Radio amateurs to test their skills in the field
The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services division of the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency will be participating in Field Day Saturday and Sunday, June 28 and 29.
The Field Day station will be located behind the maintenance facility at 12394 Ware Road in Woodstock. Parking will be off Route 47, Seminary Avenue, just north of Ware Road.
Field Day is a 24-hour annual exercise sponsored by the American Radio Relay League, the National Association for Amateur Radio. This is an opportunity for federally licensed radio amateurs to test their skills and equipment in the field by making radio contacts, using various modes of communications with other operators all over the country.
Amateurs have a long history of providing emergency communications when normal systems are overloaded or offline. One example was Hurricane Katrina when ham radio was the only viable communications mechanism in the disaster area. In cases like this one, radio operators are quick to respond with their own equipment and at their own expense. Amateur radio operators have also assisted in supporting many large planned events including the Chicago and Boston marathons.
As the name implies, Field Day is an exercise held outdoors using generator power. It is meant to simulate disaster conditions where commercial power would not be available. In addition, the exercise simulates the same challenges the operators would face in a real disaster scenario.
Over the weekend, amateur radio operators will be demonstrating various radio techniques ranging from classic Morse code all the way to more modern digital and satellite communications. Several clubs in the area will even be experimenting with TV signals and microwave communications equipment.
The public is invited to join EMA during this exercise from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 28, and from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, June 29. You will have a unique opportunity to get on the air using one of our official Field Day stations. This is an excellent opportunity to learn what Ham Radio is all about.
Questions regarding this event can be directed to the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency at (815) 338-6400 or visit us on the web at www.mcraces.org. You can also find more information at the American Radio Relay League Field Day information site located at www.arrl.org/field-day.