GBARC

Field Day is an annual amateur radio exercise, encouraging emergency communications preparedness among amateur radio operators. In Canada, it is typically the largest single emergency preparedness exercise in the country, with over 3000 operators participating each year. Field Day is always the fourth full weekend of June, beginning at 1800 UTC Saturday and running through 2059 UTC Sunday.

Since the first Field Day in 1933, radio amateurs throughout North America have practiced the rapid deployment of radio communications equipment in environments ranging from operations under tents in remote areas to operations inside Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs). Operations using emergency and alternative power sources are highly encouraged, since electricity and other public infrastructures are often among the first to fail during a natural disaster or severe weather.

To determine the effectiveness of the exercise and of each participant's operations, there is an integrated contesting component, and many clubs also engage in concurrent leisure activities (camping out, cookouts, etc.). Operations typically last a continuous twenty-four hours, requiring scheduled relief operators to keep stations on the air. Additional contest points are awarded for experimenting with unusual modes, making contacts via satellite, and involving youth in the activity.

Field Day, June 24-25 2023, 2pm local Saturday to 2pm local Sunday. This 24 hour event is the highlight of the Amateur Radio World. As usual GBARC will be participating in this special event.

In years past Field Day has been well attended and lots of fun for everyone who came. This year we hope to have another exceptionally good turn out and lots of stations on the air. However to properly prepare we need to know who's coming and what radios they will be putting on the air.

This year, as in years past, GBARC is hosting our Field Day event at Victoria Park in Owen Sound. This will be a multi-station event so we'll need lots of operators to cover all twelve hour time slots over the operating schedule. Directions

We also need to know if participants will be bringing an RV, trailer or tent to the site. Knowing this in advance will help us select our operating location. Being well organised requires that we have good information well in advance.

Our club objective is to have stations on the air during the entire 24 hours. Station operations over the 24 hours will be divided into 2 hour shifts representing 12 blocks of time. The more operators we have the better we can cover the schedule.

The call to action for members of GBARC is to contact me by email with the following information if you plan to operate at Field Day June 24-25 2023.

Will your participate in Field Day 2023?
Will your participation include actually operating the stations?
Will you be bringing an RV, Trailer or tent?
What radio(s) will you bring for your station, including a windows computer with N1MM+ installed and correctly set up?
What station accessories such as a swr/power meter, desk mic, voice keyer will you bring?
What antenna including feedlines will you bring?
Will you bring a generator?
Will you be attending dinner on Saturday? Whether this is a catered meal or pot luck will be finalized later.

To let the organizers know your intentions please send email HERE

All Field Day logging will be done using N1MM+. This software will also allow computers to be networked across the Field Day site and individual logs captured into a single log. Each station must have an HF radio, a Windows computer with N1MM+ logging software installed and the interface between the radio and computer. (newer radio's have them built-in).
This arrangement MUST be installed, setup and operation verified PRIOR to field day.

N1MM+ runs on the Windows operating system only, Linux or IOS or raspberry pi or even your phone will not be acceptable. All N1MM+ software must be updated to the latest version and all stations must use the same version.

Adam VE3FP is an expert in the installation, setup and operation of N1MM software. He has volunteered to assist operators install, set up and operate this important piece of software. The link to download and install N1MM+ as well as help files are located on this page above , but those who need assistance can reach out to him directly. click HERE

Volunteers needed

Site Planner(s), to look at where things like antenna and stations will be located.

The Field Day site needs have a central Access Point/Router so that all stations logs can communicate using Wifi. Supply a router, stand to put it on, either 120vac from a generator or devise and supply a battery backup that will last for 24 hours. Configured as an "access point" all we need is a username and password.
Adam VE3FP will supply the router UN= GBARC PW= osarc123

The 20-15-10 beam and tower is located near Shallow Lake. A volunteer with a vehicle and trailer to move the portable tower and accessories to the field day site and return them afterwards. Dave VE3WI has agreed to provide trailer transportation of the tower and accy's

A person to arrange for a port-a-potty and attend the site when it is delivered. Inform the treasurer so the bill can be paid. Tom VA3TS has contacted A1 Rentals in Clarksburg, 24th May

A person to take charge of the Saturday meal. A club mailing will be used to gather preferences. We have in the past had a pot luck or ordered from a local restaurant. Pizza etc

Supply a tent and a GOTA Station. Provide help and assistance to the general public, to explain or discuss our reasons for our club and field day. The club banner and sandwich boards should be brought by whoever has them. Our MPP, the Mayor and officials should be contacted. The Sun Times may have a local activities column. Marvin VE3VCG has taken this on.

Make up and supply handouts or audio/visual learning aids. Costs covered by the club for any commercial printing required. VE3DGY

The club should consider supplying fuel or reimbursing those who provide generators.

Each station on the layout should, by and large, stay on the band they are assigned, the 80m and 20/15/10 stations can easily run the FT8 mode by easily changing the radio's configuration with an SD card (this is the 7300's secret weapon), I'm not sure if Adam is set up for FT8.

The 3 stations are selected because they all have an auto-tuner and not a manual arrangement such as the clubs IC-707. It indeed could be used, however there will be those operating it that are not familiar with it. The 7300 just needs a button press to auto tune anywhere.

The GOTA station itself will only see action from the public on Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning. Other than that it could operate experimentally as Doug and Marvin have suggested.

With the use of N1MM+, it is quite easy to operate the station by just the operator. The station logger is only needed if the station operator wants one. Please, please, please...do NOT write down qso's on paper thinking to enter them later, enter the contact immediately into the log. As a result, each station should have a foot operated PTT and a desk mic so that your hands are on the keyboard and not the mic.

REMEMBER, we are amateur radio operators who like to brag about how well we communicate, so lets do some communicating. There is a scant 3 weeks till the event, it will go by quickly...get things set up and done now, don't wait.

The Georgian Bay Amateur Radio Club

Field Day 2023:

Weekend of June 24th-25th

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