Yesterday, John, W8TON, e-mailed our club mailing list that included a number of ideas on how to improve next year’s Field Day. One of the ideas was how to improve the GOTA station:
I have this really funny idea: we should devote the best and most efficient antennas to the GOTA station. Why? So that a beginner, or, if not better, a visitor, will get a response on the first or second call. This weekend, I heard GOTA operators giving call after call before any answer. I suspect that only the most motivated visitor will put up with repeated un-answered calls. So, let’s make it easy for them. I think we need to think of a more expansive set-up than a two-band inverted-vee. Just a thought…
He makes a good point about the GOTA station perhaps getting short shrift. Here’s how I replied:
Thanks, John, for starting this conversation. My first reaction is that the inverted-V antenna is really not all that bad. Case in point, I was making contact after contact before FD operation actually started at 2pm Saturday using that very same antenna and getting good signal reports. I’ll also point out that several of the GOTA station operators made contact on their very first call, including 10-yo Sofi and the Webster Township treasurer.
I think the trouble that some operators seemed to be having had more to do with their inexperience than the equipment. First of all, I’ve found that new operators have a tough time tuning in and hearing stations, especially in crowded band conditions.
Second, inexperienced ops tend to be too timid and speak too softly and not directly into the microphone. This, of course, means that the stations they’re calling cannot hear them, especially when they’re being called by many other stations. I was constantly exhorting them to project into the microphone and be assertive.
That’s not to say that the antenna system couldn’t be improved. Thinking about this a second, perhaps I could acquire a second set of masts and build another 40m inverted-V and then set them up as a phased array, one that could point E or NE during the day and W or SW at night.
Actually, what might be even cooler would be for us to get a better radio than the club’s old IC-746PRO for the GOTA station. Perhaps next year, someone will have acquired an IC-7300 that we could use. That real-time spectrum scope would be a real “wow” factor kind of thing.
I’m interested in what you all think about this? Have any of you tried phasing inverted-Vs? We have lots of space at our Field Day site, so I think this is very doable, but I only want to do this, if it’s going to make a difference for the operators.
I’m also wondering what kind of radios you used for your GOTA station. While an IC-7300 might increase the WOW factor, I’m now thinking that it might be overwhelming for some of the operators, especially those who don’t have an amateur radio license. In some respects, simpler might be better.
When all is said and done, keep in mind that the goal is to improve the experience for the GOTA station operators. What other ideas do you all have for doing this?
Walter Underwood K6WRU says
Phasing vees should work fine. Phasing is about spacing, not the orientation of the elements.
Look at designs for the ZL Special and related antennas for more info about phased wire arrays.
You could also make a yagi with them. Use clip leads to lengthen the passive element and change it from a director to a reflector. Yagi spacing is closer than phased array spacing, so it takes less room. You also don’t need to fuss with transmission line to drive both elements.
Walter Underwood K6WRU says
A spectrum scope might be a really good thing. The frequency=space mapping is pretty direct, so should be easy to understand. People who don’t like it will ignore it. Today’s teens are awesome at ignoring visual noise.
Walter Underwood K6WRU says
Did you try PSK31 or FSQ?
Several years ago at a Radio Merit Badge course, a friend brought his 3W crystal controlled PSK rig. We chatted with a ham in Ukraine.
When the ionosphere fairy is grumpy, switch to digital modes.
David Ryeburn VE7EZM and AF7BZ says
Half-wave dipole inverted Vs tend to have lower feedpoint impedances than horizontal dipoles, and placing two of them fairly close together and feeding them out of phase could result in a quite low impedance that was very sensitive to frequency, so you might have to retune the antenna tuner if you QSYed much. That might not be a good idea for a GOTA station. The same is true to some extent for Yagis. But when tuned right you can get a good bit of gain with either approach.
As an alternative, for a GOTA station maybe QRO would be a good idea (much as I hate to say it).
