Ham radio operators from the Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society, Inc. in Fayetteville will be participating in a national amateur radio exercise from 2 p.m. on Saturday until 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 28 – 29 at Chapter 1-18 Special Forces Association compound at 2909 Zinnia Dr., just off Old Wilmington Road. The event is ARRL Field Day (www.arrl.org/field-day), an annual amateur radio activity organized since 1933 by ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio in the United States.
Hams from across North America ordinarily participate in Field Day by establishing temporary ham radio stations in public locations to demonstrate their skill and service. Their use of radio signals, which reach beyond borders, brings people together while providing essential communication in the service of communities. Field Day highlights ham radios’ ability to work reliably under any condition from almost any location and create an independent, wireless communications network.
Some hams from Cumberland and surrounding counties will also use the radio stations set up in their homes or their backyards and other locations to operate individually or with their families. Many hams have portable radio communication capability that includes alternative energy sources such as generators, solar panels, and batteries to power their equipment.
This year's event is also noteworthy given that a particularly active hurricane season is predicted. “Hams have a long history of serving our communities when storms or other disasters damage critical communication infrastructure, including cell towers,” said David Winfree, president CFARS, WD4NC. “Ham radio functions completely independently of the internet and phone systems, and a station can be set up almost anywhere in minutes. Hams can quickly raise a wire antenna in a tree or on a mast, connect it to a radio and power source, and communicate effectively with others, and that was seen during Hurricanes Katrina and, locally, during Helene in Western North Carolina,” Winfree added.
CFARS will be demonstrating Amateur Radio on June 28 beginning at 2 p.m. in the large red building. The Cape Fear Amateur Radio Society has been in existence for over 49 years and can trace its roots back to the first amateur radio club that was formed in Fayetteville in the 1930s. They invite the public to come and see ham radio capabilities and learn how to get their own FCC issued Amateur Radio license before the next disaster strikes.
During Field Day 2024, more than 31,000 hams participated from thousands of locations across North America. According to ARRL, there are more than 750,000 amateur radio licensees in the U.S., and an estimated 3 million worldwide.
Among the tenets of the Amateur Radio Service is developing and practicing skills in radio technology and radio communications and even contributing to international goodwill. Ham operators range in age from as young as 9 to older than 100. For more information about ARRL Field Day and ham radio, contact Rod MacLean at 910-977-0248 or WWW.CFARSNC.ORG.

(Photo: KD4B, Jeremy and KN4ODS, George running Single side band - voice during an event. Photo courtesy of Rod MacLean)