Field Day
Saturday
and Sunday
June 28-29, 2008
"Always the fourth
full weekend in June"

We do it up for fun and to show the public what ham radio is all about. Bring out your family and friends, everyone can operate (with a control operator present). 
We use this opportunity to get everyone exposed to H.F., Packet, VHF, UHF, etc.
Field Day is always the FOURTH full weekend in June, so mark your calendar for next year!

Remember, ANYONE can attend and operate at the PARC Field Day - licensed or not, club member or not!

The Palmetto Amateur Radio Club of Broward County 2008 Field Day Coordinator is still not been assigned.

Please contact the Club Officers if you plan on operating or logging a station position. This year there is a list, so no position is left unattended without an operator or logger.
Please read the Field Day FAQ. Remember, we need YOU to provide equipment, cables, food, drinks, gasoline, rope, and engery! Please contact the Field Day Coordinator to volunteer for setup, equipment,etc.

Field Day Time Line
Saturday June 28th, 2008
8:00 AM - 11:30 AM 
 Setup of Tents, Tables, Tower Trailer Antennas, Generators,  Cooking grill, etc. 
 Note: All equipment (including antennas) must lie within a circle whose diameter does not exceed 300 meters (1000 feet). 
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
 Setup complete - Lunch for those who helped performed setup activities.
1:00 PM  - 1:50 PM
 Test equipment, SWR, test contacts
2:00 PM
 OFFICIAL START OF FIELD DAY - 
 CQ Field Day on all hailing frequencies!!
7:30 PM - 7:30 AM 
 Field Day continues all night long!
Sunday June 29th, 2008
7:30 AM - 8:00 AM 
 Barbaque Grill is HOT, Bring Breakfast to cook!
8:00 AM - 2:00 PM
 Field Day continues
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM
 Teardown and site cleanup

Field Day FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Field Day \field day\ noun: 1) Competitive event where Amateur Radio operators 
nation wide set up radio equipment in the field to compete for score; 2) An event to test the readiness of Amateur Radio Emergency Communications; 3) A chance to meet new friends and test the limits of your favorite hobby; 4) Check out the newest Amateur Radio technology (SSTV, ATV, APRS, PSK31,??).

Object: To work as many stations as possible on any or all amateur bands (except 10, 18 and 24-MHz bands) and, in doing so, to learn to operate in abnormal situations under less-than-optimum conditions.  A premium is placed on skills and equipmentdeveloped to meet the challenge of emergency preparedness and to acquaint the public with the capabilities of Amateur Radio. All the operating equipment, rigs, antennae, etc. must be inside a 1000' diameter circle.

PARC Field Day is FUN. With the help from you, we will set up 5 (or more) H.F. stations, packet, UHF/VHF stations, 6 meters and ?? The whole goal is to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the public, let people (licensed or not) operate and log, tryout bands you don't have rigs for, try H.F. or packet. We also have a good time. Plan to bring family and friends out to Field Day.

Q. Where is Field Day?
A. Palmetto Amateur Radio Club of Broward County Field Day has not been desided.
Talk-in to the Field Day site will be on the club repeaters 146.850 MHz. - 600 PL 91.5 and 442.250 +5MHz. PL 114.8.

Q. When do I arrive?
A. We need lots of folks to help with setup starting at 7 AM on Saturday. Everything must be in place so we can start Field Day at the official time of 2 PM EST time. Field Day will continue all day and night until 2 PM Sunday afternoon.

Q. Where do the Rigs & Equipment come from? 
A. From YOU, we need you to bring out your H.F.,VHF/UHF, cable, tuners, power supplies, antennae, keyers, headphones, mikes, etc. Someone will be there the whole time to watch over the equipment. Remember, we have to share!! Please treat others equipment like it was your own. If you bring your rig and it is used as a station, it MUST stay for the entire Field Day Event.

Q. Who can operate? 
A. EVERYONE, we will have a sign-in book for operators, visitors, etc. Everyone can operate at Field Day, we will have control operators to assist.

Q. What callsign will we use? 
A. The Palmetto Amateur Radio Club of Broward County will use the Special Callsign K4T. We will also have a GET ON THE AIR station and we will have a seperate callsign to use on that rig.

Q. I can't stay out there for 24 hours, so what do I do? 
A. Well, come for an hour, or two! We don't have a schedule. Come when you can and operate, log, or ask questions about Amateur Radio.

