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If I may wax nostalgic for a moment:

I got my original Novice license in 1990 I think (age 12). I was SO excited to participate in my local club’s Field Day outing - but it was a nail biter for my physical license to arrive in the mail in time.

I’d somehow gotten the word from the FCC that my license was issued and I got my call sign (KB2NDR) but I was so worried it wouldn’t get to my house in time for the weekend (and it didn’t!) - but the club president was super chill and said “I trust ya” so he let me participate and I still remember every minute of that weekend to this day.

It was my first full-fledged ham event (my first all-nighter too), sitting in the tents working on HF rigs I could only dream of affording at 3am with guys chain smoking cigars. They were probably chuffed at this nerdy 12 y/o who wanted to play along (minus the smoking bit).

“…CQ Field Day CQ Field Day this is K2-Zed-O, K2-Zulu-Oscar…”

(That weekend launched my short intensity but long lived ham life. Leveled up to Extra and I still have K2KD active today but haven’t touched a radio in years)

For anyone interested, ESPN has a HAM Radio club - WE1SPN[1] - and they are live streaming some of their Field Day operations on YouTube[2]. They're not operating overnight, but should be back in the morning eastern US time. If you'd like to make contact the operators are actively monitoring the chat.

[1] - https://we1spn.org/

[2] - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYZxmubVjd0

What are some good ways to participate if you don't have an HF radio? (Alternatively, what's a good way to get into HF if you live in a small apartment)?

(I already have my license)

This is a great time to be on the air especially if you're into late nights and enjoy setting up an outdoor station. Want to work all states? This is a good contest for it. It's my 2d favorite with the November CW Sweepstakes coming in first place.

Back in the early 90's, I worked with some guys that were in the San Jose State radio club, W6YL. Although Field Day is not a contest, these guys really really wanted to finish in the top 10 for class 2A.

They found out that I had an Oscar 10/13 satellite station and begged me and my buddy to operate with them (there's bonus points for a satellite contact). So my buddy and I were "hired guns". We had never attended San Jose State and were not members of the club.

These guys were definitely serious. We operated from a huge ranch in the Sunol hills and they erected wire beams for 80 and 40 meters. They did finish in the top 10 the two years my buddy and I participated.

Just made two contacts and it is fun !!

I haven't even been able to get an antenna into the air, it's been thunder and lightning the past 3 days at my QTH after about a week of heat and clear skies. schedules just never line up, ha!

Today/tonight is the 2025 ARRL Field day. Come find a ham to talk to.