East Texans joined about 35,000 amateur radio operators across the country Saturday for the “main event” in ham radio — the American Radio Relay League field day.
The field day runs 24 hours. In East Texas, it began at 1 p.m. Saturday and continues until 1 p.m. today.
More than 30 ham radio operators — members of the Longview East Texas Amateur Radio Club — are expected to fill the club’s radio room on the second floor of the American Red Cross building in Longview by the close of the marathon event, connecting with other operators from different cities, counties, states and even countries.
Ham radio operator is a term used to signify amateur radio operators.
“The ARRL is like our society for the United States. They do (the field day) the fourth weekend of every June,” said club spokesman Jim Quinn, who along with his wife, Priscilla, are the co-directors for media relations for the club.
The field day, now a competition for the thousands of operators who score points based on the volume and quality of connections formed during the 24-hour period, also serves to help train the skills used by ham operators every day.
“We do pretty well, but we only have four radios. Some stations have 25 receivers. Our competition are clubs in Shreveport and Tyler,” said club member Terry Johnson.
In addition to earning points for making connections, clubs are awarded points for working out of less than ideal setups, using generators to power their radios and using the competition as a simulation for a catastrophic event.
Amateur radio operators often participate in Skywarn, which helps give the National Weather Service up-to-date details from the focal point of severe storms. They also serve as communication after severe storms have passed. After Hurricane Katrina blew through New Orleans, the first information received about the devastation came not from phone lines, but from a ham radio operator, Johnson said.
Many members of the club also serve on the Gregg County Community Emergency Response Team, Johnson said.
The other way ham operators occupy their time is to contact other radio operators. An operator can make a call for anyone on the frequency to respond, said member Charles Fricks.
“We call that ‘rag-chewing.’ Just a normal conversation,” Johnson said.
Participants in the field day, which focuses on making and logging connections, worked in shifts all Thursday on four radios.
A hot dog and hamburger cookout was scheduled for 6 p.m., and members of the about 50-person club were scheduled to arrive throughout the evening.
The group members also communicate over radio each Wednesday night and meet the third Saturday of each month for training and to talk.
Members of the club also help interested ham operators gain their federal licenses as amateur radio operators.
The field day runs 24 hours. In East Texas, it began at 1 p.m. Saturday and continues until 1 p.m. today.
More than 30 ham radio operators — members of the Longview East Texas Amateur Radio Club — are expected to fill the club’s radio room on the second floor of the American Red Cross building in Longview by the close of the marathon event, connecting with other operators from different cities, counties, states and even countries.
Ham radio operator is a term used to signify amateur radio operators.
“The ARRL is like our society for the United States. They do (the field day) the fourth weekend of every June,” said club spokesman Jim Quinn, who along with his wife, Priscilla, are the co-directors for media relations for the club.
The field day, now a competition for the thousands of operators who score points based on the volume and quality of connections formed during the 24-hour period, also serves to help train the skills used by ham operators every day.
“We do pretty well, but we only have four radios. Some stations have 25 receivers. Our competition are clubs in Shreveport and Tyler,” said club member Terry Johnson.
In addition to earning points for making connections, clubs are awarded points for working out of less than ideal setups, using generators to power their radios and using the competition as a simulation for a catastrophic event.
Amateur radio operators often participate in Skywarn, which helps give the National Weather Service up-to-date details from the focal point of severe storms. They also serve as communication after severe storms have passed. After Hurricane Katrina blew through New Orleans, the first information received about the devastation came not from phone lines, but from a ham radio operator, Johnson said.
Many members of the club also serve on the Gregg County Community Emergency Response Team, Johnson said.
The other way ham operators occupy their time is to contact other radio operators. An operator can make a call for anyone on the frequency to respond, said member Charles Fricks.
“We call that ‘rag-chewing.’ Just a normal conversation,” Johnson said.
Participants in the field day, which focuses on making and logging connections, worked in shifts all Thursday on four radios.
A hot dog and hamburger cookout was scheduled for 6 p.m., and members of the about 50-person club were scheduled to arrive throughout the evening.
The group members also communicate over radio each Wednesday night and meet the third Saturday of each month for training and to talk.
Members of the club also help interested ham operators gain their federal licenses as amateur radio operators.