Amateur Radio Field Day at Drexel Lodge Park

Our Community by Sheila Turner-Hilliard

Photos courtesy of MNARC

Members of the Marple Newtown Amateur Radio Club (MNARC) will assemble on the weekend of June 25th and 26th in the pavilion at Drexel Lodge Park, to participate in their annual Amateur Radio Field Day.

This annual 24-hour Field Day event takes place simultaneously around the United States and Canada. It’s an emergency preparedness exercise for U.S. and Canadian Amateur Radio enthusiasts whose goal during the event is to improve on how quickly they can set up a reliable Amateur Radio (also known as ham radio) station in improvised conditions, using emergency power and temporary set-ups, so they’re ready to serve in an emergency. They also strive to make contact with as many other stations worldwide during the 24-hour event.

“Last year, we were successful in making nearly 1,000 contacts, ranging from North America, Central America, the Caribbean and several locations in Western Europe,” said Feliks Bortkiewicz, a member of the MNARC who’s a retired Boeing Electrical Engineer. Feliks also explained that this annual Field Day event is also an opportunity to educate the public about ham radio and give them the opportunity to make their own radio contacts.

During the event, I am in charge of the ‘Get on the Air’ program,” he said. “I set up a separate radio station, and under my guidance, non-licensed individuals are able to learn how to make contact and communicate with stations around the world.

John Hucke (K3JH), a member of the Marple Newtown Amateur Radio Club ‘working’ the band during Field Day

Feliks explained that the science of Amateur Radio is always evolving and is still as necessary today as it was in the early 20th century. Although the science of radio transmission started with the use of Morse code and voice transmission, today’s implementation also includes digital modes using computers, video transmission and satellite communications.

Many of us remember when Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico in September of 2017,” Feliks said. “What many don’t know is that when the power went out and cellular networks failed completely on the entire island, amateur radio operators stepped in and became the first source of communication for first responders, the Red Cross and for families on the mainland.

Feliks said that to obtain a license to be an amateur radio operator, you need to study the basics of radio theory and pass tests issued by the FCC.

In my opinion, becoming licensed is the ultimate implementation of the STEM experience (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math),” he enthusiastically explained. “For folks who are interested, the MNARC offers classes and training, and we’re happy to partner with area high schools and clubs.

Successfully making contact with another station during field day

In the early ’90s, a small group of local amateur ham radio hobbyists formed the MNARC. The club now has over 100 members, and the club’s ham radio station call letters are K3MN. Meetings are open to the public and are held the first Thursday of every month (except in July and August), starting at 7pm at the Robert C. Gauntlett Center on Media Line Rd in Newtown Square. MNARC connects people of all ages who are interested in staying current with what’s new in the science and art of Amateur Radio.

At MNARC meetings, hobbyists or industry professionals give presentations on topics such as electronic tinkering, equipment designs to improve transmitters and receivers, and how to troubleshoot and resolve radio signal interference problems. Some meetings offer experiential presentations by members who share what they did and learned when they took their radio equipment to a remote location. Optional time-limited contests and personal achievement awards are offered, such as connecting with a certain number of ham radio stations in 1 state, all 50 U.S. states or in 100 or more countries globally. Some members focus on educating youth or the local community about ham radio as a hobby.

A Visitor using the ‘Get on the Air’ station

MNARC (www.MNARC.org) is affiliated with the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for Amateur Radio in the U.S. Founded in 1914, its original purpose was to link ham radio station operators who could transmit Morse code messages between stations too far apart to directly connect with each other. ARRL has 160,000+ members, and its mission is to support the awareness and growth of Amateur Radio in the U.S. and worldwide. ARRL also advocates for meaningful ongoing access to government resources and Amateur Radio spectrum airwaves.

To learn more about Amateur Radio and its annual Field Day event, please visit www.MNARC.org or head over to Drexel Lodge Park to see it all in action. The event begins at 2pm on Saturday June 25th and continues until 2pm on Sunday June 26th.