Ham Radio Operators On the Air for Nationwide Event
Ham radio operators from the around the country will be
participating in a national amateur radio exercise from 1 PM
LOCAL time on Saturday until sun down Saturday evening or 12
NOON local time on Sunday, depending on their
circumstances June 28th thru June 29th. The event is ARRL
Field Day (www.arrl.org/field-day), an annual amateur radio
activity organized since 1933 by Amateur radio relay
leagueARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio in the
United States.
Hams from across North America participate in Field Day by
establishing temporary ham radio stations in public locations to
demonstrate their skill and service. Their use of radio signals,
which reach beyond borders, bring people together while
providing essential communication in the service of
communities. Field Day highlights ham radio’s ability
to work reliably under any conditions from almost any location
and create an independent, wireless communications network
without the need for "normal" infrastructure, (commercial power,
internet, or wired communication carriers)
Some hams from will also use the radio stations set up in their homes or their backyards and other locations to operate individually or with their families. Many hams have portable radio communication capability that includes alternative energy sources such as generators, solar panels, and batteries to power their equipment.
This year's event is also noteworthy given that a particularly active hurricane season is predicted. Hams have a long history of serving our communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication infrastructure, including cell towers, . Ham radio functions completely independently of the internet and phone systems and a station can be set up almost anywhere in minutes. Hams can quickly raise a wire antenna in a tree or on a mast, connect it to a radio and power source, and communicate effectively with others
During last year's Field Day 2024, more than 31,000 hams participated from thousands of locations across North America. According to latest Federal Communications listings there are just under 800, 000 and amateur radio licensees in the US, and an estimated 3 million worldwide.
Among the tenets of the Amateur Radio Service is developing and practicing skills in radio technology and communications, and even contributing to international goodwill. Hams range in age from as young as 5 to older than 100. A self-study license guide is available from ARRL: The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual (www.arrl.org/shop/Ham-Radio-License-Manual). For more information on area operating locations, go online to "www.arrl.org" in the page's upper right search box, type "field day locator." A map showing balloons marking operating locations will appear. Locate the area you are interested in, click on the nearest balloon and you will see specific contact information and directions to the location.