Radio Field Day 2026 set for June 27
By ARMANDO DELGADO
KN4JN
The American Radio Relay League’s first Field Day was held in June 1933. Since that time, amateurs gather every year to practice this emergency preparedness exercise. Yearly, except during the WW2 period when the government did not allow amateur radio transmissions on the air, hams come together in fields, parks, public places and, more recently, EOCs, Red Cross facilities, and other emergency locations to operate simulated emergencies, to prepare for when regular commercial power and communications become unavailable.
The ARRL was founded in 1915 on the precept that radio amateurs should provide communications to the public at large, particularly during emergencies. In those early years of amateur radio, the equipment available to hams did not lend itself to portable operations. Early equipment was too cumbersome and fragile to set up in open fields and power supplies were inefficient. During those early years, the ARRL placed its focus on developing a network of volunteer operators willing to relay messages across the nation.
By the late 1920s, amateur equipment became sturdier, more precise, and could survive set up in remote locations. Most amateurs at the time used batteries to power their radios, but some small gasoline generators had become available and were light weight enough to be taken to remote sites. Considering these advantages, the ARRL initiated the Field Day emergency exercise in 1933.
One aspect of Field Day introduced gradually over time is the effort to demonstrate to the public and particularly to government officials the value of amateur radio to the community.
The ARRL declared 2026 the Year of the Amateur Radio Club. They encourage clubs to open their doors regularly to the public and to new hams, to encourage them to get licensed or to join the club. The International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) declared April 18 the International Amateur Radio Day. Last year was the 100th anniversary of the founding of the IARU and the ARRL has consistently encouraged amateur clubs to open their doors to the public on that day and during the month of April to demonstrate modern amateur radio’s capabilities.
Likewise, this year being the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the ARRL declared the theme of this Field Day “Amateur Radio, a National Resource.”
In the first few hours of Field Day, a station calling “CQ Field Day” is met by a chorus of stations simultaneously giving their call signs, producing an unintelligible noise known as a “pileup.” To work pileups, CQing stations use different techniques. Some will listen for discernible letters of call signs at the beginning of the pileup and call just those letters when the pileup sub sides. One or two stations with those letters may call back and after some sorting out a QSO is achieved. Other CQing operators will wait for the pileup to subside and then listen for a late caller with a clear call sign to make a contact. Understanding how the CQing station operates helps give callers the cue as to when to provide their call sign. Timing is of the essence and practice will guide the calling operator as to the right moment to give their call sign.
Operating Field Day is a challenge for all who participate, new or experienced hams. Setting up antennas and radio equipment always provide new lessons to learn. On-the-air activity is also a challenge that teaches new operators how to navigate crowded airwaves and allows all operators to hone their operating skills.
Field Day is a win-win activity and probably that is why it is so popular.