Public invited to Amateur Radio Club's Field Day June 26

FALLBROOK - The Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club will be participating in Field Day 2011, an emergency preparedness exercise, beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 25, and concluding at 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 26 on the athletic field at Frazier Elementary School, 1835 Gum Tree Lane.

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, human generated) are able to contact as many other groups around North America doing the same thing. There are over 2,500 clubs, groups and individuals that participate in Field Day.

Since it’s inception in the 1930s, Field Day has evolved into one of the most popular amateur radio events by far.

During emergencies and natural disasters normal modes of communication such as telephones, cell phones and the Internet usually become overloaded and fail. It is during these times that licensed amateur radio operators fill the void and serve their communities by passing along health and welfare messages to the non-affected areas of the country.

Amateur radio operators must pass exams that test their knowledge of electronics and communication procedures in order to get licensed by the FCC. Once licensed, the individual is issued a unique call sign and have earned the privilege to use frequencies in the radio spectrum that are allocated for the amateur radio service. Some of these frequencies are for short-range communications while others are capable of contacts over distances of several thousand miles.

Most people think of ham radio as short wave, and while these may be the most popular, used bands hams also use VHF and UHF FM radios, television, repeaters and digital modes to communicate with other amateur radio operators.

In addition, there are satellites deployed solely for use in the amateur radio service. These birds are capable of operating in digital or voice modes and require relatively modest stations to use them. Amateur radio is on board the International Space Station and the astronauts on board are licensed to use it.

The public is welcome to come out to Field Day and see what it’s all about. There will be plenty of experienced, friendly people to show residents around and demonstrate how this form of communication works.

For more information, see

http://www.fallbrookarc.org.