| NRV Ham Radio Operators Hold Field Day |
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| David Grimes | |
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Ham radio operators throughout the New River Valley were just a few of the thousands of operators from across the US spending this weekend demonstrating their emergency capabilities during its annual “Field Day.”
Local groups participating included the New River Valley Amateur Radio Club, the Pulaski/Montgomery County Amateur Radio Emergency Services team, who were set up at Loving Field in Pulaski County, and The Virginia Tech Amateur Radio Association, which was set up on the Virginia Tech campus near the Duck Pond Gazebo. Throughout the weekend, the public had a chance to meet and talk with these ham radio operators and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about. Showing the newest digital and satellite capabilities, voice communications and even historical Morse code. When asked just who is a ham operator? Roger Bell, vice-president of the New River Valley Amateur Radio Club said, “Our members include retirees, professors, engineers, financial planners. They come from all walks of life and they have a wide variety of jobs and backgrounds. According to Bell, there are about 35 members in the New River Valley Amateur Radio Club and between 15 and 20 in the Pulaski/Montgomery County Amateur Radio Emergency Services group. Through the ARRL, ham volunteers provide emergency communications for the DHS Citizens' Corps, Salvation Army, FEMA and hundreds of state and local agencies, all for free. For more information about the New River Valley Amateur Radio Club or the Pulaski/Montgomery County Amateur Radio Emergency Services team contact Roger Bell at (540) 674-1200. The Virginia Tech Amateur Radio Association (VTARA) has served the Virginia Tech and Blacksburg communities with Emergency and Public Service Communications for several decades. Activities include SKYWARN (severe weather observation), support for Poverty Creek Trail events, and logistics for the Blacksburg Christmas Parade and VT Homecoming Parade. They maintain a complete amateur radio station in Squires Student Center, and provide activities throughout the year. The organization meets bi-weekly during the school year, and membership is open to the public. Information is available at www.vtara.org.vt.edu or www.arrl.org or call Ben Mills at (540) 808-2805. You can also visit www.emergency-radio.org for more information. Click here to see more photos of this event in our photo gallery. Photos by David Grimes Comments (1)
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Everything NRV News
Pearisburg, Virginia
Re: Amateur Radio Emergency Services – Field Day Exercise – June 27-29, 2008
Dear Mr. Grimes:
On behalf of the New River Valley Amateur Radio Club and the Montgomery/Pulaski Amateur Radio Emergency Services members, please allow me to convey our sincere appreciation to you for web coverage of this important field day exercise held on June 27, 28 and 29, 2008.
Eighteen NRVARC and ARES members participated in this field day exercise and successfully operated a wide range of high grade amateur radio equipment – both portable and fixed stations, emergency power systems and antennas which included high frequency for national communication to very high frequency and ultra high frequency for local and regional communication. Local and regional communications were also achieved by the use of amateur radio repeater systems located throughout Southwest Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. Public interest in this emergency communications exercise was substantial as reflected by the numerous visits and inquiries made by the general public and various public officials.
This extensive exercise is conducted annually in real-time field conditions to provide ongoing testing and training of our emergency communications teams and their equipment. Most importantly, this real-time exercise ensures the viability of our amateur radio emergency communication teams capacity to quickly create efficient communication networks to assist various government and non-government agencies during times of emergency/disasters in which normal communication systems are overwhelmed or become inoperable due to usage overload, power failure, etc.
The members of NRVARC and the Amateur Radio Emergency Services are also available to assist the public in service events where communications expertise is required. On May 24 and 25, 2008, Montgomery/Pulaski County ARES members provided the communications backbone for the East Coasters Cycling of Southwest Virginia – Wilderness Bike Ride and the well known and difficult Mountains of Misery Century Ride, a challenging 100- and 125-mile road course in mountainous terrain involving over 500 competitive cycling participants from throughout the US and Canada.
Through the ARRL, the national association for amateur radio operators, Amateur Radio Emergency Services members nationwide provide emergency communications for many state and local agencies such as the DHS Citizens Corps, the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and FEMA. We welcome the public’s inquiries.
Respectfully Yours,
Roger R. Bell, II
V.P. , New River Valley Amateur Radio Club
Montgomery/Pulaski County Amateur Radio Emergency Services
Amateur Radio Call Sign – N4FPA