What is everyones plan for ARRL Field Day?

I will most likely be operating from the comfort of my home with commercial power (I know that is cheating), but it is what it is.

I did really well for Winter Field Day 2025 (2nd in the NFL division)!

I am a bit worried that the band conditions will suck though!

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
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On Tue, 10 Jun 2025 00:42:38 +0000
"Rug Rat" (1:135/250) <Rug.Rat@f250.n135.z1.fidonet> wrote:

What is everyones plan for ARRL Field Day?

I will most likely be operating from the comfort of my home with
commercial power (I know that is cheating), but it is what it is.

I did really well for Winter Field Day 2025 (2nd in the NFL division)!

I am a bit worried that the band conditions will suck though!

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
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I can barely reach my local repeater with my handheld. I suppose using
echolink is also cheating :)
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Hi Brent,

RR> What is everyones plan for ARRL Field Day?

Similar to you, operating from home. I'm recently licensed and still assembling my portable rig. Also want to pass the General exam so I can operate on more of the HF bands. Perhaps Field Day 2026 out in the field!

73,
Jason KO6IOJ

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Re: RE: ARRL Field Day
By: Jason Brady to Rug Rat on Tue Jun 10 2025 11:22:00

If I understood it right, according to an ARRL msg. I read earlier, home-bound hams can still participate. They would be given either a Class D rating for those using mains power or a Class E if your using battery/solar/etc.
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If you want a good free web course for amateur radio exams, check out W4EEY on YouTube. He was INSTRUMENTAL in me being able to pass my extra exam last year.

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
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On Tue 10-Jun-2025 2:55p, Mortar M.@1:124/5016.0 wrote:

If I understood it right, according to an ARRL msg. I read earlier, home-bound hams can still participate. They would be given either a Class D rating for those using mains power or a Class E if your using battery/solar/etc.

You are correct on all counts.. I only mentioned that some people consider that cheating (and I "understand" their feelings) as Field Day is supposed to be worked in the FIELD, otherwise it would be called SHACK Day, but it does offer something for everyone. The homebound stations also give more contacts for thos in the field to work.

Note that I said I understood the sentiment, not that I agreed with it. :)

73 de KF6HDJ

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
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Hi Mortar,

MM> ...or a Class E if your using battery/solar/etc.

Yeah I could do this, with my transceiver and LiFePo battery. Main idea is to support other stations actively participating. Also test a DIY 10-meter dipole antenna in preparation for POTA activation.

Hope you all have a great time!

73,
Jason KO6IOJ

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Hi Brent,

RR>If you want a good free web course for amateur radio exams, check out W4 RR>EEY on YouTube. He was INSTRUMENTAL in me being able to pass my extra e RR>xam last year.

Thank you for the reference. I've found the video presentations to be an invaluable supplement to the written material. Having written, audio and visual presentations really helps with learning.

Might be a function of age...???

73,
Jason KO6IOJ

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Little over a week away!!!

I am excited!!!

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
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Little over a week away!!!

I am excited!!!

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)

I am looking forward to FD as well.
May operate from home this year instead of the regular field day site.
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It is almost upon us!

12 Minutes to go!

Band conditions sound terrible, but we will give it a go!

Good luck everyone!

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
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So...

How is everyone doing so far?

QSO rate is low here in NFL!

Just made my 50th contact, A lot of QSB.

15m opened to the West Coast for a bit, but it almost completely dead now.
20 is noisy, with wild QSB..

Having fun though.

Eating the Chicken Cordon Bleu sandwiches I made with home made honey wheat bread. So at least I will eat well. Will try to copy the ARRL Bulliten at 1700.

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
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Whelp!!

Field Day 2025 is IN THE BAG as they say.

While the conditions were frustrating to say the least, with some strong QSB ad 20 meters largely being on the only band open for me. My 40 Meter vertical does not work well for stateside QSOs on good days. I had intended to install and test a dipole solution this Field Day, but it did not come to fruition.

By 2100 hours on Saturday I had 150 phone QSO's in the log, and it was time for the East Coast Reflectors Trivia Net! We got our question correct (breaking a 2 week losing streak!). After Trivia net, it was time to play on FT-4 and FT-8, and we made an additional 82 contacts!

At 0300 it was time for bed!

I was not able to get out of bed until about 1040, and after only a handful of FT-4 contacts I set about putting messages into the NTS system via Winlink!

I was able to enter a message for the NFL section manager, and 10 additional messages to regular recipients!

Being happy with everything, and a thunderstorm rolling in, I decided that I had done enough, and to let things fall as they may!

We had fun! We used some new modes, copied the ARRL bulliten on RTTY, had an introduction to the Amateur Radio National Traffic System (I wonder if my radiograms will actually be delivered.).

Preliminary score is 710 points. Though I think a portion of those will be knocked off! I did not realize the logging software only pays attention to VFO A data, degardless if VFO B is active. So a lot of my early contacts on 15M were incorrect as they did not pick up on the band change!

How did everyone else fair?

I am hoping for #1 in 1D/NFL!
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On Sun 29-Jun-2025 7:02p, Anonymous wrote:
Why the heck did I post this as Anonymous!!! - Sheesh. I got a great score, and I'm loud and proud! RUG RAT wrote that.. :D

Preliminary score is 710 points. Though I think a portion of those will

UPDATE: Found out that some of the points were not calculated because it did not propperly upload my supporting files, and I had placed some supporting files in the wrong place..

Prelim score is now: 974 points!!

Rug Rat (Brent Hendricks)
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