PLEASANT HILL — This week is Amateur Radio Week in Oregon, and to celebrate, this weekend the Valley Radio Club of Oregon will hold a public on-air activity known as “Field Day.” The public is invited to this event from 11 a.m. Saturday, June 22 to 11 a.m. on Sunday, June 23 at Jasper State Park, 85521 Jasper Park Rd, Pleasant Hill.
Amateur Radio, also known as Ham Radio, is a worldwide, licensed communications service. There are over 750,000 licensed ham operators in the United States — including over 20,000 in Oregon — and over 3 million worldwide. Ham radio operators use their skills and equipment to talk to other hams, near and far, over the airwaves. Ham Radio does not rely upon commercial infrastructure, instead relying upon operator training, talent, and ingenuity for its reliability and resilience.
On Field Day, Amateur Radio operators and clubs throughout the U.S. and Canada assemble temporary stations with computers, radios, antennas, batteries, and generators. Most Field Day station locations aren’t “typical” locations from which to operate, and include parks, parking lots, and mountaintops. These stations are built, used, and torn down.
Amateur radio is considered a valuable resource by emergency management at all levels of government. Through participation in practice events like Field Day, hams become proficient at gearing up for and operating in emergencies (earthquakes, fires, floods, hurricanes, etc.), and being prepared to serve the public (marathons, trail runs, parades, etc.). More info: Valleyradioclub.org/field-day.
