Can't make it this year? Did you work us and want to see what we look like?

This year we will attempt a full time SD live stream from our Field Day location. We are using a free Ustream feed, so you may see an ad or two, and Field Day radio activities take precedent over the stream, so if a problem arises, it may take a while before someone fixes it. Internet bandwidth is via a Clear 4g WiMax modem. The stream will start sometime Saturday morning, follow @kb2bsl to be notified via Twitter.

Click here to RSVP for the stream

A special edition of the Big Apple NTS Traffic Net will be held during Field Day this Saturday June 23rd at 8:00 PM (see link for frequencies).

During the net would be a great opportunity for your station to rack up some additional bonus points by sending your ARRL section manager a Field Day greeting.

To receive an extra 100 points send your ARRL section manager the following information using the National Traffic System:

• Your club name
• Number of participants
• Field Day site location
• The number of ARES operators involved with your Field Day operation.

The message MUST be sent during Field Day and a full copy included with your log submission to claim the extra 100 points.

Additionally, you may score an additional 10 points for every message you handle, send, or receive during Field Day, up to a maximum of 100 points. Originating a section manager message is not eligible for the additional 10 points. See the complete Field Day rules for full details: http://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2012/2012-FD-Rules.pdf

Field day is almost here! Join the Kings County Repeater Association in a fun event!

We will be operating from Saturday June 23 through Sunday June 24. All HAM operators are welcome to bring their gear down to the field to try their hand at making contacts.

If you would like to join us, please send us a note stating what you are planning on bringing. We are making up a site map, in this way, we can account for physical separation of the antennas, band-pass filters ...etc.

We will be using digital log submission for all stations. You must bring a PC/laptop with WiFi! We are running a PC application on a shared server to submit the Log electronically.

The KCRA will camping out on the grounds of the:

South Beach Psychiatric Center
Staten Island
777 Seaview Avenue

The entrance is on Seaview Ave, near the intersection of Father Capodanno Blvd & Seaview Ave.

To get there from:

1. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, coming from Brooklyn: Take Second exit immediately after the tolls (exit 15S) for Lily Pond Avenue South / Father Capodanno Boulevard. You have to be on the bottom level of the bridge to get to this road. The field is on the right side of Father Capodanno Boulevard, approximately 2 miles (third light). Turn right onto Seaview Ave, and another right into the parking lot.

2. Using public transportation? Take the Staten Island Ferry and transfer to the S51 bus, exit the bus at Father Capodanno Blvd and Seaview Ave.

We will be using the following repeaters for talk-in:

KC2RA 146.430 MHz +1MHz PL 136.5

KC2LEB 440.550 +5MHz, PL 141.3

WG2MSK 445.475 MHz D-Star

Stay tuned for more details.

This year Field Day is on June 23rd and 24th, it will be held at:

South Beach Psychiatric Center Field

777 Seaview Ave

Staten Island, NY 10315

View Larger Map

Driving Directions

From Brooklyn,Queens,Bronx,Manhattan,Long Island, etc.:

Take LOWER LEVEL of Verrazano Narrows Bridge. When approaching toll plaza, stay to your right avoiding the two rightmost lanes. After paying the toll, continue to stay to your right on the service road, ensuring that you do not get on the highway. Take the exit marked "Father Capodanno Blvd.". Keep driving until you reach "Seaview Ave.". Turn right on "Seaview Ave." The entrance will be on your right.

From other locations:

Please use the link in the map above to create custom door to door directions. 

If you are not staying for the complete duration of Field Day, you may NOT park your car near the setup as the possibility of you destroying a barely visible antenna exists! Please park in marked spaces and walk down to the site, if you find yourself on the field, please be very careful and stay to your left, do not approach the clubs setup in your car!

Public Transportation Directions

Take the "R" train to Whitehall Street, the "1" train to "South Ferry" or the "4" or "5" train to "Bolwling Green". Enjoy the free cruise on the Staten Island Ferry. Take the "S51" or "S52" bus and get off at Seaview Ave. 

OR

Take the "X1" express bus. Get off at either "Cromwell Ave." or "Buel Ave." Each are a block and a half from "Seaview Ave."

You can also try to contact talk in net control to see if someone can pick you up from either the ferry terminal or Hylan Blvd express bus stop.

Talk In Net and Frequencies

The "Talk In" net will start at 8:30. This net should not be used as a substitute for planning your own directions.

146.430 MHz +1 PL-136.5 (KC2RA)

440.550 MHz +5 PL-141.3 (KC2LEB)

445.475 MHz -5 D-Star (WG2MSK)

Here is 2012's Field Day station setup for KC2RA:

These are our starting bands, subject to change later in the day.

Want to set up a station? Let us know.

This year at the 20m station, when voice is slow, I'll be operating a bunch of digital modes, stop by and get a demonstration (or operate yourself!) of some of the amazing capabilities these modes have to offer.

PSK-31

PSK-31 is a very interesting digital mode, with very little power and modest antennas, it's possible to work the world! It works by transmitting a tone, this tone is then phase shifted (Phase Shifted Keying) to represent 0's and 1's. The signal is only 31 Hz wide! Take a look at http://bpsk31.com/ for more information. I'll be using Ham Radio Deluxe (DM780) to operate PSK-31.

Feld Hell

One of my favorite modes, Hellschreiber is now considered a digital mode. Invented in 1929 by Rudolph Hell, this single tone on-off keyed system is capable of displaying 122.5 dots per second, that's about 35 words per minute. It occupies about 75 Hz of bandwidth and is a low duty cycle mode. The modern day implementation digitally displays the ticker tape used during the era and can be challenging to read in weak signal conditions.  Again, DM780 will be used. See www.feldhellclub.org for more information. KC2RA holds Feld Hell Club #FH3102 (I am #FH3567).

Olivia

A new (for me) mode that I plan on trying this year is Olivia. This mode technically has the advantage in high noise, difficult conditions, as it's supposed to decode when the signal is 10-14 db below the noise floor! QSB, QRM, and flutter don't bother it. In fact the only other mode that is more sensitive is JT65A (Definitely not for a casual conversation!). Olivia should be very good for QRP. For more information, visit http://www.oliviamode.com. Again Ham Radio Deluxe DM780 will be used in 500/16 mode (500 Hz wide, 16 tones).

RTTY

The old standby , see http://www.rtty.com/

Don't own a GPS? Forgot to write down directions? Can't seem to get anyone on the radio? See one of these signs? Follow it to our Field Day site!

New for this year, the KCRA now has signs that will be strategically placed along the roads leading to our Field Day site.