Some new rules go into effect this year for Field Day. The popular summertime operating event takes place each year on the fourth full weekend in June. This year, it will be June 27-28.
A major change this year is the elimination of bonus-point credit for packet and VHF/UHF contacts. Field Day stations no longer will be allowed to count contacts via digipeaters, packet nodes, or similar arrangements. Class 2A and higher Field Day stations still may operate a ‘’free’’ transmitter exclusively for VHF or UHF operation (i.e., above 50 MHz) without changing their basic entry classification, but not for bonus points. ‘’It’s better than bonus points, and groups are likely to spend more time on VHF and UHF because of that,’’ predicted ARRL Membership Services Manager Chuck Hutchinson, K8CH. As in the past, crossband and repeater contacts other than satellite do not count for credit.
Field Day stations now can earn point credit for digital (i.e., non-CW) contacts on each band. The phone, CW, and non-CW digital segments are considered separate ‘’bands’’ in the Field Day rules. This means, for example, that you now may work the same station for point credit on 40 meters three times: once on SSB, once on CW, and once on RTTY, packet, or one of the ‘TOR modes. SSB contacts count one point, and CW and non-CW digital contacts count 2 points apiece, so adding non-CW digital capability presents a real opportunity to rack up substantial additional points. ‘’We’re expecting an interesting year because of the digital modes,’’ Hutchinson said.
The complete, official Field Day rules will
appear in the May edition of QST. Basic
Field Day rules have remained unchanged
for several years now. The new rules
undoubtedly will generate a flurry of
computerized contest logging program
revisions as developers scramble to
incorporate the changes into their software.
NNNN