What Is ARRL Field Day?
ARRL Field Day is the most popular amateur radio operating event in North America, held annually on the fourth full weekend of June — always Saturday noon local time through Sunday noon. It draws tens of thousands of participants across hundreds of organized groups and individual stations every year.
Field Day is part emergency preparedness exercise, part public demonstration of amateur radio, and part friendly competition. The core idea is simple: set up and operate a radio station using temporary, emergency-style power — generators, batteries, or solar — away from your normal home station.
Why Field Day Matters
Field Day has been a cornerstone of amateur radio culture since 1933. It serves several important purposes:
- Emergency preparedness: Operators practice setting up stations quickly in the field, reflecting real-world disaster scenarios where infrastructure may be unavailable.
- Public outreach: Clubs often set up in public parks and invite the general public, introducing new people to ham radio.
- Skill building: Operators sharpen contesting skills, antenna deployment experience, and logging efficiency.
- Community: It's simply a great time to get together, share food, and enjoy the hobby with fellow hams.
How Field Day Scoring Works
Field Day uses a points-based scoring system with bonuses. Here's a simplified overview:
Contact Points
- 2 points per CW (Morse code) or digital mode contact
- 1 point per phone (voice) contact
- You can work the same station on multiple bands
Class Categories
Stations operate in different "classes" based on their setup:
- Class A: Clubs and groups operating portable, away from home, on emergency power — the classic Field Day setup
- Class B: Single operator portable
- Class C: Mobile stations
- Class D: Home stations on commercial power
- Class E: Home stations on emergency power
- Class F: EOC (Emergency Operations Center) stations
Bonus Points
Clubs can earn significant bonus points through activities like:
- Making satellite contacts (+100 points per contact)
- Completing a natural or simulated emergency exercise (+100 points)
- Submitting the entry via the web (+50 points)
- Having a licensed control operator under age 18 make contacts (+20 points per contact, up to 1,000)
- Visiting or contacting an elected official (+100 points)
- Public information officer media contact (+100 points)
Field Day in the W7 Region
The W7 region is one of the most active in the country for Field Day, with clubs setting up at sites ranging from city parks and fairgrounds to remote mountaintops and desert locations. The long summer daylight hours and generally favorable June weather across much of the region make for excellent operating conditions.
Finding a W7 Field Day Group
The easiest ways to find a local group to join:
- Check the ARRL Field Day Locator at arrl.org/field-day — it lists registered Field Day operations by state and location
- Contact your local amateur radio club — virtually every club participates in some form
- Ask on your local repeater — announcements often go out weeks in advance
Participating as a New Ham or Visitor
Field Day is one of the most welcoming events in amateur radio. Even if you don't yet have a license, you can operate at a Field Day station under the supervision of a licensed control operator. This hands-on experience is invaluable for anyone studying for their Technician exam.
If you do have your license, bring your call sign and logbook. Many clubs are happy to let visiting hams make contacts and be a part of their team effort. Bring a lawn chair, food to share, and a willingness to learn — that's all it takes to have a great Field Day.
After Field Day
Results are typically published by the ARRL several months after the event. Clubs submit their logs electronically, and the results appear in QST magazine and on the ARRL website. Whether your club finishes at the top of your class or just had fun on the air, Field Day is an experience that builds lasting skills and friendships in the ham radio community.