Hamilton County Emergency Management Volunteers to Complete Communications Unit Technican Course

Hamilton County amateur radio operators will participate in the national Amateur Radio Relay League’s Field Day starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday and going until 2 p.m. on Sunday at Coxhill Gardens, 11677 Towne Rd, Carmel. Sponsors of the event include the Central Indiana Amateur Radio Association and the Hamilton County Emergency Management’s Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES).

Ham radio operators will demonstrate their skills and service by establishing temporary radio stations in public locations. Their use of radio signals, which reach beyond borders, bring people together while providing essential communication in the service of their communities. Field Day highlights ham radio’s ability to work reliably under any conditions from almost any location and create independent, wireless communications networks. The public is welcome to stop by and see how these systems work.

Many hams are volunteers with Hamilton County Emergency Management who serve in RACES, Community Emergency Response Teams, and the Emergency Operations Center. Most have portable radio communication capabilities that include alternative energy sources such as generators, solar panels, and batteries to power their equipment.

“Amateur radio operators have a long history of serving our communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication infrastructure, including cell towers,” said Shane Booker, Executive Director of Hamilton County Emergency Management. “A station can be set up almost anywhere in minutes and communicate effectively with others. They are an integral part of our emergency resource capability.” Booker added.

During Field Day 2021, more than 26,000 hams participated from thousands of locations across North America. There are more than 750,000 amateur radio licensees in the United States and an estimated three million worldwide.

For more information about ARRL Field Day, visit www.arrl.org/FieldDay. For additional information about amateur radio, contact Joe March, ARRL public information officer, at 317-224-9433 and visit www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio.