ARRL Field Day 2026

MicroHAMS is heading back to Camp Freeman near Monroe, WA to operate ARRL Field Day 2026 as N7OS. This is our 4th year with a MicroHAMS presence at the site, and it just keeps getting better. The operating period runs 11:00 AM Saturday, June 27 through 11:00 AM Sunday, June 28, with setup beginning the early afternoon of Friday, June 26.

Field Day is amateur radio’s largest annual on-air event — a 24-hour exercise in setting up and operating capable stations away from commercial power and permanent infrastructure. It’s equal parts emergency-preparedness practice, operating contest, and club campout.

The Site: Camp Freeman

If you haven’t been to Camp Freeman, it’s a great spot for Field Day:

• A large covered structure where we set up the stations
• Plenty of room for tent camping or parking a limited number of trailers and RVs
• A “honey bucket” that stays remarkably clean throughout the weekend
• AC power for the kitchen and computers (the radios run on solar power from the MITRU)
• Lots of space to just hang out and enjoy the day

Open the site in Google Maps (47.979857, -121.885245).

Our Setup

We’ll again run a 3A station — three transmitters, each dedicated to a specific band — plus a VHF station covering 6m, 2m, and 70cm, with computer logging and additional operating resources such as propagation mapping.

Much of this is possible thanks to Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management resources made available through the ACS, including the MITRU trailer that provides internet connectivity and solar power for our Field Day.

Everyone’s Invited

We’re inviting all Snohomish County ACS members. As always, we’re grateful for the help and participation of the ACS — without them we wouldn’t have as much to offer, and we wouldn’t have as much fun. As Scott puts it: “If you don’t have other field day plans, at least stop by!”

We’re also inviting members of the former BEARONS (W7FLY) club — it’s thanks to them that we started having a real Field Day again.

We Need Your Help

There’s a job for everyone, whether you want to operate or pitch in behind the scenes:

• Getting a couple of wire antennas up into the trees
• Bonus-point activities — satellite contacts, copying the W1AW bulletin, and sending NTS messages
• Computer and network management
• Greeters and help with visitors
• Parking management

And of course, great food and plenty of chances to operate on your own or with assistance.

Get Involved

Save the date, then contact Grant Hopper, KB7WSD at kb7wsd@gmail.com to ask questions, volunteer, or just let us know you’re planning to come and camp — especially if you want to bring a trailer or RV, since space for those is limited.

Want to get in on the planning? Join the Field Day group: groups.google.com/g/microhamsfd.

We look forward to seeing you at MicroHAMS Field Day 2026 on June 27 and 28!

Schedule

• Friday, June 26 — early afternoon: Setup begins
• Saturday, June 27 — 11:00 AM: Field Day operating begins
• Sunday, June 28 — 11:00 AM: Operating ends, followed by teardown