Author: Michael Ellithorp

GARS, wanting to do something a little different and also wanting to be in a much cooler location this year decided to venture out to the forest, on the west side of the county, to practice our communications skills and have more fun while preforming our tasks during this years Field Day event.

So on 22 May 2023 a team comprised of Jeramie, W6LND; Steve KN6MGK; and Michael, KF6OBI took a scenic trip out to the Mendocino’s, west of Paskenta, to check out the Kingsley Glade campground for this years ARRL Field Day event.

Here is a picture of the Kingsley Glade Campground site that GARS has picked for this years Field Day activities. This site holds many promises for our journey in off grid radio operations.

Directions: Located 22 miles west of Paskenta, and 60 miles west of Red Bluff at 4,500 feet elevation. From Paskenta take Road M-2 west to Road #24N01, left on Road 24N01, to campground.

Lat – 39° 54′ 12.22405″, Long – 122° 46′ 02.53685″

Question: What is the most popular amateur radio event in the US and Canada?

Answer: ARRL Field Day During the fourth full weekend in June, the eyes of the amateur radio community turn towards the annual Field Day operating event.

From its beginning back in the 1930’s as an event to test the field preparedness and emergency communications abilities of the burgeoning amateur radio community, Field Day has evolved into the largest on-the-air operation during the year.

In 2022, entries were submitted by almost 5,000 clubs, groups and individuals from across the US and Canada. These logs showed participation by nearly 30,000 individuals and almost over 1.2 million contacts were reported during the brief 24-hours of the event. Field Day is officially an ‘operating event,’ not a contest.

The purpose remains today as it did in the beginning: to demonstrate the communications ability of the amateur radio community in simulated emergency situations. Groups across the continent use Field Day as a literal “show and tell” exhibition.

At sites from the tundra of Alaska to the sandy beaches of Puerto Rico, amateur radio brings together its resources to show officials in government and various agencies what “amateur radio can do.”

Many clubs use ARRL Field Day as the focus of their annual calendar. Many hams that are not other wise interested in contesting or DXing find themselves meeting various challenges to help their club run a successful Field Day operation.

It is the thrill of the “non-contest contest” that brings out the best in thousands of amateurs who under most circumstances choose not to otherwise participate in the various sponsored contests throughout the year.

Start: 1800 UTC Saturday End: 2059 UTC Sunday (see rules 3.1, 3.2, 3.3)

Always the fourth full weekend in June

For information contact: Field Day Information ARRL225 Main St.Newington, CT 06111

fdinfo@arrl.org (860) 594-0232 http://www.arrl.org/field-day