Amateur Radio Field Day 2012

Since 1933 amateur radio clubs and groups have gathered to challenge themselves and other operators around the country and world in this annual contest of technical abilities, emergency communications, points, and bragging rights. The third Friday and Saturday of June is when this contest takes place. For this 24 hour period, hams across the world leave the comfort of their families and lock themselves in their “ham shacks” and campsites for a day of relentless contacts and working the bugs out of communication systems.

The following link is the youtube video of the Linn County Amateur Radio Emergency Services group field day event.
http://youtu.be/Z5DyYyTKE1A

    This year, Amateur Radio Field Day took place on the 22^nd and 23^{rd of} June. Two local groups, the Peak Radio Association, (W7PRA), and the Linn County Amateur Radio Emergency Service group, (L.C.A.R.E.S), (W7AEP), battled it out in this event sponsored by the International Amateur Radio Union, (IARU) and the American Radio Relay League, (ARRL). The Peak Radio Association, which is headquartered in Corvallis, held their event just outside Monroe, Oregon.

Members of the Peak Radio Association monitor frequencies

W7PRA boasted four stations, including digital and high frequency, (HF) all while using battery, solar and generator power. They worked with at least four flat-side directional, several long wire and vertical antennas. The club was thoroughly energized by the event, and a good time was had by all.

The banner for the LCARES group

The LCARES group is headquartered in Albany, but had their event at Cheadle Lake Park in Lebanon, Oregon. The rain dampened the spirits of the club members a little but the shelters and antennas went up nonetheless. The group set up two different stations. One that operated on voice HF frequency bands and one that operated on digital HF frequency bands. All the power used by the transmitters was supplied by an alternator attached to an exercise bike. Everyone there had a wonderful day, despite the wet weather.

Roy, KE7WZ, working an HF band

The comradery and fellowship of these contests that are surrounded by ham radio are outstanding. No matter the weather, it is always fun to be a part of ham radio field day events. To be a part of next year’s events, next spring go to arrl.org for information on the closest Amateur Radio Field Day event. And remember, when all else fails, ham radio works.

http://youtu.be/varHL752Odk