Ham Radio Field Day Coming To A Field Near You This Weekend

I feel sad for ham radio. For decades its operators have driven technology's leading edge. Ham operators pioneered miniature satellites, digital data transmission, even cellphone technology. At the same time, they practice techniques to be used in times of emergency. Ask public safety officials who was there for them on the Gulf Coast when Katrina departed and they'll say it was the hams who got through when fixed commercial communications links were down. And yet, ham radio doesn't get its fair share of techie love.

Ham radio has a PR problem. It just doesn't seem as hip as the tools it spawned. It certainly doesn't seem hip to people who've grown up with computers always available. What most people miss is, ham radio uses very high tech, sophisticated equipment to get the job done.

This weekend is ham radio's annual Field Day. It's sponsored by the American Radio Relay League, the nationwide ham organization. Part of the goal is to entice, so you're invited to come and take a look.

"Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools and back yards around the country. Their slogan, "When all else fails..."is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. More than 34,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year's event. " - From ARRL

Finding a Field Day site has always been a problem, because they're often in out-of-the-way places that are conducive to erecting tall antennas. This year that problem is solved with a Google Maps mash-up. Enter your location and let those Google-boys do the rest.

Field Day runs Saturday through Sunday afternoon, local time. When you get there, tell them Geoff, K1GF sent you.