Ham radio operators announce ARRL field day

Delaware State News
Posted 6/22/21

Ham radio operators from various amateur radio clubs and entities across Delaware will be participating in a national amateur radio field day from 2 p.m. Saturday until 4:59 p.m. Sunday.

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Ham radio operators announce ARRL field day

Posted

Ham radio operators from various amateur radio clubs and entities across Delaware will be participating in a national amateur radio field day from 2 p.m. Saturday until 4:59 p.m. Sunday.

The event is an annual activity, organized since 1933 by the American Radio Relay League, the national association for amateur radio. The participating Delaware clubs include the Delaware Repeater Association, the First State Amateur Radio Club, the Kent County Amateur Radio Club, the Sussex Amateur Radio Association and the Nanticoke Amateur Radio Club.

Hams from across North America ordinarily participate in the 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.

The event will highlight ham radio’s ability to work reliably under any conditions from almost any location and create an independent, wireless communications network.

Some hams from ARRL's Delaware Section will also use the radio stations set up in their homes or taken to 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,” said Mark Stillman, ARRL Delaware Section manager (call sign "KA3JUJ"). “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 the 2020 field day, more than 18,000 hams participated from thousands of locations across North America. According to ARRL, there are more than 750,000 amateur radio licensees in the U.S. and an estimated 3 million worldwide.

Among the tenets of the Amateur Radio Service are developing and practicing skills in radio technology and radio communications, and even contributing to international goodwill. Hams range in age from as young as 9 to older than 100. A self-study license guide is available online from ARRL (or here for Kindle).

 For more information about the field day and ham radio, go online.

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