The American Radio Relay League (ARRL) holds its annual Amateur Radio Field Day the fourth full weekend in June. That would be on June 22-23 this year. From a story on hackaday:
Hams across North America reserve the fourth full weekend of each June to tear themselves out of their shacks and get into the world to set up operations in some kind of public venue, generally a park or other green space. Part cookout, part community outreach, and part slumber party – it lasts all weekend and goes around the clock – hams use field day as a chance to show the general public where amateur radio really shines: real-time worldwide communications under austere conditions.
It's also a chance to get folks excited about getting their license, with many Field Day locations hosting "Get on the Air" stations so that unlicensed folks can try making a contact under the supervision of a licensed operator. Licensed but underequipped hams also get the chance to spin the knobs on someone else's gear, and maybe line up that first rig purchase. And there are plenty of opportunities to learn about new modes as well, such as FT8 and WSPR. As an example your scribe is looking for some guidance on getting started with APRS, the automated packet reporting system that's used for things like high-altitude balloon tracking.
Take a look at this map to find one of the 1500 locations with 40,000 hams in attendance. Join the fun!
How many hams do we have among us? Are you planning to participate in this year's field day?
[Ed note - this event is North America specific. If you're outside of that area and are interested, check around for local Amateur Radio clubs who may have information on similar events. - Fnord666]
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Thursday June 20 2019, @10:04AM (3 children)
At the cookout and slumber party: green eggs and ham...and lots of sexy, sexy knob twiddling.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Thursday June 20 2019, @10:24AM (2 children)
with SDR and many modern radios, it will be more button-pressing or typing... but knobs will still be involved somwhere.
Sexiness of any of this is up to you.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 1) by agr on Thursday June 20 2019, @01:05PM (1 child)
Having radios that don’t depend on computer technology is probably an important part of disaster preparedness, with the threat of cyberwar increasing.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Thursday June 20 2019, @02:36PM
Having microprocessors inside a radio does not mean that the microprocessor is connected to the intarweb tubes.
The radio's firmware may never need updating as long as it performs its basic function properly.
It's not like the radio is a Samsung Smart TV and requires frequent virus scanning.
What brand will be the first to build a model capable of automagically receiving firmware updates over the air.
Young people won't believe you if you say you used to get Netflix by US Postal Mail.
(Score: 2) by Fnord666 on Thursday June 20 2019, @11:52AM (3 children)
Field Day is also a disaster preparedness exercise. When other means of communication are down, amateur radio and amateur radio operators are able to keep communications going. They get messages into and out of areas that are otherwise incommunicado. Field Day requires operators to set up and operate their radio stations in adverse conditions with less that optimal resources similar to what you would have to do in a disaster. The contesting around Field Day encourages operators to make contacts with other stations across the country and reporting those contacts. From this information emergency management people can determine how effective amateur radio communications might be in a disaster scenario.
(Score: 2) by Phoenix666 on Thursday June 20 2019, @01:01PM (1 child)
I have never been interested in ham radio, but it's for the disaster preparedness you're talking about that I'm gonna take my kids down to the site at Floyd Bennett Field in Jamaica Bay, NYC this weekend.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 2) by LVDOVICVS on Thursday June 20 2019, @06:06PM
I'm guessing someone there will be more than happy to let your kids try to make some contacts. Hams like kids because they're really interested in getting new people into the hobby.
(Score: 2) by Knowledge Troll on Thursday June 20 2019, @01:25PM
No it doesn't require that you operate under emergency conditions or remotely in any way though it is encouraged. Field day is a competition with a score based on number of contacts with multipliers based on your station. If you are not using the power grid you get a bonus and if you out in public you get a bonus. You also get a bonus for inviting the press.
It is only in part about disaster preparedness though you should practice this. It is also about showing ham radio to the public.
(Score: 2) by Snotnose on Thursday June 20 2019, @01:19PM (1 child)
When I was a kid (60s/70s) I liked building Heathkits, and thought I'd like being a ham. So I got my license (learning Morse code was fun), then realized I enjoyed putting Heathkits together. Talking to a bunch of strangers, notsomuch.
So I was a ham for about a month.
I came. I saw. I forgot why I came.
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday June 20 2019, @04:23PM
Was part of a ham radio club for a while, because my Dad was. I got the tech lvl license, but I also wasn't much into the talking to strangers bit. It's much simpler/private to just call my Dad on the phone. Whereas, with a ham radio, you're quite literally broadcasting your conversation to the world.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by Knowledge Troll on Thursday June 20 2019, @01:28PM
I'll be working field day this year some as I'm stuck at home anyway. I operate out of my shack but I move over to emergency generator power the morning of the event. As a single operator I don't score very high but it's fun anyway.
It is always good to practice with and exercise your emergency plans.
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 20 2019, @02:35PM
Yes, I'm a ham and I have been licensed for over 25 years. I was active on and off, quite a bit before the Internet and even about ten years ago I was active. I maintain my license primarily because it is little effort to do so. I have a 2m radio in my car that I hear a transmission on maybe once a week outside of net times, and an HF rig/autotuner/portable antenna in storage. I haven't operated in some years and I let my local radio club and ARRL memberships lapse. I don't reject the idea that I might get interested again someday, and I'm keeping my gear because I have the space and the knowledge to use it. But one can only make so many contacts before it all becomes just repetition. The last things I was interested in were JT65 and other high S/N operating modes.
"When all else fails" is good, but the vast majority of reality today is that one is personally better off with a cell phone that can send texts, and a car that can maneuver to where a working tower is. Most served agencies already have backup communications plans which do not require volunteers present just to communicate (or any such volunteer is going to be tasked with other duties in the support section of the Incident Command System). In the United States any agency that does not have such a plan which makes the communicator unnecessary is behind the times. But... I still have my gear because I know when all else fails I can make it work.
As to nonemergency operations, today the cutting edges of radio operation involve things like EchoLink (which is now old) and D-STAR, both of which require a node to have Internet connectivity so what's the point - why not just use the Internet to communicate? I have previously participated in field days, but mostly it was an exercise in the old-timers controlling everything that went on including who was allowed to operate during the prime slots. I was better off operating solo, and that gets boring also. I don't want to diss my brothers and sisters who still find it interesting or are in regions where ARES/RACES still contributes meaningfully, but mostly I feel that I have better things to do in my life today.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 20 2019, @02:55PM (1 child)
In the late 1970s you could go to the local CB store and buy a 100W linear amp for $100, a Turner Super Sidekick for $60, a Firestick for $25, and pull the cover off your 40ch SSB CB to jump the PLL chip for another 20 channels. If you had a Gemtronics CB all you had to do is pull the cover off and turn the power limiter VR screw to get 18W on am instead of 4W. Shooting skip was easy.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 20 2019, @08:51PM
Yes, yes you could, indeed, I remember the times.
I also remember what people like me called people like you in those days.
(Score: 2) by Rupert Pupnick on Friday June 21 2019, @04:23PM
I started writing a reply to this submission, and now it's turning into a journal entry. Thanks a lot! I can't keep up with you guys.