ARRL Did Not Answer KA9AMO's Letter and Video, Interview By Jim Heath, W6LG, Ham Radio Elmer

im, KA9AMO wrote to the ARRL and produced a video with a suggestion. Tim got no response in spite of many attempts. The point of this video is that the ARRL was not responsive to Tim's polite and well thought out suggestion.
July 13, 2021 Update From Tim KA9AMO
Thank you to all who commented both publicly and privately via email. I am grateful for all comments positive and negative because it shows a sincere interest and a willingness to offer a perspective and response in the absence of the ARRL
Some of the comments said I was “whining”. It may have sounded that way but I was not. I was merely expressing my observations of the Summer Field Day 2021. In the video I offered suggestions for possible improvements in future events that I thought would benefit amateur radio operators.
The purpose of this video was not to bash the ARRL as some said in the comments. The purpose was to offer a potential improvement to the Summer Field Day for all amateur radio operators around the world.
I had participated in the prior Winter Field Day from our local club station. The Field Operation was restricted to the lower portion of the General Class phone band. This worked well. Those who wished to participate had a section of the bands. Those who chose not to participate could coexist comfortably in another section of the bands. I understand that the participation in this event is much small than the Summer Field Day.
Also, one of the functions of amateur radio is to foster ‘international good will’. The strong interference and the inconsiderate operating of by during the Summer Field Day 2021 forced some foreign stations off the bands. I believe from their perspective it was just the opposite of international goodwill.
As of today July 14, 2021 I have not received a response from the ARRL. With many types of social media, I believe that excellent customer service is essential for a business or association to survive. The lack of response to my many emails and the video on KZbin is disappointing.
Jim W6LG's function in the video was that of interviewer. He asked leading questions in order to get me to further explain in greater detail what I was offering.
Here are some important points about me:
§ I earned my Novice License in 1978 while a Junior at Indiana State University Evansville.
§ I earned my Technician License in 1978, Advanced Class License in 1979 and Extra Class License in 2019.
§ I graduated from Indiana State University Evansville in May 1979 with honors as a Chemistry Major and a Physics Minor plus German foreign language endorsement.
§ For more than 35 years I have owned and operated a successful machine shop business. I have been successful because I offer the best possible customer service to all.
Thank you for reading this and I would like to end the discussion here.
Tim Goad, KA9AMO

[@donaldmittelstaedt500]

I'd give the ARRL more time to respond, although I'd be irritated if I didn't receive a response (canned or otherwise) in 10 days too. Also, it's only one day a year that the bands are not useable for anything other than field day contest. One day a year you can't play in your hobby the way you want. One day a year you should go do something else if you don't want to participate. I'm actually surprised that other countries would even attempt to schedule a contest on the same day as field day. Lets not forget the entire point of field day in the first place: It's to field test equipment and recruit new people into the hobby. There are an insane number of people on the air that have never even picked up a microphone that day. Lots of mistakes get made on field day.

[@ham-radio]

You are of course correct, but, there is something or multiple somethings every weekend. Some kind of plan may be possible or at least, can be discussed by organizations that promote the event. 73, Jim

[@ham-radio]

Not that it matters much, but no answer so something is wrong. 73, Jim

[@ai5dd]

30 meters should be free of contesting crap, isn't it?

[@Joe-KN4IFI]

I hang out on 60 meters and the three WARC bands 30, 17 and 12 meters on contest weekends. 73 Joe

[@jimsmith1166]

I participated in FD this year and really enjoyed it. AND I agree with the idea of restricting the contest frequencies so as to leave 10-15 khz per mode per band to allow for normal and DX operations. Sure, FD is only one day, but those of us who enjoy it shouldn't have exclusive use of the whole spectrum.

[@virginiabugbee5973]

Thanks, Jim, for being a great Elmer and also an ambassador. Got licensed from seeing your encouraging videos. Now still trying to figure out my first radio. 73's.

[@ham-radio]

Well, that will be based upon a lot of things. And, maybe that should be the subject of a video from me. 73, Jim

[@virginiabugbee5973]

@@ham-radio Exciting! Thanks so much!

[@TheRetiredtech]

The nets are worse daily to field day once a year.

[@ham-radio]

I was recording a video about nets last night and I agree. "This is a net frequency!" 73, Jim W6LG

[@verystupidhandle]

And This Is Why We Have Non-Contest Bands of 30 Meters, 17 Meters, and 12 Meters.... Why would someone have a SPECIAL EVENT on FIELD DAY???? Very ODD Indeed...

