VHF UHF Field Days
Contest Manager
Roger Harrison VK2ZRH. Dateline: 31 December 2025.
Results for the 2025 VHF-UHF Field Day events (final and preliminary) are published on the VK Contest Log Checker website. Click on the image captioned "VHF UHF Field Day." www.vklogchecker.com
RULES for the 2026 Summer event are posted below under Files For Download.
At right: Andrew VK2XI having a crack operating portable at St Helena near Byron Bay, in the Northern Rivers region of NSW (thanks to Graeme VK2QJ for the information).
Logs for all events are now processed through the VK Contest Log Checker and must be submitted through the website, at: www.vklogchecker.com
You can choose to use either of two logging programs – VKCL (VKCL 4.15), the one you’ve known for so long – or N1MM Logger+, adopted by some contestants for the 2025 Summer and Winter events. N1MM Logger+ is widely used across many other contests.
For contesters using the VKCL logger, the VHF log file output needs to be converted to Cabrillo 3.0 format before submitting to the VK Contest Log Checker. You can download a converter from: www.vk4sn.com/Contests/Contesting.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE
SOME CONFUSION arose previously about "permitted modes," where some operators believed that only SSB could be used, and that AM and FM were excluded (amplified and circulated by keyboard clickeratti on social media). This has never been the case. To clear this up, any/every VOICE mode: AM, FM, SSB may be used as the operator sees fit. The Rules have been updated.
For simplicity, use PH when logging the Mode and the VK Contest Log Checker will know what you mean.
This is an unintended consequence of HF contesting rules that were transferred across to VHF-UHF contest rules.
Duplicates & Re-work Period: the Rules for the 2026 Summer event have been updated to clarify past interpretations.
2026 FIELD DAY DATES are posted below.
The ambiguities of the past have been expunged (no more Algorithm!) and all events are on specific weekends that are not too different from the past, except for the Spring event, which has been moved from late November (on the cusp of Summer!) to late September, placing it close to the vernal equinox. This also extends the time between the Spring and Summer field days in successive years.
You will also note that the Summer Field Day is now closer to the Summer solstice and thus the broad peak of the sporadic E season as well as the start of the annual Ross Hull VHF-UHF Contest.
These Field Day date changes were worked out in conjunction with the WIA Contest Committee Chair, Alan Shannon VK4SN, particularly to avoid clashes with other popular VK contests, and based on contesters’ feedback. However, contesters' feedback on the new arrangements are welcome.
Contest Introduction
The Field Days provide VHF-UHF operators with the opportunity to "head for the hills" and see how far distant and how many stations they can work.
The Field Days have separate sections for single and multiple operator stations. The duration of the Field Day is 24 hours, but there are also 8-hour sections for operators who may not be able to camp overnight. Notably, most club stations prefer to operate for the full 24 hours.
The Field Days also generate plenty of activity from home stations, so there is also a separate Home Station section.
All contacts must be simplex: contacts through repeaters or satellites are not allowed. There is plenty of FM activity, but one feature of the Field Days is a high level of SSB activity.
It is possible to do very well with only modest antennas if you pick a good hilltop.
Aim Of The Contest
The overriding aim is to get away for the weekend and have fun! But next after that, the aims are:
 to encourage more activity on VHF, UHF, and microwave bands;
to encourage people to work greater distances than usual by operating portable, and
to provide opportunities for people to activate or work into new grid squares.
This Years Winners
Are published on the VK Contest Log Checker website. Visit: www.vklogchecker.com
Click on the image captioned "VHF UHF Field Day."
Previous Years Winners
Results of all VHF-UHF Field Days up to Summer 2025 are available in the "Files for Download" section below.
Contest History
The first VHF-UHF Field Day was run as a trial in January 1989. It was quite well received so it has continued since then. In 1998, there was a trial Spring Field Day which also proved a success. Support for the Field Days continued to increase, and a third event - the Winter VHF-UHF Field Day - was introduced in 2008.
In 2014, the WIA board decided that the contest should be run with two parallel sets of rules and scoring systems. John Martin VK3KM (now SK) departed as Contest Manager after the Winter 2014 event.
Since the Winter 2019 event, the Field Days have used a single set of Rules, using distance-based scoring, as per the previous Division 2 Rules. This resulted from the clear preference of participation and log entries moving to Division 2 over Division 1 across the prior year.
Upcoming Contest Date & Time
2026
Summer: 1st full weekend of January: 3rd-4th
Times: 0100 UTC Saturday through 0059 UTC Sunday (0400 / 0359 in VK6).
Winter: 3rd weekend of June: 20th-21st
Times: 0100 UTC Saturday through 0059 UTC Sunday (0300 / 0259 in VK6).
Spring: 3rd weekend of September: 19th-20th
Times: 0100 UTC Saturday through 0059 UTC Sunday (0400 / 0359 in VK6).
Dates for VHF-UHF Field Days 2026-2030 posted below for download. Feedback is welcomed.
Contest Rules
Full details of the upcoming contest rules are available in the "Files for Download" section below.
Contest Scoring
VHF-UHF Field Days employ distance-based scoring, using your 6-character Maidenhead locator (the Sub-Square).
Full details of the scoring system are set out in the Rules.
Further Information on Maidenhead Locators
Each four-digit Maidenhead locator (Square) identifies an area which covers one degree of latitude and two degrees of longitude. Detailed explanation of the Maidenhead locator system can be found in the Download section below. Also available is a computer program that can convert latitude and longitude into grid locators, and vice versa.
To find the six digit Maidenhead locator for any location, click this Link.
Submitting Your Log
Only electronic logs are accepted unless some disability necessitates a paper log, which must be submitted as set out in the Rules.
The online VK Contest Log Checker accepts logs from the weekend of the contest; deadline for submissions is 14 days from the Sunday of the event.
Contest Results
The aim is to have results finalised approximately four weeks after the Field Day, with the results posted to the VK Contest Log Checker and publicised via the usual WIA channels.
Contest Award
We are working on returning to providing each top-scoring station in every Section–Sub-section with a colour certificate in .PDF format, sent to the contact email address in the log.
Logging Software
The contest Rules set out all logging details. You can choose either of two logging programs – VKCL, the one you’ve known for so long – and N1MM Logger+.
Download N1MM Logger+ here: Link
Download VKCL 4.15 here:Link
VKCL logs need to be converted to Cabrillo V3 format before submitting the file. Download the VKCL converter program here: Link
Contest Sponsors
The WIA sponsors the VHF-UHF Field Days.
Files For Download
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Software to find Maidenhead locators, distances and bearings
DXLOC30.zip
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Page Last Updated: Thursday, 01 Jan 2026 at 14:12 hours by Roger Harrison
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