Murfreesboro, TN – This coming Saturday and Sunday (June 22-23, 2024) ham radio operators with the Stones River Amateur Radio Club will be set-up in shelters 3 and 4 at Barfield Crescent Park, 697 Veterans Parkway). It’s like an “open house” for the public to drop by and learn more about amateur radio and how to get licensed. It’s all free! On the air activities start at 1pm Saturday afternoon and continue for the remaining 24-hour period.
ARRL is the acronym for American Radio Relay League, the organization that represents Amateur Radio interests to regulatory bodies, provides technical advice and assistance to Amateur Radio enthusiasts and supports a number of educational programs throughout the country. They started field day in 1933.
This Saturday and Sunday the hams will be transmitting around the world from Barfield Crescent Park. In fact, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America will set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio's science, skill and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event.
Stones River Amateur Radio Club President Mark Swicord (KD4EYF) said, “We are ready 24-7 to come to the aid of this community whenever emergencies arise. In addition, our communications are 100 per cent self-sufficient. We will have 3-4 generators on site this coming weekend to power the stations.”
The theme for 2024 ARRL Field Day is "Be Radio Active." That encourages radio amateurs to take advantage of the peak of Solar Cycle 25, which we are nearing. Activity this year is likely to be extremely high thanks to favorable solar conditions. The upper HF bands, such as 15 and 10 meters, should benefit most from the Cycle's peak.
Some members from the local Stones River Amateur Radio group are also active with Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES). At a time when weather patterns around the world are changing dramatically, ham radio operators offer instant communications during emergencies.
When flooding, tornadoes, massive forest fires and other disasters that need communications, the ham radio operators are there. Communications are crucial during times of emergency, especially because cell phone service along with wired communications often have its infrastructure down. Ham radio is often the only type of communications available, and these volunteers offer short range, or state, nation and even worldwide transmissions.
The Stones River Amateur Radio Club also volunteers to help with non-emergency events as well. This is the group that has been the source of instant communications with the annual Murfreesboro Christmas Parade. They began in the late 80’s and continue to this time.
In addition, this ham radio group also offers communications during local bicycle races, area runs and other activities that take place over a large geographic area.
Swicord noted that the club’s volunteer examiner, Dave Wilson, will be giving FCC tests to become licensed at 10:00AM Saturday.
Once again, the ARRL’s 91st Annual Field Day will take place locally this coming Saturday and Sunday (6/22-23/2024) in picnic shelters 3 and 4 at Barfield Crescent Park. For more information, visit these websites: http://arrl.org/field-day-locator or https://srarctn.org/.
