The local Ozark Mountain Amateur Radio Club recently competed in the annual Amateur Radio Relay League’s Field Days exercise. Amateur radio (ham) operators set up operations using emergency power and makeshift antennae to contact as many other hams as possible.
This year’s event occurred on the lawn between Pizza Express and Re/Max Realty on S. Sam Houston Blvd. in Houston. The club operated four different stations and contacted more than 400 other hams in the United States and Canada in a 24-hour period. The Morse Code station, operated by Gary McCrorey, made more than half the total contacts.
The day demonstrates the club’s ability to operate in emergency situations using battery or generator power as if in a real emergency without commercial power.
“This year’s event again demonstrates the ability of ham radios to provide emergency communications in either natural- or man-made emergencies,” said Willie Adey, club president.
In addition to the field days, the club sponsored an ARRL testing session to qualify operators. This year there were five new hams qualified to become new operators or upgrade their present license to a more advanced level. Anyone interested in becoming a licensed “ham” is encouraged to attend the Ozark Mountain Amateur Radio Club’s “Eatin’ Meetin'” at noon the third Saturday of the month at Pizza Express.