June 22 , 2024, 18:00 UTC to June 23, 2024, 20:59 UTC (setup June 21)
What is Field Day?
Field Day is an operating event sponsored by the ARRL whose purpose is to demonstrate the communications ability of the amateur radio community in simulated emergency situations. To learn more about Field Day and the OARC, please see the Field Day information page.
OARC Field Day results for 2024
Editor’s note: Field Day 2024 has come and gone and Greg VE3YTZ has kindly provided a write up of the event. The original notice/invitation to the event appears below the results and photo gallery. Photos by Greg VE3YTZ, Chris VE3OXU, Trevor VA3PTW, and Dave VA3OOC.
I am pleased to provide you with the Field Day 2024 wrap up. This was an interesting year for us:
- experiencing almost continuous rain throughout the weekend;
- enjoying an excellent working relationship with Scouts Canada, whether it was the GOTA station and the generous permission they extended to us to use the Headquarters’ facilities;
- operating only the digital and CW modes, and dropping Phone; and
- having plenty of help setting up, tearing down and operating.
We operated as a Low Power (i.e. less than 100 watts) Two Alpha Station, which is our usual configuration. In the past, we operated both CW and Phone. But this year, we decided to try something different and drop Phone altogether and go only with CW and Digital (i.e. FT8) modes. This was mainly due to the fact that Digital contacts, like CW, are worth 2 points, but Phone QSO’s are only worth one point. In my opinion, especially for rookies, a Phone contact is not easily accomplished in an FD environment. I have, in the past, sat with new operators and see their frustration increase as they miss one contact opportunity after another. Moreover, this low rate of contacts adversely affects the final score.
Here is the mode band breakdown from this year’s operation:
In a very innovative fashion, Rick/VE3IHI took on the task of setting up the Digital Station. He rented a U-Haul trailer and operated from inside it thereby defeating the inclement weather. As you can see above, the digital station harvested 265 QSO’s towards the joint effort. Nice job! If you look at the scores from previous years, you will see the digital contacts this year gave us extra points, even though the number of QSO’s was not exceptionally more than in other years:
Out front, the Scouts took on the task of operating the “Get on the Air” (GOTA) station. They did very well, making 52 QSO’s (plus earning us bonus points) while introducing new hams and non-hams alike to operating and getting on the air by Phone. The GOTA station packs quite a punch with 5 points per contact. This gave us an additional 260 points, and there was no need to take either the CW or digital station off the air. Thanks, guys, for a great effort. Amongst others, Rod/VE3RXN, Thane/VA3TTM and Harrie/VE3HYS deserve our recognition for their efforts.
Misha Sharma/VA3HEJ, a young lady of about 12 years of age, bravely took up a microphone and made a number of contacts, earning us an additional 20 points as a youth operator plus one point per QSO.
The CW station with operators, Paul Coverdale/VE3ICV, Mike Kelly/VE3FFK, Craig Delmage/VE3OP plus others did a yeoman’s job with 598 QSO’s. If you were a CW Ops and I missed your name/call, I extend my apologies as I did not spend a lot of time at the CW station as it was in such good hands. CW was set up just inside the Scout Museum, which, given the rain we experienced, was quite fortunate for us.
The VHF/UHF station was disappointing as usual. Six metres can occasionally be very productive, but not this year. What was interesting was the number of 2 Metre FM simplex contacts we made. The total was 15 QSO’s and most of them were mobiles as they travelled down the Queensway. We even worked a VE6 as he was passing through Ottawa.
An interesting development this year was the significant number of license exams administered on site by Mike/VE3FFK and Harrie/VE3HYS.
We can never thank Janice/VA3PAX enough for the delicious and timely meals she prepared for us. It is very kind of her to take this on. We would have had a much poorer outing without her significant contribution. Ian/VE3IGJ also deserves our thanks for helping Janice out for dinner Saturday night.
Based on the N1MM logs and their presence, the following persons contributed to the effort whether they were in the kitchen, setting up, tearing down, or operating: VE3ICV, VE3FFK, VE3OP, VE3YTZ, VE3IHI, VE3IGJ, VA3HEJ, VACRQ, VA3EIC, VA3PAX, VA3UDA, VA3IEN, VA3PTW, VA3NTB, VE3OXU, VA3MTI, VE3OOC, VE3QO, VE3HYS, VA3TTM, and VE3RXN.
My sincere appreciation to all and thank you to Scouts Canada for the use of their wonderful facilities.
73 and hope to see you come out in 2025.
Greg/VE3YTZ
Photo gallery
OARC Field Day plans for 2024 UPDATED!
Field Day (FD) is coming up soon! Harrie has, via his contacts, been able to get us Scout Headquarters as this year’s site. Located on Baseline Road, next to Walmart, no one can say that we are remote. In my mind, the new site is excellent in many ways, but it also has its challenges.
Scout Headquarters is at 1345 Baseline Road, Ottawa. Parking is free in the SHQ lot.
Due to potential Scout involvement, we are looking at having a GOTA station that Harrie has kindly indicated that he may oversee.
We will run 2 Alpha, with CW and FT8 as Primary Stations Plus VHF/UHF and GOTA stations are added as free. Meals will be provided by Janice Neelands VA3PAX at Saturday noon, Saturday 6 PM, and Sunday noon.
Thanks and I am looking forward to your participation.
Greg/VE3YTZ
Volunteers of all sorts needed!
We are looking for volunteers to help set up, tear down, and operate.
Last Updated on 2024-07-20 by AdminOARC