June 23, 2026 – “The Annual ARRL Summer Field Day Contest”

Good evening. This is W1UT and tonight’s training is about “The Annual ARRL Summer Field Day Contest.”

Many of you may have heard of an annual HF/VHF contest held during the 4th full weekend in June. This contest encourages emergency communications preparedness by setting up ham radio equipment and antennas in a field and operating using off grid power equipment. This is to simulate emergency conditions. In the United States, it is typically the largest single emergency preparedness exercise in the country, with over 30,000 operators participating each year. Also this contest has been in operation every year since 1933 with the exception of during WW2 when ham radio operations were shut down. The contest starts at 18:00 UTC, which is 12 PM, on Saturday and runs through 20:59 UTC, or 2:59 PM, on Sunday. This means this coming weekend will be field day 2026.

Many local clubs usually plan for and participate each year in this event. I have enjoyed this social and practice activity in the past and encourage all ham operators with any license class to participate. If you are a technician class operator you too can be a part of this event as radio equipment for 10 meters and the VHF bands is often setup requiring technician class operators.

As this is a contest, each station needs to exchange information with another station such as the number of transmitters at the field site, site class and state or province. This information can be sent using various modes such as morse code (known as CW), phone or voice, even digital. Some organizations even setup equipment and make satellite contacts. The best way to experience this type of contest is to simply contact a local club and find out where they will be setting up usually in a field somewhere. This is also a great way to socialize with other hams, learn how to setup antennas in the field and eat good food. Many hams also enjoy camping out as this is two day event. No one is required to stay for two days. Help is often needed to setup or take down antennas, radio equipment, tents, tables, etc.

This is a contest where using emergency and alternative power sources are encouraged, since electricity and other public infrastructure are often among the first to fail during a natural disaster or severe weather. With all of the wild fire events already causing major problems in Utah it is important to be prepared. This is really the purpose of having this contest annually. I remember a field day event I attended many years ago back in the Pacific NW and sponsored by a Boeing radio club in Seattle. It was held on one of the Puget Sound islands and I had a wonderful time. Since then I have participated in many field day events. I hope you will be able to at least visit a local club holding a Field Days event.

For more information do a Google search on the web for “ARRL Field Day.”