Texas County’s local Ozark Mountain Amateur Radio Club operators were among more than 35,000 participating in the annual field day sponsored by the American Radio Relay. The event started at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 23, and concluded at 1 p.m. Sunday, June 24.
The annual activity is designed as a disaster preparedness drill to give the radio operators an opportunity to practice setting up for emergency communications using backup power sources such as battery power, solar power and generators. Amateur radio operators have provided emergency communications during many disasters when electricity as well as normal telephone, cell phone and Internet communications are down. Ham radio operators replaced phone and Internet communications in the hours after the Joplin tornado when nothing else was available.
The operators participated in a field day contest to see how many contacts they could make in other U.S. states and provinces in Canada. This competition allows them to hone their skills to relay messages for emergency personnel, the Red Cross and various government emergency management agencies. Ham radio operators have also passed messages for people wanting to check on their families and friends after a disaster has struck.
The Houston-based club had four amateur radio stations locally to demonstrate for the public its ability to utilize their portable radios and antennas for emergency communications. The operators were primarily using large batteries to power their radios and recharging the batteries with gas-powered generators — just as they would do in a real emergency situation when normal electrical power is unavailable.
Members of the Ozark Mountain Amateur Radio Club made 195 contacts exchanging communications with other radio operators from California to New Hampshire and Florida to Washington. They also exchanged contacts with Canadian operators in several provinces.
The public was invited to see demonstrations of local ham operators in action and learn more about the amateur radio hobby as well as how they can become involved.
The club also held a test session before the event for the FCC Amateur Radio licensing. Texas County has several newly licensed amateur radio operators with one of the examinees scoring a perfect score on a test.
Persons interested in amateur radio, but were unable to visit the demonstration, are welcome to attend the Ozark Mountain Amateur Radio Club monthly meeting on the third Saturday of every month at noon at the Pizza Express (South Sam Houston Blvd. next to Texas County Memorial Hospital).
Persons interested in taking an exam for an amateur radio license or just desire more information can contact the club president, Willy Adey, at 573-674-2174.
Persons interested in taking an exam for an amateur radio license or just desire more information can contact the club president, Willy Adey, at 573-674-2174.