Field Day, organized by ARRL, is arguably the biggest outdoor ham radio event/activity of the year as hundreds of hams setup their radios outside in their back yards, local parks or elsewhere. The objective is to operate without commercial electricity, away from your normal operating room or "shack" as it is called, using temporary antennas. By so doing ham operators prove to themselves and the world that in an emergency, "We Can Do It." Often in weather emergencies or other crises, ham radio provides, on an immediate and temporary basis, the only communications available as critical infrastructure damage shuts down most "normal" means.
One of the things that makes ham radio so useful in those situations is that each ham, dependent on his equipment, his power source, his experience and his own financial resources, can often and with little fanfare be on site and operating. That means literally hundreds of ham operators quickly become the vital link for people stranded and isolated due to the crises. AND, he or she enjoys and finds meaning in doing so!
Each June a twenty four hour block of weekend time will see thousands of hams around the country and world out of their comfort zone, testing their creativity, equipment and perseverance, to see who can set up the fastest, stay awake the longest and make the most contacts with others doing the same thing! They will also laugh a lot, eat a lot and be tired and grouchy when they return to civilization from lack of sleep!
The three You-tube videos below are not necessarily typical but give an idea of what is involved and the variety of approaches. The first one is by a large group of guys in a club. The second is just one guy set up in his back yard. The third are two guys camping at a park. Enjoy!
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A club Setup for Field Day
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A guy in his back yard
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Two Friends at a local park
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To see my recent ventures into the Field Day World, click one of the links below.