Local amateur radio operators participate in ‘Field Day’
Annual exercise provides practice for an emergency
STAR JOURNAL REPORT
The Rhinelander Repeater Association and Vilas County Amateur Radio Club combined to host the annual “Field Day” exercise on Saturday and Sunday in St. Germain.
Amateur radio operators brought radios and antennas to practice operating on battery and other emergency power sources. About 40 “hams” participated. A license testing session was also held with several upgrades and one new license earned.
Saturday night, area hams put their training to the test when a severe thunderstorm warning was issued for Oneida and Vilas counties. The Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) is affiliated with Emergency Management for both counties and a Skywarn Net was activated during the storms. Trained spotters reported information directly to the National Weather Service office in Green Bay.
The next meeting of the Rhinelander Repeater Association and Northwoods ARES will be July 7 at 6:30pm at the Newbold Fire Station One located at 4588 Hwy. 47, Rhinelander. For more information, contact Ray Mark, call sign KB9CBL on the Rhinelander 146.940 MHz repeater, or call 715-892-0175.
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