FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 30, 2023
For more information contact :
Skip Camejo, Public Information Coordinator, New Hampshire Section ARRL
603-707-9848 AC1LC@outlook.com
Or individual club contacts listed below.
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New Hampshire amateur radio operators prepare for annual Field Day event.
Every June, more than 40,000 amateur radio operators, known as “hams” throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio’s science, skill and service to their communities. Field Day combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio. Field Day 2023 will be held on June 24th and June 25th.
The slogan for the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) “When all else fails, amateur radio” is just as important now as it has been since amateur radio first began in the early parts of the 20th century. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) regulation governing amateur radio states as the basis and purpose “(a) Recognition and enhancement of the value of the amateur service to the public as a voluntary noncommercial communication service, particularly with respect to providing emergency communications.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has recently entered into an updated Memorandum of Agreement with the ARRL . The agreement will enhance cooperation between ARRL’s emergency communications program, the Amateur Radio Emergency Service® (ARES®), and FEMA in providing disaster communications. The agreement emphasizes the importance of skilled Amateur Radio Operators in times of crisis and the role of ARES leadership within the emergency communications space. In March 2023 FEMA released the final version of the NIMS Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Functional Guidance, which includes amateur radio in the response program and national emergency preparedness.
Field Day provides valuable experience and training to enhance the efforts of these federally licensed amateur radio operators in practicing for their emergency communication response capabilities. It should be noted that in the event of an emergency, amateur radio operators provide this service utilizing their own or club owned radio equipment at no cost to the public or other responding emergency service agencies.
A number of New Hampshire amateur radio clubs and organizations are planning events to help educate the public as to the value of amateur radio to the community for emergency communication response as well as the fun aspects of the hobby. Members of the public are invited and encouraged to visit one of the Field Day events.
As of this date the following events are planned.
The Granite State Amateur Radio Association will be holding Field Day at 972 Back Mountain Rd Goffstown, NH. They typically have a “Get on the air” or GOTA station and a fox transmitter hidden on the grounds for fox hunting demonstrations. Last year they lead members of the public on a short fox hunt using radios to find the hidden transmitter.
Contact: William Arcand ph: 603-600-6469 email: w1wra@w1ra.net Club website: www.gsara.org
The Lakes Region Repeater Association will be holding their Field Day event at 151 Old Route 109, Moultonborough, NH They will have a GOTA station and the public will be able to observe operators involved in contest events. They are planning on running a contest period for 24 hours, with no breaks. The contest officially ends at 2pm on Sunday.
Contact: Rich Kumpf ph: 508-259-7600 email: WF1V@ARRL.NET Club website: www.W1BST.ORG
The Great Bay Radio Association will be holding their Field Day event at the Milton Town Beach in Milton, NH.
Contact: Jeffrey Zajicek ph: 603-833-1087 email: n1xuq@w1fz.club Club website: www.w1fz.club
The Cheshire County DX Amateur Radio Club will be holding their Field Day event at the Mt Caesar School 585 Old Homestead Hwy
Swanzey, NH. The Cheshire County Club will be offering a GOTA station.
Contact: Jeff Mungovan ph: 603-680-1978 email: Jeff.mungovan@yahoo.com Club website: www.ccdxarc.org
The Nashua Area Radio Society will hold their Field Day event at 1 Memorial Drive Hudson, NH. They will be including a GOTA station in addition to radio demonstrations.
Contact: Jonathan Turner ph:617-470-1739 email: ac1ev@arrl.net Club website: www.n1fd.org
Additional information is attached to this release from the ARRL regarding Field Day.
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Raul “Skip” Camejo – AC1LC
Public Information Coordinator
ARRL New Hampshire Section
PO Box 206
Ashland, NH 03217
603-707-9848