Amador County – Local ham radio operators, members of the Amador County Amateur Radio Club, helped stage a national emergency communications preparedness demonstration at the end of June, swinging into motion for the local version of the national “Field Day,” a 24-hour demonstration of readiness.

John Stettler, member of the ACARC, with the call sign, K6ARC, said on June 25, that “members of the local amateur radio club converged to participate in a nationwide event,” the “Field Day,” which “is set for one weekend each year at which time amateur radio operators set up stations under” what he called “less than optimal conditions.”

Stettler said the “purpose is to demonstrate the unique role that amateur radio plays during times of crisis or disaster.”

He said “supporting hams were the Red Cross mobile ‘Cook Shack’ team who prepared meals and demonstrated their emergency capabilities. The Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services communication trailer was also on site, which is often staffed by hams during search and rescue and other emergencies during the year.”

Stettler said the “event started Saturday morning with hams putting antennas between trees and setting up the operating equipment. Actual contacts with other stations around the country started at noon and continued until noon on Sunday (June 26), at which time all the antennas came down out of the trees and equipment was packed away awaiting the time when it would be needed for an actual emergency or disaster.”

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