"Over the coming months on this venue, I plan to present a variety of technical pieces and stories from nearly 70 years as an active ham."
There are now twelve handwritten (they may have originally been typed) articles by Barry, some even featuring pictures! Just check the menu and click on "Barry's Corner" for some informative and entertaining reading.
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Barry shares his personal thoughts on Field Day in this timely new article.
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A personal look at Field Day
The generic description of “field day” is widely diverse but it usually mentions these things .
: a day for exercises or maneuvers
: an outdoor meeting or social gathering
: a day of sports and athletic competition
: a time of extraordinary pleasure or opportunity
The ARRL says this about our Ham Radio Field day,“Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 31,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.”
My personal knowledge of Field Day began in Joliet Illinois the year I was licensed WN9UCW. I received the call in August of 1954, seventy one years ago. I was thirteen. That next June I was able to attend the local club’s field day on “Moose Island” in nearby Channahon , Illinois.
The club was the “Joliet Amateur Radio Society” fondly called the “JARS.” They sponsored the ”Code School” that helped me get my novice license,I learned that the JARS was very serious about the competitive aspect of Field Day and that they were usually in the top few of the one hundred or so clubs in the four transmitter class, and sometimes they were number one.
At club meetings that spring I observed the members getting organized for the June event. By April or May they had four members who would be captains of the four stations that would be set up. They worked out the bands and modes to be covered by each station and decided what multipliers they would seek. For instance, if they chose a low power limit like 30 watts, they had a significant multiplier for every contact made compared to the high powered stations. They also plotted the layout of stations and antennas in the allowed 1000 foot circle limit.
The captains of each of the four positions were responsible for having the equipment, some sort of an enclosure and an operator as well as a logger for all twenty four hours beginning midday Saturday. This was before computers were available and everything was recorded on paper and pencil. Loggers were also responsible for identifying duplicates so that no time was lost on contacts that wouldn’t count on the final score.
Other persons were assigned to putting up antennas and attending to the generator. Someone with experience in food was assigned to provide meals for the whole crew. The JARS had an ex Navy cook as a member who filled the bill perfectly.
A good time was had by all and by Sunday evening everyone was as exhausted as could be as they made their way home. Personally, I was involved in JARS field days for about twenty years and have fond memories of them all. Interesting things were tried to improve efficiency like mounting a transmitter in the center of an elevated dipole to reduce losses in coax transmission line. That made quite a difference on the higher frequency bands and certainly contributed to those fond memories.
I hope you all have a great time with friends at Field Day.
73, Barry,W9UCW
PS. The JARS club call was W9OFR (“Old Fat Rascal”)
Ham Radio Antennas
Field Day
Every June, amateur radio operators across the United States and Canada participate in one of the hobby’s most anticipated events: Field Day. Sponsored by the ARRL (American Radio Relay League), Field Day is part emergency preparedness exercise, part public demonstration, and part fun-filled contest rolled into one weekend.
What Is Field Day?
Field Day is a 24-hour event held on the fourth full weekend of June. During this time, ham radio operators set up temporary stations—often outdoors and off the power grid—to make as many contacts as possible with other operators across North America and beyond.
Why Does It Matter?
The primary goal of Field Day is to practice emergency communications. In a real disaster, when phones and the internet fail, amateur radio can still get through. By operating with portable antennas, generators, batteries, and solar panels, hams sharpen the skills they may need in a real crisis.
But it’s also a community and educational event. Clubs invite the public, demonstrate equipment, offer licensing exams, and showcase how ham radio serves the community.
How Does It Work?
Stations earn points for each contact made on various frequency bands and modes (voice, CW, digital).
Extra points are awarded for using renewable power, operating in public, involving youth, and running press releases or visitor tables.
Callsigns used during Field Day usually follow a format like “3 A STX,” which means three transmitters, Class A (club station), in South Texas, for example.
Who Can Join?
Everyone. Whether you’re a seasoned operator or just curious, you can participate. Many clubs set up GOTA (Get On The Air) stations, allowing newcomers to try transmitting under the supervision of a licensed operator.
Final Thoughts
Field Day combines the best of ham radio: technical challenge, public service, and fellowship. It’s a chance to learn, practice, and have fun—all while helping ensure that when all else fails, ham radio doesn’t.
73 and see you on Field Day!