[@rickn501s]

I still remember the ARRL's actions with regard to "Incentive Licensing." It's been a downhill run for them since.

[@ham-radio]

Yes sir! Let's not forget that bit of history. 73, Jim

[@PeopleAlreadyDidThis]

I’ve been licensed 2-1/2 years, Extra class. I haven’t even keyed a transmitter yet, among other reasons because it’s been an amusing exercise in listening. The bands in the US are a reflection of US society today, period. Hunt around and you can find intelligent life. More often than not, somebody’s whining. The oldest are whining because it’s not like it used to be, either propagation or the ARRL or common courtesy or it’s too crowded or too empty or there aren’t any young people on the air or you’d best not disturb our little club on 75 meters where we gripe about the same things every single day. Contesters whine about ragchewers and everybody else whines about contesters, net denizens enjoy their nets while others despise their use of bandwidth. The young...well, I don’t really hear them. Point is, just like life off the air, tribalism rules, compromise and courtesy are in somewhat short supply, and complaining is a national pastime. Why would you expect the gracious manners and mannerisms of the 1920s in the 2020s? How is the ARRL’s behavior different from other organizations, agencies, or companies today? What good does whining do? Stop paying the dues. That they might notice. Form an alternative organization, or step up to the plate and take charge of the ARRL. As for somebody behaving badly after you claim a frequency...turn the VFO knob. Jim, you said it yourself here several years ago: you’re not going to change anyone’s behavior on the air. Likewise, ARRL bashing is not going to change the ARRL. I suggest applying a productive strategy, or stop whining. That’s my take as a fresh set of ham eyes, someone who isn’t longing for an ARRL I never knew.

[@ham-radio]

A couple of points from me. Tim was not whining. He manner of speaking and accent are regional and may make it seems like he was upset. Tim has degrees in chemistry and physics. He is a brilliant man who had a proposed solution that likely would have been dismissed by the ARRL as not workable. Neither Tim or I bashed the ARRL. I am a Life Member. If I were to bash the ARRL, you would know it. I said I was sorry that the ARRL staff and Board chose to not answer Tim's emails. He sent many. It would have been a simple matter to respond and tell him that his concerns would be discussed and thank him for writing. So let's move on to more fun topics. Watch my latest video with A71AM from Qatar. 73, Jim W6LG

[@BlueRidgeCritter]

Field day has gotten to where it's a joke. It's nothing more now than a contest, just like any other contest. Yeah, some people like to operate a little more ruggedly, but other than that… It has gotten away from its original intent as a preparedness and testing exercise. And that's really only been really bad for the past few years, 10 years ago it was still an exercise.But what I heard a couple weeks ago, was nothing short of just being yet another boring contest, and I didn't even bother with it.

[@ham-radio]

Many publicly and privately expressed the same opinion. Thank you for writing. 73, Jim

[@garyrobinson8991]

Let’s hope that a respectful discussion with the ARRL is the outcome here….

[@ham-radio]

I will be happy to just play, as I have done before, their response without comment or judgement. I would begin with here's what they said. 73, Jim

[@ham-radio]

Still nothing so there is something wrong or broken. 73, Jim

[@Roddy1965]

Splatter is one problem that isn't limited to FD. I'm not a competitive contester, but I do enjoy big contests, because as a suburban ham, small lot, end-fed, barefoot, it's a big opportunity to get new DX, new states etc. It improves my operating because I need to actively listen among the QRM, the local noise, I need to seek weaker stations when I can break the pileup, I need to be concise on the replies. I get to hear others making the contacts, and how they resolve issues and etc etc. Contests are advertised well in advance, they are surely inconvenient for many users, but many enjoy it. I'm not in the US so no comments re ARRL.

[@keesvanoosbree5911]

Well, it’s a contest weekend. What do you expect? It gets people on the air. I love contesting and I hope people take it up as I did. 73 de W0AAE

[@ham-radio]

Tim was asking if it was possible to restrict a small portion of the bands to a non-contesting segment. Do you think that is possible? Contesting is fun and may do it. But for some, they would like to have a section or segment that is "normal". 73, Jim

[@ouijim]

@@ham-radio Reasonable request. Respect and curtesy are paramount on bands.

