Ham group to test radios
WARREN -- Warren Amateur Radio operators will participate in a nationwide emergency preparedness exercise called Field Day this weekend.
The event is sponsored by the American Radio Relay League, the national association of radio "hams." This year, for the first time, the club will be setting up its emergency stations on the Courthouse Square downtown.
"Field Day is an annual opportunity for amateur radio operators to test their ability to establish reliable emergency communications for 24 continuous hours without depending upon commercial power or permanent transmitting stations and antennas," explains Pete Kozup, the Field Day coordinator for the Warren Amateur Radio Association.
Field Day is a serious test of communications readiness, but it's also a fun contest and the largest on-air operating event of the year. During the weekend, local radio clubs simulate emergency conditions by setting up temporary communication facilities in parks, malls and even backyards to get on the air using portable power sources.
Operators attempt to contact as many stations as possible and relay messages. More than 30,000 Amateur Radio operators throughout the United States and Canada participated in last year's event.
"We invite people to visit our Field Day location on the Square in Warren," Kozup said.