According to Part 97 of the FCC Rules the first, and most important, of the five purposes for Amateur Radio is to provide emergency and public service communications for the American people. That, folks, is our reason for being! That is why the Kent County Department of Public Safety supports us and gives us a place to meet and operate from. That is a gift from Kent County to us.
As some of you may know, this past weekend was “Winter Field Day”. Four KCARC members showed up for breakfast on Saturday morning. The same four members were at the EOC to set up the three antennas and make other preparations for “Winter Field Day”. Hams: Jim Moore(KC3BTV), Larry Roll (K3LT), Bob Speakman (N3HPA), and Doug Covert (KB3PRW).
It was a warm and sunny day with almost no wind—a picture perfect day to get out and “play radio”. We were hoping there would be a few more Club participants.
Click an images to enlarge
Pete(KC3MVS) having a fun one at the American Legion Post in Texas.
Press Release
For More Information:
Barbara Dean, PIO – Sussex County
ARRL – The National Organization for Amateur Radio
SussexAmateurRadio@gmail.com
https://baytobaynews.com/stories/kent-county-radio-operators-participate-in-winter-field-day,100264?
_______________________________________________________________
Kent County Radio Operators Participate in Winter Field Day
On Saturday a group of amateur radio operators gathered at the Kent County Emergency Operations Center to make radio contact with other licensed operators around the world. They participated in Winter Field Day, a worldwide communications event. The purpose of the annual event is to practice emergency communications and increase emergency preparedness in winter environments. When dangerous storms threaten or there are extended electrical outages, these radio operators, known as “hams” head for their radio. They are able to communicate with emergency operations and other operators from home or mobile units to report information like downed trees or utility poles, accidents, or other incidents requiring assistance.
The Field Day rules require that each operator keep a log of the contacts they make. The logs are submitted to the event organizer, points are tallied, and a winner is announced. There is no monetary prize; the operator with the most points gets ‘bragging rights”. In 2022, the Winter Field Day Association processed over 2,500 logs from stations around the world.
During this weekend’s event, many operators also set up portable equipment outside, in parks or even their backyard. The local group explained that many hams have a radio room at their home. These vary from a closet in the extra bedroom to a separate building in the yard that has all the comforts of home; but wherever it is, it is always called a ‘ham shack’. The “shacks” range from a radio and microphone on a shelf to a wall of equipment that looks like a NASA space control facility. The radios run on battery power and many hams now have solar charging stations to ensure long term operation without power.
During this weekend’s event, many operators set up portable equipment outside, in parks or even their backyard. Shown here is FCC licensed Deborah Libertore (AJ3L) of Felton who set up her portable station to test its long-range capabilities.