Local ham radio operators set Field Day

VW independent/submitted information

The Van Wert Amateur Radio club (W8FY) will be demonstrating amateur radio operations and techniques during its annual Field Day event at the Van Wert Emergency Management Agency office, 1220 Lincoln Highway. The Field Day will begin Saturday, June 25, starting at 2 p.m., and end 24 hours later at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 26.

The club invites the public to come and see “ham” radio’s new capabilities and learn how to get a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) radio license.

Amateur radio is growing, with more than 700,000 amateur radio licenses currently in the United States. More than 2.5 million amateur radio operators from around the world take part in the annual event. Sponsored by the Amateur Radio Relay League through the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Services program, ham volunteers provide both emergency communications for thousands of state and local emergency response agencies and non-emergency community services.  All for free.

Amateur radio operators’ slogan, “When All Else Fails, Ham Radio Works”, denotes the fact that, when other means of communications are down during a disaster, ham radio operators are still on the job.

“Hams” send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, the Internet, or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. There are more than 35,000 amateur radio stations across the country that are paid for and privately held by ham operators. The local club has its own radio stations that are supported by its members.

Over the past year, there have been news reports of amateur radio operators assisting in critical communications during unexpected events. All across America, in towns hit by tornados, ravaged by hurricanes, wildfires, and other events worldwide, amateur radio is there to assist and provide radio communications.

When trouble is brewing, amateur radio operators are often the first to provide rescuers with critical information and communications. Ham operators provide a back-up for everything from the American Red Cross to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and even the International Space Station.