ARRL Field Day is amateur radio’s annual open house and its most popular event. Every June, more than 31,000 operators across North America set up temporary stations in parks, fields and other public places, often running on emergency power, and try to contact as many other stations as they can. It’s part emergency-preparedness exercise, part friendly competition and part community outreach, and it has been held every year since 1933. South Shore Ham Radio Club has taken part for many years.
When
- When: always the fourth full weekend of June. Operating runs from 2:00 PM Saturday to 4:59 PM Sunday, Eastern time (1800 UTC Saturday to 2059 UTC Sunday).
- Next Field Day: June 26–27, 2027 (expected, based on ARRL’s fourth-full-weekend rule). Watch the calendar for details.
- Looking for other sites near you? Use ARRL’s Field Day Locator.
Why Field Day matters
When storms or other disasters knock out power, cell service and the internet, ham radio still works. Field Day is practice for exactly that: setting up antennas and radios quickly, running them on generators, batteries or solar power, and making contacts in less-than-ideal conditions without relying on any outside infrastructure.
Visitors welcome, no license needed
The public is welcome at Field Day sites, and it’s one of the best ways to see ham radio in action. Stop by, ask questions and watch operators make contacts. Many Field Day sites also run a “Get On The Air” station where, under a licensed operator’s supervision, visitors can make a contact themselves.
- Families and kids are welcome.
- Bring a chair and plan to stay a while, or drop in for half an hour.
How it works
- Stations try to contact as many others as possible on the HF bands (160, 80, 40, 20, 15 and 10 meters) and on 6 meters and above.
- Any mode that can carry the Field Day exchange counts: voice, Morse code (CW) and digital modes.
- It isn’t a contest with prizes. Clubs submit their results to ARRL, and the full results are published each December in QST and online.
- Clubs earn bonus points for things like public outreach, running on emergency power and sharing Field Day on social media with #ARRLFD.
What members do
- Help set up and take down antennas and stations
- Operate voice, Morse code (CW) and digital modes
- Log contacts and help newer operators make their first ones
- Share the hobby with visitors and local officials
Photos from past Field Days
See photos from Field Day 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2016 in our Photo Gallery.
Want to take part?
Members of every experience level help out at Field Day. If you’re not a member yet, come visit, and if you’d like to operate, getting your license takes as little as a few weeks.
Source: ARRL Field Day, the official site for rules, the station locator, results and publicity materials.