ARLA/CLUSTER: AMSAT Field Day

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

It's that time of year again: Summer and Field Day!

Each year the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) sponsors Field Day as
a "picnic, a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest and,
most of all, FUN!". The event takes place during a 24-hour period on the
fourth weekend of June.

For 2014 the event takes place during a 27-hour period from 1800 UTC
on Saturday June 28, 2014 through 2100 UTC on Sunday June 29, 2014.
Those who set up prior to 1800 UTC on June 29 can operate only 24
hours.

The Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT) promotes its own
version of Field Day for operation via the amateur satellites, held
concurrently with the ARRL event.

If you are considering ONLY the FM voice satellite SaudiSat-Oscar-50 for
your AMSAT Field Day focus. don't . unless you are simply hoping to
make one contact for the ARRL rules bonus points. The congestion on
FM LEO satellites was so intense in prior years that we must continue to
limit their use to one-QSO-per-FM-satellite. This includes the
International Space Station. You will be allowed one QSO if the ISS is
operating Voice. You will also be allowed one digital QSO with the ISS
or any other digital, non-store-and-forward, packet satellite (if
operational).

A lot of good contacts can be made on the linear transponder satellites
including AO-73, VO-52, FO-29, and AO-7. During Field Day the
transponders come alive like 20 meters on a weekend. The transponders
on these satellites will support multiple simultaneous SSB or CW contacts.

The AMSAT Field Day 2014 event is open to all Amateur Radio operators.
Amateurs are to use the exchange as specified in ARRL rules for Field
Day. The AMSAT competition is to encourage the use of all amateur
satellites, both analog and digital.

For the complete listing of the AMSAT Field Day Rules please refer to the
AMSAT web: http://www.amsat.org/?page_id=216

Bruce Paige, KK5DO
AMSAT Director Contests and Awards

Amsat website http://www.amsat.or