SWL rx-only Field Day contest?

[nanZor]

Ok, the 2012 ARRL amateur Field-Day contest is approaching June 23/24 starting 1800utc Saturday ending 2100utc Sunday. But what if you are only an SWL, or don't have any transmitter? Could you make an rx-only contest out of it for personal satisfaction? Could you modify the rules, classes and bonus points for rx-only needs?

How would YOU modify the rules, classes, and bonus points for rx-only type operation?

I was thinking along the lines of adding bonus points by actually running from natural emergency power, and logging amateurs in that same class. Perhaps BIG bonus points for CW, since most swl's I know don't do cw. Maybe a point or two for actually visiting a field-day site. If at home, how about a couple of points for actually setting up a tent in the backyard - more if you actually set up a real rx-only field day site....

I guess I'm thinking that you don't have to be an amateur to have a lot of fun with Field Day. I'm just trying to think of ways to modify the rules for rx-only ops - if that's even necessary. Thoughts anyone?

 

[zl2taw]

hmmm just looking through the ARRL rules and couldn't see a category for SWL, its a shame as the WIA here in Australia has a division for SWL
It has the same rules as the amateurs but as stated

Receiving stations must record the ciphers sent by both stations being logged. QSO points will be on the same basis as for Home Stations, unless the receiving station is portable.

 

[millrad]

Sounds like a great idea!
You should contact the ARRL contest department (www. ARRL.org) about creating an SWL catagory,
maybe in time for next year's event.

de W1AMJ

 

[vagrant]

Sounds like a plan. I'll drive up the side of my 8000' antenna, also known as the Sierra Nevada. Ready...Go!

 

[bryan_herbert]

Technically Field Day isn't a contest, its an exercise. All year long members of ARES and RACES train and prepare for disasters and Field Day is the one weekend where all hams come together 'off the grid' to make as many contacts as possible and pass any traffic that may come their way.

As a shortwave listener it would not be hard at all to operate portable in the field or from a remote location. Create a 'go kit' made up of a portable shortwave receiver, power supply, some sort of antenna and a logbook. The quiet, open environment will definitely help catch those far away, rarely heard signals.

 

[k9rzz]

BULL!

er ... I mean, I beg to differ.

Field Day is a knock down, drag out, no holds barred "My club is better than yours" gun fight.

Those guys that are into it (been there) don't obsess over 6 months of planning, haul out 20KW military surplus generators, front end loaders, 70ft crank up towers, 20 meter monobanders, fully networked computer system with separate UPS power supplies, and highly thought out operator schedules (to the point of recruiting crack CW ops) ... just so they're ready in case the local river over flows it's banks in spring.

Fighting the QRM from drunks on 75 meter phone at 3am while the mosquitoes are gnawing on your ankles is WAR I tell 'ya!

One of the last Field Day's I did, I had a bet with the organizer that our VHF tent could outperform the HF SSB tent ... and we did! Six meters was hopping and we ran 80 Q's an hour for 3 hours straight. Eat THAT 20 meter SSB!

Back to the original question ... the ARRL accepts 'check logs' so just keep a log of who you hear working whom and send it in. Do it full FD style yourself.

When I first got my ham ticket (I won't say what year), I hauled all my Hallicrafters and Drake gear out into the yard, strung up a new antenna, and although I ran home AC power, I had a blast working from the picnic table in the back yard.

Do it and have fun!

As an alternative, do a little research and find a local club in your area that has a Field Day operation, and head on over. I'm sure you will be welcomed with open arms and probably coerced into getting behind the microphone yourself. Not ready to get on the air yourself? Maybe they can have you be the 'logger', who types in the contact information into the computer while the operator actually makes the contact. The big 2 meter repeater here in town prides themselves in getting the most first timers on the air than anybody.

There's something out there for everyone.

 

[nanZor]

...Back to the original question ... the ARRL accepts 'check logs' so just keep a log of who you hear working whom and send it in. Do it full FD style yourself.

Now that's a great idea!

I've met quite a few "amateur-swl's", that for one reason or another have no desire to actually get a ticket, felt that the push to get one is just too over the top, or have been totally ignored when submitting any sort of swl report to a ham. Understandably so, when the cost and work of qsl-cards for swl's could be a drain of resources - but that was back in the day of paper, and not today's electronic logging. I wonder how receptive an amateur would be to getting a report from an swl these days, especially after field-day when hearing cq's or other testing go unanswered.

I think an electronic solution for amateur swl's might be kind of cool - I don't think that LOTW has an swl category. I wonder how something like that could be set up for random reports from rx-only sites?

Seems like it might be a two-way street - swl's should not expect any sort of reply, but if enough reports from swl's came into the amateur ranks, perhaps amateurs might feel ok with some sort of acknowledgement back, knowing that the swl on the other end may never end up at the VEC table.. then again, by involving swl's into the hobby with a very low-key approach, the reserved or shy rx-only op might actually become a ham someday if/when they are ready.

 

[zl2taw]

I am what I consider to be a SWL,, yeah I have gone as high as I can in the amateur ranks, but I prefer to SWL. Cant be bothered with 59 reports and they keep asking for your callsign cause they cant hear it.

Back in the early eighties in New Zealand, NZART (NZ version of ARRL) actually issued SWL callsigns, which I applied for & got and had QSL cards printed. Most hams then appreciated a QSL from a SWL

sorry gone off topic

 

[kb2vxa]

"Fighting the QRM from drunks on 75 meter phone at 3am while the mosquitoes are gnawing on your ankles is WAR I tell 'ya!"

Pardon my giggles remembering what Dave Berg (MAD Magazine) would call The Lighter Side of Field Day. In the wee hours when most have fallen asleep and the survivors are punch drunk from fighting it out Field Night gets hilarious with casual QSOs salted with weird phonetics and peppered with hijinks. That's why after setup I snoozed until things quieted down and I, the night shift took over.

Under the moon in June we turn into baboons... EEK EEK! (. -.-. . -.-. -.-.--)

 

[nanZor]

...Back in the early eighties in New Zealand, NZART (NZ version of ARRL) actually issued SWL callsigns, which I applied for & got and had QSL cards printed. Most hams then appreciated a QSL from a SWL

I've seen swl callsign organizations come and go. How about something less likely to change, and can be self assigned with some provisions:

How about just using a grid-square as the call? Easy enough to do these days with smartphones with apps like "Locator" for Android, etc.

This provides enough anonymity for those that want it, and any contacts via email or other submission can include more details if needed. In the case of multiple swls within the same grid square, maybe just use your first and/or last name?

You could simply be the only swl located in:

RE78JR

Or in the case of multiple swls in that square: RE78JR/JohnSmith

This way there are no ownership issues, or organizational troubles, and can be self-assigned immediately, or even change as you change locations...

 

[zl2taw]

thats a good idea hertzian, I prefer just to use my vk4taw callsign and log stations in qrz.com and in HRD.
as a swl.

My son who is 11 is talking about going for the VK foundation licence here, and this is bought about by showing him what can be found around the HF esp 20m when the bands are open