Part of our Emergency Communications and Preparedness pillar
Winter Field Day is approaching quickly, and planning is officially underway. Winter Field Day (WFD) is a prime opportunity to test our emergency communications capabilities, operating skills, and portable gear under challenging conditions.
Whether you are planning to operate for a full 24-hour shift, drop by for a few hours, or help with antenna setup and tear-down, this post outlines our preliminary operating strategy, gear infrastructure, and schedule. Keep an eye on this post for updates as we finalize our site selection and shift details.
Event Overview
- Event: Winter Field Day
- Dates: January 23–24, 2027 (Starts 1900 UTC Saturday / Ends 1900 UTC Sunday)
- Location: TBD (Final site announcement coming soon)
- Callsign / Class: TBD
Infrastructure and Equipment Setup
We are aiming for a robust setup that balances reliability with field readiness. Here is a breakdown of the primary infrastructure being deployed:
- Power Generation & Storage: 100Ah LiFePO4 battery banks backed by high-efficiency solar charge controllers for daylight ops, along with quiet inverter generators for dedicated night runs and continuous battery maintenance.
- Antenna Systems: Resonant dipoles, multi-band End-Fed Half-Wave (EFHW) setups, and dedicated NVIS (Near Vertical Incidence Skywave) wire antennas optimized for regional phone and CW contacts.
- Station Support: Heated shelter/canopy setup, rig interfaces, digital modes laptops, and inline power meters to monitor battery health and draw.
Operating Schedule
To maximize our score, maintain continuous presence on air, and avoid operator fatigue, we are breaking the 24-hour contest period into rotating shifts.
| Time Block (Local) | Primary Focus / Activity | Station Lead |
|---|---|---|
| 09:00 – 11:00 | Site setup, antenna deployment, safety check | All hands |
| 11:00 (1900 UTC) | Contest begins | On-duty ops |
| 11:00 – 17:00 | Daytime high-band operations (15m/20m) & digital shifts | Shift Team A |
| 17:00 – 23:00 | Transition to low bands (40m/80m) & evening phone/CW runs | Shift Team B |
| 23:00 – 06:00 | Overnight low-band sprint & digital modes | Night owl crew |
| 06:00 – 11:00 | Morning band opening push (40m/20m/15m) | Shift Team C |
| 11:00 (1900 UTC) | Contest ends / log consolidation | All ops |
| 11:30 – 13:00 | Teardown, station packing, site inspection | All hands |
Band and Mode Rotation Plan
To avoid mutual interference between stations and optimize propagation windows, we will rotate band assignments and operating modes on a scheduled rotation.
Band Allocations
- 15m / 20m: Daytime focus (11:00 to 17:00). High priority for long-distance SSB and FT8/CW.
- 40m: Primary workhorse band. Runs late afternoon through morning for reliable regional coverage.
- 80m / 160m: Late evening and overnight operations (21:00 to 06:00) using NVIS wire setups to catch short-skip contacts.
- VHF/UHF (2m / 70cm): Local check-ins, FM calling frequency monitoring, and local contact logging throughout the event.
Mode Rotation Schedule
- SSB phone: Rotated in 2-hour blocks per operator across active bands to keep voices fresh and maintain continuous callouts.
- CW (Morse code): Scheduled during high-density band periods to maximize points and cut through weak signal conditions.
- Digital (FT8 / FT4 / JS8Call / RTTY): Run continuously on dedicated digital rigs, particularly overnight when voice bands drop off.
Logging Methods
Accurate logging is essential for scoring and QSO verification.
- Primary logger: N1MM Logger+ (configured for Winter Field Day exchange rules).
- Network sync: All station laptops are linked via a local Wi-Fi router network to share a master log in real time and eliminate duplicate contacts across stations.
- Backup: Paper logs and a duplicate Cabrillo exporter run on secondary machines in case of power interruption or network drops.
Attendance & Operator Sign-Up
We need operators, loggers, setup helpers, and safety leads. Whether you can lend a hand for two hours or stay the entire weekend, please let us know you are coming so we can schedule operating slots effectively.
How to sign up: Leave a comment below with your callsign, preferred operating modes (SSB, CW, Digital), and the times you are available, or drop a message through our site contact page.
Food & Grill Sign-Up
We’ll have a grill going and want to keep everyone fed through the full 24 hours without anyone having to run a supply mission mid-shift. Comment below with what you can bring or which duty you’ll take, and we’ll keep this table updated as slots fill in.
| Item / Duty | Volunteer |
|---|---|
| Grill Duty (Saturday dinner) | Open |
| Grill Duty (Sunday breakfast) | Open |
| Charcoal / Propane | Open |
| Burgers & Hot Dogs | Open |
| Buns & Condiments | Open |
| Side Dishes | Open |
| Drinks (coffee, water, soda) | Open |
| Snacks & Desserts | Open |
| Paper Goods & Utensils | Open |
Camping & RV Parking
Camping and RV hookup availability is TBD until we confirm the final site. Some candidate locations have power and water hookups for RVs, others are tent or dry-camping only, so hold off on firm plans until the location is announced. We’ll update this section with specifics (RV pad count, hookup type, tent space, and any site fees) as soon as the site is locked in.
Stay tuned for the final location announcement and final frequency map as we get closer to the event.