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Fellow Titusville Amateur Radio Club Members,Mark your calendars! January 24th – 25th, 2026, marks the return of Winter Field Day (WFD), and we’re aiming for our biggest participation yet. Whether you're a seasoned operator or new to the hobby, WFD is an incredible opportunity to hone skills, build camaraderie, and demonstrate the vital role amateur radio plays in emergency communications.
What is Winter Field Day?
Winter Field Day isn’t a contest – it’s an operating event. The goal is simple: prove we can communicate effectively in challenging conditions like short days, freezing temperatures, and unpredictable weather. This year, we are setting up at Tom (KN5GLO) and Sally’s (KN4HPX) residence (4445 Aurantia Rd, Mims, FL 32754) for an unforgettable weekend of radio and friendship.
Why Participate?
This event isn’t just about logging QSOs; it's a fantastic learning experience. Winter throws unique obstacles our way – short days, cold temperatures, and unpredictable weather. Successfully operating under these conditions builds confidence and prepares us for real-world emergency scenarios. It’s also a great chance to test new equipment, experiment with different antenna configurations, and meet fellow hams!
Event Schedule & Highlights (Full schedule at the end of this notice, google share drive available here: K4KSC)
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/3/folders/1noKgWri5AjOE57ATWobh-qv2K8Mi4Xn2
• Friday, January 23 (Preparations Day): Gates open at 11:00 AM for antenna field setup. We’ll wrap up the evening with dinner and an "After Hours Event" starting at 5:30 PM, featuring a bonfire and live music from Finnegan Tim, a Traditional and Progressive Irish Music ensemble.
• Saturday, January 24 (Day 1 Operations): Gates open at 9:00 AM, with all stations reporting as fully operational by 10:00 AM. The official start of WFD is at 11:00 AM EST (1600 UTC).
• Public Open House: From 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM on both Saturday and Sunday, we invite the public to visit our Get On The Air (GOTA) stations (Stations 4 and 5) to experience amateur radio firsthand.
• Sunday, January 25 (Day 2 Operations): Operations continue until the event ends at 4:59 PM EST (2159 UTC).
• Monday, January 26 (Clean-up Day): Gates open at 9:00 AM for equipment teardown and trailer reset.
Sign Up to Operate! We are now opening sign-ups for 2-hour operating slots at our three main operating stations. Please use the Evite links below to reserve your time:
• Station 1 (SSB-VOICE): https://evite.me/DQzGMA5mem
• Station 2 (DIGITAL MODES): https://evite.me/zfYUnykEVq
• Station 3 (SSB-VOICE): https://evite.me/p2UUjuYvDB
Station Overview
• Stations 1, 2, & 3: Primary operating stations. Stations 1 & 3 are SSB-Voice stations while Station 2 is a full Digital Mode station equipped with Windows 11 PC running Fldigi, WinLink, VarAC, JS8Call.
• Station 4 (GOTA/POTA Demo): Hosted by Roy Merritt (N4RKM), featuring ICOM and Solar equipment.
• Station 5 (GOTA Demo): Hosted by Dave McLean (KY4F), featuring FlexRadio System equipment.
• Station 6 (Tent POTA/Digital): Hosted by Greg Hand (KK4LWB), featuring ICOM and homebrew equipment.
Technical Details & Goals We will be using Affirmatech N3FJP logging software for the event. Our objective is to maximize our score by focusing on challenges such as operating 100% on alternative power, deploying multiple antennas, making digital contacts, and maximizing operators use of the Ham Radio bands. All stations are limited to a maximum of 100 Watts PEP.
New Operators: Don't Be Intimidated!
WFD is incredibly welcoming to newcomers. Experienced members will be on hand to provide guidance and support. We can pair new operators with mentors, help with setup, and assist with making contacts. We can operate on the 160, 80, 40-, 20-, 15-, and 10-meter HF bands and all bands above 50 MHz using all modes, except WSJT. The Winter Field Day is an excellent event for operators of all experience levels to work with others, either solo or with clubs in the area building camaraderie and friendships along the way.
Let’s make Winter Field Day 2026 a ROCKSTAR success for the Titusville Amateur Radio Club! Check out videos of past events and history with these links:
• History of WFD https://winterfieldday.org/history.php
• WFD FAQ https://winterfieldday.org/resources.php
• WHAT And WHY Is Winter Field Day On Ham Radio??? (HamRadioConcepts)
• Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/r/HamRadio/
Keep this momentum going and get ready for plenty of "five-nine" signal reports! If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to me directly.
