The public is invited to come out and talk on a radio to a person located
in the United States or overseas.
The Prince William County Board of Supervisors has proclaimed the week of June 21,
2011 as Amateur Radio Week. The Proclamation recognizes the public assistance
provided by amateur radio operators throughout Prince William County.
Each year the Woodbridge Amateur Radio Club (WWI) participates in a field day which
is an exercise in preparedness. Field day tests the ability of amateur radio operators
nationwide to establish radio communications to augment emergency communications
networks should a disaster strike reducing normal communication. This exercise is
particularly important since Amateur Radio is part of the Home Land Defense plans to
provide nationwide communications should disaster strike. WWI was instrumental in
maintaining communications within the County during 9/11. WWI will establish nine
radio nets using generators and/or batteries on June 25th and 26th in the field opposite
BJ’s gas station (Golansky Blvd).
Amateur radio operators are licensed by the FCC and are called "hams." One of the
main tasks for “hams” is to be able to set up and operate under any circumstance, such as
a natural disaster, that would disrupt normal communications. This also includes police
and fire radio communications that may have been disrupted for one reason or another.
The measure used to see how well an amateur radio club can perform is to count each
message sent and received, to and from other amateur radio stations. Points are awarded
for contacts with other radio stations. WWI has participated in this event for over 30
years and has placed in the top ten of the nation for several years. Last year WWI was
first in their class and second overall. This field day WWI will erect eight towers that
will support antennas to make contact with other radio clubs throughout the world.
Although this is a US event sponsored by the Amateur Radio Relay League, many
foreign radio operators will be on the air to make contact with the US operators.
Come out and see what amateur radio is all about. The Club members will begin setting
up at 2:00 PM, Friday, June 24 and the contest will take place from 2:00 PM Saturday,
June 25th to 2:00 PM Sunday, June 26th. The Club welcome center is one of the first
items to be erected so come out and talk on a radio to other states or other countries.
Experience what it means to be a Ham.
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