Local ham radio operators prepare for an emergency
By Stephanie Bertholdo bertholdo@theacorn.com

Amateur radio operators will have a field day-and night-June 24 and 25, when they will work around the clock to stay on the air under simulated emergency conditions.

The annual field day exercise is being conducted by the Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club adjacent to the National Park Service Headquarters at 401 W. Hillcrest Drive in Thousand Oaks.

"Members of the public, especially local youth, are encouraged to visit and learn why ham radio is an important link in emergency response and disaster recovery efforts," local club President Steve Champion said. "We have live demonstrations of communications and the public is welcome to come and give it a try-no license is needed."

According to Jeff Reinhardt, an Agoura Hills resident and 15-year member of the club, the objective of the 24-hour event, which starts at 11 a.m. Saturday, is to make contact with as many other ham operators as possible throughout the United States and Canada.

"This does challenge your skills under emergency conditions to quickly go to a public place, set up equipment and antennas and make it work," Reinhardt said.

Reinhardt said he initially got involved with radio operations for emergency response and preparation. But operating ham radios is fun, Reinhardt said. Making random contacts with people throughout the nation is both enjoyable and educational.

"The pure serendipity of it is a lot of fun," Reinhardt said. "People from all walks of life are doing this, from royalty to the average Joe."

Field day is the annual national drill for ham radio volunteers, Champion said. Volunteers will set up their equipment at the site, locate stations on the air and sustain operations for 24 hours, using makeshift antennas and emergency sources of power under simulated emergency conditions.

Although many ham operators are ardent hobbyists, Champion said there are practical reasons to learn how to operate ham radios. "Ham radio operators played an active communications role in the Hurricane Katrina recovery effort and in the many other storms that hit the U.S. last year."

Hugh Bosma, a ham operator from Newbury Park, said generators, batteries and solar power will be used to run the radios. "We'll even demonstrate a hydrogen-powered fuel cell, as we did last year," Bosma said.

Other methods of amateur radio communications will also be demonstrated, including voice, Morse code, digital radio and satellite.

For further information, visit the Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club's website at www.cvarc.org.