HAM RADIO FIELD DAY 2025

WHEN:
2025, Full Event: Sat June 28, 2pm to Sun, June 29, 2pm.

Public hours: Sat 2–5 pm and Sun 10 am to 2 pm for tours, soldering workshop, maker activities, hidden transmitter hunts, and license testing. (License exam is 7 pm Saturday)

Yard Sale in Lobby: open to public Saturday 9 am to 2 pm and Sunday 9 am to 2 pm.

WHERE:
New England Sci-Tech, 16 Tech Circle, Natick.

Field Day runs outside in vans and tents running off alternative power to simulate emergency conditions.
However, the building is open for tours, restrooms, maker activities, etc.
There will be a Yard Sale on Saturday noon-5pm and Sunday 9am-noon.

In the United States there are approximately 750,000 FCC-licensed amateurs. There is no age limit, so even youngsters enjoy learning to merge radio with their interests in computers, Bluetooth devices, Arduinos, and Raspberry Pie processors, model rocketry, high-altitude balloon experiments, robotics, and drones.

WHO MAY PARTICIPATE:
Members of the general public, radio amateurs, scouts, and their friends and families are welcome to participate. You don’t need a radio license to participate, as you can operate with one of the club’s General or Extra class licensees as the control operator. On-site training will be provided.

GOTA (Get On The Air) TENT:
During public hours, anyone who is newly licensed or unlicensed can participate and receive instruction.

Sign up using the form below to let us know when you will be participating and how many in your group.


According to the national American Radio Relay League (ARRL), “Field Day is ham radio's open house. Every June, more than 40,000 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.”

Often called “ham radio,” the Amateur Radio Service has been around for a century. In that time, it’s grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators using the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology. Its people range in age from youngsters to grandparents.

FIELD DAY SCHEDULE:

Friday
5:00 pm - Begin setting up antennas and staging FD equipment.

Saturday
9:00 am – Field Day helpers set up; YARD SALE opens in Lobby
12:00 pm – Lunch for members and set-up participants ($5, free for 9-noon volunteers)
12:30-2:00 pm – Power up and TEST all radios; troubleshooting begins; Garage Sale setup
2:00 pm – Doors open to public. Radio Field Day begins. GOTA Tent opens for guests. Yard Sale ends.
2:00-5:00 pm – Public Visiting Hours, for tours, soldering workshop, Yard Sale ends
5:00 pm – Group Photo on the stairs in front of GOTA Tent (whenever the Governor's proclamation arrives)
5:00 pm – Game Night for members begins (Sign Up Required) - D&D, Magic the gathering, Battlin'Bots, etc.
6:30 pm – Dinner for members and non-public participants ($10 adults, $5 children)
7:00 pm – Radio License Exam Session (No exam session this year)
7:30 pm – Amateur radio related movie
10:00 pm – non-overnight participants leave; building closes

Sunday
8:00 am – Breakfast for members and non-public participants ($5)
9:00 am-2:00 pm – Yard Sale in lobby
10:00 am-2:00 pm – Public Visiting Hours, for tours, soldering workshop. GOTA Tent open.
12:00 pm – Lunch for members and non-public participants ($5)
1:00 pm – Preliminary cleanup begins
2:00 pm – Radio Field Day ends; full cleanup begins
4:00 pm – Cleanup ends
4:00 pm – NEST Leadership Team Meeting

FIELD DAY ACTIVITIES:

 

Public Visiting Hours, for tours, soldering workshop, Yard Sale  (Sat 9am-2pm, Sun 9am-2pm)

GOTA Tent: During public hours, anyone who is newly licensed or unlicensed can participate and receive instruction.
Presented by some of our members, this activity for the general public will walk you through the steps to getting your ham radio license and let you "Get On The Air" to try it out. This is a great intro for scouts, scout masters, and teachers, as well as the general public.

Ham Radio Movie Marathon (Sat 2–5 pm, Sun 10am–2pm)
Selected publicly available movies (with screening permissions) that feature amateur radio. Shows are free and open to the public.

MEALS:
Provided by New England Sci-Tech. Meals will be provided for radio operators, club members, and any non-public participants of Field Day. A small charge per meal will be requested. Please bring cash with you as change and credit may not be available.