Ham radio operators from the Portage County Amateur Radio Service will be in Freedom Township participating in a national amateur radio exercise for a full 24 hours from 2:00 pm on Saturday until 2:00 pm on Sunday, (June 25 – 26) at the Freedom Township Community Park (corner of State Route 700 and Streeter Road ). The event is Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. (www.arrl.org/FieldDay), an annual amateur radio activity organized since 1933 by ARRL, the national association for amateur radio in the United States.
It’s not your Grandfather’s old radio hobby anymore. Ham radio has moved in to the 21st century and has an important role in the safety and well being of the community – locally, regionally, nationally and world-wide. During times of foul weather or infrastructure failures, Hams can communicate “When all else fails – Ham Radio Works”.
Hams from across North America participate in Field Day by establishing temporary ham radio stations in public locations to demonstrate their skill and service. Their use of radio signals, which reach beyond borders, bring people together while providing essential communication in the service of communities. Field Day highlights ham radio’s ability to work reliably under any conditions from almost any location and create an independent, wireless communications network.
The Portage County Amateur Radio Service (PCARS) will be taking part in the annual nation-wide Field Day event with temporary emergency style set ups at the Freedom Township Community Park (corner of State Route 700 and Streeter Road). There will be portable radio communication stations that include alternative energy sources such as generators, solar panels, and batteries to power their equipment.
This year’s event is also noteworthy given that a particularly active hurricane and tornado seasons are predicted. “Hams have a long history of serving our communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication infrastructure, including cell towers,” said President of the Portage County Amateur Radio Service (PCARS) Nick Wagner, callsign AC8QG. “Ham radio functions completely independent of the internet and phone systems and a station can be set up almost anywhere in minutes. Hams can quickly raise a wire antenna in a tree or on a mast, connect it to a radio and power source, and communicate effectively with others,” Wagner added.
During Field Day 2021, more than 18,000 hams participated from thousands of locations across North America. According to ARRL, there are more than 750,000 amateur radio licensees in the US, and an estimated 3 million worldwide.
Among the tenets of the Amateur Radio Service is developing and practicing skills in radio technology and radio communications, and even contributing to international goodwill. Hams range in age from as young as 8 to older than 100. Hams can communicate from “Around the Corner to Around the World”.
The public is encouraged to visit PCARS during this year’s Field Day at the Freedom Township Community Park to see firsthand what Ham Radio is all about. For more information about ARRL Field Day and ham radio, contact Nick Wagner, AC8QG at President@portcars.org and visit the PCARS club page at www.portcars.org and the ARRL at www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio.
