In 2025, MicroHAMS is hosting our field day at the "Camp Freeman" site, of the Scouting America Camp Edwards  facility, Northwest of Monroe, WA.  This is the same site as we used in 2024.

The site consists of a large grassy field, surrounded by very tall (80'-100'+) trees and a large (approx 20' x30') covered concrete pad.

The address is:  Camp Freeman, 25821 Monroe Camp Road, Snohomish, WA 

Setup will begin at approximately 11 AM on June 27th, 2025 and the field day event will begin at 11 AM on Saturday June 28th, running through 11AM on Sunday June 29th.

The plan is to operate a 3A (3 HF stations), with each station being dedicated to a single band.  During the day we'll operate on 10m, 15m, and 20m, and as daylight and greyline propigation fades, we'll switch to operating on 20m, 40m, and 80m.

Besides the HF stations, we'll operate a VHF+ station that will cover 6m, 2m, and 70cm.  Our plan is to use omnidirectional antennas and SSB or FT-8, however, the option to use yagis is being considered if we can find someone to lead that effort as well as a convenient method of switching between omni and directional antennas is found.

We hope to have some additional resources on the air, subject to field day rules.  Some of these may include an APRS station, WinLink, and even possible digital voice or other VoIP modes.

We'll be using Icom IC-7300 HF rigs with handmics or desk mics (SM-30), though participants are welcome to bring headsets with appropriate cabling. We'll also have external speakers.  For the VHF+ station will be using both a IC-7300 for 6m, and an IC-9700 for 2m and 70cm.  We do not plan to operate on 23cm.  Each radio will be interfaced to computer to facilitate both computer logging and digital modes.

We have several antennas that we'll be deploying, as well as supporting hardware.

To cover 10-15-20m bands, we'll be using a Buddipole Buddihex on a MastWerx 10m mast.  That will be fed via a (brand) triplexer and (brand) bandpass filters.

To cover the "nighttime bands" we'll continue to use the Buddihex for 20m, and deploy a (???) wire dipole for use on 40m (with appropriate band pass filter), and we'll use a 62' vertical wire, fed via an Icom AH-4 (and an with appropriate band pass filter) to cover 80m.

Dipoles will be used for the low bands (80m and 40m).  These will be raised into the very tall surrounding trees by drone on Friday.

Based on long years of experience, we'll be networking our stations.  A wired network has proven to be a trouble free approach even in the wide open spaces of Camp Freeman.  We'll be blessed with several options for internet connectivity including Starlink and LTE data.

We will again use older DELL SFF computers with dual monitors.  These have proven to be workhorses and easily handle the computer logging, digital modes operation, and what ever else we manage to throw at them.

We will have one computer that will be dedicated to maintaining the Zoom session (more about that below) as well as sharing a continuously playing slide deck for the visitor/greeting table.

We work hard to establish consistency between stations with a goal of having them all be 100% the same.

We have been using N3FJP's "ARRL Field Day Contest Log" (https://www.n3fjp.com/fieldday.html) and it has proven to be the perfect solution for us.  While many people like and use N1MM's popular and versatile logging program, the feature rich nature of the program makes it a challenge to use in an environment like ours, where hams of a wide variety of still and experience levels all need to be able to easily and quickly learn how to log their contacts. The learning curve for N1MM is simply too steep for it to fit in with our field day operation.

We can integrate tuning, logging, and even voice (and CW keying) via the logging software.  We also use different internet based "dashboards" to observe other kinds of activity across the nation.

Besides dedicated filtering for each band, and computer logging and control (discussed above), we make sure to have useful tools from call sign and exchange reminders, to scratch paper and writing tools, guides for operating the radios and software, band plans, swr analyzers, battery powered lighting, and plenty of water and snacks.

We improve each year and someday we might even add a maritime mobile station!