Ham radio operators will do 24-hour marathon this weekend
File photo by Tom Rivers: The Orleans County Amateur Radio Club is shown on June 25, 2016 at the Orleans County Emergency Management Office, 14064 West County House Rd., Albion. This photo shows ham radio operators, from left: Mike Moriarty of Medina, Ed Weider of Medina and Chuck Baker of Medina.
ALBION – The Orleans County Amateur Radio Club will be participating in Amateur Radio Field Day with a 24-hour marathon beginning at 2 p.m. today and ending at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Field Day is ham radio’s open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio’s science, skill and service to their communities and nation.
It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.
The public is welcome to stop in and get on the air with the Orleans County Amateur Radio Club, which meets at the Emergency Management Office, 14064 W County House Rd.
The local club has been in operation in Orleans County for the past 60 years.
“During this activity, we will be trying to contact as many other stations in North America and around the world using voice, Morse Code, and digital modes of communications,” said Chuck Baker, a member of the club. “In addition to the fun and food, we will be experiencing what bands are best at all hours to get information from point A to point B, testing equipment and making sure what we have is up to the task if a real emergency takes out conventional communications.”
