Radio field day Saturday, Sunday

Fees Park at the west edge of Gas will be alive with conversations from around the country this weekend, courtesy of ham radios operated by members of the Iola Radio Club.
The IRC will participate in the American Radio Relay League’s annual field day activities.
Local hams will set up equipment Saturday morning and be on the air until about 10 that night, take a break and then complete the exercise Sunday morning.
“Anyone with an interest in ham radio is invited to stop by to visit and observe the club’s activities,” said member Dale Roberts.
Previous field days have been in Riverside Park. Fees Park was selected this year because of its higher elevation, which members think will give them a better opportunity to connect with operators elsewhere in the nation, perhaps even some overseas. Last year one contact was made in Hawaii.
ARRL Field Day is the most popular on-the-air event in the United States and Canada, held the fourth weekend each June. More than 35,000 radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or friends to operate from temporary and remote sites, Roberts said.
While operators mean to have fun, they also practice for emergencies by setting up temporary stations remote from their homes and vehicles.
Most Iola Radio Club members respond whenever severe weather threatens the area, working as spotters and relaying information to Pam Beasley and her emergency services team at Allen County’s Critical Response Center, 410 N. State St.
Saturday evening at about 7 o’clock, the club will grill hamburgers, an event that will be open to the public. A covered dish would be welcome but “definitely not required,” Roberts said. A mention of attendance at the picnic by 1 p.m. Saturday would be helpful, he said, or a call to 620-228-4643 before 10 p.m. Friday. Roberts also may be contacted by email at [email protected].

THE FIELD day occupied IRC members at their meeting Thursday.
Jeremy Utley demonstrated how to create contact and field day contest logs.
Robin Boyer told members Echolink, which permits radio operators to communicate with one another over the Internet by using streaming-audio technology, was up and running locally. The program allows worldwide connections between stations, or from computer to station, greatly enhancing amateur radio operators’ communications capabilities.
Bart Cox passed his general test.
The next meeting, open to anyone with an interest in amateur radio, will be at 7 p.m. July 11 at Iola City Hall.