Welcome to RSGB SSB Field Day 2026 with SADARS
On 5th–6th September 2026, the members of SADARS took part in the RSGB SSB Field Day as G3SAD/P, operating from a field near Letchworth, Hertfordshire.
Our day began at 10:00 am with plans to set up the station, although things didn’t quite go to plan! The farmer was away in a meeting and the gate to the field hadn’t been opened, so we spent an unexpected hour waiting. By 11:00 am we finally gained access and quickly got to work erecting the operating tent and antenna system.
For the weekend we used a full-size G5RV antenna, supported between two military fibreglass masts and securely guyed into position. The station itself consisted of the club’s Yaesu FT-991A, a laptop running the contest software, a SuperLux HMD-660 headset, and an MFJ-939 automatic antenna tuner.
The contest began at 2:00 pm BST on Saturday 5th September and continued for the full 24 hours, finishing at 2:00 pm BST on Sunday 6th September. We initially powered the station from a generator before switching over at dusk to a substantial 280 Ah battery, kindly supplied by Dave (M7WVX). Tim (G6DXY) also provided a Jackery power station, which ran the Behringer HA400 Micro Headphone Amplifier, allowing independent volume control for both the headset and external speaker. The MFJ-939 tuner was powered separately from a leisure battery, also provided by Tim.
By the end of the contest we had logged an impressive 463 QSOs, making contacts across the UK and Europe throughout the event.
Several SADARS members camped overnight, adding to the enjoyable atmosphere and making the weekend as much a social event as a radio contest. Everyone who attended had a fantastic time, although one tradition was sadly missed—we never did get to see the chickens this year!
A huge thank you to everyone who helped with the setup, operation, and pack-down. We’re already looking forward to RSGB SSB Field Day 2027.
