Amateur radio operators from the Statesboro Amateur Radio Society (STARS) in Bulloch County and the Southeast Amateur Radio Association (SARA) in Emanuel County will participate in a 24 hour national amateur radio exercise starting at 2 p.m. this Saturday, June 28. The event is ARRL Field Day (www.arrl.org/field-day), an annual amateur radio activity organized since 1933 by ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio in the United States.
Hams from across North America ordinarily 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, brings 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.
Some hams in Bulloch and Emanuel counties will also use radio stations set up in their homes or their backyards and other locations to operate individually or with their families. Many hams have portable radio communication capability that includes 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 season is predicted. “Hams have a long history of serving our communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication infrastructure, including cell towers,” said Doug Hess, KA4DSH, STARS president.
“Ham radio functions completely independently 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,” Hess added.
As in the past, STARS and SARA will set up equipment at the Bulloch County Horseman’s Arena, 507 Mill Creek Road, off US Highway 301 just north of Statesboro. Beginning around mid-morning before the heat of the day sets in operators will string up antennas and related equipment, batteries and power supplies to support two main stations and a third GOTA (Get On The Air) station and begin operating at 2 p.m. Various operators will man the radios in shifts for the next 24 hours. Several plan to bring cots and sleeping bags and remain at the site overnight.
An interesting addition this year is the use of a former television remote broadcast truck owned by STARS member Randy Bagoly, KK4NON, with a 50 foot mast to give additional height for antennas which should enhance operations. The sight of the truck with the mast fully extended is rather impressive.
The general public is invited to stop by anytime during operations and under the supervision of licensed hams make calls on the GOTA station, organized by STARS member Anna Davis, KO4JKO.
This Friday, June 27, Field Day in particular and Amateur Radio in general will be the topic of discussion on East Georgia’s Morning Show on FM radio stations “106.5 The Boro” and “Eagle 94.9”. Doug Hess, KA4DSH, STARS president and John Smoyer, KJ4YEK, SARA president will take about local Field Day participation with hosts Bryan Steele and Travis Bilger. A live internet stream will be available at rdo.to/wpmx. The one hour program begins at 8 a.m.
During Field Day 2024, more than 31,000 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 9 to older than 100. A self-study license guide is available from ARRL: The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual (www.arrl.org/shop/Ham-Radio-License-Manual).
For more information about ARRL Field Day and ham radio, contact Doug Hess at lifehess@gmail.com, John Smoyer KJ4YEK at smoyer@pineland.net or any member of STARS and SARA. You may also visit www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio.