Field Day guide
ARRL Field Day rules, setup, categories, and tips. The largest annual amateur radio event.
ARRL Field Day — the largest annual amateur radio event. Rules, setup, and tips.
What is Field Day
ARRL Field Day is the largest annual amateur radio operating event in North America. Held the fourth full weekend of June (Saturday 1800 UTC through Sunday 2100 UTC), Field Day combines emergency preparedness exercise, public demonstration, and contest-like operating.
Field Day is NOT technically a contest — it is a simulated emergency exercise. But everyone treats it like a contest.
Categories
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| 1A, 2A, 3A... | Club or group, A = battery/generator power (no mains). The number is the count of simultaneous transmitters. 3A means three radios operating at once on emergency power. |
| 1B, 2B... | Same but 1-2 operators only. The lone wolf or buddy pair on emergency power. |
| 1D | Home station on commercial (mains) power. Lower multiplier but no setup required. |
| 1E | Home station on emergency power. Same station, battery or generator instead of mains. Higher multiplier than 1D. |
| 1C | Mobile station. Operating from a vehicle. |
Most clubs run 2A or 3A: two or three radios on generator power in a park or field.
Scoring
- CW contact: 2 points
- Digital contact: 2 points
- Phone (SSB/FM) contact: 1 point
- Bonus points: Public location (+100), information table (+100), media visit (+100), satellite QSO (+100), natural power (+100), youth participation (+20 per operator under 18), educational activity (+100), safety officer (+100), and others
The bonus points are where clubs distinguish themselves. A well-organized Field Day operation can earn 500+ bonus points before making a single contact.
What to bring (individual operator)
- Your radio license
- Headphones (required in multi-operator setups to prevent audio bleed)
- Logging computer or paper log
- Pen (always bring a pen)
- Camping chair
- Water and food
- Sun and rain protection
- Bug spray
- Patience (club Field Day operations involve many people with different skill levels)
Tips
- Work the bonus points first. A public location, information table, safety officer, and VHF/satellite contacts are easy bonus points that many clubs overlook.
- CW and digital contacts are worth 2x phone. A CW operator who makes 200 contacts scores the same as a phone operator who makes 400.
- Use ARRL Field Day logging software or N1MM+. Both handle Field Day exchange format and dupe checking automatically.
- The exchange is simple: your category + ARRL section (e.g., "3A SCV" for 3 transmitters, Class A, Santa Clara Valley section).
- Saturday evening and Sunday morning are prime time. 20m and 40m are productive well into the night. 80m opens after dark.