Field Emcomm Station Meet 2025

Mission accomplished; thanks to all those who came out.

Quick survey

Emcomm 2025 survey

Emcomm 2025 survey

Quick after action report regarding Emcomm 2025

Write it out as a word (e.g. five)
Would you encourage the organizers to continue and try to 'grow' the Emcomm Station Meet concept into a larger, more robust event?
If they did so, should this become a:
Best is 5
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Optional

The following questions are somewhat related to the event; we'd welcome your thoughts.
Do you believe there would be use for a short seminar, taught by operators with real-world disaster deployment experience, but also with more localized emergency and first responder experience, to provide an informal but practical course in Emergency Communications?
What would be the ideal length of this seminar?
Would it be more successful as a:
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General information

  • Saturday, October 11, 2025 0900L
  • Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory – Laurel, MD
    • Access details and parking locations will be provided in the Post-Registration Information Packet
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About the Event

Join us for the First Annual Field Emcomm Station Meet — an outdoor, hands-on gathering of amateur radio operators from across the region. This is your chance to showcase, compare, and learn from portable emergency communications stations and well-crafted personal sustainment kits.

Whether your setup fits in a backpack or arrives on wheels, you will see what works in the field, share best practices, and take home new ideas to improve your readiness. Even without a station, your presence helps strengthen our regional capability.

Event Focus

We are seeking stations designed and packaged specifically for emergency communications in the field under austere conditions.

  • POTA/SOTA/IOTA stations may be capable of emcomm use, but their design goals often differ from the needs of dedicated emergency deployments.
  • This is not an operating event — getting on the air is welcome, but the priority is explaining how and why your station is configured for effective emergency use.

Space Limitations

  • Stations: Participant spots may be limited if interest exceeds capacity.
  • Vehicles: Space for emcomm vehicles is especially limited.

Event Details

  • SATURDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2025
  • Schedule:
    • 0600–0700 – Volunteers (1st shift) & Organizers setup
    • 0700–0900 – Participant arrival and station setup
    • 0900–1300 – Open to attendees including station visits, peer exchange
    • 1300–1500 – Pack-out and field restoration (Leave No Trace)
  • Location: Johns Hopkins APL – Main Campus, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, MD 20723
  • Parking: Southwest lot near Building 1
  • Cost of attendance or participation: Free
  • Talk in frequency: 146.55 MHz

Who Should Attend

Amateur radio operators, clubs, and emergency communications teams from across the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan areas and beyond. Operators from farther afield are welcome and appreciated for making the trip.

Ways to Participate

  • Participant: Bring and operate your portable emcomm station and antenna in the field.
  • Attendee: Join without a station to observe, learn, and contribute ideas.

What You’ll Receive After Registration

Your Post-Registration Information Packet will include:

  • Site map and instructions (access, parking, WC)
  • Field Emcomm Station Best Practices document authored by MCACS
  • Notes on Leave No Trace expectations

Security and Safety Notice

The Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory is a secure facility, operating under Department of Defense regulations for restricted entry.

  • For the safety of all staff and visitors, anyone visiting Johns Hopkins APL should be free from sickness or symptoms common to any communicable illness, including COVID-19.
  • Firearms and weapons are restricted items and should not be brought on campus.

Please Share

Club leaders, ARES/RACES coordinators, and emcomm group leads — feel free to share widely with clubs, ARES/RACES/ACS organizations, and colleagues from outside the DC/Baltimore area who might be interested in attending.

Organizers

Organizing committee

Sponsors of the event (incomplete list)

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Amateur Radio Club

With support from

  • National Capital Region (NCR) ARES Council
  • Montgomery County ARES
  • Howard County ARES
  • Howard County RACES
  • Maryland / DC ARRL Section
  • Virginia ARRL Section

Discussion & Contact

Join the discussion

If you wish to engage in the pre-event discussion, you can do so within Ham Community. If you are already registered and a member of the Emergency Communications Group, this link will take you right to the event’s thread within the Group. If you are not yet registered on Ham Community, you can do so here: Create an Account – Ham Community – After registration, go to the Emergency Communications Group and simply join the group.

Contact us

If you have a specific question, it may take us a little longer to get back to you (remember, we are all volunteers with day jobs). You can do so by sending an email to: events at hamsupport.com – We will get back to you as soon as possible.

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