Field Day: Submitting your Log

From Paul, KM4PT

Congrats!  The twenty-four-hour event has come to an end and you’ve got some contacts to contribute to the group score.  Awesome.

The ARRL wants you to use their web app form to submit your entry at: https://field-day.arrl.org/fdentry.php

When you go there in your browser, you’re going to be asked to fill out a form AND to submit your contacts.  

You can give them your contacts in the form of a Cabrillo formatted log OR a “Dupe Sheet” (which is simply a text file of your contacts categorized by band/mode with the call signs sorted alphabetically).

N3FJP can create Cabrillo files. And, on that same screen where Cabrillo files are created, there is a button labeled “Write Dupe File” that will create a Dupe Sheet for you.

  • Export your log using the Web Applet in a “Dupe Sheet” format

  • Use ARRL web app to submit your entry (and upload your log)

 

To submit your Field Day entry to the ARRL, do this:

  1. Delete any contacts from your log that you know need to be deleted.  (This could include any early contacts you created while testing.)

  2. In the N3FJP software, click the File menu and choose “Write Cabrillo (Contest Submittal) File…”
  3. In the pop-up form that appears, you can ignore all of those data entry fields!  (You’re going to fill out those fields online on the ARRL website.)
  4. At the bottom of the screen, click the button labeled “Write Dupe File” and you’ll be prompted to save the Dupe Sheet file to your computer.  (This is a text file that you can open with Notepad or any text editor.)
  5. You may also want to click the button labeled “Write / View Summary File” as this file contains a breakdown of the number of contacts per band/mode that you’ll need when filling out the ARRL web form. (You can derive this information from the Dupe Sheet but it’s broken down into a more easily viewable table in the Summary file.)

Okay, you’ve got your Dupe Sheet (or Cabrillo formatting log file) and you may also have your Summary file. It’s time to go to the ARRL Field Day data entry form to submit your entry.

https://field-day.arrl.org/fdentry.php

The one important thing to remember when you submit your entry is to enter “WCARES-TN” in the field labeled Club or Group Name.

 


Following are the official ARRL rules for Field Day QSO submission
 

8. Reporting:

     8.1. Entries may be submitted to the ARRL via:

          8.1.1. Field Day Web App at https://field-day.arrl.org/fdentry.php or

     8.2. Entries must be postmarked or submitted by Tuesday July 26, 2022. Late entries cannot be accepted.

     8.3. A complete Field Day Web Applet Submission site entry consists of:

          8.3.1. An official ARRL summary sheet which is completed via web app at https://field-day.arrl.org/fdentry.php;

          8.3.2. Supporting information uploaded via web app. Supporting information must include:

               8.3.2.1. An attached list of stations worked by band/mode during the Field Day period (dupe sheet or an alpha/numeric list sorted by band and mode – a Cabrillo log can be submitted in lieu of a Dupe Sheet/Calls list by band/mode); and

               8.3.2.2. Proof of all bonus points claimed (copies of visitor logs, press releases, NTS messages handled, photographs, etc).

               8.3.2.3 The web app will display a confirmation number and email a confirmation of your Field Day entry to the email address entered via the app. Please be sure to record this confirmation number and/or save the confirmation email.

     8.4 While the preferred method of submitting entries is via the Web Applet, entries and/or supporting documentation may alternately be submitted via email to fieldday@arrl.org. A complete non-web-app email submission consists of:

          8.4.1. An electronic copy of an ARRL summary sheet completely and accurately filled out;

          8.4.2. An attached list of stations worked by band/mode during the Field Day period (dupe sheet or an alpha/numeric list sorted by band and mode); and

          8.4.3. Proofs of bonus points claimed (copies of visitor logs, press releases, NTS messages handled, photographs, etc).

     8.5. A complete land/postal-mail or delivery non-electronic submission consists of:

          8.5.1. A complete and accurate ARRL summary sheet;

          8.5.2. An accompanying list of stations worked by band/mode during the Field Day period (dupe sheet or an alpha/numeric list sorted by band and mode); and

          8.5.3. Proofs of bonus points claimed (copies of visitor logs, press releases, NTS messages handled, photographs, etc).

     8.6. Complete station logs are NOT required for submission, and ARRL does not use the logs. The club should maintain log files for one year in case they are requested by ARRL HQ. However, a list of stations worked sorted by band and mode (dupe sheet) is required.

     8.7. Cabrillo format log files are NOT required for Field Day entries, but they will be accepted in lieu of the dupe sheets (but do not constitute an entry unless the web app (or a corresponding summary sheet with complete mailed entry) is also submitted.

     8.8. Digital images of proof of bonus points are acceptable.

     8.9. Electronic submissions are considered signed when submitted.

If you have other questions please contact Paul Tampien KM4PT (KM4PT@arrl.net) .


WCARES Field Day 2022 – change of location

Note the change of location – now Public Safety Center (EOC) and home

Out of concern over the currently forecast high temperatures, the decision has been made to move this years WCARES Field Day back to the Public Safety Center for SSB and CW and at-home (for digital.)

Note that set-up will not happen until 8 AM on Saturday morning.

If you did not sign up because of weather conditions now is a good time to sign up for air conditioned spaces!

WCARES Field Day information can be found here.

To sign up and participate with WCARES click here.

There are still lots of openings for Phone, Digital and CW Operators.

