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HomeAmateur Radio Winter Field Day

WINTER FIELD DAY 2026

            Quicklink for this page: https://nescitech.org/wfd

Join the FUN! Ham Radio Event, yard sale, maker activities, game night, all in one! Hosted by members of Sci-Tech Amateur Radio Society (STARS), and New England Sci-Tech (NEST).

Please register so we have an accurate count for food: 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:
2026, Sat January 24, 9 am to 9 pm.
Public is welcome: Sat 9 – noon Yard Sale, 12 – 4 pm for public 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 inside the radio room or outside in a trailer and/or tent running off alternative power to simulate emergency conditions. The building is open for indoor activities.

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 2026 SCHEDULE:

 

Saturday
9:00 am – Yard Sale opens in the lobby. Limited access to other parts of the building.
10:00 am – Field Day helpers begin to set up; limited access to building
12-3pm – Public Visiting Hours, tours, maker activities, Yard Sale items on display
12:00 pm – Lunch provided for members, participants, and guests (register link below for food)
12:50 pm – Group Photo?
1:00 pm – Tours, maker activities, StratoScience Workshop; Yard Sale items on display
1:50 pm – Group Photo?
2:00 pm – Radio Field Day officially begins. Get On The Air!
3:00 pm – StratoScience Workshop ends; Radio Field Day continues; Scout group arrives
5:00 pm – Scout group leaves; Members Game Night with D&D begins; Radio Field Day continues
6:30 pm – Dinner for members and non-public participants
8:00 pm – General Game Night activities; Radio Field Day continues
9:00 pm – Game Night and Field Day participants leave; building closes

WINTER FIELD DAY 2026 ACTIVITIES:


Yard Sale (9am-2pm)
In the lobby, open to the public, with limited access to the building.

Public Tours and Maker Activities (12 - 3 pm)
For children of members and visitors, there will be facility tours and possibly some hands-on activities depending on availability of volunteer helpers.

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 continue on their own through the night and into Sunday.
 
Girl Scouts Activities (3-5 pm)
A scout groups will visit for space science activities and will also visit the radio room to learn about amateur radio and try to make a "first contact." 

Game Night and Movie Night (4-9 pm)
4:00-5:00: Board games, chess, Battlin'Bots, pool, computer games in main lab space
5:00-8:00: Dungeons and Dragons games led by two dungeon masters.
6:30-7:00: Pizza and/or BYO dinner
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.

 

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 as a member, radio operator, or even as a visitor to find out more, 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.