Winter Field Day 2025

Please join us for Winter Field Day (WFD) 2025 on January 25th and/or 26th at the K3MMM family farm outside of Emmitsburg.  This is the same venue as last year, but with lessons learned.  While we’ll have some ready to go stations, feel free to bring your own gear including radios and antennas.   The goal of WFD is Emergency Communications (EMCOMM) practice/training.

Couple of things:

  • Feel free to bring your own gear to try – we have plenty of space.  Or you can visit and use one of our radios.
  • We expect to operate using only batteries and solar power.  Granted, we may have a generator on hand, just in case.  We’ll have some spare batteries available with Anderson PowerPole connections, and can adapt to virtually any radio.
  • You do NOT need any particular level of amateur license (or to be licensed at all), as we can act as control operators while you operate.  This is a very friendly opportunity to give HF radio a try, with your only investment being a road-trip to Emmitsburg!
  • Winter Field Day runs from 11am Saturday January 25th until 4:59pm Sunday January 26th. We’ll be on site from early-morning Saturday until Sunday afternoon, although there’s a good chance that we’ll pause in the wee hours, as we’re not as young as we once were.
  • Official farm address is 17247 Annandale Rd, Emmitsburg. I’ll put the FARC banner at the end of the driveway – but your GPS will get you to the right spot. Our operating spot is: ///soak.disappeared.safety
  • Because it’s winter, and the weather is not certain, we’ll either set up in the back field equipment shed, which boasts nearby tall trees and wide open spaces, warmed by a wood stove. Or in the top of the barn, which while unheated, features a roof and walls. If weather is really uncooperative, we can always end up in the farmhouse living room.
  • We expect to operate on most amateur bands, using phone, CW & permissible digital modes. 
  • If you can’t join us, please try and work us!
  • Be SURE to check back periodically for updates as the date draws closer.  It’s winter and the weather plays a significant role in some decisions. Please check back here periodically for updates.
  • Find official Winter Field Day documentation here:  https://winterfieldday.org/

We hope to see you there!

Farm site plan for parking and operating locations:

 

 

UPDATES:

10January25:

  • We are extremely pet-friendly. Bring your horse, hound, heron, or hare, or anything in between. So long as it coexists with others, it’s fine and welcome.
  • Good news is that the long-term forecast indicates that mud will NOT be a problem this year.  If that forecast holds out, we’ll easily be able to drive into the field.  I’m thinking that we’ll add a tarp-based fourth side to the equipment shed this year to retain a bit of heat. And add a diesel heater from my home garage.
  • Since we’re not super-competitive, I’m thinking that we’ll operate as 4Oscar – up to four simultaneous radios, operating outdoors.  So, our exchange will be K3ERM 4 Oscar Mike Delta Charlie (MDC ARRL section).
  • I’m hoping to have a semi-dedicated peer-to-peer Winlink station configured. During the first several hours, it’ll be on 145.09 for local-ish contacts.  After dark, we’ll move it to HF.
  • If you have even a hint of mic fright, this type of event is the PERFECT solution, as the exchange is basic and predictable.
  • If you have a headset, consider bringing it along, as it can be much easier to hear with background noise.

12January25

  • There are a couple of rule changes this year, with the most significant being the hours of operation: We can now start Saturday at 11:00 local time and go until Sunday at 16:59 local (although I doubt we’ll go that late).  Even though we’re allowed to set up Friday, we’ll likely just set up on Saturday morning.
  • There are several new “multiplier” objectives, many of which we should be able to accomplish.
  • I’ve plowed a big parking area in the field so that the ground gets nice and solid.
  • We expect to use “alternative power”, which means batteries and solar.  While all radios, digital data mode computers, and heat needs to be from alternative power, lighting and logging computers are exempt, and can be from commercial power.
  • We’ll use 146.58 for talk-in.  It may seem that you’re way off course as you go back the driveway – but just turn left as you pass the barn, and follow the obvious tracks.

24January25

  • The thermometer says that parking in the field won’t be a problem.
  • Neighbor Dave brought over his splitter last weekend, so we have about a half cord of wood that is split and ready to go.
  • The big side of the shed is tarped in to retain some bit of heat.
  • We’re ready for a great weekend!

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