SB QST @ ARL $ARLB019
ARLB019 Major changes in Field Day rules

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QST de W1AW
ARRL Bulletin 19  ARLB019
From ARRL Headquarters
Newington CT  March 20, 1998
To all radio amateurs

SB QST ARL ARLB019
ARLB019 Major changes in Field Day rules

Some new rules go into effect this year for Field Day. The popular
summertime operating event takes place each year on the fourth full
weekend in June. This year, it will be June 27-28.

A major change this year is the elimination of bonus-point credit
for packet and VHF/UHF contacts. Field Day stations no longer will
be allowed to count contacts via digipeaters, packet nodes, or
similar arrangements. Class 2A and higher Field Day stations still
may operate a ''free'' transmitter exclusively for VHF or UHF
operation (ie, above 50 MHz) without changing their basic entry
classification, but not for bonus points. ''It's better than bonus
points, and groups are likely to spend more time on VHF and UHF
because of that,'' predicted ARRL Membership Services Manager Chuck
Hutchinson, K8CH. As in the past, crossband and repeater contacts
other than via satellite do not count for Field Day credit.

Field Day stations now can earn point credit for digital (ie,
non-CW) contacts on each band. The phone, CW, and non-CW digital
segments are considered separate ''bands'' in the Field Day rules.
This means, for example, that you now may work the same station for
point credit on 40 meters three times: once on SSB, once on CW, and
once on RTTY, packet, or one of the 'TOR modes. SSB contacts count
one point, and CW and non-CW digital contacts count 2 points apiece,
so adding non-CW digital capability presents a real opportunity to
rack up substantial additional points. ''We're expecting an
interesting year because of the digital modes,'' Hutchinson said.

The complete, official Field Day rules will appear in the May
edition of QST. Basic Field Day rules have remained unchanged for
several years now. The new rules undoubtedly will generate a flurry
of computerized contest logging program revisions as developers
scramble to incorporate the changes into their software.
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