Field Day to Test Emergency Communications

Field Day to Test Emergency Communications

East Greenbush, NY – Thousands of Americans will communicate with each other this weekend without using cell phones, email or the Internet.  Instead, they will use Amateur Radio and demonstrate their emergency communication skills during their annual Field Day event.  Locally, the East Greenbush Amateur Radio Association (EGARA) will be among several Capital Region Amateur Radio groups that participate.  EGARA will run its Field Day operations at the Rensselaer County Search and Rescue Building, located at 19 Neptune Street in Rensselaer.

Field Day, which runs for 24 hours beginning at 2 pm Saturday, allows thousands of “hams” across the United States and Canada to make contact with each other under emergency conditions which include running their radios “off the grid” by using batteries, solar panels and generators.

“When all else fails, there’s Amateur Radio,” said Bryan Jackson, whose call sign is W2RBJ and serves as President Emeritus of the East Greenbush Amateur Radio Association (EGARA). “Traditional communication systems often fail during severe weather, earthquakes and other catastrophic events. But Amateur Radio is still able to communicate because it is totally independent of such systems.  ‘Hams’ – as they are sometimes called – can operate their stations with a minimum of equipment and resources, allowing them to make radio contact with other operators who are hundreds or even thousands of miles away -- and even under the most difficult conditions.”

Amateur Radio once again proved its value when Hurricane Helene devastated much of western North Carolina and the neighboring states of Virginia, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina and Florida.  In the aftermath, local Hams were the only means of communication in some areas, using their equipment to assist emergency responders coordinate their efforts.

Since 1933, Amateur Radio operators have annually used Field Day to demonstrate and test their emergency communication capabilities by establishing temporary ham radio stations in public locations.  Members of the public, government officials and the media are invited to visit and observe EGARA’s Field Day operations -- and learn more about Amateur Radio and how to become involved in it.

Nationally, Field Day is sponsored by the Amateur Radio Relay League – or ARRL -- the national association for Amateur Radio operators.  During this year’s Field Day weekend, hams all over North America will use their shortwave radio systems to log as many contacts as possible using voice, Morse Code and various digital modes. 

“Ham radio is also the original social media, using shortwave radio to bring people together all over the world,” Jackson added.  “When hams seek to make contact by calling ‘CQ’ (calling any station), they may wind up talking with a fellow ham who’s across town -- or someone who is in Europe, South America, Africa or even the Far East. Amateur Radio truly brings the world together and it’s been doing it for well over a century.

Amateur Radio is also a great gateway for young people who are interested in career paths in the technology and engineering fields.  The knowledge learned from being an Amateur Radio operator is further enhanced by the many new digital and computer technologies that are now being used.  There is also no age limit required for obtaining an amateur radio license, and Morse Code is no longer required, making the licensing exam easier to pass.  Currently, there are over 740,000 licensed hams in the United States, with some as young as age five and as old as 100.  EGARA administers licensing exams locally several times a year and has information available on its website at www.EGARA.org.

“We invite anyone who would like to learn more to stop by our Field Day event.”

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