Q. I will be out of town, how can I help? 
A. Donate the use of a rig, power supply, antenna, food, drinks, $$$.

Q. I don't want to operate so what can I do? 
A. Help with setup, take photos and/or video, log contacts for operators, bring supplies (drinks, ice, food), help us tear down the station, spray for mosquitoes, enter the logged contacts into a computer, there is always plenty to do.

Q. I want to operate the Get On The Air Station, can I? 
A. Yes, participants are reminded that non-licensed participants working under the direction of a valid control operator may only communicate with other W/VE stations or with stations in countries with which the US has entered a third-party agreement. The GOTA station may be operated by Technicians or generally inactive hams under their existing operating privileges, or under the direction of a Control Operator with appropriate privileges, as necessary. Non-licensed persons may participate under the direct supervision of an appropriate control operator. A list of operators and participants must be included on the required summary sheet to ARRL HQ.


2008 Field Day Checklist

    Operating equipment required of each station:
  • [    ] HF Transceiver and Power Supply
  • [    ] CW keyer
  • [    ] Microphone
  • [    ] Antenna for the bands your assigned
  • [    ] Mast, base plate (rotor?)
  • [    ] Antenna tuner (if required)
  • [    ] Guy lines and the means of supporting your antenna, safety markers for wires and stakes
  • [    ] Dummy load with coax
  • [    ] SWR/Power Meter (an SWR analyzer will be on hand)
  • [    ] Headphones
  • [    ] Ground Rod (4 foot variety) with clamp and ground wire
  • [    ] Feedline 100' to 200' with connectors installed, (rotor cable?)
  • [    ] Coax seal tape, incase it gets wet
  • [    ] Computer for logging (Windows, Linux, or Macintosh)
  • [    ] Rtty interface equipment (ie. Kam) if possible ready to go
  • [    ] Mark all your equipment with a label and your callsign
  • [    ] Operating Table
  • [    ] Comfortable Operating Chair(s)
  • [    ] 25 foot extension cord (12 gauge with ground)
  • [    ] AC power strip with multiple outlets and circuit breaker
  • [    ] Watch or clock set to UTC
  • [    ] Desk Light 60W or less
  • [    ] Small fan if it looks like it will be hot
  • [    ] 2 meter HT
  • [    ] copy of the field day rules
  • [    ] sample exchange and callsign taped to each station
    Tools you might need:
  • [    ] Tools (ie hammer, screwdrivers,shovel, pliers)
  • [    ] Multimeter
  • [    ] Soldering Iron and Solder
  • [    ] Electrical Tape
  • [    ] Extra coax connectors
  • [    ] Fuses
  • [    ] Extra rope or cord
  • [    ] Fire extinguisher

  • Field Day Operators and Loggers will need:
  • [    ] Set of Headphones and adapters
  • [    ] Copy of the Band plans and Game plans
  • [    ] Spiral Notebook and pen
  • [    ] Copy of the Rules
    Staying over night?
  • [    ] Bringing your own Tent for sleeping if you must
  • [    ] Blanket, sleeping bag, and pillow
  • [    ] Extra Clothes, Rain poncho, boots, jacket (it gets nippy at night)
  • [    ] Sun glasses and your hat
  • [    ] Personal First Aid Kit, sun screen, and any medications
  • [    ] Bug spray
  • [    ] Deoderant, toothbrush, TP, etc.
  • [    ] Flash Light with fresh batteries
  • [    ] Camera
  • [    ] Citronella candles, lanterns, safety and work lights

Palmetto Amateur Radio Club
Field Day 2007

The Palmetto Amateur Radio Club of Broward County has been doing the annual ARRL Field Day since 1998 along with other area operators in a traditional competitive Amateur Radio Field Day operation this year.  This year we joined the ARES/RACES Group at Plantation Heritage Park located at 1100 South Fig Tree Lane, Plantation FL 33317.

We set up our tower trailer with a 20 meter beam and 10 meter vertical antenna.


We had a great time, and we had a lot to eat and drink. We made a lot of SSB and CW contacts and everyone operated the station. (with a control operator present). 
We spent $115.00 for lunch that included hamburgers, hot dogs, and drinks. Other clubs donated food and drinks for dinner, breakfast, and lunch on Sunday. We concluded operations 2 PM on Sunday.

® Copyright 2008 Palmetto Amateur Radio Club of Broward County, Inc., All Rights Reserved.