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UC Davis Hosts Field Day for Amateur Radio

Four amateur radio clubs from Yolo County and Sacramento invite the public to a local field day at UC Davis where members will test and showcase their abilities in the largest on-the-air event in North America next weekend (June 25 and 26).

The activities, on Russell Field on the Davis campus are open to the public from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday.

Local operators — who play a vital role in communications for major special events and emergencies — will be among more than 40,000 radio amateurs in North America participating in field days organized by the ARRL, an amateur radio association.

The local amateur radio operators will set up antennas, radio stations, tents and a cooking area to establish a field station independent of utilities and other amenities.

Throughout the 24 hour event, the operators will communicate with others around the world using voice, Morse code with its fast-paced beeps, and other digital forms of communications such as radio teletype. Two years ago, the event logged about 200 contacts.

Amateur radio, which transmits and receives messages on radio frequencies set aside for noncommercial use, is a reliable and powerful means of emergency communications especially when telephone, cell phone and internet services are overloaded or damaged.

As part of its comprehensive emergency preparedness program, UC Davis operates an amateur radio base station at its Emergency Operations Center and has a repeater station. In an emergency, a controller at the base station could relay information to and from group members dispatched where communications support is needed and also communicate with partnering agencies.

Russell Field is located south of Russell Boulevard between California Avenue and Howard Way and immediately north of the campus tennis courts. From Interstate 80, take the Richards Boulevard exit. Head northwest and go under the train overpass. At First Street, turn left. At B Street, turn right. Turn left on Russell Boulevard or Fifth Street and left again at California Avenue. Take the first left to park in Lot 15. See the interactive campus map marking the field.