Dan KB6NU says
If we went to higher power, I’d be worried about the effect on the other stations.
Dave New, N8SBE says
I think that if you QRO the GOTA station, it will change the class for the whole Field Day effort. Also, please keep in mind the restrictions we have been operating under, so close to the local airport tower. Changes in power or for that matter adding gain to any of the antennas would require a re-examination of our potential to interfere with the tower communications.
As far as selection of GOTA rig, one thing to keep in mind is just because it’s the GOTA station, does not excuse it from needing to be a ‘good neighbor’ in a multi-transmitter Field Day setup. The IC-746PRO put out a noticeable broadband (about 18 kHz) spur near the bottom of the 7 MHz band when operating SSB in the 40M phone segment. This was clearly seen on the 40 CW panadpater/waterfall, but we soldiered through it by narrowing the bandwidth to 400 Hz. Running narrow bandwidth on CW often mitigates against various kinds of noise in the band.
The point is, that we found over the past several Field Days that certain radios were unwelcome, either because their transmitter phase noise (or other spurs) interfered with other radios on site, or their receivers couldn’t cope with other nearby transmitters. A recent article in the June QST about Field Day on a 1/4 acre city lot indicated that they had settled on using only Elecraft K3 and Kenwood TS-590SG transceivers, having found others to be incompatible with the typical close quarters of Field Day sites. It’s not just incidental that those two radios have crystal roofing filters in their front ends, and have been praised in reviews for having low transmitter phase noise.
So, to be a welcome GOTA station, we need a ‘good neighbor’ radio, which generally means a contest-grade radio, i.e. IC-706/7000, FT-857, and other “field friendly” radios need not apply. We’ve gotten by with the IC-746PRO in previous years, but it is not really all that great, coming from previous-generation radios, before the current crop of high-end radios.
Dan KB6NU says
I’m not sure that I saw that spur when I was operating 40m CW around 4am while the GOTA station was in operation. I don’t recall any kind of interference from the IC-746PRO at any time while I was operating CW. Having said that, though, you’re right. It’s from an earlier generation of radios, so upgrading the radio is in order.
This whole discussion got started by asking what we could do to improve the experience of the GOTA station operators. I think we may have gotten a bit sidetracked. I still like the idea of experimenting with some kind of directional antenna, point east-west. Not only is that the desired direction for Field Day, that direction is perpendicular to the direction of the control tower. So, theoretically, anyway, the control tower will actually receive less radiation from the GOTA station.
John Wasciuk WA8TON says
Hi, All!
I remember in the ’80’s putting up a W8JK antenna cut for 40 meters at one of NY8D’S Field Days west of Grand Rapids. If memory serves me correctly, that antenna was two half-waves spaced an eighth wave apart and fed with 450 ohm line with a 180 degree twist in the feed line. It did okay on 40, but on 20, it got us pile-ups of people calling us. We had it about 40 feet up in the trees. It was a knock-out on 20. I still have the home-brew antenna tuner with the full length of B & W coil with the alligator clips and the old Zenith console tuning capacitor with the 90 degree mechanical tuning mechanism. Wow, that was a great antenna! Had a friend borrow it for 40 and swore it was wonderful for working the Caribian. He did not use a tuner, but used a 4:1 balun. Wonder if that would be the ticket for the 40/20 GOT A station next year?
John Wasciuk WA8TON says
Hello, All!
Back in the ’80’s at one of NY8D’s Field Days, I put up a 40 meter W8JK wire beam. This is two 40 meter half-waves separated by an eighth wave and fed 180 degrees apart with open wire line and a home-brew tuner with the entire length of B & W coil and alligator clips. It was okay on 40, but in 20, we had pile-ups! Broad enough and bi-directional enough for the whole continent. Had gain, too. A friend borrowed the antenna and fed it with a 4:1 balun (making it a one band antenna, I suppose) and swore of its power to work his friends in the Caribbean with strong signals. Still have that ratty old tuner! Wonder if the old W8JK beam would be worth considering for the GOTA station next year!
