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Winter Field Day this weekend -- brief introduction

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wayne burdick

Winter Field Day this weekend -- brief introduction

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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"

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Jim Brown-10

Re: Winter Field Day this weekend -- brief introduction

On 1/23/2020 6:38 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
> I'm embarrassed to report that we've lost our Winter here in the Bay Area

As a refugee from Chicago, I can state with certainty that there is no
such thing as "winter" in the Bay Area. What happens here from Dec to
Mar would be described in the Midwest as "early summer."

73, Jim K9YC
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Elecraft mailing list

Re: Winter Field Day this weekend -- brief introduction

Here in St Augustine, FL it will be in the 70’s and windy. The SAARS club will be putting on winter FD at the EOC. Anyone close please drop in and join us.

Dave K8WPE

David J. Wilcox K8WPE’s iPad

> On Jan 24, 2020, at 12:56 AM, Jim Brown <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> On 1/23/2020 6:38 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
>> I'm embarrassed to report that we've lost our Winter here in the Bay Area
>
> As a refugee from Chicago, I can state with certainty that there is no such thing as "winter" in the Bay Area. What happens here from Dec to Mar would be described in the Midwest as "early summer."
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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NS9I WI

Re: Winter Field Day this weekend -- brief introduction

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

... and here in Franklin, western NC we'll be using our ancient K3 with
mild temps

73 Dwight NS9I

On 1/24/2020 12:54 AM, Jim Brown wrote:

> On 1/23/2020 6:38 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
>> I'm embarrassed to report that we've lost our Winter here in the Bay
>> Area
>
> As a refugee from Chicago, I can state with certainty that there is no
> such thing as "winter" in the Bay Area. What happens here from Dec to
> Mar would be described in the Midwest as "early summer."
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]

Dave New, N8SBE

Re: Winter Field Day this weekend -- brief introduction

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

Aaron Lee

Re: Winter Field Day this weekend -- brief introduction

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

You missed some fun last year, the low was ~0F at K9CU's site in Urbana. During setup it was in the upper teens with a 10 mph wind, which taught us just how stiff the cold can make coax and fingers. My friend managed to get a dipole into a tree but I settled for a small vertical clamped to the roof rack of my Forester. I worked from the back seat with my KX3 and a tablet on a lap desk, occasionally running the engine to get some heat into the car.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/54171525@N00/46850021342/

Tomorrow the forecast is for a balmy 32 with only an inch of snow.

73, Aaron - AC9OH

On Thu, Jan 23, 2020, at 11:54 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

> On 1/23/2020 6:38 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:
> > I'm embarrassed to report that we've lost our Winter here in the Bay Area
>
> As a refugee from Chicago, I can state with certainty that there is no
> such thing as "winter" in the Bay Area. What happens here from Dec to
> Mar would be described in the Midwest as "early summer."
>
> 73, Jim K9YC
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>