ARRL Field Day 2019

ARRL Field Day 2019

By JohnyMac

In five days the ARRL (American Radio Relay League) Field Day will commence at 1400 hrs. Saturday June 22nd and run till 1400 hrs. Sunday. Field Day is a big event for all Amateur Radio operators and clubs across North America.

Looking at the ARRL site they write:

“Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America 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. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933, and remains the most popular event in ham radio.”

If you have been meaning to get into ham radio take the time to attend one of the many field day events put on by your local area club. To find a Field Day event do an interwiz search for your counties Amateur Radio club. Once found go to their site and if they are participating in the event, I am sure there will be an invitation to the event. The ARRL also has a location finder located here but beware that at this time the ARRL may not have all of the locations for the event uploaded. I would try both – Interwiz search and using the ARRL locator.

ARRL continues to explain the objective of the event as…

“To work as many stations as possible on the 160, 80, 40, 20,15 and 10 Meter HF bands, as well as all bands 50 MHz and above, and to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. Field Day is open to all amateurs in the areas covered by the ARRL/RAC Field Organizations and countries within IARU Region 2. DX stations residing in other regions may be contacted for credit, but are not eligible to submit entries.”

Okay, with that all reported, how many American Partisan readers have their amateur radio ticket? If you do not, it is time to stop adding to your gun safe and seriously think about working towards getting it.

I have a very good friend who is a prepper, not part of my group, who keeps telling me that he has a transceiver and when the SHTF happens he will figure it out – Bovem de stercore!

It’s like running a gun, practicing patrols, or testing TC3 techniques; you will fall flat on your face unless you learn now before the bullets start flying.

Several years ago, my 13 year-old neighbor stopped by to see what mischief old JohnyMac was getting into. I was in my radio shack and when he walked in with a newly opened can of Cola-Cola, and a fist-full of chocolate chip cookies that he probably got from MrsMac. He asked me, “what are you doing John?”

I patiently explained to him that what he saw was communication when SHTF happens. Well he being a home schooled young lad knows all about SHTF. Then he pulled out his cell phone and explained to me that his cell phone was all he needed when the SHTF happened.

Well out came the dry-erase board and a 1-hour lecture on how he was mistaken. MrsMac being sorry for my drafted student, brought out more cookies, death in a can for my student, and some unsweetened iced tea for me. An enabler for sure.

Once my student had endured my lecture, he had one question and asked “Well my cell phone has email and text capabilities.” Viola! just my case in point. I explained to him so does amateur radio. WITH NO USER FEES.

Since like me, he has his frugal roots in the old country of Scotland, his sugar induced interest immediately perked up and he said. “Okay, show me.” Which I did.

The next day he came over again (Damn chocolate cookie junkie if you ask me) and asked me how he could get an amateur radio license. I shared with him the following.

  1. Buy the ARRL Technicians Text Book,
  2. Register on-line with the ARRL, and
  3. Download to his cell phone a Technicians Exam app.

Then….

  1. Once a week read a chapter in the ARRL Textbook. Then answer the exam questions through-out the week which are located in the back of the text book.
  2. While waiting in the reception area of his doctors/dentist office, driving with his folks to grandma’s, or at church when nobody was looking; pull out his SmartFone and open the exam app. Then start answering the exam questions for the Technicians Ticket. These questions are all multiple-choice questions by the way.
  3. Once he had read 50% of the chapters in the textbook, sign-in to his new ARRL account and go to the section where you can take practice exams. “When you consistently gets 85% or better on the practice exams”, I told him, “then you will be ready for the actual exam”.

Within eight weeks he had his Technicians Ticket. One month later he had his General Ticket and was a voting member of our radio club – Not bad for a by then a 14-year-old!

After stacking wood for me and other projects more in line for a 14-year-old he had earned enough money from my shallow pockets to buy a HF transceiver.

My point is…If a 14-year-old chocolate chip cookie junkie can do it…So can you!

In closing, we hold a once a month ERIN/Unchainedpreppers net. Typically, the second Sunday of each month. The purpose of the net is to test our equipment and report on any local drama’s that might affect other folks on the net. Typically, the net lasts 30 to 45-minutes. If you would like to find out more information, e.g. date, time, and P.A.C.E., the information is posted on the Radio Board of my site, UnchainedPreppers. You do not need to join the site as you can access the information as a guest.

