Public invited to annual radio field day

The public is invited to participate in the amateur radio field day and potentially communicate with other amateur radio operators around the country and world during the annual Amateur Radio Relay League Field Day.

The Dubois County Amateur Radio Operators will participate in the Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL) Field Day event from 2 p.m. Saturday, June 22 to 2 p.m. Sunday, June 23, 2019. A

RRL Field Day is a nationwide exercise that tests the amateur radio operator’s equipment and their ability to operate under adverse conditions such as those that may occur during a disaster. Amateur radio is recognized as one of the only viable communication means that would be available after a large-scale disaster.

This exercise involves amateur radio operators throughout the U.S. and Canada who set up temporary stations, many using emergency power from generators, batteries, or solar power. From these temporary stations, they try to contact as many other stations as possible around the U.S. and Canada and in other countries as well.

There are over 750,000 amateur radio licensees in the US and about 3 million around the world.

The Dubois County group will be setting up their radio equipment and operating from shelter house #4 at the Dubois County Park which is located behind the 4-H Fairgrounds one mile north of Bretzville, Indiana on Highway 162.

More than 35,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year’s event.

For more information on the Field Day event or on becoming a licensed Amateur Radio Operator, contact the Dubois County Emergency Management Agency at 812-482-2202.

More information regarding Field Day and the over 1,000 participating sites around the nation can be viewed at http://www.arrl.org/field-day-locator.