Come join the Paso Robles amateur radio club for ARRL field day June 28th - 29th 2025 and learn what HAM radio is all about. We will be setting up in the vacant field to west of the Estrella Warbirds Museum located at: 4251 Dry Creek Rd, Paso Robles, CA 93446. Look for the antennas and signs.

During operation, there will be the same rapid message handling done in real emergencies, with visitors getting the opportunity to participate under supervision of licensed radio operators.

See our gallery from PRARC’s 2024 Field Day.

Who May Participate

Members of the general public, all radio amateurs, scouts, and their friends and families are welcome to participate. You don’t need a radio license to participate, as you can operate with one of the club’s licensed operators supervising.

Schedule

About ARRL Field Day

ARRL Field Day is a radio communications event that brings together amateur radio operators (also called “hams”) within your community. The theme for 2025 Field Day is “Radio Connects” – highlighting the many ways that wireless technology connects people across distances near and far. The event is part picnic, campout, practice for emergencies, informal contest, and most of all, fun! ARRL Field Day is the most popular ham radio activity held annually in the US and Canada. On the fourth weekend in June each year, more than 31,000 hams get together with their radio clubs, schools, or friends to operate from remote locations.

For many radio clubs, ARRL Field Day is one of the highlights on their annual calendar. A typical Field Day site will showof many aspects of amateur radio and its many roles. Some groups use Field Day as an opportunity to practice their emergency communications readiness. ARRL Field Day is an annual demonstration and invites the general public and organizations to see how amateur radio can serve in an emergency, When All Else Fails®. Hams are well-known for their communications support in real disaster and post-disaster situations. 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 also inspires the next generation of technical leaders by providing a hands-on sandbox where students gain experience in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

For those with a competitive spirit, Field Day stations compete to make radio contacts with as many other stations as possible while learning to operate radio equipment in challenging situations and less-than-optimal conditions. These same skills are used by hams who volunteer to help with large, preplanned, non-emergency events such as marathons and bike-a-thons; fundraisers such as walk-a-thons; celebrations such as parades, and exhibits at fairs, malls, and museums.

The Paso Robles Amateur Radio Club (PRARC) is made up of amateur radio enthusiasts from around the greater North SLO and South Monterey County areas. PRARC was founded in the 1940’s with a mission to spark interest in electronics, radio operations, and community service through club activities and the use of the Amateur Radio Service. Radio Amateurs have varied interests such as electronics tinkering, satellite communications, rocketry telemetry, developing new communications technologies, and helping out with public service events.

Often called “ham radio,” the Amateur Radio Service has been around for over a century. It’s grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators using the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology. Its people range in age from youngsters to grandparents. Even rocket scientists and a rock star or two are in the ham ranks. Most, however, are just regular folks like you and me who enjoy learning and being able to transmit voice, data and pictures through the air to unusual places near and far, without depending on commercial systems.

In the United States there are over 775,000 FCC-licensed amateurs, more than ever before. There is no age limit, so even youngsters enjoy learning to merge radio with their interests in computers, Bluetooth devices, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi processors, model rocketry, robotics, and drones.

For more information on the club and the event, check the Field Day information on the club web page: https://www.pasoroblesradio.net/

For information on the American Radio Relay League: http://www.arrl.org/field-day

Download Flyers:

• PRARC Field Day Flyer (Full)

Volunteer

Field Day doesn’t happen without team effort. Please consider signing up to help make the 2025 Field Day a success.

• Logistics Spreadsheet

PRESENTATIONS

1. “Acorn Angel” Artwork Dedication

   Dale Evers, Artist - Dale Evers Design Studio

2. Hunger Awareness Day Proclamation

   John R. Hamon, Jr., Mayor

3. Amateur Radio Week Proclamation

   John R. Hamon, Jr., Mayor

Please mark your calendars if you are available to attend. The proclamations usually happen after the consent agenda items, so somewhere around 11:00 AM. It would be good to have folks from the local Amateur Radio community present.

