ARRL FD and COVID-19 Social
Distancing, What’s Your Plan?
I
have a feeling that Field Day, the premier Summer Radio Activity for most
Amateur Radio Clubs, is going to be a little different this year. With limits
imposed by the COVID-19 precautions of Social Distancing and the higher risk
populations present in most AR Clubs, club officers are scratching their
collective heads to decide how they are going to do FD this year.
Traditionally
FD was the event where many Hams were first exposed to HF operating, setting up
antennas and stations, simplex SSB VHF (not FM repeater operation) and Contest
style contacts. It is a time of fellowship and learning that is impossible to
replace. But this year we may have to take a break from the normal mode of
club-sponsored operations, but we do not have to skip operating FD.
I
have put together a Slideshow Presentation- “Field Day in Social Distancing”.
You can read through the presentation, share it with fellow club members and
even have me present it to your club as an online meeting presentation. Here is
the link - tiny.cc/fdsd.
Before
We Go too Far, SAFETY FIRST!
● By its nature Socially
Distanced FD is a compromise in many ways with untested tools, equipment and
plans
● Thus, we need to be even more
vigilant
○ Don’t Rush
○ Don’t Cut Corners
○ Don’t Go Near Overhead
Wiring!!!!
○ Care when climbing, better
yet avoid climbing when possible
○ Be careful with Generators
■ Gasoline, especially
refueling
■ Carbon Monoxide fumes in
enclosed spaces
Some
of the highlights of the presentation:
● What FD Classes are they and
how does each adapt to Social Distancing
○ Class B solo or duo
operations
○ Ideas for Class C mobile
operations
○ Class D and E operations from
your home
○ Using a vehicle to do a Class
B operation with the advantages of the vehicle as a shelter and power source
but with the advantage of larger, more efficient portable instead of mobile
antennas
● Operations for those without
a station or even an HF radio at home
○ Remote operation of stations
■ Permanent (home) stations
■ Temporary field station
(along the lines of a club set up Class A station)
○ Home VHF operations
○ Increased use of simplex FM
● FD Options for Technician
Licensees (Technician class Licensees have additional limitations due to
operating privileges)
○ VHF Station 6 and/or 2 Meter
○ Satellite Contacts
○ 10 Meter SSB
○ CW Only Operations on 80, 40
and/or 15 M (including ideas for those with little or no code proficiency- tiny.cc/fwm)
● A call for local clubs and
ARRL officials alike to encourage operation on less frequently used bands and
modes to provide opportunities for Technician Licensees and newly licensed hams
of all classes
○ Calling CQ on 10 Meters for
local/regional contacts even during poor band conditions
○ 2 Meter FM Simplex to provide
local contacts
○ Slower speed CW opportunities
at top of old Novice band CW allocations
● FD Logging Software and help
with setup and use
Another
thought for FD this year-- consider getting younger family members at your
house involved in your home or vehicle-based FD, but remember to keep safe with
both Social Distancing and regular FD safety.
Here
is the link to “Field Day in Social Distancing” - tiny.cc/fdsd. You can read through the presentation and please
share it with fellow club members via your club’s newsletters, website and
nets. If you are looking for an online meeting presentation, I would be happy
to do this for you. If you prefer another talk here are seven I have been
recently presenting remotely:
7. Ideas & Resources for Growing Youth Involvement in Amateur
Radio (based on my article in March 2020 CQ Magazine)
Recently, through these
presentations, I have been able to meet club members around the state of Ohio
that I never would have imagined I’d have an opportunity to speak to. It has
been great and I am always looking for more opportunities to present (and I
don’t limit to Ohio) so have your club program director contact me at k8zt@arrl.net. Visit my
website www.k8zt.com for a wide
variety of resources during this time of imposed isolation.