HAM Radio Operators hosting demonstration at Junction Days

RED OAK – Southwest Iowa  “Hams” will join with thousands of Amateur Radio operators who will be showing off their emergency capabilities this weekend.

Over the past year, ham radio operators have provided communications during emergencies in locations across America including the Calif-ornia wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes and other events.

During Hurricane Katrina, Amateur Radio – often called “Ham Radio” - was often the only way people could communicate, and hundreds of volunteer “hams” traveled south to help save lives and property.

On the weekend of June 26-27, the public will have a chance to meet and talk with Fremont, Mills Montgomery and Page County ham radio operators and see for themselves what the Amateur Radio Service is about.

This annual event, called “Field Day” is the climax of the week long “Amateur Radio Week.” Using only emergency power supplies, ham operators will construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls, schools, backyards and even some unusual places around the country.

More than 35,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year’s event.

“We hope that people will come and see for themselves, this is not your grandfather’s radio anymore,” said Allen Pitts, W1AGP, of the American Radio Relay League. “The communications that ham radio people can quickly create have saved many lives when other systems failed or were overloaded. And besides that – it’s fun!”

In the Red Oak area, the Heartland Hams Amateur Rad-io Club will be demonstrating Amateur Radio at North 1st and West Coolbaugh Streets June 26 and 27, during the Junction Days celebration.