Meetings will convene at 9:00 a.m. in the County Board of Supervisors Chambers located at 1055 Monterey Street in San Luis Obispo.

For those who cannot attend in person, you can watch the meeting online:

• The Board of Supervisors meetings will be available to view live online when the meeting starts at 9:00 a.m.
• A link will pop up at that time on the County home page, that says “Watch Live Video”.
• The meeting is also available to view at the following link: https://slo-span.org.

Winter Field Day is a special event to develop skills and test communications equipment which may be needed in case of disasters. On Field Day, Amateur Radio operators practice using their own equipment in abnormal situations that simulate emergency conditions. During operation, there will be the same rapid message handling done in real emergencies. The event is also a contest to see who can contact the most other stations across North America. Visitors can participate under supervision of licensed radio operators.

Events like Winter Field Day help us all coordinate and prepare for emergencies, such as the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles and the recent hurricanes and floods that have affected so many US citizens. When large scale disasters occur, cell phones and the internet are often unavailable. Amateur radio can provide communications support under these conditions.

Often called “ham radio,” the Amateur Radio Service has been around for over a century. In that time, it’s grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators using the airwaves with a wide range of communications technology. Members include youngsters, grandparents, rock stars and rocket scientists. Most simply enjoy learning while transmitting voice, data, and pictures through the air to unusual places, both near and far, without depending on commercial systems.

Amateur radio frequencies are the last remaining place in the radio spectrum where you as an individual can develop and experiment with wireless communications. Hams not only build and modify their equipment, they also innovate new ways to do things.

The Paso Robles Amateur Radio Club meets the first Monday of each month in the Tompson Hall at the Estrella Warbirds Museum, 4251 Dry Creek Road, Paso Robles. Meetings are open to all. For more information, contact Scot Morrison, 805 709-3430.

During operation, there will be the same rapid message handling done in real emergencies, with visitors getting the opportunity to participate under supervision of licensed radio operators.

According to the national American Radio Relay League (ARRL), “Field Day is ham radio’s open house. Every June, more than 40,000 hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio’s science, skill, and service to our communities and our nation. It combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach, and technical skills all in a single event. Field Day has been an annual event since 1933 and remains the most popular event in ham radio.”

The Paso Robles Amateur Radio Club (PRARC) is made up of amateur radio enthusiasts from around the greater North SLO and South Monterey County areas. PRARC was founded in the 1940’s with a mission to spark interest in electronics, radio operations, and community service through club activities and the use of the Amateur Radio Service. Radio Amateurs have varied interests such as electronics tinkering, satellite communications, rocketry telemetry, developing new communications technologies, and helping out with public service events.

Often called “ham radio,” the Amateur Radio Service has been around for over a century. It’s grown into a worldwide community of licensed operators using the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology. Its people range in age from youngsters to grandparents. Even rocket scientists and a rock star or two are in the ham ranks. Most, however, are just regular folks like you and me who enjoy learning and being able to transmit voice, data and pictures through the air to unusual places near and far, without depending on commercial systems.

In the United States there are over 775,000 FCC-licensed amateurs, more than ever before. There is no age limit, so even youngsters enjoy learning to merge radio with their interests in computers, Bluetooth devices, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi processors, model rocketry, robotics, and drones.

For more information on the club and the event, check the Field Day information on the club web page: https://www.pasoroblesradio.net/

For information on the American Radio Relay League: http://www.arrl.org/field-day

Download Flyers:

• PRARC Field Day Flyer (1 Page)
• PRARC Field Day Flyer (Full)

I found it comforting to know that a massive solar flare occurred for a majority of yesterday. I think it was God sending a signal and calling Dad home in the perfect way Dad would know and love. I know how much he loved those, as I’m sure you all do too.

Ron will be greatly missed. He was a staple in our community, teaching and sharing everything he knew and leaving a lasting legacy that continues to pay it forward to future generations. Thank you for everything, Ron, you will be missed.

Final call for W6FM during the February 24, 2024 SLO countywide ARES/RACES net from AI6MS Marcel Steiber.