Also, 13 Colonies is less than a month away. Are you ready for a clean sweep?
Is ARRL Field Day a contest? Technically yes, but those who have spent decades lugging gear and setting up temporary stations in the summer heat know there’s a higher purpose behind the QSOs and friendly competition.
The contesting aspect of the weekend (June 28-29, 2025) adds extra incentive for hams to go out and hone their operating skills, test a new antenna, simulate an EmComm deployment, experiment with alternative power sources, operate using low power, show the public the usefulness and fun of getting on the air, or perhaps eat enough brats in one sitting to challenge Joey Chestnut (QRP, in this case, stands for Quite Repulsive Pursuit).
Yes, operators will compete for the most points in a variety of categories, but everyone who participates wins in this celebration of the best that amateur radio has to offer. Bottom line: You can make Field Day exactly what you want it to be.
For individuals and clubs focused on boosting their scores, here are the rules for Field Day 2025.
DX Engineering has everything you could possibly need to maximize your group’s performance on Field Day, no matter what your goals are for the weekend. While the weather and band conditions are out of our hands, here are a few suggestions to make sure you’ve done your best to make this annual event a success.
Go Solar
- There are major points to be gained by using emergency power—defined as operating from a power source completely independent of the commercial power mains. DX Engineering makes it simple for you to harness the power of the sun with packages that come with foldable solar panel, charge controller, and LiFePO4 battery from Bioenno Power. Choose from nine combos with solar panels from 28-100W and batteries from 3Ah to 30Ah.
Bioenno Power LiFePO4 batteries, solar panels, and solar charge controllers are also sold separately.
Pay Attention to Your Antennas
Right behind upgrading your coaxial cables for Field Day, it’s a smart move to make sure you have HF antennas that are easy to transport and deploy, provide wide coverage, and offer proven performance. DX Engineering offers many options to make this happen, including portable systems from Alpha Antenna, REZ Antenna Systems, Chameleon Antenna, Chelegance, Par EndFedz®, Bushcomm, DX Commander, and other providers.
Also choose from these DX Engineering manufactured antennas:
- Multiband Off-Center Fed (OCF) Dipole Antenna Kit
- DX Engineering EZ-BUILD® UWA Center-T and End Insulator Kit
- DX Engineering Multiband Dipole Antenna Kits
- TW HF Portable Antenna Packages
Watch how fast and easy it is to deploy a TW antenna in this video from the DX Engineering YouTube channel:
Look Good!
Sorry, there are no added points for having a fashionable Field Day squad (take note, ARRL), but that shouldn’t stop you from broadcasting your passion for amateur radio via your Field Day wardrobe. Even if the propagation makes logging QSOs a struggle, at least you’ll look snazzy in the process. DX Engineering carries the ARRL Field Day one-size-fits-most cotton twill hat and unisex T-shirts in small to 5X-large featuring the 2025 theme, “Radio Connects”:
Also find the ARRL 2025 Field Day patch, sticker, mug, pin, and recruitment poster at DX Engineering.
Contest Time!
While you’re gathering what you’ll need for a successful Field Day 2025, be sure to take some time to keep your skills sharp by participating in an array of contests in June, plus a popular star-spangled opportunity in early July.
13 Colonies, 17th Edition
For many operators, setting up portable stations on Field Day is quickly followed by participation in the 13 Colonies Special Event (July 1-7, 2025), which has grown to become one of the most anticipated weeks on the amateur radio calendar (more than 292,000 contacts were made in 2024). In addition to breaking through large pileups to reach stations in the original 13 colonies up the East Coast from Georgia to Massachusetts, operators will have the challenge of making QSOs with three bonus stations: GB13COL (Great Britain), TM13COL (France), and WM3PEN (Philadelphia). Modes of operation (SSB, CW, RTTY, Digital, et. al.) are up to each colony/state and bonus station.
This year’s event honors Ken Villone, KU2US, who created the 13 Colonies event in 2009 and is passing on his leadership role to Tony Jones, N4ATJ, according to the ARRL New England Division.
There’s still time to give yourself an edge in pursuit of that clean sweep by visiting DXEngineering.com, where you’ll find shack upgrades including transceivers, HF amplifiers, antennas, antenna tuners, CW keys and paddles, high-quality coaxial cable, and more.
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Here are a few other contests and special events to mark on your calendar for June:
- Atlantic Canada QSO Party: June 7, 1200Z to June 8, 0200Z. This is a fun, no-pressure contest that encourages Atlantic Canada stations to work everyone, and non-Atlantic Canada stations (U.S./Canada/DX) to work Atlantic Canada stations. Atlantic Canada stations are located in the provinces of Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia—amateur radio prefixes VO1/2, VY2, VE9, and VA/VE1.
- ARRL International Digital Contest: June 7, 1800Z to June 8, 2400Z. Amateurs worldwide contact and exchange QSO information with other amateurs using any digital mode (excluding RTTY) that supports the 4-digit grid square exchange—attended operation only—on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, 10 and 6 meters. Technicians are limited per FCC Rules to 10 and 6 meters.
- VK Shires Contest: June 7, 0000Z to 2359Z. Per the contest website, the objective of this CW/SSB contest, sponsored by the Wireless Institute of Australia, is for amateurs around the world to contact as many “VK shires as possible in the contest period. VK amateurs are to work the world including VK, whilst the rest of the world can only work VK.”
- Portugal Day Contest: June 14, 1200Z to June 15, 1200Z. This SSB/CW 80-10M event, sponsored by the Redo dos Emissores Portuguesses, is held annually in honor of Portugal Day. Portugal Day commemorates the life of poet and national literary hero Lus de Cames, who died June 10, 1580. He is most remembered for his epic poem about Portuguese history and achievements, “Os Lusiadas.” This National Day of Portugal is celebrated in communities around the globe, including several U.S. cities. The contest is open to hams worldwide. Check out the rules here
- ARRL June VHF Contest: June 14, 1800Z to June 16, 0259Z. For amateurs in the U.S. and Canada to work as many amateur stations in as many different 2-degree x 1-degree Maidenhead grid squares as possible using authorized frequencies above 50 MHz. All legal modes are permitted.
- ARRL Kids Day: June 21, 1800Z to 2359Z. Here’s a great chance to introduce a son, daughter, or grandchild to the thrill of ham radio. Why not let the young people in your life experience the same excitement you felt when making your first QSOs? ARRL Kids Day is also an important time to remind ourselves that the future of ham radio rests in getting youth pumped up about the fun and practical aspects of this great hobby.
Read articles by OnAllBands blogger Katie, KE8LQR, for more information on ways to encourage youth to get involved in amateur radio
- All Asian DX Contest, CW: June 21, 0000Z to June 22, 2400Z. Sponsored by the Japan Amateur Radio League, this annual event is for both Asian and non-Asian stations making CW QSOs on 160, 80, 40, 20, 15, and 10 meters.
- Stew Perry Topband Challenge: June 21, 1500Z to June 22, 1500Z. Hams can enter this annual 160 meter, CW-only contest as single operator or multi-operator; high, low, or QRP power. High power is 1,500 watts output or whatever you can legally run in your country, whichever is less. Low power is 100 watts or less output. QRP is 5 watts or less, per the Stew Perry website. The challenge uniquely awards QSO point values based on distance between stations. Click here for complete rules.
Also Check Out These State QSO Parties:
- Kentucky: June 7, 1300Z to June 8, 0100Z
- West Virginia: June 21, 1600Z to June 22, 0400Z
