ARLA/CLUSTER: O AMSAT Field Day será no fim de semana de 25 e 26 de Junho de 2016

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

2016 AMSAT Field Day

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 2016 the event takes place during a 27-hour period from 1800
UTC on Saturday June 25, 2016 through 2100 UTC on Sunday June 26,
2016. Those who set up prior to 1800 UTC on June 25 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.

With the loss of AO-51, VO-52 and SO-67 this year it is going to be as
challenging as last year. A few new satellites are up there to take some
of the load. If you are considering ONLY the FM voice satellites like
SO-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 is always so intense 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).

It was suggested during past field days that a control station be
allowed to coordinate contacts on the FM satellites. There is nothing
in the rules that would prohibit this. This is nothing more than a
single station working multiple QSOs. If a station were to act as a
control station and give QSOs to every other field day station, the
control station would still only be allowed to turn in one QSO per FM
satellite while the other station would be able to submit one QSO.

The format for the message exchange on the ISS or other digital packet
satellite is an unproto packet to the other station (3-way exchange
required) with all the same information as normally exchanged for ARRL
Field Day,
e.g.:
W6NWG de KK5DO 2A STX
KK5DO de W6NWG QSL 5A SDG
W6NWG de KK5DO QSL

If you have worked the satellites on Field Day in recent years, you
may have noticed a lot of good contacts can be made on some of the
less-populated, low-earth-orbit satellites like FO-29, AO-7, or AO-73.
During Field Day the transponders come alive like 20 meters on a
weekend. The good news is that the transponders on these satellites
will support multiple simultaneous contacts. The bad news is that you
can't use FM, just low duty-cycle modes like SSB and CW.

THE 2016 AMSAT FIELD DAY RULES

The AMSAT Field Day 2016 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. Note that no points will be
credited for any contacts beyond the ONE allowed via each
single-channel FM satellite. Operators are encouraged not to make any
extra contacts via theses satellites (Ex: SO-50). CW contacts and
digital contacts are worth three points as outlined below.

1. Analog Transponders

ARRL rules apply, except:

- Each phone, CW, and digital segment ON EACH SATELLITE TRANSPONDER is
considered to be a separate band.

- CW and digital (RTTY, PSK-31, etc.) contacts count THREE points each.

- Stations are limited to one (1) completed QSO on any single channel
FM satellite. If a satellite has multiple modes such as V/u and L/s
modes both turned on, one contact each is allowed. If the PBBS is on -
see Pacsats below, ISS (1 phone and 1 digital), Contacts with the ISS
crew will count for one contact if they are active. PCSat (I, II,
etc.) (1 digital),

- The use of more than one transmitter at the same time on a single
satellite transponder is prohibited.

2. Digital Transponders

For the Pacsats (GO-32, etc.) or 'Store and Forward' hamsats, each
satellite is considered a separate band. Do not post "CQ" messages.
Simply upload ONE greeting message to each satellite and download as
many greeting messages as possible from each satellite. The subject of
the uploaded file should be posted as Field Day Greetings, addressed
to ALL. The purpose of this portion of the competition is to
demonstrate digital satellite communications to other Field Day
participants and observers. Do not reply to the Field Day Greetings
addressed to ALL.

The following uploads and downloads count as three-point digital contacts.

(a) Upload of a satellite Field Day Greetings file (one per satellite).
(b) Download of Satellite Field Day Greetings files posted by other
stations.
Downloads of non-Field Day files or messages not addressed to ALL are
not to be counted for the event. Save DIR listings and message files
for later "proof of contact."

Please note AMSAT uploaded messages do not count for QSO points under
the ARRL rules.

Satellite digipeat QSO's and APRS short-message contacts are worth
three points each, but must be complete verified two-way exchanges.
Remember, only one digipeat contact is allowed for the ISS and other
satellites in this mode.

The use of terrestrial gateway stations or internet gateways (i.e.
EchoLink, IRLP, etc.) to uplink/downlink is not allowed.
Sample Satellite Field Day Greetings File:

Greetings from W5MSQ Field Day Satellite station near Katy, Texas,
EL-29, with 20 participants, operating class 2A, in the AMSAT-Houston
group with the Houston Amateur Television Society and the Houston QRP
club. All the best and 73!

Note that the message stated the call, name of the group, operating
class, where they were located (the grid square would be helpful) and
how many operators were
in attendance.

3. Operating Class

Stations operating portable and using emergency power (as per ARRL
Field Day rules) are in a separate operating class from those at home
connected to commercial power. On the report form simply check off
Emergency or Commercial for the Power Source and be sure to specify
your ARRL operating class (2A, 1C, etc.).

AND FINALLY...

The Satellite Summary Sheet should be used for submission of the AMSAT
Field Day competition and be received by KK5DO (email or postal mail)
by 11:59 P.M. CDT, Monday, July 11, 2016. The preferred method for
submitting your log is via e-mail to kk5do  amsat.org or
kk5do  arrl.net.

You may also use the postal service but give plenty of time for your
results to arrive by the submission date. Add photographs or other
interesting information that can be used in an article for the
Journal.

You will receive an email back (within one or two days) from me when I
receive your email submission. If you do not receive a confirmation
message, then I have not received your submission. Try sending it
again or send it to my other email address.

If mailing your submission, the address is:
Bruce Paige, KK5DO
Director of Awards and Contests
PO Box 310
Alief, TX 77411-0310.

Certificates will be awarded to the first-place emergency power/portable
station at the AMSAT General Meeting and Space Symposium in the fall of 2016.
Certificates will also be awarded to the second and third place
portable/emergency operation in addition to the first-place home station
running on emergency power. A station submitting high, award-winning
scores will be requested to send in dupe sheets for analog contacts
and message listings for digital downloads.

You may have multiple rig difficulties, antenna failures, computer
glitches, generator disasters, tropical storms, and there may even be
satellite problems, but the goal is to test your ability to operate in
an emergency situation. Try different gear. Demonstrate satellite
operations to hams that don't even know the HAMSATS exist. Test your
equipment. Avoid making more than ONE contact via the FM-only voice
HAMSATS or the ISS, and enjoy the event!

Complete copies of the rules and recommended submission form can be
found on the AMSAT web site.

2016 PDF Field Day Rules
http://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2016fd.pdf

2016 MS-Word Field Day Rules
http://www.amsat.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2016fd.docx

Bruce, KK5DO