Field Day
Encyclopedia
Amateur radio
Amateur radio is the use of designated radio frequency spectrum for purposes of private recreation, non-commercial exchange of messages, wireless experimentation, self-training, and emergency communication...
exercise, widely sponsored by IARU
International Amateur Radio Union
The International Amateur Radio Union is an international confederation of national amateur radio organisations that allows a forum for common matters of concern and collectively represents matters to the International Telecommunication Union...
regions and member organizations, encouraging emergency communications
Amateur radio emergency communications
In times of crisis and natural disasters, amateur radio is often used as a means of emergency communication when wireline, cell phones and other conventional means of communications fail....
preparedness among amateur radio operator
Amateur radio operator
An amateur radio operator is an individual who typically uses equipment at an amateur radio station to engage in two-way personal communications with other similar individuals on radio frequencies assigned to the amateur radio service. Amateur radio operators have been granted an amateur radio...
s. In the United States, it is typically the largest single emergency preparedness exercise in the country, with over 30,000 operators participating each year.
Since the first ARRL Field Day in 1933, radio amateurs throughout North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
have practiced the rapid deployment of radio communications equipment in environments ranging from operations under tents in remote areas to operations inside Emergency Operations Center
Emergency operations center
An emergency operations center, or EOC, is a central command and control facility responsible for carrying out the principles of emergency preparedness and emergency management, or disaster management functions at a strategic level in an emergency situation, and ensuring the continuity of operation...
s (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
Natural disaster
A natural disaster is the effect of a natural hazard . It leads to financial, environmental or human losses...
or severe weather
Severe weather
Severe weather phenomena are weather conditions that are hazardous to human life and property.- Examples Include :Severe weather can occur under a variety of situations, but three characteristics are generally needed: a temperature or moisture boundary, moisture, and , instability in the...
.
To determine the effectiveness of the exercise and of each participant's operations, there is an integrated contesting
Contesting
Contesting is a competitive activity pursued by amateur radio operators. In a contest, an amateur radio station, which may be operated by an individual or a team, seeks to contact as many other amateur radio stations as possible in a given period of time and exchange information...
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.
IARU Region 1
The IARUInternational Amateur Radio Union
The International Amateur Radio Union is an international confederation of national amateur radio organisations that allows a forum for common matters of concern and collectively represents matters to the International Telecommunication Union...
Region 1 sponsors an Amateur Radio Field Day for Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
United Kingdom
The Radio Society of Great Britain (RSGB) holds its Field Day with the Region 1 schedule, but has its own awards independent of the rest of the IARU Region:- CW: First full weekend of June from Saturday 1500 UTC to Sunday 1500 UTC (June 5–6, 2010).
- SSB: First full weekend of September from Saturday 1300 UTC to Sunday 1300 UTC (September 4–5, 2010).
Greece
The Radio Amateur Association of GreeceRadio Amateur Association of Greece
The Radio Amateur Association of Greece is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in Greece. The society was founded in February 1958, facing great difficulties due to negative attitude of the Greek Government of the time towards amateur radio...
organizes the national field day with the Region 1 SSB field day (first weekend of September). It issues its own awards for the highest scoring greek stations who participate and submit contest logs.
United States and Canada
The American Radio Relay LeagueAmerican Radio Relay League
The American Radio Relay League is the largest membership association of amateur radio enthusiasts in the USA. ARRL is a non-profit organization, and was founded in May 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim of Hartford, Connecticut...
/Radio Amateurs of Canada
Radio Amateurs of Canada
Radio Amateurs of Canada , known in French as Radio Amateurs du Canada, is a member-based, non-profit organization of amateur radio enthusiasts in Canada...
Field Day is held annually the fourth full weekend in June (June 25–26 in 2011).
Sponsored by the ARRL and RAC (but organized primarily by the ARRL), Field Day is open to all Amateur Radio operators covered by these two IARU member organizations.
IARU Region 3
There is currently no organized Field Day for all of Region 3, although there is a proposal to create one similar to that of Region 1: Recommendation WG 2-10 (page 7).Taiwan
There is apparently a Biannual Field Day held in Taiwan, by the Chinese Taipei Amateur Radio LeagueChinese Taipei Amateur Radio League
The Chinese Taipei Amateur Radio League is a national non-profit organization based in Taiwan for amateur radio enthusiasts in the Republic of China...
.
New Zealand
The New Zealand Association of Radio TransmittersNew Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters
The New Zealand Association of Radio Transmitters, or NZART, is a non-profit organization of amateur radio enthusiasts in New Zealand. NZART represents New Zealand amateur radio operators nationally and internationally. NZART is a founding member of the International Amateur Radio Union...
(NZART) holds an HF National Field Day contest each February, and a VHF Field Day each December.
