Field Day 2019

[KA2ODP/7]

The Great Falls Area Amateur Radio Club (GFAARC) will be participating in the annual Field Day event this coming weekend, 22 and 23 June 2019. The location will once again be at the Cascade County DES facility, 521 1st Avenue NW, here in Great Falls. We will be operating inside the fenced-in area behind the DES building.

Set-up will be on Friday afternoon, 21 June 19, starting around 1:00 PM until around 5:00 PM. Field Day officially starts at 12 noon on Saturday and runs for 24 hours, ending at 12 noon on Sunday. Visitors interested in learning more about Amateur Radio are encouraged to stop by on Saturday between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM. A display table will be available with information about "ham" radio and how to obtain your FCC license.

Field Day is a nationwide event where ham radio clubs practice setting up portable radio equipment and getting on the air using temporary antennas. The goal is to simulate what would happen after a natural disaster that has disrupted all normal means of communications. This event is open to the public and is a great way to see Amateur Radio “in action”. We will be reaching out over the airwaves and contacting numerous other radio clubs who will also be participating in Field Day. So Saturday morning is a good time to stop by, wander around, and ask questions. At noon the event begins and everyone will be manning the radios. At that point it is interesting to look over their shoulders as they spin the dial on the radio and seek out contacts with other stations across the United States.

Local amateur radio operators are encouraged to stop by and participate themselves. If you are a Technician class operator, there will be Amateur Extra class control operators available, so you can sit at the HF radio and operate it under their guidance. Find out what it's like to work the shortwave bands and use the new digital modes such as FT8!

See you there!