Amateur Radio Club's Field Day open to the public

FALLBROOK – The Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club will be participating in Field Day 2014, a emergency preparedness exercise on Saturday, June 28, from 11 a.m. until Sunday, June 29, at 11 a.m. at Frazier Elementary School’s athletic field, 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) they are able to contact as many other groups around North America doing the same thing. There are over 35,000 radio amateurs that participate in Field Day.

During emergencies and natural disasters normal modes of communication such as telephones, cell phones and the internet usually become overloaded and fail. Amateur Radio radio has been called into action again and again to provide communications in crises when it really matters. Amateur Radio is well known for its communications support in real disaster and post-disaster situations.

They also help with community events such as the Fallbrook Avocado Festival and parades. On the 4th of July, hams will also be out doing red flag patrols for Cal Fire in the back country.

During the recent fires, local radio operators used the Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club’s repeaters (repeaters retransmit radio signals to extend range) to provide supplementary conditions, and fire location information to the local fire department. Two of the local club members’ homes were in evacuations, and many more had eyes on the fires.

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 they are 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.

Even those who are not a licensed amateur are welcome to come to Field Day and learn what it’s all about. There will be plenty of experienced and friendly people to show visitors around and help guide them through an on-air contact.

To learn more about the Fallbrook Amateur Radio Club, visit http://www.fallbrookarc.org.

Note: This event could be canceled if extreme fire weather is forecasted, in which case members would need to be on standby.