The Korean Amateur Radio League
Korean Amateur Radio League
The Korean Amateur Radio League is a national non-profit organization for amateur radio enthusiasts in South Korea. KARL was founded in 1955 by Korean radio communication enthusiasts. Due to advocacy efforts of KARL, the first amateur radio station in South Korea, HL2AA is Seoul, was licensed...
holds a field day for 2 to 5 days at a regional branch area during the summer time every year.
Emergency preparedness
Field Day stresses emergency preparedness. Frequently, entire radio clubs get involved and assemble a portable radio station in a field or park. Some might use quickly deployable portable antennas while other might erect more elaborate radio masts and towersRadio masts and towers
Radio masts and towers are, typically, tall structures designed to support antennas for telecommunications and broadcasting, including television. They are among the tallest man-made structures...
supporting several antenna
Antenna (radio)
An antenna is an electrical device which converts electric currents into radio waves, and vice versa. It is usually used with a radio transmitter or radio receiver...
s. Generators or solar power
Solar power
Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Solar radiation, along with secondary solar-powered resources such as wind and wave power, hydroelectricity and biomass, account for most of the available...
provide electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
to amateur radio transceiver
Transceiver
A transceiver is a device comprising both a transmitter and a receiver which are combined and share common circuitry or a single housing. When no circuitry is common between transmit and receive functions, the device is a transmitter-receiver. The term originated in the early 1920s...
s, which may be located in tent
Tent
A tent is a shelter consisting of sheets of fabric or other material draped over or attached to a frame of poles or attached to a supporting rope. While smaller tents may be free-standing or attached to the ground, large tents are usually anchored using guy ropes tied to stakes or tent pegs...
s, cars, recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle
Recreational vehicle or RV is, in North America, the usual term for a Motor vehicle or trailer equipped with living space and amenities found in a home.-Features:...
s, or other portable shelters.
Contest Activity and Rules
The contest aspect of a Field Day operating event is to contact as many stations as possible in the given time period (twenty-four hours, during a weekend, if setup commences before the contest starts, or 27 hours if setup commences at contest start time) using the portable station. Each station will exchange information with other participating stations. For the North American Field Day, the exchange consists of the station call signCall sign
In broadcasting and radio communications, a call sign is a unique designation for a transmitting station. In North America they are used as names for broadcasting stations...
, the name of the ARRL-recognized section from which the station is operating, and a class designator which indicates the number of transmitters concurrently used at the station and information about the type of electrical power source being used.
The contest portion of Field Day has two purposes. The primary purpose is to demonstrate the group's ability to plan operations that can be effective for an entire twenty-four-hour period, including operator endurance and adequate numbers of operators for a shift operation. The secondary portion is to demonstrate the technical proficiency of the station that has been hastily constructed for the purpose; in theory a better station will be capable of emergency operations in more dire conditions. Such a station will also be capable of making more contacts during the contest portion of Field Day.
The rules governing this activity are published by the sponsor of the particular Field Day exercise.
Promotion of amateur radio
Field Day is frequently used to attract significant publicityPublicity
Publicity is the deliberate attempt to manage the public's perception of a subject. The subjects of publicity include people , goods and services, organizations of all kinds, and works of art or entertainment.From a marketing perspective, publicity is one component of promotion which is one...
for amateur radio, and some clubs simultaneously demonstrate technologies including single sideband voice, Morse code
Morse code
Morse code is a method of transmitting textual information as a series of on-off tones, lights, or clicks that can be directly understood by a skilled listener or observer without special equipment...
, digital modes (such as RTTY, PSK31
PSK31
PSK31 or "Phase Shift Keying, 31 Baud" is a digital radio modulation mode, used primarily in the amateur radio field to conduct real-time keyboard-to-keyboard informal text chat between amateur radio operators.- History :...
, and Winlink
Winlink
Winlink, also known as the Winlink 2000 Network, is a worldwide radio messaging system that mixes internet technology and appropriate amateur radio radio frequency technologies. The system provides radio interconnection services including: email with attachments, position reporting, graphic and...
, among others), and communication via amateur radio satellite
AMSAT
AMSAT is a name for amateur radio satellite organizations worldwide, but in particular the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation with headquarters at Silver Spring, Maryland, near Washington DC. AMSAT organizations design, build, arrange launches for, and then operate satellites carrying amateur...
.
External links
- ARRL Field Day
- Field Day: A Mirror of Amateur Radio History (A history of Field Day in the United States)
- Field Day Station Locator (Google Maps-based service that shows publicly accessible Field Day operations for June 26–27, 2010)
- Radio Amateurs of Canada
- Find a radio club near you to participate in Field Day
- RSGB SSB Field Day 2008
- IARU Region 1 HF Field Day
- Nationwide Simulated Emergency Communications Test