What is ARRL Field Day? Many things! Over 30,000 people across North America participate, setting up emergency radio stations. Together we make over 1 million contacts in 24 hours. Our Club locally sets up our annual big old-fashioned 24-hour radio mini-camp, picnic family-friendly STEM event with lots of short-wave radio and computer activity in a great setting at Burke Lake Park. A tremendous opportunity to have fun and LEARN-A-LOT. Great for Scouts, Home-Schoolers and STEM students and teachers and anyone with an interest in communications or electronics.
Please DO STOP BY (it's immediately to the left of the entrance station off of Rt 123 with parking right there) and see/hear for yourself what ham radio is all about!
The annual Field Day is organized nationally each year by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL).
Visitors (You and your kids!!) are invited to come hear and see the (thousands) of Hams in action and have their own radio experience at the “Get on the Air” (GOTA) station where licensed Hams will help you or your kids to make a their very first radio contact. We usually make contact with Hawaii and even Australia. We have on-site mentors and people to explain everything.
Field Day gets licensed Hams out of their home stations and into outdoor tent stations, simulating requirements for portable, off-the-grid communications in case of emergency. Amateur Radio operates independently of any other communication utility and has proved its value in many disasters. Many Hams have certifications for emergency communications (EMCOMM) in support of public agencies, and Ham radio is a resource recognized by the Department of Homeland Security. Local ham clubs support the Marine Corps Marathon and many other public service events throughout the year. and provide emergency communications for free when the cell system is down after hurricanes and other natural disasters.
**********Our motto is "Ham Radio...when All Else Fails!". *********
The Vienna Wireless Society will operate several transmit-receive Shortwave and UHF/VHF stations from tents that we setup and you can visit anytime (early-birds and night-owls are all welcome!) during the 24-hour event. Setup begins Friday on through Saturday at 2PM so if you are interested in logistics and station/antenna setup or you want to help/learn come by early. Power is provided non-stop by portable generators, batteries and solar panels. WE ARE OFF-GRID for 24 hours NON-STOP handling simulated emergency messages sent and received all across North America. Over several frequency bands, two-way contacts will be made ranging from inside the DC metro area to around the world by bouncing signals off the ionosphere. Satellite-relay contacts will also be made. National and International participation assures lots of action on the airwaves.