Turkey Heaven Mountain Repeater AssociationN4THM |
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Amateur Radio Field DayJune 23-24, 2007National Event - Local operation at Ranburne, AL Fire Department The Turkey Heaven Mountain Repeater Association, a local amateur (ham) radio club will be participating in the American Radio Relay League Field Day on June 23 and 24, 2007. The club will be operating from the grounds of the Ranburne Rescue Squad and Fire Department from 1:00 PM CDT Saturday, June 23 until 1:00 PM CDT Sunday, June 24. Field Day is a test of emergency communications and preparedness that began back in the 1930s. Sponsored by the ARRL, it has grown to the largest amateur operating event of the year. Field Day groups compile points for the contacts they make, as well as for special demonstrations, publicity, message handling, and other accomplishments that are specified in the rules and compete with thousands of similar setups throughout the US, Canada, and stations in other countries in this hemisphere. More important than contest scores, Field Day is an event that is designed to show communications capabilities under emergency conditions to the public at large, as well as to officials in government, emergency organizations, and the like. Field Day encourages teamwork, camaraderie, and experience gained from setting up, maintaining, operating, and taking down the radio stations and supporting paraphernalia. From Field Day practice and preparation comes quick response communications that is available to public agencies when needed. Long before cell phones and the internet, hams have been communicating around the world instantaneously since the advent of radio. Amateur radio continues to serve the public during times of disasters such as Katrina or even locally such as supporting the National Weather Service and other public agencies in times of severe weather. During times of major disasters, amateur radio is often the only means of communications available. Cell phones and land-based communication often fail during disasters. Field day is a chance for hams to practice communication in simulated emergency conditions with emergency power and temporary antennas with nothing to loose but time and sleep. All hams are invited to come out and participate in the event. Non-hams are encouraged to come out and learn more about amateur radio and some of its capabilities. The Turkey Heaven Mountain Repeater Association sponsors amateur radio repeaters on Turkey Heaven Mountain located between Ranburne and Heflin. These repeaters may be monitored by anyone with a scanner or amateur radio receiver at frequencies of 146.865 or 444.175 Mhz. For more information, contact Randy Smith, amateur radio call W4AUB. Email: W4AUB
About ARRL Field DayEligibility: Field Day is open to all amateurs in the areas covered by the ARRL/RAC Field Organizations and countries within IARU Region 2. DX stations residing in other regions may be contacted for credit, but are not eligible to submit entries. Object: To work as many stations as possible on any and all amateur bands (excluding the 60, 30, 17, and 12-meter bands) and in doing so to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. A premium is placed on developing skills to meet the challenges of emergency preparedness as well as to acquaint the general public with the capabilities of Amateur Radio. Date and Time Period: Field Day is always the fourth full weekend of June, beginning at 1800 UTC Saturday and ending at 2100 UTC Sunday. 2005 ARRL Field Day Document (PDF)
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