Field Day | Camping Rules (Page)
CAMPING RULES
THE BASICS:![]()
– DRY CAMPING — No Electricity, no sewer/dump access, and no dedicated water bibs are available.
– All campers will NOT be permitted to plug into the club’s main generator, NO EXCEPTIONS!
– No Campfires, NO EXCEPTIONS! (including propane)
All visitors, please use the west side (campground) access road. No public access from east side and crossing the active runway.
– Campers must agree to the follow rules specific to their camp area (below).

TENTS AND RVS (WEST SIDE):
– Tent, hammock, in-vehicle, and RV’s under 21ft, will be setup on the west side of the runway. This area has access to potable water, flushing toilets, cold showers, and sinks.
– No personal generators are permitted on the west side of the runway, NO EXCEPTIONS.
LARGE RVS 21+FT (EAST SIDE):
– Larger RVs be able to park in designated areas on the east side of the runway.
– Those camping on the east side of the runway are allowed the use of personal power stations and generators.
– This area has access to flushing toilets and sinks.![]()
Field Day | Contest Results (Page)
The Log
Contacts by band and mode
| Band | CW | Digital | Phone | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| QSOs | Power | QSOs | Power | QSOs | Power | |
| 160m | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 80m | 22 | 100 W | — | — | — | — |
| 40m | 223 | 100 W | — | — | — | — |
| 20m TOP BAND | 641 | 100 W | 238 | 100 W | 186 | 100 W |
| 15m | 414 | 100 W | 175 | 100 W | — | — |
| 10m | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 6m | — | — | 19 | 50 W | — | — |
| 2m | — | — | — | — | 8 | 50 W |
| 222 / 432 / Other | No contacts logged | |||||
| Satellite | The one bonus we missed — next year | |||||
Every contact was made at 100 watts or less, with 6m and 2m running just 50 watts. No amplifiers, no commercial power — just wire, antennas and skill.
Mode Split
Where the contacts came from
| CW | Digital | Phone |
| Operator | Call | Phone QSOs |
|---|---|---|
| Maxim Graff | KO6NEZ | 68 |
| Natali Woodmansee | WB6NAT | 11 |
| Jeremy Graff | KO6KUL | 9 |
| Jack Stenhouse | not yet licensed | 5 |
| Corde Wagner | K6LDA | 3 |
| Andrea Nowak | KO6NMP | 3 |
| Duane Chorty | KO6NYI | 3 |
| Andrew Myers | KO6NYJ | 3 |
| Lan Graff | KO6MWK | 3 |
| Chase Galland | not yet licensed | 3 |
| Eumin Son | not yet licensed | 1 |
| Tracy Gallard | not yet licensed | 1 |
| GOTA Total | 113 |
By The Numbers
A few things worth bragging about
Band and mode totals reflect the contacts logged at the five main transmitters. GOTA totals are listed separately. Official submitted total: 1,637 QSOs.
Field Day | Debrief (Page)
FIELD DAY DEBRIEF (2026)
Key Outcomes![]()
The club held a post-Field Day debrief covering operations, logistics, food, and planning improvements. Overall feedback was positive — participants praised organization, hospitality, the Georgetown venue, and the GOTA station. Key gaps identified include insufficient band captain coverage, no assigned SSB station owner, weak volunteer pre-commitment, and late outreach to youth/scouting groups. A comprehensive checklist and station equipment list are being developed for next year.
Decisions Made
• Sign-up sheets will return at operating stations (not pre-event); dry-erase board also proposed for GOTA queue management.
• Band captain role expanded to 2–3 people on rotating shifts, with Dave remaining team lead.
• All HF stations to be configured multi-mode (voice + digital + CW) to adapt to band conditions.
• Antenna site map to be created, laminated (11×14), and posted at the band captain station with patch panel port labels.
• GOTA logging sheets pre-printed and placed at the station during setup — not left to the station chair.
• Winlink messages to be CC’d to the scoring aggregator (Dennis) going forward.
• Youth/scouting outreach must begin by late December–January; outbound chair owns this task if no Field Day chair is yet assigned.
Completed / What Worked
• GOTA station was highly active, well-received; multiple success stories including first-time operators and family participants.
• Trailer used for first time — setup, cleanup, and loading were significantly smoother.
• FT8 + GOTA placed side-by-side simplified power runs and infrastructure.
• Brian’s antenna walk-and-talk sessions (×2) were well-received as educational content.
• Electronic check-in system praised; confirmed as club-owned asset (Brian is caretaker, donated printer).
• Handicap parking added with signage — appreciated by senior members.
• Mac and cheese and new menu items were hits; total food cost ~$600, overall event cost $1,000 with $491 in donations.
