Ham radio operators from the Fidelity Amateur Radio Club of Rhode Island will be participating in a national amateur radio exercise from 2:00pm on Saturday until 2:00pm on Sunday, June 25 – 26. The event is ARRL Field Day (www.arrl.org/FieldDay), an annual amateur radio activity organized since 1933 by ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio in the United States. For the 2nd year in a row the club will be participating in Field Day from the historic New England Wireless and Steam Museum at 1300 Frenchtown Rd. in East Greenwich.

Amateur radio operators from across North America ordinarily participate in Field Day by establishing temporary ham radio stations in public locations to demonstrate their skill and service. Their use of radio signals, which reach beyond borders, bring people together while providing essential communication in the service of communities. Field Day highlights ham radio’s ability to work reliably under any conditions from almost any location and create an independent, wireless communications network.

Many hams have portable radio communication capability that includes alternative energy sources such as generators, solar panels, and batteries to power their equipment. This year’s event is also noteworthy given that a particularly active hurricane season is predicted. “Hams have a long history of serving our communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication infrastructure, including cell towers,” said Dave Nelson WV1H and President of the Fidelity Club. “Ham radio functions completely independently of the internet and phone systems and a station can be set up almost anywhere in minutes” Nelson added.

During Field Day 2021, more than 26,000 hams participated from thousands of locations across North America. According to ARRL, there are more than 750,000 amateur radio licensees in the US, and an estimated 3 million worldwide. Among the tenets of the Amateur Radio Service is developing and practicing skills in radio technology and radio communications, and even contributing to international goodwill. Hams range in age from as young as 9 to older than 100 For more information about ARRL Field Day and ham radio, contact Nick Kettle KC1DWH, Secretary Fidelity Amateur Radio club nkettle10@gmail.com or visit our website K1NQG.wordpress.com.