Ham radio operators to hold Field Day

FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club will be participating in Field Day 2016, an emergency preparedness exercise, from Saturday, June 25, 11 a.m. until Sunday, June 26, 11 a.m. The public and ham radio operators are invited to visit their site at Frazier Elementary School's athletic field, 1835 Gum Tree Lane.

Maps and latest information can be found at www.fallbrookarc.org. There is a possibility that the event will be canceled if there is extreme fire weather forecasted.

The premise of Field Day is to prove that in an emergency amateur radio operators or "hams" are capable of setting up radio stations in the field and by using portable antennas and emergency power (generators, batteries, solar) they are able to contact as many other groups around North America doing the same thing. There is expected to be over 35,000 participants in Field Day this year.

During emergencies and natural disasters normal modes of communication such as telephones, cell phones and the internet usually become overloaded and fail. Amateur Radio has been called into action again and again to provide communications in crises when it really matters.

During the May 2014 fires, local radio operators used the Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club's repeaters (repeaters re-transmit radio signals to extend range) to provide supplementary conditions, and fire location information to the local fire department.

Everyone is welcome to come out to Field Day and see what it's all about. There will be plenty of experienced and friendly people to show visitors around and perhaps guide them through an on air contact.