Time to break out the portable rigs and snow-shoes, everyone: it's Winter Field Day, 2020.
I was reminded of this by Bonnie, KQ6XA. She forwarded some info from the WFDA (Winter Field Day Association), repeated below. I'm embarrassed to report that we've lost our Winter here in the Bay Area, with temperatures of about 60 F both Saturday and Sunday. Nonetheless, we'll bundle up and break out the chemical hand warmers in solidarity with our more northerly and easterly peers. I'll be using the KX2. See you on the air-- 73, Wayne N6KR * * * Winter Field Day Association https://www.winterfieldday.com/ "Winter Field Day Association (WFDA) is a dedicated group of Amateur Radio Operators who believe that emergency communications in a winter environment is just as important as the preparations and practice that is done each summer but with some additional unique operational concerns. "We believe as do those entities of ARRL Organizations like ARES & RACES that maintaining your operational skills should not be limited to fair weather scenarios. The addition of Winter Field Day will enhance those already important skills of those that who generously volunteer their time and equipment to these organizations. This is why WFD is open to all licensed amateur radio operators worldwide. "Disasters are unpredictable by nature and can strike when you least expect them. WFDA's goal is to help enhance your skills and ready you for all environmental conditions found in the US and Canada during the spring, summer, fall and winter Preparedness is the key to a professional and timely response during any event and this is what local and state authorities are expecting when they reach out to the emergency service groups that offer their services. "If you are serious about emergency communications as we are; we welcome you to join us for our yearly event. We are sure you will find this event a pleasant change and challenge to that of a normal summer time field day." "FT8 Notes: WFD has always had an Ecomm emphasis, even back when SPAR sponsored it.. We waited for FT8 2.0, hoping it would be more flexible as we were told it would be, but were disappointed that the new release would NOT do the WFD Exchange as it currently stands. That alone rules out using FT8 for WFD. Also, its ability to carry any emergency message is near nil... try sending "SOS - HMS TITANIC - HIT ICE - SINKING - 82.566N 34.713W". Almost any other mode can send that (or the WFD Exchange). Getting a message through bad conditions is great.. but getting only a grid square and a signal report is hardly a message of value to Ecomms. When FT8 can do the WFD exchange verbatim, as written in the rules, it'll become part of WFD. That has been the consensus of the WFDA board for some time... We are not anti-FT8. The ARRL did not change any rules in its contests to allow FT8... FT8 developers changed what it could send to fit a few ARRL contest exchanges. PS... There are a few f olks talking about using JS8Call... you might want to try that. It works similarly to FT8, but is far more robust in what it can send and receive" ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