[@keesvanoosbree5911]

@@ham-radio I don’t think they should restrict a portion of a band like that. If you see a contest, it is loaded from one end of the band to the other. Good luck enforcing that. Besides, Field Day is not a DX event. DX rarely participates. I do, however, find that the CQWW contest is not the best for Generals, since you only have 7,175 to 7,200 to work DX

[@SJHamende]

Jim, thanks for all you do!

[@ham-radio]

Very welcome. 73, Jim

[@rexweatherford8386]

I've been waiting for a QSL card for a long time but I haven't made any KZbin videos complaining about it. I figure the guy must be busy. I have several people waiting on a few from me also. WARC bands seem like the solution even though I heard some were operating FD there. The other option is to take a weekend off. Field Day is many times (from what little I have done) trying to get a signal through (sometimes a Winlink message) into another station with QRP battery power and in a very crowded space. Always attempting to not interfere with another station. Not everyone can hear your station, or cares. Just like in an emergency they are going to think their traffic is more important.

[@cwebs1000]

Regardless of how hams feel about this the ARRL SHOULD have answered instead of hiding as I think they are doing.

[@ham-radio]

I don't know why they would hide from Tim. He just had a suggestion that seems reasonable or at the very least, worth looking at by a group or committee. 73, Jim

[@donaa9wp129]

The problem with copying many people on an email is that everyone thinks someone else is responding. Best to limit an email to one or two. And in this case the first should have been the Contest department. Again frequency use is only a suggestion not a law. Thanks Don AA9WP

[@ham-radio]

All true and I thank you. 73, Jim

[@richards1191]

I just sit back and listen for a few minutes before I try talking. If I hear contesting I go elsewhere.

[@justanotherguy3850]

The ARRL openly disrespects amateur radio and ignores the deliberate and harmful interference that takes place. One Canadian operator asked the ARRL if they would stop having contests every weekend because that was the only time he and many others had a chance to get on the radio. A sarcastic contest coordinator at the ARRL responded in writing and in QST to the individual that when there was a contest on the weekend that he didn't want to participate in that gave him more time to do something else amateur radio related like build a kit. This goes far beyond being tone-deaf. It reeks of arrogance. I personally have been the victim of people deliberately keying over the top of me as I would call contest. One individual even turned his audio gain up as far as he could get away with and synchronized his keying with mine and I caught him at it. I tripped him and when he got done I asked if he was going to keep doing it and he told me I could go find somewhere else on the radio spectrum because he wasn't moving. That's the CB radio mentality. I know CB radio operators that are far better communicators than that.

[@godfearingman4382]

All do respect sir i do understand your frustrated. As one has said already as hams we know that feild day is one day a year. Ham radio is supose to be fun. Being a part of a contest is part of the hobby its just fun to get awards in a hobby that we all injoy. So as one said already if you dont want to be part of feild day dont turn on your rig. And let eveyone else have there fun for the day. I have contacted the ARRl several times and they always get back to me. Honeslty they wont let one guy who doesnt like feild day rounen the fun for new ham's. Not trying to be mean here just making a statement. Old saying goes trufully the ARRL cant make everyone happy. 73's all

[@eblast105]

I listened and participated in field day this year and I can honestly say I think the skip was the problem. I’d often come across people asking if the frequency was in use when to me it was clear that it wasn’t and hadn’t been for some time. Now if you put this down to ignorance on the person looking for a clear frequency then it was happening a lot. Being situated up in Canada and listening to the Chaos/Fun that field day is I may of had a better perspective on what was happening with the skip during the day but I honestly think that’s all it was. As for the ARRL yes the guy does deserve a reply to his email but I don’t think things need to change. We need all the young blood we can get in the hobby and if that means a huge competition to bring hams together and get excited about building antennas and learning their equipment then I would gladly sit back listen and give out a few 1D Alberta’s.. 73 and Keep the Videos coming Jim and I wish you and your loved ones good health.

[@PsRohrbaugh]

Obligatory "I'm not a ham", but in addition to skip, don't forget about differences in gear. Someone dumping a lot of power into a poor antenna can be heard by a lot of people they can't hear back from. And while people shouldn't be operating that way... It's field day.

[@ehayes5217]

to never respond, a big, BIG black mark for the ARRL☹️

[@Fireguy-]

I'm seriously considering not renewing my ARRL membership. Hope they become responsive to the members who financially support them.

