ARRL Field Day 2026 will be held on June 27th and 28th, with set up on the 26th. This year’s Field Day theme is “Amateur Radio: A National Resource.” More information about Field Day can be found on the ARRL Field Day page.
The purpose of Field Day is to demonstrate the communications ability of the amateur radio community in simulated emergency situations. Thousands of radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations. Please consider operating and/or volunteering to assist at Field Day 2026. A successful Field Day depends on member participation.
For the thirteenth year, MARC will be operating with the Damascus Emergency Communications Team (DECT) at the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department Activities Center pavilion at 10211 Lewis Drive in Damascus (39.2907⁰W, 77.2130⁰N). Set up will be Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. The 24-hour contest part of Field Day will run from 2:00 pm Saturday to 2:00 pm Sunday. Take down will immediately follow.
Operations
DECT will operate a public information table and monitor the 146.955 MHz repeater for talk ins.
Members are welcome to bring their own radio and antenna equipment and operate at Field Day. If you want to operate your own radio, please let us know so we can coordinate space in the antenna and power plans. If you are bringing your own equipment, please consider teaming with other club members as operators, observers, or loggers.
We will have four HF operating position available for member use, one in the MARC Communications Trailer and three in the pavilion. These stations will be available for member to reserve and operate during field day. We would like to give all club members an opportunity to become involved with operations, especially those who do not have HF capabilities at home.
If you would like to be involved in HF operations but do not feel comfortable operating, logging is a great way to gain experience. Dennis KD6DPR gave a presentation on the N1MM logging program that will be available for use on Field Day. This presentation is available on YouTube .
MARC will be using Yaesu FT-991As in the three Pavilion stations. Marc N4DR gave a presentation and demonstration of Yaesu FT-991A operations. This presentation is available on YouTube .
Get on the Air (GOTA)
POC: Ellen Goldman KC3MJV
This year, we will have a "Get on the Air" (GOTA) station allowing newcomers, inactive licensees, and unlicensed individuals to make radio contacts under the guidance of GOTA Coach Ellen KC3MJV. It promotes hands-on experience and skill-building in amateur radio, and earns bonus points.
Scout Radio Merit Badge
POC: John O’Brien K3LO
Based upon the success in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and the continuing demand for the Radio Merit Badge, DECT and MARC will be repeating the Radio Merit Badge program at the 2026 DECT/MARC Field Day operation. Forty-five Scouts earned their Radio Merit Badge during Field Day 2025.
The program covers the Badge’s knowledge requirements with a PowerPoint presentation at 10:00 am Saturday morning. Following lunch, the requirements for visits to a radio installation and on-air contacts will be satisfied by a visit to one of the Field Day stations where members explained how the stations worked and mentored the Scouts as they made their contacts.
How You Can Help:
•.If you will be at the Field Day site and operating a station on Saturday afternoon, be set up and ready by 1:00 pm to show the station to the Scouts and help them make QSOs.
•.If you will be at the Field Day site on Saturday afternoon but not operating a station, bring a handheld radio and help the Scouts make QSOs through one of the repeaters.
•.If you will be at home on Saturday afternoon, monitor the 146.955, 442.750, and 443.900 repeaters and help the Scouts make QSOs.
•.If you will be at the Field Day site Saturday morning, help us with registration and distribution of instructional materials.
Amateur Radio Public Exam Session
POC: David W2LNX
Sunday morning at 10:00 am, MARC will be conducting free Technician, General, and
Amateur Extra examinations in the Pavilion. Advanced registration is required by email to education @ marcclub.org . Current hams: send via email your call sign and a phone number that receive text messages. Prospective hams: send email requesting information on obtaining an FCC Registration Number (FRN) and submitting a Form 605.
Volunteers needed
We are looking for volunteers to help with Friday afternoon and Saturday morning set up, station operation and logging, GOTA coaching, and Bonus Points activities. Detailed information on Bonus Points activities is available on the ARRL Field Day page. All help is welcome, whether you can perform one of these activities on your own or simply assist in the activity.
Free Lunches, Snacks and Drinks
All food will be free of charge both Saturday and Sunday. It will be hot, so we will insure everyone stays hydrated. Eat, relax, and enjoy the camaraderie at one of the shaded picnic tables.
You can sign up for time on a MARC station as an operator and/or logger, assist at the GOTA station, or to help with setup, take down, and/or Field Day operations by sending an email to N3RQV @ arrl.net . If you have any questions, please email me at N3RQV @ arrl.net .
Additional information is in the DECT/MARC Field Day 2026 planning presentation by Aleks, W3JAG.
updated: May 26, 2026