Amateur (ham) radio operators from the Statesboro Amateur Radio Society (STARS) will soon be participating in a national exercise event.
“Ham radio functions completely independently of the internet and phone systems and a station can be set up almost anywhere in minutes,” said Doug Hess, president of STARS.
STARS members are participating in the National Association for Amateur Radio (ARRL) field day on June 24 and 25 at Bulloch County Horseman’s arena at 507 Mill Creek Road, in Statesboro.
For the field day, operators from across North America establish temporary ham radio stations in public locations.
The event highlights the participants ability to work reliably under any conditions from various locations and create an independent, wireless communications network.
“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,” explained Hess.
Some participants will also use the radio stations set up in their homes or taken to their backyards and other locations to operate individually or with their families.
Many operators have portable radio communication capability that include alternative energy sources such as generators, solar panels and batteries.
The ARRL field day aims to practice emergency communications skills. The event, and skills gained by participants, are often highly valuable during severe weather events and the hurricane season.
“Hams have a long history of serving our communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication infrastructure, including cell towers,” said Hess.
The exercise has been an annual event since 1933. During Field Day 2021, more than 26,000 individuals participated from thousands of locations across North America.
According to ARRL, there are more than 750,000 amateur radio licensees in the U.S., and an estimated three million worldwide. A self-study license guide is available from ARRL: The ARRL Ham Radio License Manual.
For more information about ARRL Field Day and ham radio, contact Hess at [email protected] or click here.