[@ham-radio]

I checked with YubaNet and CalFire many times today. The next few days are really going to be some of the worst possible conditions and for those like you have, responding in full gear is just hard to imagine. I hope to get up there sometime but now I am waiting on 3 surgeries that are pretty minor but one will have a longer recovery time. We have ordered a special bed and other stuff just in case I need them. I hope to see you soon 73, Jim

[@Fireguy-]

@@ham-radio Well my fingers are crossed hoping for no fires. I investigated a series of roadside fires last week and had Charlie Jakobs with me looking for clues to the origin. l hope your recovery from the surgeries are speedy Jim. A few of us are back to Valentina's on Thursday mornings, very enjoyable. Hope to see you soon also, 73 and stay safe, Jeff

[@joeshmoe7899]

"You will own nothing, and be happy."

[@n4hnhradio]

I wish contesting could be limited to a specific range of frequencies on specific bands. It would add an additional level of challenge to contesting, while leaving portions of the band open for rag chews and DX chasing. 73, de N4HNH

[@ham-radio]

I think many agree with you. At least a recommendation that the contest not occupy a small segment maybe at the top of the band (or somewhere). Also, and this is really important, there is something about contesting that can kill you in a few seconds. Something like that happened to me and I survived; but very damaged with no recovery. A DVT or other mechanism that causes blood clots to enter your lungs and you die. You die very quickly and no one can save your life. You are dead before you hit the floor. It happens everyday. Sitting for hours as is necessary in a contest can kill you. I was incredibly lucky in that my D Dimer at the hospital, as measure of blood clots, was a new high record that no one thought I would survive that night. I did. But the damage was done. My heart, my lungs and my brain were damaged. I became unable to work. I could no longer do many of the things I had really enjoyed. I survived because of a team in the ER did everything right. I beat the odds. But just to be clear, the damage was done. I have limited lung capacity. My heart is permanently damaged. I had some small strokes. I use a walker. I use oxygen. And, blood thinners have caused much damage. You may think you are tough enough and can sit for hours. But you may get a rude awakening....or no awakening and you are dead on the floor. ARRL is the part of the problem. Contests are fun. DX contest are incredible. But we need to change the rules and get us up out of the chair every hour for a few minutes. We need the advice of doctors as to what to do. I will leave the advice to those who know much more than I do. Let's make this an issue. It is time to change contests. 73, Jim Heath W6LG licensed in 1964

[@n4hnhradio]

@@ham-radio Thank you for the response. I had no idea you suffered permanent damage from contesting. I know we hams tend to sit for long periods of time. And I guess the desire to get one more contact overtakes us at times. I’m glad you survived, Jim. 73, Doug, N4HNH, licensed since 1982

[@socialite1283]

A common issue seems to be that organizations that have been around for a long time and have national monopolies in "represent[ing] the hobby" have issues with relevance.

[@DK5ONV]

Sad to see that the ARRL is the same Bunch of Losers as the DARC in Germany. Head up Tim, times won't gettin' any better. Looking forward to make contact with you on the Bands. Thx to Jim W6LG for publishing this Content. Best 73's de Your Friend Uncle Guenter from the German Frontier

[@timgoad5750]

Hope to talk with you on hf.

[@DK5ONV]

@@timgoad5750 I am ready to it during next week if there's no rain here. The weekends are packed with Contesters and I am tired of listening to Cricket Concerts and Splatter Hymns. I am working on a another antenna to make to make the Trip into Rockland / CA just to chat with Jim W6LG. Happy weekend, Tim. 73's de DK5ONV

[@flyingjeff1984]

I also noticed that the ARRL podcast disappeared about a year or so back. It wasn't great but it was something.

[@ham-radio]

Yes, thanks Cash! 73, Jim

[@timgoad5750]

The RDGB does a far better series of podcast than the ARRL.

[@Dave_N2OA]

Are you serious? No one answered within ten days? With field day wrap up and a national holiday which people tend to extend with vacations, I’m not surprised. This channel is becoming the dump on the ARRL channel. Sad.

[@ham-radio]

Thanks Dave. But it would be a simple thing to have a canned email that requires a few key strokes to say something like ".....thanks for writing to the ARRL Mr. .........." Due to the Holiday a response will be sent to you at the end of next week. I have forwarded your email to ........ in the .......Department for that response. If you do not hear from ........, please contact me directly at ..............." Or, something better that what I just wrote. I am sure there are better ways to respond. My response is much better than none. And Dave, as of today, there is still no answer and, correct me if I counted wrong, that is about 8 business days. The ARRL should be looking at its membership and nonmembership (if there is such a word) as very important and not to be ignored. Thanks again Dave for a supportive answer. The ARRL could have done the same. 73, Jim

[@RechargeableLithium]

@Dave - while I disagree with your characterization of the channel, I think it's pretty clear that the ARRL continually gives us more than enough reason to dump on them should we feel inclined.