Blockers / Issues Identified
• Attendance undercount: Official log showed 103 (1 dupe); Brian estimated 165–170 actual attendees across all 3 days.
• Network/logging setup disrupted by unauthorized changes; Dennis frustrated by people bypassing him to modify the system.
• SSB station had no assigned owner, leading to it being underutilized overnight.
• Band master gap: No coverage after ~midnight; operators unsure how to switch bands or reroute antennas.
• GOTA/CW interference: GOTA antenna initially placed on 40m directly over CW station; partially resolved by moving it.
• Center social circle noise was disruptive to GOTA station voice operations.
• Bathroom condition: Both restrooms were severely misused on Saturday and required hosing out; had not been an issue in prior years.
• 80m doublet antenna was never connected to the patch panel and went unused.
Pending Confirmation
• Whether Frank is a viable candidate to shadow/replace Dennis on logging/networking next year.
• Optimal antenna placement for CW station vs. GOTA to reduce RF interference.
• Who designs the patch panel block diagram — band captain team vs. site infrastructure role.
• Whether numbered plates (pre-marked for head count) are commercially available.
Action Items
• Smitty: Finalize station equipment checklists; add band captain committee (min. 3 people) and youth outreach deadline (Dec–Jan) to master checklist.
• Smitty: Blow up and laminate antenna site map with patch panel port labels for band captain station.
• Smitty: Send food service checklist to Garrett for review while details are fresh.
• Tom: Submit GOTA paper logs to Dennis.
• WA8MPA (Jim): Create block diagram of network/patch panel layout for lamination and use at band captain station.
• WA8MPA (Jim): Continue periodic maintenance of 8 field day computers (charge, update software) throughout the year.
• SFARC (Mark): Add soap/hand sanitizer to shopping list; purchase squeegee for bathroom kit.
• Smitty / Mark: Thank Scott and Gary formally post-event; add to annual checklist.
• Brian: GPS dongles (×2) already donated to club and handed to Dennis — no further action needed.
All chairs: Identify Field Day chair early (not waiting until April); pre-grease key early-lead-time tasks before year-end.
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Field Day | Flyer (Page)
Field Day | Points and Rules (Page)
Our Stations
| Station Type | Count | QSO Value |
|---|---|---|
| Phone (Voice) | 2 | 1 pt per contact |
| Digital (incl. CW) | 2 | 2 pts per contact |
Bonus Stations (Free — no impact on class)
| Station | QSO Value |
|---|---|
| VHF | 1 pt per contact |
| GOTA (Get On The Air) | 5 pts per contact! |
Logging
All stations will log using N3FJP software on club laptops.
Club Points
Club members can submit their individual logs to be combined into an aggregate club score. Even if you operate from home, your contacts can count toward the club total — just list the club name on your submission.
Site Bonus Points (100 pts each)
Each item below adds 100 points to our final score. Many require documentation — let’s hit as many as we can!
1. Eligibility
Field Day is open to all amateurs in the areas covered by the ARRL/RAC Field Organizations and countries within IARU Region 2. DX stations residing in other regions may be contacted for credit and may submit entries as check-logs.
2. Object
To work as many stations as possible on the 160-, 80-, 40-, 20-, 15- and 10-Meter HF bands, as well as all bands 50 MHz and above, and in doing so to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less-than-optimal conditions. A premium is placed on developing skills to meet the challenges of emergency preparedness as well as to acquaint the general public with the capabilities of Amateur Radio. See also recommended frequencies FAQ.
3. Date and Time Period
Field Day 2026 will be held June 27–28. Field Day is ALWAYS the fourth full weekend of June, beginning at 1800 UTC Saturday and ending at 2059 UTC Sunday.
4. Entry Categories
Field Day entries are classified according to the maximum number of simultaneously transmitted signals, followed by a designator indicating the nature of their individual or group participation. The minimum number of transmitters that must be claimed is one (1). Twenty (20) transmitters maximum are eligible for the purpose of calculating bonus points (2,000 points maximum). However, additional transmitters which may legitimately be used simultaneously will determine your entry category classification, but will not earn additional bonus points (i.e. 22 transmitters = 22A).
The use of switching systems that allow for lock-outs in order to use multiple transmitters (i.e., an “octopus”) in an attempt to enter a lower-number-of-transmitters class are prohibited (i.e. using 2 transmitters that can transmit simultaneously, with two operators, and a lock-out system and entering class 1A). The use of simulcasting devices which allow a single operator to key and transmit on more than one transmitter at a time, is prohibited. Bonus stations, such as the GOTA station and satellite station do not count towards determining the number of transmitters for the class and do not qualify for transmitter bonus points.
