Field Day in the Shoshone National Forest – 2025 Recap
This year’s ARRL Field Day found me traveling through the scenic wilds of Wyoming, specifically in the Shoshone National Forest at Fiddlers Lake Campground (grid square DN52np). Despite being off-grid and running solely on emergency power, I was able to jump into Field Day and make the most of it.
Day 1: Digital Start, SSB Wins
I operated 1B battery on my 12 amp hour Bioenno Battery and ran QRP at 5 watts using my Xiegu G90 with my homebrewed 20m linked dipole. I started out on FT8, but the digital portions of the band were absolutely packed. Still, I managed to log a few contacts on 20 meters before switching to SSB in the afternoon.
Once I moved to SSB, things picked up. I had strong signals going out toward South Texas and California, and even managed to reach a station in Maine—nearly 2,000 miles away from my remote mountain location.
Day 2: Better Filters, Better Results
On Sunday, I switched over to my Icom 7300, still running QRP at 5 watts. The 7300’s superior filtering made a big difference in cutting through nearby signals and QRM. With better receive clarity, I made a few more SSB contacts on 20 meters before trying my luck on 15 meters. There, I snagged several more FT8 QSOs.
Final Tally
When all was logged and counted, I ended up with:
- 30 SSB contacts
- 19 FT8 contacts
- 49 total QSOs
- Preliminary score: 590 points
Considering the conditions—low power, battery-only operation, and a public outdoor setting—I count this as a win. It’s proof that you don’t need a high-powered shack to take part in Field Day and have a successful weekend on the air.