[@Dave_N2OA]

@@RechargeableLithium No organization is perfect and will certainly never please everyone.

[@RechargeableLithium]

@@Dave_N2OA One of the major things I learned in 21 years of service is that a room full of apologists cannot fix an organization. I'm guessing you've never tried to build anything significant from the ARRL Handbook.*** The same typos, omissions, and downright impossible schematics get published year after year. We've lost the user fee fight. See OM Jim's attempts to get support from the org to continue to promote our service. As far as I can tell, the only people the ARRL is pleasing these days is the FCC and radio vendors. That's not the mission they're here to perform - and it certainly isn't how a member org represents their membership. 73 ***eta...I'm trying to build the 250W amplifier that's been in the Handbook since about 2014. There are three different schematics, two different parts lists, and none of either of them match up to the circuit board files provided. One has to be an EE with years of RF experience just to figure out what parts of the mess are valid and what should be ignored. At this point, after making three runs at it, I would have been money ahead to have concentrated on my W6PQL/DJ0ABR hybrid build and get something on the air.

[@TheRetiredtech]

Well field day was better than than usual.

[@ham-radio]

Hey that's great. Thanks, Jim W6LG

[@stevewarner8880]

Good video Jim, your guest appears to have a reasonable suggestion to a problem. I don’t do contests but I understand his issue. Let’s hope ARRL at least acknowledges his communication 73

[@amateurshooter6054]

Thanks JIM 73 AB7RR Bob

[@AdamDeal-KF0PRI]

if they wanna do field day they should use the 12and 10 meter band for more competition! people go for the easiest bands to make contacts! it used to be that both ham radio and 11 meter Citizen band used to be a gentlemen's and ladies group but now its both on the same path and no one wants to fix it!

[@n3roc]

Lighten-up you bunch of old grouches!

[@oldwolf1928]

I agree 100% with Tim-

[@wa6gxq]

I don't think much of the arrl.

[@gfdemt917]

I think that the ARRL is pretty much useless

[@FromthehamshackwithNJ4Z]

ok, it is field day the largest exercise for emergency preparedness and there are probably 30K plus operators operating for a 24 hour period. And your feelings are hurt because you could not find a place to operate, Really... that is your complaint, Tim? Malicious interference, during a contest... really... ??? And Jim, you give this person time to voice this...??? Come on Gentlemen, it was wall to wall operators on voice, digital and CW. As for the guy coming back to you on CW may have not heard your CQ DX, or maybe there was not propagation at the time you started asking if the freq was in use, QSB,!!!??? It also happens sometimes there is one way propagation or that QSB can take you down low enough the other station can't hear you. Just like ARRL and CQ contests it is wall to wall stations. There is plenty of bandwidth on 12, 17, 30, and 60 to operate during contests and field days. Jim I have immense respect for you and I value your channel, but your bashing of the ARRL is really over done as of late. It seems you are searching for anything to beat them over the head. As regards to your guest... I am one person who is pretty blunt and I don't pull punches at all... It is whining plain and simple, I have only been a ham for 5 years, but I have learned to operate in crowded bands during contests. I can tell you we had overlapping stations on our frequencies and we managed to make 2000+ Q's on phone... use your filters on your rig and your ears, it is part of being a ham. You learn to operate in those environments during a contest.

[@ham-radio]

Thanks John. If you want to do a video with me and share your thoughts as discussed above, let's do that. 73, Jim

[@ham-radio]

One other point, you have 5 years of experience, I have 58 years and Tim has 43 years. So both of us have had a lot of experience with QRM. Tim and I are both DXers and both of us know how to operate on a busy band. His suggestion is worth consideration and certainly worth an answer at some time from the ARRL or another organization. 73, JIm W6LG licensed in 1964

[@FromthehamshackwithNJ4Z]

@@ham-radio it would be an honor to be on your channel. Again you have my respect and I value your opinion. I agreed with your point on the response you received from the CEO of the ARRL... it was childish. This situation is a bit different, my guess is he got a canned response from the general box, but no direct response. It was probably forwarded to the competition committee chair or committee. Also, there is quite a bit of vacationing going on at this time. Just let me know when you would like to discuss this and I will do my best to accommodate your schedule.