4.1. Class A — Club / Non-Club Portable
Club or a non-club group of three or more persons set up specifically for Field Day. Such stations must be located in places that are not regular station locations and must not use facilities installed for permanent station use, or use any structure installed permanently for Field Day. A single licensee or trustee for the entry is responsible for the group entry. All equipment (including antennas) must lie within a circle whose diameter does not exceed 300 meters (1000 feet). To be listed as Class A, all contacts must be made with transmitter(s) and receiver(s) operating independent of commercial power mains. Entrants whom for any reason operate a transmitter or receiver from a commercial main for one or more contacts will be listed separately as Class A-Commercial.
4.1.1. Get On The Air (GOTA) Station (updated for 2025)
Any Class A or F entry may also operate one additional station without changing its base entry category, known as the Get On The Air (GOTA) station. This GOTA station may operate on any Field Day band, HF or VHF, but is limited to one GOTA station transmitted signal at any time.
4.1.2. Free VHF Station
All Class A entries may also operate one additional transmitter if it operates exclusively on any band or combination of bands above 50 MHz (VHF/UHF) without changing its basic entry classification. This station does not qualify for a 100-point bonus as an additional transmitter. This station may be operated for the clubs Field Day period and all contacts count for QSO credit. It is operated using the primary callsign and exchange of the main Field Day group and is separate and distinct from the GOTA station.
Other Entry Classes
4.8. Class F — Emergency Operations Centers (EOC)
An amateur radio station at an established EOC activated by a club or non-club group. Class F operation must take place at an established EOC site. Stations may utilize equipment and antennas temporarily or permanently installed at the EOC for the event. Entries will be reported according to number of transmitters in simultaneous operation. Class F stations are eligible for a free VHF station.
4.8.1. For Field Day purposes, an EOC is defined as a facility established by:
- a) a Federal, State, County, City or other Civil Government, agency or administrative entity; or,
- b) a Chapter of a national or international served agency (such as American Red Cross or Salvation Army) with which your local group has an established operating arrangement.
5. Exchange
Stations in ARRL / RAC sections will exchange their Field Day operating Class and ARRL / RAC section.
6. Miscellaneous Rules
7. Scoring
Scores are based on the total number of QSO points times the power multiplier corresponding to the highest power level under which any contact was made during the Field Day period plus the bonus points.
7.1. QSO Points
| Mode | Points per Contact |
|---|---|
| Phone | 1 point |
| CW | 2 points |
| Digital (non-CW) | 2 points |
7.2. Power Multipliers
The power multiplier that applies is determined by the highest power output of any of the transmitters used during the Field Day operation. Power output for classes A, B and C cannot exceed 500 watts PEP. Power output for classes D, E and F cannot exceed 100 watts PEP.
| Power & Source | Multiplier |
|---|---|
| 5W or less from non-commercial, non-generator source (battery, solar, water) | ×5 |
| 5W or less from commercial mains or motor-driven generator | ×2 |
| Up to 100W | ×2 |
| Greater than 100W | ×1 |
7.3. Bonus Points
All stations are eligible for certain bonus points, depending on entry class. Bonus points are added after the multiplier is applied. Bonus points are awarded only when claimed on the summary sheet with required proof.
7.3.13.1. Any successfully completed contact made by an operator at the GOTA station is worth 5 bonus points, regardless of mode. No limit on the number of contacts a single GOTA operator can make. GOTA bonus points are not multiplied by the power multiplier (clarification of the rules published in 2023).
7.3.13.2. If a GOTA station is supervised by a GOTA Coach, a single 100-point bonus is earned.
- 7.3.13.2.1. The GOTA Coach supervises the operator (answering questions, talking them through contacts) but may not make contacts or perform logging functions.
- 7.3.13.2.2. Must be a designated GOTA Coach present and supervising for at least 10 contacts.
7.3.15.2. For 1-person Class B, 20 points if the operator is age 18 or younger. For 2-person Class B, 20 points for each operator age 18 or younger (max 40 points). Class B is still only a 1- or 2-person operation — this bonus does not allow more participants.
8. Reporting
8.1. Submission Methods
225 Main St
Newington, CT 06111
(tracking highly recommended)
8.3. A Complete Web App Entry Consists Of:
8.3.2. Supporting information uploaded via web app, including:
- 8.3.2.1. An attached list of stations worked by band/mode (dupe sheet, alpha/numeric list, or Cabrillo log).
- 8.3.2.2. Proof of bonus points claimed (press releases, NTS messages, photographs, etc.).
- 8.3.2.3. The web app will display a confirmation number and email a confirmation. Save this!



