Contact
TBD. Are you the ARRL RI Section Field Day Page Lead who can help bring to RI what Eastern MA has put together for their Section, with current and historic information? Please contact your RI Section Manager [email protected]. And thank you!
Introduction
“Field Day is an annual Amateur Radio exercise, widely sponsored by IARU regions and member organizations, encouraging emergency communications preparedness among amateur radio operators. In the United States, it is typically the largest single emergency preparedness exercise in the country, with over 30,000 operators participating each year. Field Day is always the fourth full weekend of June, beginning at 1800 UTC Saturday and running through 2059 UTC Sunday.
“Since the first ARRL Field Day in 1933, radio amateurs throughout North America have practiced the rapid deployment of radio communications equipment in environments ranging from operations under tents in remote areas to operations inside Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs). Operations using emergency and alternative power sources are highly encouraged, since electricity and other public infrastructures are often among the first to fail during a natural disaster or severe weather.” [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Field_Day_(amateur_radio)]
“It is a time where many aspects of Amateur Radio come together to highlight our many roles. While some will treat it as a contest, other groups use the opportunity to practice their emergency response capabilities. It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to the organizations that Amateur Radio might serve in an emergency, as well as the general public. For many clubs, ARRL Field Day is one of the highlights of their annual calendar. The contest part is simply to contact as many other stations as possible and to learn to operate our radio gear in abnormal situations and less than optimal conditions. Amateurs use these same skills when they help with events such as marathons and bike-a-thons; fund-raisers such as walka-thons; celebrations such as parades; and exhibits at fairs, malls and museums — these are all large, preplanned, non-emergency activities. But despite the development of very complex, modern communications systems — or maybe because they ARE so complex — ham radio has been called into action again and again to provide communications in crises when it really matters. Amateur Radio people (also called “hams”) are well known for our communications support in real disaster and post-disaster situations.” [ARRL]
Field Day 2023 in Rhode Island
SEVEN Rhode Island ARRL affiliated clubs participated in Field Day 2023. We welcome club presidents to share their stories and photos here. In addition, TWO EMA/EOC ham teams participated from Charlestown and Coventry, RI.
Congrats to all NINE RI TEAMS! What would success look like for your club in 2024?
RI Field Day Sites (June 2023)
SEVEN Rhode Island ARRL affiliated clubs (FD2023)
- Associated Radio Amateurs of Southern New England (W1AQ)
- Blackstone Valley Amateur Radio Club (W1DDD)
- Fidelity Amateur Radio Club (W1MB)
- Newport County Radio Club (W1SYE)
- Providence Radio Association (W1OP)
- RICOMU/RIEMA (WA1USA)
TWO EMA/EOC Ham Teams (not yet ARRL affiliated clubs)
- Charlestown EOC Ham Radio Club (W1CRI) with Westerly Club Hams
- Coventry (RI) EMA (KC1CUE)
