Ham radio operators from the Silver Springs Radio Club in Ocala Florida will be participating in a national amateur radio exercise from 2pm on Saturday until 2pm on Sunday, June 22 – 23. The event is ARRL Field Day (www.arrl.org/FieldDay), 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. The Silver Springs Radio Club will set up temporary antennas and establish a command center in Green Clover Hall (McPherson Governmental Complex) 319 SE 26th Terrace, Ocala FL 34471. The use of radio signals, which reach beyond borders, bring 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 from Ocala and Marion County 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 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 Adam Parker, President of Silver Springs Radio Club. “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,” Parker added.
During Field Day 2023, more than 26,000 hams participated from thousands of locations across North America. According to ARRL, there are more than 750,000 amateur radio licensees in the US, over 40,000 in Florida, and an estimated 3 million worldwide.
For more information about ARRL Field Day and ham radio, contact Andy Allen, Director Silver Springs Radio Club: andy@na4da.com and visit www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio.
