Presentation
Station Setup Techniques to Prevent Field Day RFI - Conrad Trautmann, N2YCH
Conrad Trautmann, N2YCH, ARRL Technical Editor, will present Station Setup Techniques to Prevent Field Day RFI, drawn from his feature article in the May 2026 issue of QST (p. 16). Conrad joined ARRL as a Senior Lab RFI Engineer in 2025 and brings 44 years in commercial radio technology along with three decades on the air, most recently as an ARRL VE, ARES EC in Connecticut Region 1, and co-founder of the Connecticut POTA Activators Group.
While working on the revision of the ARRL RFI Book, Conrad noticed the intermodulation chapter offered little coverage of RFI at Field Day. He set out to close that gap by gathering best practices from operators behind some of the cleanest multi-station setups in the country — Joe Carcia, NJ1Q (W1AW), Tim Duffy, K3LR, Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, and Keith Elliot, W6KME.
What the best stations have in common:
- RF-quiet locations and equipment
- Dedicated bands, antennas, and radios per station
- High-power band-pass filters (triplexers) on each radio
- Transceivers with good filtering and adjacent-channel rejection
- Dipoles installed in-line to minimize pattern overlap
- AC-line filtering at the panel and quality shielded cables routed away from RF
- Grounding and bonding per the ARRL Grounding and Bonding Book
- 1:1 baluns (mix 31, F240-31) at radio and antenna feed points
- Operator training
The talk also includes a photo tour of ARRL HQ and the W1AW station — towers, operating positions, and the switching and filtering rack — so members can see how these principles look in a working multi-station environment ahead of Field Day.
Watch the recorded version on YouTube.
Meeting Schedule
6:00 PM - Meeting Begins:
- Show and Tell (bring your cool things!)
- Ham Help (bring your questions and challenges!)
- News and upcoming ham events and activities
6:30 PM - Presentation:
- Station Setup Techniques to Prevent Field Day RFI - Conrad Trautmann, N2YCH
Join In Person
Get to know your fellow amateurs! Before and after the meeting, it's common for people to bring items to talk about, ask questions, or just chat. Feel free to bring your dinner to enjoy during the program.
We monitor the 2m alternate call channel (146.580). If you need an escort, call when you arrive and wait near the entrance—someone will come get you. Bring your HT and help with this process!
No radio? Join the Teams meeting and let us know in the chat that you need help.
Directions & Map
Building 31, Microsoft Campus
3730 163rd Ave NE, Redmond, WA 98052
From SR-520: Exit NE 40th St, head east toward Lake Sammamish, turn right on 163rd Ave NE.
From Bel-Red Road: Head west on NE 40th, turn left on 163rd Ave NE.
Parking: Third left into surface lot between Buildings 31 & 32. Don't turn at the Building 31 sign as you are headed south; this will lead you to underground parking. If you need covered parking because it is raining and you have mobility issues or are bringing something that can't get wet, let us know that in the online meeting chat so we can find you for escort. Your radio won't be heard from inside the garage.
Loading map...
Location: Building 31, Microsoft Campus
Open in Google Maps →
Join Online
Although we encourage in-person attendance, you can also join via Microsoft Teams.
Meeting Details & Phone Dial-in
- Meeting ID
- 241 220 373 306
- Passcode
- HU7v8Nr9
- Phone
- +1 425-707-5929,,65802745# (United States, Redmond)
- Toll-free
- (844) 304-5076,,65802745# (United States)
- Conference ID
- 658 027 45#
Recording & Privacy Policy
This meeting will be recorded. By attending or participating, you agree to this policy, including waivers and consent to the use of your contributions and image, voice, and other mechanisms of participation.
You may opt-out from identification by muting audio, disabling video, and not contributing to chat. Remaining in the meeting constitutes consent regardless of stated intent.