Field Day is a nationwide ARRL sponsored event on the fourth full weekend of June where many local ham clubs set up in a field environment to simulate the operation of amateur radios under emergency conditions.
While there is a contest aspect to Field Day, the real objective is to give members experience operating in an austere environment like those that may be faced in emergency situations.
It’s that time of year again to start up those generators, dust off those solar panels and charge up those batteries. Oh, and get your temporary antennas tested and move those radios from the boxes over to the field day location of your choice.
ARRL has a list of registered Field Day sites nationwide at this link, http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator , but some clubs choose not to get registered prior to the event weekend. Just put in your city / state in the search bar to find your nearest event location.
Note: Any contact information listed below was found published at the ARRL site locator map, or was provided to me for this purpose. None of the email links are live, so you will need to cut/paste in order to send that person an email about their event.
Don’t expect many of them to be checking their emails frequently during the weekend, they will likely be on the radio instead. Most will have a station monitoring 146.52 simplex to gain contacts in that manner.
Side Note: The San Antonio Radio Club (W5SC) will be holding a morning VE Test Session on Saturday, June 22nd, at the Great Northwest Public Library (Near Grissom Road and Timberwilde) beginning at 10am. While walk-ins are welcome, preregistration is requested via email at hamtest@gmail.com.
Pat AD5BR will be conducting the exams with her VE team. There is the usual $15/test attempt fee payable in cash and you will need the usual ID and proof of existing license (if upgrading). Please contact Pat AD5BR for more info.
This is the last chance in the San Antonio area to upgrade to General before the question pool changes on July 1st.
Area Clubs whom I know are conducting Field Day Events, include:
- Alamo Area Radio Organization (AA5RO) will be hosting a 12 hour event on the west side of San Antonio at the American Legion Post 300, located at 3290 Grosenbacher Rd, San Antonio, TX 78245, just outside Loop 1604, north of Hwy 90. According to Gilbert N5CDA, due to scheduling constraints, the club has instead chosen to run a 12 hour event from 10am-10pm on Saturday only. Dinner will be served around 5pm, pot luck. The event is open to everyone. Their website is found at AA5RO.org or on Facebook.
- The San Antonio Radio Club (W5SC) will be hosting a 24 hour event on the north side of San Antonio. Field Day 2019 will be held on June 21-23 at the City of Shavano Park’s City Hall Complex, which is on the northwest side of the Greater San Antonio Metropolitan Area of Texas. The City of Shavano Park has been a gracious host for seventeen (17) years now. Note: Road construction on DaZavala Rd may cause traffic issues. Recommend using NW Military to get there. Potluck dinner will be served around 6pm on Saturday. See the club website at W5SC.org for more details.
- ROOST Ham Club (W5ROS) will be hosting a 24 hour event at their clubhouse on the SE side of San Antonio. Chris K5VCR reports the following… Our field day is going to be at the ROOST clubhouse, 7201 Palm Park Blvd San Antonio Texas 78223 (Last house on right at end of street) See map at their club website, W5ROS.org Open to all! For further info, contact Chris K5VCR at 210-838-8375 voice/text.
- Kendall Amateur Radio Society (KB5TX) will be hosting a 24 hour event on the east side of Boerne TX, at a members farm / ranch located at 48 Rust Lane. Talk-in: 146.64 (PL88.5) Contact: Brad Moore at (210) 846-9745 or n7rf@arrl.org. The club’s website is KB5TX.org
- Guadalupe Valley ARC (WB5LVI) will be hosting their event on private property with restricted access. Their club website is found at GVARC.org
- Hill Country ARC (W3XO) will be hosting their field day event at the Our Lady of the Hills High School on Hwy 27 South, in Kerrville, TX. Talk-in: 146.98 162.2 tone. Contact: Jeff Lavender at 830-377-9594 or mrlavenderphotos@gmail.com. The club website is kerrhams.org
- Medina County Amateur Radio Corp. (KD5DX) will be hosting a 24 hour event in Hondo, TX (west of San Antonio off Hwy 90) at City Park #2, FM 462 North & Castro St., Hondo, TX. Talk-in: 145.290 (-, PL 162.2). Contact: Frank McKinley at 830-765-4081 or ak5fm.tx@gmail.com. The club’s website is mcarc.org
- Wilson County Amateur Radio Club (W5WCR) will be hosting their event at the La Vernia City Park, in La Vernia, TX. Directions: La Vernia City Park, 221 San Antonio Rd, La Vernia, TX. San Antonio Rd intersects Hwy 87 a block north of FM 775 (also known as Bluebonnet Dr) N 29.35536, W 98.12405. We’ll be in the parking lot. Look for a large black enclosed trailer with an antenna mast. 🙂 We will be on-site for the entire duration of Field Day, plus setup and teardown. We will be operating class 2A (or 2B if our 3rd doesn’t show) with one station focusing on phone and the other on digital. We will also be operating entirely on generator power. Contact: Brian Beuershausen at 210-264-2714 or KB5EO.radio@gmail.com
Individuals who have informed me of their plans to operate independently from home or other locations:
- Cray Lester (K5MUG) (San Antonio 78227) – Craig says, “I’ll be operating FD this weekend as K5MUG, Class 1e, Section STX, from my patio at home, I plan most of Saturday and Sunday (or as long as I can hold out). I’ll be concentrating on 40m/20m with solar power to my Elecraft Kx3 at QRP/5w CW into a N/S oriented dipole on a push-up pole at 31 feet. Based on practice runs last week and so far this week with 5w and my home antenna (dipole at 40ft) it’ll be a challenge but I’m looking forward to making it happen and just counting up when it’s over, fun times!”
- Bob Thompson (K5RWT) (San Antonio 78232) will be operating from his home in San Antonio, TX. Contact: Bob Thompson at 210-900-7650 or thompo@sbcglobal.net.
CORRECTIONS: If anyone has corrections / additions / deletions to the above information, feel free to reach out to Lee Besing N5NTG at 210-771-7075 or info@sanantoniohams.org with such information. If you call please leave a message or send me a text. I’m not an early riser due to my work schedule.
I will be trying to visit as many FD locations as possible on Saturday in the time I have available. Please feel free to contact me to arrange posting of photos from your club’s event. I will set up a login for any authorized club officer / member to get this done.
