What is Field Day?

ARRL Field Day is amateur radio’s open house! Every June, more than 31,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio’s science, skill, and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.

For Field Day 2026, SPARC will participate in a joint operation with the Pasadena Radio Club, JPL Amateur Radio Club, and the Caltech Amateur Radio Club. Come visit us and see all that ham radio has to offer!

Start: Saturday, June 27 at 11:00 a.m.
End: Sunday, June 28 at 10:59 a.m.
Location: ArtCenter College of Design, Hillside Campus, south parking lot
Enter at 1700 Lida St., Pasadena, CA 91103
What3Words location: help.rock.vouch

Do I Need a License to Participate?

There will be a Get on the Air (GOTA) station operating from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Members of the public with no radio license are welcome to visit the station and get a taste of Field Day excitement for themselves.

We will operate under the special event call sign N6P, “November Six Papa,” as a class 4A station. The GOTA station will operate with SPARC’s call W6SPR, “Whiskey Six Sierra Papa Romeo.”

Licensed hams who are operating during Field Day from home and would like to contribute their score to the aggregate club total, note that our group name will be “PRC/SPARC/JPLARC/CITARC” this year.

Here is a summary of Field Day 2025 written by event co-chair Carol Bruegge, KE6SRN.