ARRL Annual field day is coming up fast.
Well Folks, it's time once again for the annual Amateur Radio field day, and contrary to what it may seem, it is NOT just a bunch of old fat people with brain damage from stray RF and burned fingers sitting around all day barbecuing and swapping stories about their latest gall bladder operations.
The official ARRL BBQ.
Field day is an annual event sponsored by the Amateur Radio Relay league for the practice of setting up radio equipment for emergency response. It can be held by a club or individuals licensed in the US by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in IARU region 2. It is traditionally held in the last week of June each year.
Test test test...can you hear me NOW?
One of the key things that field day does is give clubs a chance to setup and test Amateur Radio Equipment. It is not a contest, but a test to see how well the radio equipment can be set up and how many contacts can be made using as many modes as possible. Not only do most field day operations receive points for the “Get On The Air” (GOTA) station but also for any Satellite communications can be made as well as Digital, phone and Morse Code (CW).The GOTA station allows anyone interested in learning more about radio a chance to actually make a contact with another ham radio station or field day operation It also gives Ham radio operators a chance to show all the benefits that Amateur radio offers the community, whether it be emergency operations during natural disasters or volunteering to provide communications for local events like parades and runs.
So what is their to do?
- PSK31 and Digital modes
- Satellite communications
- SSB
- CW
- GOTA station
- A club shop N swap
- Catch up with other Amateur radio operators
- EAT!!! Well, ok their IS food there, but that's not the point
Catch up with OLD friends
Field day also gives everyone a chance to have eyeball qso's (face to face chats) and catch up on the latest technologies that are available and show off any equipment or skill that they may have acquired over the past year.
Whats the point?
So why bother with ham radio, after all you can do the same thing with a cell phone and long distance. But nothing compares to actually putting a station together in a remote spot, off the grid using alternate energy and talking with fellow hams from all over the country in a set amount of time.Plus the price of Ham radio equipment is dropping every day. With items like the Baofeng UV-5R that's available under $30 bucks, Amateur Radio is now cheaper than a cell phone.
Can your cell phone do that ?
Want to learn more.
If you are interested in learning more about Amateur Radio and the ARRL Field day event be sure to check out the ARRL Website HERE.If you live in the Port Angeles or Sequim area and are interested in seeing the Clallam County Amateur Radio Clubs (CCARC) be sure to check out the local radio clubs website HERE and pop in to see what it is all about. Whether you are interested in learning more about how radios work and electronics, computers and the digital modes that are available, satellite communications or volunteering in your community during times of crisis, ham radio has something for everyone.