Come to Field Day!
I like when June comes around. One of my favorite events is the ARRL Field Day. Field Day is actually a weekend where hams get together, set up one or more stations off the electric grid and see how many other stations they can contact. Sometimes individuals will hook up a battery to their rig in the back yard and talk. Many hams will go to their local club and participate. It doesn’t matter where you go to get active on Field Day. There are only two main rules. First try to stay off the electrical grid, but there are some hams who are still “plugged in”. The second and most important rule is to HAVE FUN!
Why come to GARS for Field Day? First, many clubs operate 3A; that means they will have three stations set up and run on generator power. GARS operates 8A. We have eight (count ‘em) stations!
Second is the fellowship with fellow ham operators. You will see many GARS members at our Field Day. You get to “pick their brains” to learn new things. If you are new, someone will be there to help you. (Don’t be afraid to ASK for help.) You will see many different radios out there. You can try them out to see if a particular radio is one you would like to purchase. It doesn’t matter if you are a Technician, General, or Extra, you will have a chance to get on the air on HF. I know of one individual who, on her first try on the radio, contacted a ham at the space center in Russia!
The third reason is the food. Hams love to eat. The dinner meal is especially good, if past experience counts.
Oh, and did I mention the FUN you will have at Field Day? Activities start at about 8 am at Harbins Park when the antennas go up and people set up their equipment. If you want to be awed by the efficient manner that HF antennas go up into high trees, come out early. They always need help, too. This is a great place to learn how to launch antennas.
GARS has a reception area, too. You can bring your non-ham friends or relatives and they can learn what amateur radio is all about. They can get on the air, also! If you are a new ham, a GOTA (Get on the Air) station will be set up for you and your guests. There is a certain thrill about getting on the air and making your first contact. If you have never been on HF before, I believe it is an even greater thrill to make a contact that is a thousand miles away. Try doing that on VHF or UHF!
Six meters is considered the “magic band” because you never know what will happen there. Gars will have a six meter station set up.
Interested in satellite communication? Gars will have a satellite station set up as well.
So, plan to come out to Harbins Park on June 25th and 26th and stay as long as you can. We will be contacting stations for 24 hours, starting at 2:00 pm on Saturday, and right through until Sunday when we tear down. Yes, we can use help there, too.
See you there!
73,
David Harden
KJ4CMY