Ham radio operators tune in for 24-hour emergency drill

The Conejo Valley Amateur Radio Club will host the annual 24hour emergency field operations exercise starting at 11 a.m. Sat., June 28 next to the National Park Service Headquarters, 401 W. Hillcrest Drive, Thousand Oaks. The event will end at 11 a.m. Sun., June 29.

The ham radio operators will set up and maintain a field radio station on site and contact other operators across the United States and Canada during the event. The operators will practice communication skills under emergency conditions using a generator and battery-powered equipment and portable antennas.

The public is invited to watch the exercise during daylight hours and sit at a microphone to participate in the drill.

This event is held in conjunction with the American Radio Relay League's Field Day, a trial run for emergency communication skills used during disaster situations.

This is the national's largest ham radio on-air event.

Local participants include licensed amateur radio operators from Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Moorpark, and other places.

For more information, call Jeff Reinhardt, public information coordinator, at (818) 706-3853.