What Is Field Day?
ARRL Field Day is amateur radio’s annual “open house,” combining emergency‐response training, informal contesting, public outreach, and camping into one 24-hour operating marathon. Held every fourth full weekend of June, Field Day challenges radio amateurs to set up stations in “the field” under emergency‐style conditions, then make as many contacts as possible across the HF and VHF/UHF bands. Whether you’re a multi-operator club in a remote park or a home station operating for school credit, Field Day showcases the versatility and public‐service value of ham radio. arrl.orgarrl.org

2025 Dates, Theme, and Objectives
In 2025, Field Day runs from 1800 UTC Saturday, June 28 through 2059 UTC Sunday, June 29—that’s from 1 PM CDT on June 28 to 3:59 PM CDT on June 29. arrl.orgarrl.org The theme, “Radio Connects,” emphasizes both on-air experimentation and community engagement: clubs are encouraged not only to work as many stations as possible but also to demonstrate emergency power setups, public‐information activities, and youth outreach. arrl.org

Station Classes and Setup Rules
Field Day station classes accommodate everyone from mobile operators to large club efforts:

• Class A: Two or more transmitters, portable power (generator or battery)
• Class B: One transmitter, portable power
• Class C: Mobile stations (all equipment on a vehicle, operated in motion)
• Class D: Home stations using commercial power and one transmitter
• Class E: Home stations using emergency power (battery or generator)
• Class F: School club stations (educational license)
  All transmitting equipment must be located within a 300 m (1,000 ft) diameter circle, except mobile (Class C) which operates entirely from a vehicle. arrl.orgcontests.arrl.org

Bands, Modes, and Entry Eligibility
Participants may operate on HF bands (160 m through 10 m) and VHF/UHF bands (6 m and above) using any FCC‐authorized mode—CW, SSB, digital, or satellite (where available). Each contact must be initiated contemporaneously by both stations, ensuring fairness and accuracy. Field Day is open to all amateurs in IARU Region 2; DX stations outside Region 2 may be contacted for credit and may submit check-logs. arrl.orgcontests.arrl.org

Scoring Basics and Bonus Points
Contacts (QSOs) earn points—1 point for CW and digital, 2 points for phone—across all bands. In addition to raw QSO totals, stations can earn bonus points for:

• Media Publicity (100 pts): Issue a press release or media advisory before Field Day.
• Message Handling (100 pts): Exchange at least 10 formal or radiogram messages.
• Public Information (100 pts): Display public demonstrations or educational materials onsite.
• Satellite QSOs (100 pts): Make at least one contact via amateur satellite.
• Natural Power (100 pts): Complete 5 QSOs using solar, wind, water, or other non-commercial power sources—dry cells excluded. arrl.org
• Emergency Power (×2 multiplier): Run entirely on emergency power (battery, generator, or solar) to double your QSO score.

Get-On-The-Air (GOTA) and Youth Participation
To involve newcomers and non-hams, Class A and F stations may operate a GOTA (Get-On-The-Air) station, where unlicensed or novice operators transmit under a coach’s supervision. GOTA QSOs earn the same base points, plus a 100-point coach bonus if the coach holds a General class or above and the station makes at least 20 GOTA QSOs. arrl.org Schools and clubs (Class F) often leverage Field Day to teach STEM concepts, making this event a prime opportunity for youth engagement. contests.arrl.org

Safety and Public Relations
ARRL’s Public Relations Kit advises clubs to prepare outreach materials well before setup, including signage, flyers, and social-media announcements to highlight amateur radio’s role in emergencies. All generators must be positioned to minimize noise and exhaust hazards, and stations should follow local fire and zoning regulations. For public demonstrations, control operators must brief volunteers on FCC rules—especially restrictions on unattended transmissions and third-party communications. arrl.org

Submitting Your Entry
Within 30 days after Field Day, entries must be uploaded via the online portal at field-day.arrl.org (preferred), emailed to fieldday@arrl.org, or postmarked with proof of delivery. The summary sheet requires detailed QSO breakdowns by band and mode, bonus point documentation, and GOTA logs if applicable. Late or incomplete entries risk disqualification from published results. arrl.org

Why Field Day Matters
Field Day serves multiple purposes: it tests emergency-power and deployment skills, fosters teamwork, provides on-air training for message handling, and promotes amateur radio to the public. Thousands of stations participate annually—over 31,000 hams gathered in 2024—and every year brings new innovations in portable station design, digital-mode experimentation, and community outreach. arrl.org

Conclusion & Your Turn
Whether you’re running a multi-transmitter club operation or a single-operator home station, Field Day 2025 offers fun and learning for every licensed amateur. Share your experiences below: What’s your favorite rig or setup for Field Day, and why? Let us know in the comments!

73 and be safe!