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HomeAmateur Radio Winter Field Day

WINTER FIELD DAY 2025

Join the FUN! Ham Radio Event, radio contest, maker activities, guest speakers, planetarium shows, games, movie night, all in one! Hosted by members of Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS), and New England Sci-Tech (NEST).

Be sure to register so we have an accurate count for food order: (not until January) <<Winter Field Day Signup>>.

WHAT:
Family Friendly Event!  Winter Field Day is hosted by members of Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS) and New England Sci-Tech (NEST).

WHEN:
2025, Sat January 25, 12 to 9 pm.
Public is welcome: Sat 12 – 4 pm for tours, soldering workshop, maker activities. The actual radio event runs 2 pm Saturday to 2 pm Sunday, but we plan to operate publicly only 2 to 9 pm Saturday.

WHERE:
New England Sci-Tech. The radio event runs outside in a trailer and/or tent running off alternative power to simulate emergency conditions. However, the building is open.

WHO MAY PARTICIPATE:
Members of the general public, radio amateurs, scouts, and their friends and families are welcome. No radio license needed. On-site training will be provided.

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

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WINTER FIELD DAY 2025 SCHEDULE: (tentative)

 

Saturday
10:00 am – Field Day helpers begin to set up
12:00-4:00 – Public Visiting Hours, for tours, maker activities, Yard Sale items on display
12:00 pm – Lunch provided for members, participants, and guests (register link below for food)
12:40 pm – Announcement about HamXposition - Phil Temples K9HI
12:50 pm – Group Photo?
1:00 pm – Tours, maker activities, StratoScience Workshop; Yard Sale items on display
1:50 pm – Group Photo?
1:30 pm – Planetarium Show; Build air-powered paper rockets, launch if weather permits
2:00 pm – Radio Field Day officially begins. Get On The Air!
2:00 pm – Scout group #1 arrives for GOTA activities and planetarium show.
2:30 pm – Planetarium Show; Build air-powered paper rockets, launch if weather permits
3:00 pm – Model Rocketry Club information session; StratoScience Workshop ends; Radio Field Day continues
3:30 pm – Scout group #2 arrives for GOTA activities and planetarium show.
4:30 pm – Public leaves; Members Game Night begins; Battlin'Bots begins; Radio Field Day continues
5:00 pm – Scout group #3 arrives for GOTA activities and planetarium show.
5:30 pm – Battlin'Bots Tournament; Radio Field Day continues
6:00 pm – Dinner for members and non-public participants
6:30 pm – Science or Sci-Fi movie begins in Space Science Room; Radio Field Day continues
6:30 pm – Scout group #4 arrives for GOTA activities and planetarium show.
9:00 pm – non-overnight participants leave; building closes


WINTER FIELD DAY 2024 ACTIVITIES:

 

Radio Field Day (2-9 pm)
Open to all licensed amateur radio operators worldwide, Winter Field Day is both a contest and a practice exercise of radio skills. There are hardy individuals who brave the snow and cold and get more points. We will stay warm and take a points loss but still have fun! Non-licensed adults and children can get on the air with one of our control operators. The contest runs 2 pm Saturday to 2 pm Sunday, but we plan to operate publicly only 2 to 9 pm Saturday. Properly licensed radio operators are welcome to begin at 2 pm and continue on their own through the night and into Sunday.

Public Tours and Maker Activities (12 - 4 pm)
For children of members and visitors, there will be facility tours and a number of different hands-on activities led by volunteer helpers. Make an electronics gadget, a LASER-cut art project, a woodworking project, and more.

Model Rocketry Club Information Session (3:00 pm)
Information about the upcoming launch season, Sci-Tech Rocketeers club meetings, as well as learn and build sessions offered this spring and summer, led by Eugene Fedotoff who directs the club.

Girl Scouts Ham Radio Activities (2:00, 3:30, 5:00, 6:30 pm)
Four different scout groups will visit the radio room for about 30 min to learn about amateur radio and try to make a "first contacts."  Then they will have a brief tour and a planetarium show.

Game Night and Movie Night (4-9 pm)
4:00-5:45 Board games, chess, Battlin'Bots, pool, computer games in main lab space
5:30-6:00: Battlin'Bots tournament- 1-minute rounds, point system scoring
5:45-6:15: Pizza and/or BYO dinner
6:30-8:00: Movie in Space Science Room - Main Lab for Battlin'Bots and Board games
8:00-9:00: Free time, 1 hr left for activities
9:00: Building closes

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 donation per meal may be suggested. Please bring cash with you as change and credit may not be available.

 

FIELD DAY GOALS:

  • Emergency Preparedness Exercise
  • Getting new, inactive, and potential hams on the air
  • Presenting amateur radio to the public, and to school students
  • Education in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields
  • Having fun
  • Operation from emergency power – generators & solar charged batteries
  • Computer logging with N1MM+ Logger; training available on-site & possibly in advance

For rules and other information about the Winter Field Day, click here.


VOLUNTEER and VISITOR SIGNUP:

 

Anyone interested is welcome to visit the FD site. However, a successful Field Day club operation requires participants willing make a commitment to come for at least part of the weekend, including set-up and/or clean-up. If you would like to participate in Field Day, as a member, radio operator, or even as a spectator/visitor to find out more about it, sign up here <<Winter Field Day Signup>> or contact Bob K5TEC

VISITORS should sign up to alert us of when you plan to arrive, but feel free to just walk in if you are uncommitted to a time.

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Yuri and Zachary setting up the radio station in the tent.

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The Aldridge family with Bruce N9JBT at the GOTA station.

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ARRL award for Tom Walsh K1TW. Left: Phil Temples K9HI. Right: Ray LaJoie AA1SE.

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Marvin Turner W0MET, President of the Winter Field Day Association, joined us for most of the day!

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Keiran and Zachary working the field day radio.

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WPI Prof. Mike Radzicki introduces WPI students running the coffee booth and the MineCraft and Ham Radio booth.

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Joe Barnard, famous YouTube blogger and model rocketry inventor, was guest speaker in the afternoon.

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Late evening Winter Field Day operations.

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Students building electronics projects.