Also: if you are not on the schedule and nobody at all has called up the net, do so yourself. Don’t be shy about improvising if you don’t remember the protocol – make it up as you go!  There’s nothing wrong with that!

    73,

    Al
    N1AW

  • Calendar
    When (12)WhatLocation
    June 11, 2022 8amFCARC BreakfastDennys Pantry Greenfield
    June 13, 2022 6pmFCARC June Board MeetingOn Zoom
    June 13, 2022 7pmFCARC June General MeetingOn Zoom
    June 14, 2022 8pmARES 2 Meter NetKB1BSS  Repeater
    June 16, 2022 8pmFCARC Information NetKB1BSS  Repeater
    June 21, 2022 8pmARES 2 Meter NetKB1BSS  Repeater
    June 23, 2022 8pmFCARC Information NetKB1BSS  Repeater
    June 23, 2022 12 NoonFCARC Lunch meet upDennys Pantry Greenfield
    June 25, 2022 24 HoursField DayPoet Seat Greenfield
    June 26, 2022 24 HoursField DayPoet Seat Greenfield
    June 28, 2022 8pmARES 2 Meter NetKB1BSS  Repeater
    June 30, 2022 8pmFCARC Information NetKB1BSS  Repeater