What is Field Day?
Field Day is the largest on-air operating event in amateur radio. Clubs deploy stations in the field, simulate emergency operations, and contact as many stations as possible over a 24-hour period.
- Hands-on emergency power, antennas, and message handling
- HF/VHF/UHF phone, CW, and digital modes (FT8/FT4, JS8Call, Winlink)
- Public information booth and Get-On-The-Air (GOTA) station
- Logging, scoring, and bonus points for outreach, media, and safety
Event Snapshot
- When: Last full weekend in June
- Where: Outdoor site with emergency power
- Goal: Contacts + training + public outreach
Typical Activities
Operating
Run HF/VHF stations across bands and modes. Rotate ops and loggers for training.
Antennas & RF
Erect portable masts, wire antennas, filters, and manage RFI in multi-station setups.
Power
Generators, solar, battery banks, and safe distribution with proper grounding.
Logging & Score
Networked logging (N3FJP/N1MM), duping control, and bonus points checklist.
GOTA & Outreach
New operators and visitors get on the air with a mentor. Educational handouts.
Safety
Safety officer, tape-offs, fire extinguishers, first-aid, weather monitoring.
Example Timeline
08:00Setup crew arrives, site safety check, assignments
10:00Antenna work, station wiring, network logging tests
12:00GOTA station check, public information table ready
13:00Operating starts (1800 UTC)
18:00Community visitors & training rotations
22:00Overnight ops; generator refuel schedule
13:00Operating ends; teardown, policing the area