Highland Amateur Radio Association holds Winter Field Day training
Lead Summary
By
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Courtesy of John Levo
Highland Amateur Radio Association
Realizing regional and local emergencies and natural disasters do not occur on ideal weather days, a group of local amateur radio operators involved with providing support communications to county, state and national governmental agencies and support organizations participated in a test of readiness this past weekend.
These members of the Highland Amateur Radio Association took part in a training exercise called Winter Field Day.
On Saturday morning, they met a location near Highland where they set up two high-frequency antenna systems plus one UHF/VHF system and the appropriate radio equipment to communicate with other stations locally, statewide and nationally.
Operating out of a barn, they were able to establish communications with almost every state and several sections of Canada. According to club officer Pat Hagen, Alaska may have been the furthest North American station contacted. However, there was a call received from a station in the Canary Islands and that over-the-air communications link successfully established.
HARA Information Officer John Levo said the approximately 20 members who participated in the exercise received valuable training on how to set up and establish radio communications links under less than ideal weather conditions with Mother Nature fully cooperating this year. They also experienced operating from a location lacking the comforts of a home station. Levo noted a highlight of the weekend was establishing radio contact with former Highland County resident and HARA member Dennis Egbert, who now resides in Alabama due his job relocation.
Former HARA President Lee Bishop said the Highland ARA will start of series of classes leading to the entry level Technician amateur radio license on Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Hillsboro Methodist Church. This first instructional class will begin at 2 p.m. with additional classes at the church each Sunday afternoon until March 29.
On March 29, a Federal Communications Commission certified group of examiners from the Clinton County Amateur Radio Association will administer a license examination. Following the passing on an examination, the FCC will normally issue the successful candidate their license and call sign within a matter of days.
Information regarding the class, examination or amateur radio in general can be obtained by contacting Levo at (937) 393-4951 or club president Jeff Collins at (937) 393-3115 or (937) 393-6579. The club’s email is highlandara@gmail.com.
Highland Amateur Radio Association
Realizing regional and local emergencies and natural disasters do not occur on ideal weather days, a group of local amateur radio operators involved with providing support communications to county, state and national governmental agencies and support organizations participated in a test of readiness this past weekend.
These members of the Highland Amateur Radio Association took part in a training exercise called Winter Field Day.
On Saturday morning, they met a location near Highland where they set up two high-frequency antenna systems plus one UHF/VHF system and the appropriate radio equipment to communicate with other stations locally, statewide and nationally.
Operating out of a barn, they were able to establish communications with almost every state and several sections of Canada. According to club officer Pat Hagen, Alaska may have been the furthest North American station contacted. However, there was a call received from a station in the Canary Islands and that over-the-air communications link successfully established.
HARA Information Officer John Levo said the approximately 20 members who participated in the exercise received valuable training on how to set up and establish radio communications links under less than ideal weather conditions with Mother Nature fully cooperating this year. They also experienced operating from a location lacking the comforts of a home station. Levo noted a highlight of the weekend was establishing radio contact with former Highland County resident and HARA member Dennis Egbert, who now resides in Alabama due his job relocation.
Former HARA President Lee Bishop said the Highland ARA will start of series of classes leading to the entry level Technician amateur radio license on Sunday, Feb. 9 at the Hillsboro Methodist Church. This first instructional class will begin at 2 p.m. with additional classes at the church each Sunday afternoon until March 29.
On March 29, a Federal Communications Commission certified group of examiners from the Clinton County Amateur Radio Association will administer a license examination. Following the passing on an examination, the FCC will normally issue the successful candidate their license and call sign within a matter of days.
Information regarding the class, examination or amateur radio in general can be obtained by contacting Levo at (937) 393-4951 or club president Jeff Collins at (937) 393-3115 or (937) 393-6579. The club’s email is highlandara@gmail.com.