[@BlueRidgeCritter]

With all due respect, then how do you explain all the 20,000+ field day operators not following any of the rules as set out for field day? I'm sure many of them did, of course, some of that is tongue-in-cheek. But the large ragchew group that I hang out in each night was absolutely inundated the night before field day started with groups setting up their equipment, getting their antennas up, and testing everything ahead of time, with many of them referring to it as "getting ready for the contest". The rules have always been that you start to set up at a certain time before the activities begin, and then you do your thing. That's part of the preparedness part of it. But no, this was the first year that we really noticed that nobody was treating it for what it is supposed to be. And in several occasions, they would get mad at us because we wouldn't yield the frequency that we had been on for several hours as we do every single night. Granted, we don't own it, but we were in progress, and they don't have any right to push us out when we already have it, either, per regulations. And at least 5 fd operators were very rude that we said "the frequency is in use". That kind of poor operating is what drives a lot of us away from it and makes people not interested in contests. And then during field day, even after being told multiple times that we were a ragchew group and we were not taking field day exchanges, people were relentless. You want people to agree with you that this is just a gripe session, but it was more than that… Jim and his guest brought up some very valid ideas, considering that many of the operators now are nothing more than lids. I understand the point you are trying to make, but you also need to look at it from the other side, which is that a lot of field day operators were breaking the rules and good operating practices, and as such, we have the right to our opinions as well.

[@FromthehamshackwithNJ4Z]

@@BlueRidgeCritter Field Day rules allow for set up to begin 24 hours prior to the start. On the east coast that would be 2pm on Friday. Our group, worked hard Friday afternoon and set-up several of our antennas and at least one station to test the antennas and our reach. Over the past 5 years I have attended 5 FD operations. We have always tested night before, ensuring we do not have interference between stations and effective antennas. I am not defending poor operators, if you had the frequency then they should not be trying to transmit on it. Sometimes, it does happen that propagation will fill in and two parties maybe on the same frequency at the same time and then begin to interfere... one party should QSY. Example, I was on 40M Saturday evening, had an operator come up to my frequency and ask me to move 2KC up because they had a net coming up in 10 minutes and I was overlapping. Now I could have told him to move down 2KC since I was on that frequency, and they would be QRMing me... and I had a good pile up going. Since he asked nicely and was respectful, I moved up 12KC to a "clear" frequency (there was a 2KC window between stations) since the band was full just above me and just below them. I narrowed my TX and RX to fit the window and Announced my QSY to the new Freq. Amazingly the pile-up followed me. Now I can assure you if the same operator came at me with a different attitude, my reaction would have been different. My point is it is a 24 to 36 hour period where the bands are congested with operators getting on air many of them new operators that will make mistakes. This event should be celebrated and given as much bandwidth as possible, not restricting it. Are there LIDS out there sure there are, are they the majority of operators, No I do not believe so. I spend quite a bit of time on air and I can tell you some of these nets and ragchew groups can be worse Lids then new operators. We all need to share the air as best we can. We need to show respect to each other.

[@markengelsen8091]

The ARrL

[@markengelsen8091]

The ArrL has become a subdivision of the government.and I think that's your biggest problem they're not worried about what we want they're going to do what they want..!

[@72tx340]

I went to field days. I just made general and had lots of questions. I was met with utter chaos and confusion. I won't go to another one. People with multiple radios a loud as then can go yelling into mics. Not my idea of a good time. I left after only a few mins. Too bad there doesn't seem to be any police who watch this type of behavior.

[@stephen1711]

Dude!!.. thats field day. The pleasure was all yours and you didnt even know it? Growing orchids might be your speed. I know, cause I have.. and.. I still love field.

[@72tx340]

@@stephen1711 No thanks not interested wasnt my thing. Enjoy it all you want.

[@slhydrox7336]

I'm sorry you had such a disappointing first field day, but please don't write it off yet. My first field day was a wonderful experience. A small group, not a club. We camped in the mountains. I built my first antenna. I made my first HF contact and was hooked. I upgraded shortly thereafter and look forward to FD each year, even if I'm just set up in my front yard. I encourage you to give a more casual FD a try. There are bound to be others in your area that are put off by the big club experience. 73

[@72tx340]

@@slhydrox7336 thats what I was hoping it would have been like!

[@msaradio7455]

arrl, lol!