WINDHAM, ME – The Wireless Society of Southern Maine will participate in the American Radio Relay League’s Summer Field Day activities during Windham’s Summerfest event on June 22nd. Once Summerfest activities end on Saturday evening, ham radio operations will continue through the night and end on Sunday at 2 pm. The public is welcome to visit each operating station to learn more about ham radio.

ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. On the fourth weekend of June of each year, thousands of radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations.

Field Day is a picnic, a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest, and, most of all, FUN!

It is a time when many aspects of Amateur Radio come together to highlight our many roles. While some will treat it as a contest, other groups use the opportunity to practice their emergency response capabilities. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the organizations that Amateur Radio might serve in an emergency, as well as the general public. For many clubs, ARRL Field Day is one of the highlights of their annual calendar.

The contest is simply to contact as many other stations as possible and learn to operate our radio gear in abnormal situations and less-than-optimal conditions.

Ham operators use these same skills when they help with events such as marathons and bike-a-thons; fund-raisers such as walk-a-thons; celebrations such as parades; and exhibits at fairs, malls, and museums — these are all large, preplanned, non-emergency activities.

But despite the development of very complex, modern communications systems — or maybe because they ARE so complex — ham radio has been called into action repeatedly to provide communications in crises when it matters. Amateur Radio people (also called “hams”) are well known for our communications support in real disasters and post-disasters.

What is Amateur Radio?

Often called “ham radio,” the Amateur Radio Service has been around for a century. In that time, it’s grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators using the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology. Its people range in age from youngsters to grandparents. Even rocket scientists and a rock star or two are in the ham ranks. Most, however, are just normal folks like you and me who enjoy learning and being able to transmit voice, data, and pictures through the air to unusual places, both near and far, without depending on commercial systems.

The Amateur Radio frequencies are the last remaining place in the usable radio spectrum where you as an individual can develop and experiment with wireless communications. Hams not only can make and modify their equipment but can create whole new ways to do things.

Look for them on the athletic field next to the Windham Primary School. They will have signs throughout the facility to point to the location. Actual ham radio operations will begin on Saturday @ 2 pm and end on Sunday @ 2 pm.

To find out more about Amateur Radio locally, and how to get involved in this rewarding pastime, please visit the Wireless Society of Southern Maine’s website at: www.mainehamradio.com

Hope to see you there!

WINDHAM, ME – The Wireless Society of Southern Maine will participate in the American Radio Relay League’s Summer Field Day activities during Windham’s Summerfest event on June 22nd. Once Summerfest activities end on Saturday evening, ham radio operations will continue through the night and end on Sunday at 2 pm. The public is welcome to visit each operating station to learn more about ham radio.

ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. On the fourth weekend of June of each year, thousands of radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations.

Field Day is a picnic, a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest, and, most of all, FUN!

It is a time when many aspects of Amateur Radio come together to highlight our many roles. While some will treat it as a contest, other groups use the opportunity to practice their emergency response capabilities. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the organizations that Amateur Radio might serve in an emergency, as well as the general public. For many clubs, ARRL Field Day is one of the highlights of their annual calendar.

The contest is simply to contact as many other stations as possible and learn to operate our radio gear in abnormal situations and less-than-optimal conditions.

Ham operators use these same skills when they help with events such as marathons and bike-a-thons; fund-raisers such as walk-a-thons; celebrations such as parades; and exhibits at fairs, malls, and museums — these are all large, preplanned, non-emergency activities.

But despite the development of very complex, modern communications systems — or maybe because they ARE so complex — ham radio has been called into action repeatedly to provide communications in crises when it matters. Amateur Radio people (also called “hams”) are well known for our communications support in real disasters and post-disasters.

What is Amateur Radio?

Often called “ham radio,” the Amateur Radio Service has been around for a century. In that time, it’s grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators using the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology. Its people range in age from youngsters to grandparents. Even rocket scientists and a rock star or two are in the ham ranks. Most, however, are just normal folks like you and me who enjoy learning and being able to transmit voice, data, and pictures through the air to unusual places, both near and far, without depending on commercial systems.

The Amateur Radio frequencies are the last remaining place in the usable radio spectrum where you as an individual can develop and experiment with wireless communications. Hams not only can make and modify their equipment but can create whole new ways to do things.

Look for them on the athletic field next to the Windham Primary School. They will have signs throughout the facility to point to the location. Actual ham radio operations will begin on Saturday @ 2 pm and end on Sunday @ 2 pm.

To find out more about Amateur Radio locally, and how to get involved in this rewarding pastime, please visit the Wireless Society of Southern Maine’s website at: www.mainehamradio.com

Hope to see you there!