Paso Robles Amateur Radio Club Hosts Winter Field Day

The Paso Robles Amateur Radio Club (PRARC) will demonstrate emergency communications for the public during the Winter Field Day communications exercise on Saturday, January 25, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. in the field adjacent to the Warbirds Museum parking lot, 4251 Dry Creek Road, Paso Robles, CA. The event is run as a public education event and is open to the public.

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.