Local "Hams" Take to the Streets June 25th and 26th 2005

Released on = June 16, 2005, 9:26 pm

Press Release Author = Jerry Patterson, K4JHK

Industry = Non Profit

Press Release Summary = This annual event, called "Field Day" is the climax of the week long "Amateur Radio Week" sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. Using only generators, batteries or solar power, the hams construct
emergency stations in parks, shopping malls and back yards to test their skills under all situations.

Press Release Body = Local "Hams" Take it to the Streets June 25-26
(New Port Richey, June 14, 2005) -- Over the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications in emergencies worldwide. On the weekend of June 25-26 local residents will have a chance to meet and talk with ham radio operators and see for themselves what this "radio service"
really is about. The Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Club will be holding a demonstration of emergency communications abilities at Mitchell Park off Little Road in New Port Richey from Saturday June 25th 2 pm to Sunday June 26th 2 pm.

This annual event, called "Field Day" is the climax of the week long "Amateur Radio Week" sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. Using only generators, batteries or solar power, the hams construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls and back yards to test their skills under all situations. The slogan, "Ham radio works when other systems don't!" is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, Internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis.
More than 30,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year's event.

Over the weekend hams will be demonstrating AM, sideband, FM, digital, code and even satellite communications. Several clubs will also be experimenting with TV signals and incredibly high frequency equipment. It was from their practical experience as hams that many electrical engineers went on to develop the marvels of today's
communications.

There are 670,000 Amateur Radio operators in the US, and more than 2.5 million around the world. Through the ARRL hams provide emergency communications for the DHS Citizens' Corps, Red Cross, Salvation Army, FEMA and many state and local agencies. To learn more about Amateur Radio, contact Jerry Patterson at 727-375-9997 or go to www.arrl.org/newham. The public is most cordially invited to come, meet and talk with the hams. They will even help you get on the air!

Web Site = http://www.gulfcoastarc.org

Contact Details = Jerry Patterson, K4JHK
Gulf Coast Amateur Radio Club
P.O. Box 595
New Port Richey, Florida 34656-0595
727-375-9997
secretary@gulfcoastarc.org