Field Day June 25 – 26, 2016 - American Radio …

1 Field Day June 25 26, 2016. Start: 1800 UTC Saturday End 2100 UTC Sunday Always the fourth full weekend in June For information contact: Field Day Information ARRL. 225 Main St. Newington, CT 06111. (860) 594-0236. Field Day 2016 June 25th 26th Dear Field Day Participant: The imagination is one of the greatest tools in anyone's toolbox. Sitting here in mid-January with freezing temperature and snow warnings in the forecasts, it is easy to wistfully long for the cozy keeping room just off the kitchen, one filled with the wonderful aromas of comfort foods being prepared while a warm fire crackles to ward off the cold. If you are an Amateur, it is also as easy to fill your mind with thoughts of the warmth of the June summer sun, while you remember the smells of the great outdoors and hear in your mind's eye the sounds of last year's ARRL Field Day.

2 Field Day is always a different experience - not just from group to group but also from year to year. Set-ups change Propagation changes Participants come and go Equipment from last year may be replaced with the next generation of gear The tree used to support the 75-meter inverted-vee last year may have come down for firewood or some other purpose. That's one of the beauties of the Amateur Radio we are always in some way given the opportunity to embrace change. Adapting to those constant changes is where your imagination really comes into play for Field Day. That state of flux always provides everyone participating with the opportunity to share their knowledge, as well as learn from others.

3 After all, once the last QSO is recorded and the last sweep to clean up the site is complete, it is really about the people those we worked with during those magical hours and those we contacted during the brief weekend. There are two rule additions for Field Day 2016 both affecting Bonus Points available for participants. Groups or clubs that are participating in Field Day together from a site that is open to the public can earn a 100-point bonus by actively utilizing one of the recognized Social Media platforms (such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram) to engage the public in their Field Day activity. This bonus is not available for individual participants or for simply posting on your club website about your Field Day operations.

4 It is for actively promoting Field Day using social media during the weekend. The second rule addition allows groups and clubs operating as Class A in the Field to earn a 100- point bonus by having a safety officer for their operation who ensures its overall safe operation. This is more than simply appointing someone to be the safety officer. In order to earn this bonus, the safety officer must complete a check-list of key safety issues to ensure they have been addressed. More information on these two Field Day rule additions are found on FAQ sheets later in this packet of materials. Let Field Day 2016 June 25-26 be a weekend where each of us follows our imagination to do something different to embrace a change that teaches us more about ourselves and this wonderful hobby.

5 See you on the air!!! 73. Dan Henderson, N1ND. ARRL Regulatory Information Manager / Field Day Manager (860) 594-0236. ARRL Field Day 2016 Rules 1. Eligibility: Field Day is open to all amateurs in the areas covered by the ARRL/RAC Field Organizations and countries within IARU Region 2. DX stations residing in other regions may be contacted for credit, and may submit entries as check-logs. 2. Object: To work as many stations as possible on any and all amateur bands (excluding the 60, 30, 17, and 12- meter bands) and in doing so to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. A premium is placed on developing skills to meet the challenges of emergency preparedness as well as to acquaint the general public with the capabilities of Amateur Radio .

6 3. Date and Time Period: Field Day is always the fourth full weekend, beginning at 1800 UTC Saturday and ending at 2100 UTC Sunday. Field Day 2016 will be held June 25-26, 2016. Class A and B (see below) stations that do not begin setting up until 1800 UTC on Saturday may operate the entire 27-hour Field Day period. Stations who begin setting up before 1800 UTC Saturday may work only 24 consecutive hours, commencing when on-the-air operations begin. No class A or B station may begin its set-up earlier than 0000 UTC on the Friday (Thursday afternoon or evening local time) preceding the Field Day period. Cumulative set-up time shall not exceed a total of 24 hours. 4. Entry Categories: 4.

7 Entry Categories: Field Day entries are classified according to the maximum number of simultaneously transmitted signals, followed by a designator indicating the nature of their individual or group participation. The minimum number of transmitters that must be claimed is one (1). Twenty (20) transmitters maximum are eligible for the purpose of calculating bonus points (2,000 points maximum). However, additional transmitters which may legitimately be used simultaneously will determine your entry category classification, but will not earn additional bonus points ( 22 transmitters = 22A). The use of switching systems that allow for lock- outs in order to use multiple transmitters ( , an octopus ) in an attempt to enter a lower-number-of-transmitters class are prohibited ( using 2 transmitters that can transmit simultaneously, with two operators, and a lock-out system and entering class 1A).

8 The use of simulcasting devices which allow a single operator to key and transmit on more than one transmitter at a time, is prohibited. Bonus stations, such as the GOTA station and satellite station do not count towards determining the number of transmitters for the class and do not qualify for transmitter bonus points. (Class A) Club / non-club portable: Club or a non-club group of three or more persons set up specifically for Field Day. Such stations must be located in places that are not regular station locations and must not use facilities installed for permanent station use, or use any structure installed permanently for Field Day. A single licensee or trustee for the entry is responsible for the group entry.

9 All equipment (including antennas) must lie within a circle whose diameter does not exceed 300 meters (1000 feet). To be listed as Class A, all contacts must be made with transmitter(s) and receiver(s) operating independent of commercial power mains. Entrants whom for any reason operate a transmitter or receiver from a commercial main for one or more contacts will be listed separately as Class A-Commercial. Get-On-The-Air (GOTA) Station. Any Class A (or F) entry whose transmitter classification is two or more transmitters may also operate one additional station without changing its base entry category, known as the GET-ON-THE-AIR (GOTA) station. This GOTA station may operate on any Field Day band, HF or VHF, but is limited to one GOTA station transmitted signal at any time.

10 This station must use a different callsign from the primary Field Day station. The GOTA station must use the same callsign for the duration of the event regardless if operators change. The GOTA station uses the same exchange as its parent. The GOTA station may be operated by any person licensed since the previous year's Field Day, regardless of license class. It may also be operated by a generally inactive licensee. Non-licensed persons may participate under the direct supervision of an appropriate control operator. A list of operators and participants must be included on the required summary sheet to ARRL HQ. As per FCC rules, this station must have a valid control operator present at the control point if operating beyond the license privileges of the participant using the station.