| JUNE 21, 2012 -- Enthusiasts of amateur radio will have no shortage of options in the Litchfield Hills this weekend.
The CQ Radio Club of Torrington and Wireless Operators of Winsted will join forces as part of a national amateur radio event on June 23 and 24, running a live setup at the Winchester Center Grange and Volunteer Fire Department. Meanwhile, further west, the Southern Berkshire Amateur Radio Club will pack up and head for Amenia, New York. The weekend commemorates the American Radio Relay League’s Field Day, which caps off the annual Amateur Radio Week.
While Field Day is an opportunity to showcase the capabilities of amateur radio, the setups not only in Winchester, but also in Amenia, are intended to spotlight the role of amateur radio in emergencies. Members of the Wireless Operators of Winsted and CQ Radio Club both provided emergency communication during Hurricane Katrina and the 2002 ice storm, as well as during a recent Angel Ride. The CQ Radio Club, which dates back to 1947, also provided help during the Flood of 1955.
“It’s a real challenge operating under emergency conditions,” said Southern Berkshire Amateur Radio Club president Doc Simont in a press release, “but it’s also a lot of fun.”
Nowadays, the clubs — and others in the area — contribute to other emergency services. The clubs take part in Skywarn, a program that provides storm reports to the National Weather Service’s Albany regional office. Other members also provide emergency communications through the Amateur Radio Emergency Services and sponsor classes as well.
The American Radio Relay League, which is based in Newington, does not adjudicate Field Day as a contest, which the league says is a boon to the day’s popularity. Over 35,000 amateur operators partook in the 2011 Field Day, including individuals and clubs. Amateur radio has grown not only in popularity, but also in sophistication. Radio operators do not rely on Morse code, having developed voice and digital communications systems.
The Southern Berkshire Amateur Radio Club will set up their equipment at the Amenia Fire House, on Mechanic Street, at 9 a.m. on June 23, broadcasting from 2 p.m. through June 24. For more information on the Amateur Radio Relay League, visit www.arrl.org. The CQ Radio Club’s website is located at www.cqradioclub.com. For more information on the Southern Berkshire Amateur Radio Club, call Doc Simont at (860) 672-2659 or Lee Collins at (860) 435-0051. |