Look for more details to follow here on the website, WCARES Notes and the Monday night net.

If you have other questions please contact Paul Tampien KM4PT (KM4PT@arrl.net) .


June 2022 In-Person & Virtual Monthly Meeting: Surge Protection with Paul Havlik, WD9IOK

Paul Havlik (WD9IOK) gives a MasterClass in station grounding and surge protection. Paul worked for Square D (now Schneider Electric) for 28 years, so he certainly knows his stuff.


Williamson County Siren Testing sign-up

A temporary sign-up form is available to help monitor Williamson County siren tests. You can find the form here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4FADAC29A5FFCE9-owsmonthly

The form lists sirens and test dates to choose from. After selecting sirens and dates, click the

Submit and Sign Up

button at the bottom of the page.

After you monitor a siren test please send reports by e-mail to our EC, Jeff Standifer wb5waj@arrl.net. Please include the following in your e-mail:

  • Did the Siren sound?
  • What time did it go off?
  • Did it go the full time?
  • Were there any problems?

 

NEW
    Siren location addresses and descriptions and a map of the siren locations
    are now available as PDFs here, under:  

Library & Special Interests --> Books References Guides

 


Take part in the May 31 – June 1 FEMA Communications Outage Exercise using Winlink

WCARES members are encouraged fire up Winlink and take part in the FEMA RECCWG Region 4 &
Region 6 May 31-June 1 Communications Outage Exercise
.

For any WCARES members who take part, please CC WB5WAJ on your submitted exercise Winlink message.

The linked PDF provides detailed step-by-step instructions. Some points to note from the PDF:

  • DATE and TIME of Exercise: Tuesday evening, May 31st, from 6:00 PM EDT (5:00 PM CDT) until 4:00 PM EDT (3:00 PM CDT) Wednesday afternoon, June 1st.
  • Please, no telnet from areas where communications outage problems are shown to exist (Charlotte, Dallas, Miami, Little Rock – see attached map).
  • Message to send: Winlink standard Template, Field Situation Report
  • Please avoid requesting acknowledgement requests, either manually or automatically.

Exercise map showing cities affected by the exercise “communications outage”.

Click here for the PDF with detailed step-by-step instructions.

In a “real life situation,” you would always want to use Telnet if it is available in order to leave the precious RF spectrum for those in affected areas who have no other choice. However, for this exercise, do what you wish since this is for practicing your ability to use Winlink in an emergency condition.


April 2022 In-Person & Virtual Monthly Meeting: MTEARS

Presentation by Tom Delker (K1KY). Tom talks about the MTEARS network… the Middle Tennessee Emergency Amateur Repeater System. This is a set of 34 linked repeaters that span most of the state of Tennessee.


March 2022 In-Person & Virtual Monthly Meeting: VHF/UHF Sideband

In this comprehensive video, Paul, WD9IOK gives you all the information you need to get involved in 6 meters and up (VHF and UHF) operations using SSB mode. There’s more than just FM to play with in the higher frequencies of ham radio!


February 2022 In-Person & Virtual Monthly Meeting: Maximize Your Signal Reception

For the February 2022 WCARES meeting, Tim, AD4CJ presents Maximize Your Signal Reception

Learn how to adjust your HF radio to maximize your signal reception. Tim delivers a presentation based on a PowerPoint stack that he put together back in 2016. It was good advice then and it’s good advice now!

00:53 Mechanics of Fine-tuning your radio
02:03 How to Fine-Tune Your Radio
03:14 How to Zero-Beat CW Signals
05:41 How to Accurately Tune a SSB Signal
09:50 Automatic gain control & RF gain
28:35 The use of preamps
29:23 Attenuators
36:45 Noise Reducer Circuits
39:16 Noise Blanker Circuits


WCARES upcoming Monthly Meetings and the website

The technical presentation for the February meeting will be a repeat of a great presentation Tim, AD4CJ gave back in 2016 on “Improving HF Reception”.

The March 19th presentation will be “VHF/UHF SSB” by Paul, WD9IOK.

The April presentation is to be about MTEARS ( mtears.org ) by Tom, K1KY.

You can find these and all WCARES events on the Events Calendar, here; upcoming events are also shown in the sidebar below the WCARES Frequencies list.


Frequencies and Nets

  • The Frequencies and Nets page and the WCARES Frequencies list in the sidebar include frequencies etc. for the WCARES repeaters, simplex and DMR.

Frequencies and Nets --> Nets

  • Details on checking in to the weekly WCARES phone and winlink nets can be found on this page along with information about other nets of interest

Library & Special Interests --> Presentations

Library & Special Interests --> Books References Guides

  • This page lists books and other reference material of interest to WCARES members and other radio amateur operators. This includes the WCARES Lending Library and books at the Williamson County Public Library and the latest LOTW New User Guide.

Frequencies and Nets --> NOAA Weather Radio (NWR)

  • This page includes a number of links to more detailed information about NOAA Weather Radio including transmitter frequencies and locations, SAME codes etc.

A survey on all things ham radio

From our EC, Jeff Standifer, WB5WAJ:

I found this interesting site this weekend. It is a survey on all things ham radio. I signed up and took it and overall it took about 1.5 hours. You can stop and resume as your time allows. I found it very interesting to look at the results.

https://hamcensus.org/