Ham radio enthusiasts to participate in Field Day exercise
The Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services division of the McHenry County Emergency Management Agency will participate in Field Day Saturday and Sunday, June 25 and 26.
Field Day is 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 demonstrate various radio techniques ranging from classic Morse code to digital and satellite communications. Several clubs in the area will even be experimenting with TV signals and microwave communications equipment.
The Field Day stations 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.
The public is invited to join us during this exercise from 3 to 5 p.m. June 25. You will have an opportunity to get on the air using one of the official Field Day stations and 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 www.mcraces.org. You also can find more information at the American Radio Relay League Field Day information site located at www.arrl.org/field-day.