73,
Greg Hand – KK4LWB – TARC WFD Event Coordinator- [email protected]
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*** FULL SCHEDULE AS OF 07JAN2026 ***
Friday 23 January Schedule (PREPARATIONS DAY)
o 11am – Tom (KNSGLO) & Sally’s (KN4HPX) residence gates open
o 11am – Antenna Field Setup – Stations One through Six
o 4:30pm – Dinner – with Sally (KN4HPX) & Stephanie (K4MVO)
o 5:30 – 8:30 – After Hours Event - Live entertainment & Bonfire– Finnegan Tim, a Traditional and Progressive Irish Music ensemble with Kricket Moros and Kevin Browne. Enjoy a snippet of one of their performances at Café Paradiso - They will be an exciting addition to our Winter Field Day - https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=416452790924102
o 9:pm – Friday preparation day complete (Go home – Sleep)
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Saturday 24 January Schedule (DAY 1 OPERATIONS)
o 9am – Front gates open, prepare & start the Generators
o 10am – All station sponsors (stations 1-6) report equipment strings fully operational to the event coordinator (Greg Hand – KK4LWB)
o 10:30 – First slot operators arrive at their operating stations with all personal equipment needed for the 2-Hour time slot (head set, key, beverage, etc.)
o 12:pm –3:pm - Field Day Open to the Public - Come visit and get on the Air (GOTA) Stations 4 and 5 staffed.
o 11:am – Start of K4KSC Winter Field Day! 1st Milestone for points – Operate six continuous hours during the event (6-hour block is 24 Jan 11am – 5pm)
o 11:00-11:30 – Titusville Mayor Andrew Connors visit with his family – 30 min – Club to talk about winter field day, goals, and future club events for 2026 - TARC Officers as needed
o 4:30pm – Dinner - with Sally (KN4HPX) & Stephanie (K4MVO)
o 5pm – Top-off all generators with fuel
o 5:30 – 8:30 – After Hours Event - Live entertainment & Bonfire – Paul Fee (N6PDF) Jam Night – bring your instrument and yearning to perform, this event will be legendary!
o 11pm – Top-off all generators with fuel
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Sunday 25 January Schedule (DAY 2 OPERATIONS)
o 8am – Top-off all generators with fuel
o 9am – 11am Pancake Breakfast with Sally (KN4HPX) & Stephanie (K4MVO)
o 12:pm –3:pm - Field Day Open to the Public - Come visit and get on the Air (GOTA) Stations 4 and 5 staffed.
o 3pm – 4pm Lessons Learned Questionnaire (Paper and available via the Web)
o 5pm – Contest Complete – gather all Log Data (Greg Hand & TARC Team) prior to powering down equipment
o 5:15pm – Shutdown generators after all data have been collected, connect TARC trailer to shore power
o 5:20 pm – K4KSC TARC Huddle in Machine Shop Area for Direction/Guidance and thanks.
o 5:30pm – Trash Removal and clean-up of common areas (Bathroom, Machine Shop)
o 6pm – Tom and Sally’s residence close for the evening.
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Monday 26 January Schedule (CLEAN UP DAY)
o 9am – Tom and Sally’s residence gates open for equipment tear down, inventory, and reset into the trailer.
o 10am – Generator Maintenance (Oil change, drain out any fuel)
o 11am – Cleanup complete – End of K4KSC TARC Field Day 2026!
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Have I forgot something? – please reach out to me directly on any items you feel we should be tracking ([email protected]).
As we enter the home stretch for the Titusville Amateur Radio Club Winter Field Day, the energy across the team is truly contagious! It has been a fantastic journey watching everyone coordinate, test gear, and prep stations, and now the finish line is finally in sight. We are just weeks away from getting on the air to test our emergency readiness and—most importantly—enjoying the camaraderie that makes TARC such a great community. Let’s keep this momentum going, stay focused on those final milestones, and get ready for an unforgettable weekend of radio, friendship, and plenty of "five-nine" signal reports!
73,
Greg Hand – KK4LWB
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
4445 Aurantia Rd, Mims, FL 32754-4714, United States
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
