Cabarrus County Amateur Radio operators will work around the clock this weekend to set up field radio communication stations, get on the air and contact thousands of other operators in the U.S. and Canada as part of participation in the American Radio Relay Leagueís Field Day.
According to Sam Roberts, President of the Cabarrus Amateur Radio Society (C.A.R.S.), Field Day is the annual ěshakedown runîfor the ARRLís National Field Organization. ěField Day is a way for hams to get outdoors and have fun under some difficult conditions,î Roberts says. ěBut itís also a chance to fine-tune emergency communication skills. We use generators and battery power, and we set up antennas in the field. The idea is to put together a self-sufficient, working station quickly and begin making contacts.î The ARRL Field Organization has been effective in establishing emergency communications nets during floods, hurricanes, fires, earthquakes and other major disasters. Members of formal emergency organizations such as the Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) and the Radio Amateur Communication Emergency Services (RACES) regularly participate. The League estimates that more than 35,000 hams participate in Field Day every year.
In cooperation with the City of Concord, C.A.R.S. Field Day operations this year, will be held at Fire Station No. 3, Concord, N.C.. Set up begins at 10 a.m. June 25 with actual operation starting at 2 p.m. The public is invited.
For more information, contact: Mike Mcdonough KI4RBC, C.A.R.S, or call 980-622-7462.