Field Day

This year, Field Day 2008 will take place on Saturday, June 28th, and Sunday, 29th.  (It is always held on the fourth full weekend in June.)  It will begin at 1800 UTC (1400 EDST) Saturday, June 28th, and end at 1800 UTC (1400 EDST) Sunday, June 29th, for stations like K4YHB that began their set-up on Friday or Saturday morning ahead of the scheduled start time.  Location will be the same as 2007, thanks to the kind invitation by Joe Goggin (K9KNW) to allow ARASWF to again set up on his property in East Naples, as follows:

Joe Goggin (K9KNW)
294 Brandy Lane
Naples, FL 34114

Located to the East off SR951 (Collier Blvd.) on Sabal Palm Road, which is North of Tamiami Trail East and South of Rattlesnake Hammock Road.

Drive East on Sabal Palm Road, then turn left (North) on Brandy Lane.

See maps below:

Map 1 - Area Map

Map 2 - Detail Map

What is Field Day?

Field Day is designed to test operators' abilities to set up and operate portable stations under emergency conditions such as loss of commercial electricity. Most participants will set up their Field Day stations in parks, on town greens or even in shopping mall parking lots. The event is a serious test of skill, and a contest of fun, too. During the weekend, the radio operators try to contact as many other Field Day stations as possible, simulating the fast on-air skills needed to assist community officials and served agencies during an emergency. More than 30,000 Amateur Radio operators participated in last year's event. The first Field Day was held in 1933.

Following the recent storms that causes considerable hurricane and flood damage to different parts of the US, and disrupted regular communications between relief and other agencies in Florida, Texas and Louisiana, ham radio volunteers helped provide emergency communications utilizing portable rqdios and emergency power.  Amateur Radio operators in every state are ready to assist if called upon as the summer storm season intensifies.

What's all this stuff?

The most visible parts of the equipment at the Field Day site are the antennas. They operate on several different ranges of frequencies, which is why you can see several sizes of antennas. The radios themselves are in tents or pavilions outside. Most of our operators are using computers to log their contact information so it can be verified later for the contest.

Where can I get more information?

If you'd like to know more about amateur radio, feel free to ask any of the club members present during Field Day. In addition to this web site, you can also find information on the Internet at the web site of The Amateur Radio Relay League, http://www.arrl.org, where there is considerable information about Field Day Activities.