Having A Field Day (in more ways than one)

Having A Field Day (in more ways than one) was Originally Posted on June 22, 2010 by lavarock

A number of my blog readers are smiling because they KNOW what this entry is about. It is that time of year when it warms up, the birds come out, the sweet smell of flowers blooming and a man (or womans) fancy turns to wanting to camp out in a hot tent with few niceties of home, little food, lots of noise; while trying to talk to as many people around the world via radio as they can!

The yearly Amateur (Ham) Radio “Field Day” is at hand!

Next weekend, June 26-27th, is the ARRL Field Day 2010. Ham radio operators will be set up in locations across the US and Canada; whether by themselves or in club locations. The public is invited to come and experience Ham radio first-hand.

You may be able to find a location here: http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator

Just because there is no link on the map, does not mean that there is not a field day site near you, but it’s a start.

Held annually, over 35,000 U.S. and Canadian amateurs gather with their clubs, friends, or simply by themselves to operate.

While listed as a contest, it is practicing to communicate in an emergency. Most often after a flood, earthquake, tsunami, blizzard and so on, Hams are the first and sometimes ONLY method of communications available.

During this weekends event, they will set up tents in open fields, in those tents will be tables, radios, nearby electric generators, solar panels, small windmills and batteries. Anything which might be used to generate emergency power might be brought into play.

The idea is that during the timed event, you set up, test and use this equipment to make as many contacts as you can, gathering points and multiplies based upon power level and type of power used.

Did you know that in an emergency, a couple of trash bags, a few pieces of duct tape, some light wire and a bit of helium can create a tall antenna? We did that in Darnestown Maryland at a hamfest years ago. We also took two extension ladders, connected a wire between then, raised them straight up in the air and tied guy wires to hold the ladders steady and thus made a quick dipole antenna whose height was easy to regulate.

A solar panel and a car battery can supply a walkie-talkie or small radio for hours with no electric cord. Those solar panels are now readily available at places such as COSTCO for use on RV’s.

Heck, years ago, an amateur satellite was constructed with parts from Home Depot! We hams are an inventive bunch!

While I have performed in my share of Field Days in past years, I now leave it up to the younger crowd.

I have to admit that Ham (Amateur) Field Day was fun to participate in. I learned and practiced supplying almost instant communications during emergency conditions and had fun doing it.

What other hobby allows you to help save lives AND allows you to contact the world when even the Internet is down?

You should know that most Shuttle astronauts and Space Station participants are hams. Also, it is a great equalizer when it comes to international affairs. While Hams don’t talk sex, politics or religion, they do talk with people otherwise not easily accessable.

As mentioned last week, I could pretty easily sit on my lanai here in Hawaii and talk to astronauts as they streak across the sky overhead.

In the 1970’s I spoke with a gentleman in the Kremlin! I once worked on some equipment owned by Barry Goldwater. I once had a commercial satellite all to my self to test with (all because of Ham Radio).

Speaking of satellites, did you know that worldwide Hams have launched MANY satellites? Here is a list of current “birds” http://www.amsat.org/amsat-new/satellites/status.php and a nice article in Wikipedia helps explain what this is all about. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OSCAR Just 4 years after Sputnik, the first Ham Satellite was launched.

There is so much to relate having to do with this hobby that this blog is kinda all over the place. I hope that it at least sparked your interest to read more about this fascinating hobby.