73 & God Bless

 

 

By Published On: June 17, 2019Categories: Comms10 Comments on ARRL Field Day 2019

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10 Comments

  1. Anonymous June 17, 2019 at 07:57

    5

  2. MW PREPPER June 17, 2019 at 08:22

    Looking forward to Field Day 2019! Our ARRL affiliated club will be setting up at forest preserve here in Southern Ohio. It’s a great time to practice both off the grid & comprehensive radio skills. Our club will utilizing all modes including CW & RTTY. We’ll also have plenty of “Elmers” on hand & I plan on taking advantage of their expertise. Yes, preppers, get that ham radio license & learn how to use the equipment. Great articles here at AP & NC Scout’s Brushbeater web site. Also, NC Scout offers some good radio courses that will come in very handy when the SHTF. Have a great field JohnnyMac!

    73 & Stay Prepared!

    • johnyMac June 17, 2019 at 09:52

      Great comments MW Prepper!

      We will be covering the same modes; CW (Morse Code), digital, as well as phone too. Keep you ears peeled for our clubs call, N3SRC.

      See ya’ on the air Brother. \”/

  3. James June 17, 2019 at 09:15

    Johhny,a 14 year old kid being smarter then me would really be no surprise!He seems like a smart kid and was lucky to have you to get him in the right direction.While I read the articles on comms. will say tis all Greek to me.Will the book and studying really be enuff to get through the door/started and do they have online instead of cell study sites (I have a dumb phone)?I will say this is something I have wanted to do for awhile and guess time to get some coffee and cookies and get at it!

    On a side note,the fishnet stocking clad leg lamp in photo risque and tasteless,I like it!My only worry would be is it considered un PC?!

    Thanks for article and hopefully the kick in ass I need.

    • johnyMac June 17, 2019 at 09:50

      James wrote, “On a side note,the fishnet stocking clad leg lamp in photo risque and tasteless,I like it!My only worry would be is it considered un PC?!” LOL!!! I like your humor James.

      If you do what I write about in my article minus the SmartFone step you will be just fine. The text book is very well done and the questions you could be asked are at the end of each chapter. And when you register on the ARRL site, you can take as many practice exams as you like either by chapter or as a whole. I added the SmartFone step because I learned that from a local Professor who got 35 out of 35 exam questions right for her Technicians Ticket.

      James, I know you can do it.

      Good luck Brother!

      • James June 17, 2019 at 12:17

        Johnny,ordering book today,will probably if I am honest sit a bit,then,will get annoyed paid for book and doing me no good and on a rainy day start the adventure,once I get going get a bit driven and retentive till I accomplish goal,just getting me lazy ass into 1’st gear the challenge.

        As for the lamp,guess it can be PC,just say the lamp going thru a drag queen/transgender period of time,that should shut up any sjw’s!

        Thanks and at some point ya’s may hear me on the air,perhaps bitching about the small amount of syrup for the efforts put in!

        • johnyMac June 17, 2019 at 17:32

          Right on James!

          I always bring the lamp as it annoys some folks.\”/

          • James June 24, 2019 at 12:21

            Hmmm….strange package on deck,from the ARRL,who the hell……?!

            A delivery from the American Rocker Rebel Legion?Nah,more discrete and no blackhawks overhead!

            Association Really Rowdy Louts,nah,good guys but would be mentally challenged to send a package.

            Lets open and see,oh,American Radio Relay League,huh,4th edition of Ham Radio License Manual,what’s going on?!

            Oh,that’s right,said would get off me ass and get working on getting some tickets,hmmmmm….,seems like effort!I also get the feeling though will be good thing is going to cost me monies down the road.

            Intro forward,a nice welcome by ARRL(radio folks,not the rockers).

            Chapter 1.1 What is Amateur Radio?WTF?!,I knew that wouldn’t need the book,oh,they go on to explain,perhaps time to start reading and shut up!

  4. Anonymous June 17, 2019 at 09:27

    4.5

  5. […] Recently I was in South Carolina touring Palmetto State Armory (PSA) You can read about my visit going here. I had several folks approach me asking how to get  their Technicians ticket. I explained to them that it was easy if they followed a three-step process which I wrote about in a earlier article titled, ARRL Field Day 2019. […]

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