LIMA, Ohio – Amateur radio enthusiasts from across the United States will gather this weekend to discuss and teach others about radio communication as part of Field Day, an annual event that emphasises the importance of ham radio operations.
The Northwest Ohio Amateur Radio Club set up a temporary station for the event, inviting the public to learn how to operate a ham radio—a necessary skill in the event of a disaster where traditional cell phone or landline service fails.
“This is a nationwide event sponsored by the Amateur Radio Relay League, where we practise for emergencies,” said Cliff Barber, treasurer of the Northwest Ohio Amateur Radio Club. “Everything that you see here today is operating completely off the grid, whether it’s solar or battery power.”
As part of the event, organisers released a PICO balloon, a small, trackable device designed for high-altitude, long-distance flight.
“Today, we launched a PICO balloon,” said Tom Graham, a radio enthusiast. “The PICO balloons are tiny devices, hence the name ‘PICO’. They weigh only two grammes, which is roughly equal to two quarters. That balloon we just launched has the potential to orbit the Earth. There are balloons in the air that have done that and are built similarly to this one.”
There are over 700,000 licensed amateur radio operators in the United States. To learn more about becoming a ham radio operator, go to arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio.
