Field Day is a success!
Field Day was held on rural property near Camp Douglas, WI, owned by fellow club members Steve and Kelley Becker, W9DXE and KD9LQW. Setup was done on the afternoon of Friday June 26 and the morning of Saturday June 27. Operation took place starting on Saturday June 27 at 1pm and continued for 24 hours until Sunday June 28, at 1pm, at which time we started the take-down process.
MVARA entered Field Day in the 2A category using the callsign W9MVA, with two full-time HF stations, plus a ‘free’ VHF station on 6 meters, and a “Get On The Air” (GOTA) station using the callsign of W9FCC. The club’s full-size emergency communications bus housed the two HF stations, plus a station for 6 meters. The GOTA station was setup under a portable canopy outside, using the callsign W9FCC, which added 6 QSOs to our total.
Our final result was 1,996 QSOs and 6,592 points. This included bonus points for 100% Emergency Power, Public Information Table, Formal Message to ARRL SM/SEC, Copying W1AW Field Day Message, 5 Natural Power QSOs Completed, Designated Safety Officer, Social Media, GOTA Station and Online Entry. This was a small decrease from the 2,464 QSOs and 9,477 points from last year. Here is our score breakdown for 2026:
Band CW Dig SSB TOTAL %
---- -- --- --- ----- --
40 190 51 142 383 19
20 198 0 439 637 32
15 273 0 380 653 33
10 20 0 150 170 9
6 0 89 47 136 7
-- --- ---- ---- ---
TOTAL 681 140 1158 1979 100
Below are some photos from the event, courtesy of Dan W9FCC. Also, below, you will find the original invitation and information for our 2026 Field Day operation.
Join us for ARRL Field Day!
Setup: Fri June 26, 2026 4PM
Operation: Sat June 27 10AM until Sun June 28, 2026 1PM
Location: 33516 Grosbeak Ave., Camp Douglas, WI
The Mississippi Valley Amateur Radio Association invites you to join us for ARRL Field Day 2026! This is the biggest operating event of the year, and we’ll be deploying the full Emergency Communications Bus, antenna farm, and multiple stations for a full weekend of radio, learning, and fun.
Field Day is a great opportunity for operators of all experience levels:
- New hams: Come learn contesting techniques, logging, and operating skills from experienced Elmers. We’ll pair you with mentors who can walk you through everything from HF etiquette to making your first pileup contact.
- Anyone curious about amateur radio: Stop by our GOTA (Get On The Air) station! No license is required, and our coaches will help you make a real on‑air contact.
- Experienced operators: We need HF, VHF/UHF, digital, CW, and overnight operators. Bring your headset if you prefer your own.
- Everyone: Enjoy the camaraderie, the challenge, and the chance to practice real emergency communications skills using the club’s equipment.
If you’d like to operate, volunteer, or just stop in to see what Field Day is all about, we’d love to have you there.
Feel free to contact us with questions or to let us know you’re coming.
73, MVARA Field Day Committee
