ARRL Field Day - Edmond, OK
Posted by: 
hamquilter
N 35° 40.854 W 097° 24.749
14S E 643659 N 3949717
Though technically not a festival, Field Day has all the characteristics of one, as Amateur Radio operators gather annually to work at their trade, and invite the general public to see what ham radio is all about. EVENT DATES: 4TH WEEKEND EACH JUNE
Waymark Code: WMYNH1
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 07/03/2018
Views: 8
Field Day is an annual event sponsored by the American Radio Relay League. Conducted the 4th weekend in June annually, amateur radio operators (hams) gather together with their clubs, friend groups, or even individually, to make contacts throughout the United States and Canada. Over 35,000 operators will be making contacts on the air during that 24-hour period. The event begins at 1800 UTC that Saturday, and ends at 1800 UTC Sunday (that's 1:00PM here in Oklahoma).
The Field Day operation being highlighted here is the one put on by the Edmond Amateur Radio Club (EARS). Saturday morning, antennas are put up outside Edmond's Fire Training Center at 5300 E. Covell. Hams can be seen stringing coax and raising antennas, and connecting to radios inside the building. Generator power is used to run the radios, simulating emergency disaster operations. Field Day is used to practice these emergency skills.
Inside, radios are connected, operating schedules are determined, and plans begin for setting up snacks and food for the participants. Field Day is a great opportunity to present ham radio to the general public and advertising has been done locally to invite folks to come. They get a chance to see ham radio in progress, ask their questions about the hobby, and can even make a contact under supervision, if they desire.
In addition to practicing emergency operations, Field Day is an informal contest, so operators are attempting to make as many contacts as they can, in as many locations as possible. A TV screen shows a map of the U.S. and Canada, coloring in each state or province as a contact is made there. Points are earned according to radios used, contacts made, and various other parameters, and the central ARRL records and publishes those with the highest point totals. Contacts are made using Voice, as well as CW (Morse Code), and popular today are the various digital, computer-assisted modes.
The EARS club also uses this opportunity to gather club members for a catered dinner and a lot of fun. Mark your calendar and join us the 4th weekend in June, 2019.