Valley Center CA— The Palomar Amateur Radio Club members will be conducting Field Day on June 23 and 24 at the Valley Center Municipal Water District property across from the Fire Department at 28234 Lilac Road in Valley Center. Operations will be from 11:00 AM Saturday, running 24 continuous hours, to 11:00 AM Sunday.
ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada. On the fourth weekend of June of each year, more than 35,000 radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations.
Field Day is a picnic, a campout, practice for emergencies, an informal contest and, most of all, FUN!
It is a time where many aspects of Amateur Radio come together to highlight our many roles. While some will treat it as a contest, other groups use the opportunity to practice their emergency response capabilities. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the organizations that Amateur Radio might serve in an emergency, as well as the general public. For many clubs, ARRL Field Day is one of the highlights of their annual calendar.
The contest part is simply to contact as many other stations as possible and to learn to operate our radio gear in abnormal situations and less than optimal conditions.
We use these same skills when we help with events such as marathons and bike-a-thons; fund-raisers such as walk-a-thons; celebrations such as parades; and exhibits at fairs, malls and museums — these are all large, preplanned, non-emergency activities.
But despite the development of very complex, modern communications systems — or maybe because they ARE so complex —ham radio has been called into action again and again to provide communications in crises when it really matters. Amateur Radio people (also called “hams”) are well known for our communications support in real disaster and post-disaster situations.
What is the ARRL?
The American Radio Relay League is the national association for Amateur Radio in the USA, representing over 170,000 FCC-licensed Amateurs. The ARRL is the primary source of information about what is going on in ham radio. It provides books, news, support and information for individuals and clubs, special events, continuing education classes and other benefits for its members.
What is Amateur Radio
Often called “ham radio,” the Amateur Radio Service has been around for a century. In that time, it’s grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators using the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology. Its people range in age from youngsters to grandparents. Even rocket scientists and a rock star or two are in the ham ranks. Most, however, are just normal folks like you and me who enjoy learning and being able to transmit voice, data and pictures through the air to unusual places, both near and far, without depending on commercial systems.
The Amateur Radio frequencies are the last remaining place in the usable radio spectrum where you as an individual can develop and experiment with wireless communications. Hams not only can make and modify their equipment, but can create whole new ways to do things.
This practice will include bringing communications equipment to a location, constructing the communications service, practice contacting as many locations as possible, then removing the equipment when finished. This will be done using non commercial emergency power sources. One station will be using solar power. The communications will be conducted across the North American Continent, and maybe more.
These Amateur Radio operators (HAMS) are your neighbors. Some have strange antennas above their property. To many in public services, these are welcome resources in emergencies. The operations of these stations are by tested, licensed individuals. Through their normal everyday use they learn about conditions that affect their abilities. Learning these conditions and when they occur help the operators use the best frequency at the time of day for their needs.
One reason for the amateur service is to provide communications when needed during disasters like hurricanes, tornados, or locally during wild fires and even during the 2011 Southwest Blackout.
Subpart A—General Provisions

• 97.1 Basis and purpose.

The rules and regulations in this part are designed to provide an amateur radio service having a fundamental purpose as expressed in the following principles:
(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.
Come learn more about Amateur Radio. You will have a chance to Get On The Air or ask questions of any of the operators. There will be a welcome area along with information and a station dedicated for guests.
Members of Palomar Amateur Radio Club will be joined by demonstrations of PAPA, AREDN, and the local Valley Center CERT team.
For more information contact Dennis Baca at parcfieldday2018@hotmail.com or kd6tuj-3@hotmail.com or call 760-672-0223