73,
John
WA8TON
John Wasciuk WA8TON says
Okay, one more silly idea from me! Remember, I’m no expert-texpert (sorry, John Lennon!) on antennas, but how about this:
I’ll scratch my idea of the W8JK beam, since it needs four supports and suggest a Lazy-H for 40 meters for the GOTA station. Same sort of arrangement, but flopped on its side. If we can get a few more of those four foot poles up, we could get the top up to 50 feet??!!! Feed it with 450 ohm ladder or window line and the feed line loss is zippo! It will have broad gain across the continent on 40 and a tuner can be used on 20. If we get the feed-line up 50 feet or so, we could short the two halves of the 450 ohm line together and feed this as a 1/4 wave vertical on 75 meters (the lazy-H could be used as a large capacity hat?).
How about that? Use it on 20 in the day, because of it’s open wire feed. Use it as a vertical on 75 in the evening, when 20 goes out and use it with its ultimate purpose with gain on 40 for more of those KH6 and KL7 stations!
Might need some radials for 75 meters, but what is Field Day for?
73,
John
WA8TON
John Wasciuk WA8TON says
Once more:
How about a GOTA Extended Double Zepp for 20 meters? It’s 88.5 feet long, as easy to set up as a dipole, and with 600 ohm open-air feed would work on 40, and, possibly even 80. 3 db gain on 20. We could even use my old ugly balanced line tuner. If you set it up for just 20, you could feed it with coax using a quarter wave matching section and a balun.
Brent KF5THB says
Great Idea and conversation! Hey Dan!
(The following may have a faulty premise)
I believe that we may have missed the point somewhat. I think that the question(s) should be, “What comprises a successful GOTA visitor experience?” & “How (and going to what lengths) do we set about to insure that said 1st impression is successful.”
I would propose that while “making contacts” is way up on the list when it comes to measuring a successful experience (SE), it is not the most important. Seeing Ham Radio as a meaningful and rewarding hobby/pastime (or words to that effect; a mission statement, as it were) should be the definition of a SE. Accordingly, the GOTA is our elevator speech for the potential new “investor.” In fact, the only real “contact” which is vital is that which your club makes with the potential new member. So, you might want to insure that you have the right person on the GOTA station rather than spending all your brain-power configuring antenna/radio/microphone. (What makes a good ambassador?)
I would propose that clubs see the GOTA as a function rather than merely a combination of equipment. (Here’s my potential faulty premise: The GOTA need not be a specific chair/radio/antenna combination) Every station which is on the role should be a possible destination or waypoint for the GOTA function. Surely, one of your stations or operators will have a “hot hand” during your guest’s visit. Your visitor will then be assured, somewhat, of making some sort of QSO’s. Avoid the thought you just had just then to take them to that station first. Maybe your GOTA station is a very straightforward set-up so that all the moving parts are “visible.” Maybe even an HT! Probably not unless you’ve “greased the skeds” to insure a countable QSO. In so doing, you are giving the visitor the notion that things can start off simple and inexpensive but still be viable. Then move to other stations, all still in the GOTA framework/philosophy, if you will. Move to the one which is running hot and easy. Using the initial station might provide a confidence building experience so that the visitor gets past the initial “mic shyness” mentioned in the initial post. Find out in the beginning what the visitor’s technological interests and experiences are so that you keep them interested in the Star Trek aspect or avoid that if it might prove overwhelming, either as the case calls. Finally, if you’re a formal club, make the GOTA function a point of pride and competition. Have GOTA success stories or challenges so that proper recognition (importance) can be given to the GOTA function. I am afraid that much of the time, GOTA is an afterthought or “if we get everything else set up” kind of feature.
I’m good at my arrl redirection if anyone has holes to poke in my idea or premise.
Sorry this is a long post. Brent KF5THB