THE
BOXHOLDER Presorted Standard
U.S.POSTAGE PAID WHITE HAVEN PA PERMIT NO. 18
POSTAL CUSTOMER
of PENN-KIDDER ©2021, All Rights Reserved
VOLUME 15, NUMBER 2
FREE 1st 2 copies
JULY-AUGUST 2022
50¢ each additional copy
Penn Forest Park is host for CARC field day by Larry Dusablon
The Carbon Amateur Radio Club (CARC) participated in an annual event in the Penn Forest Township Park on Route 903 one weekend last month to test emergency communications. Once a year, the Amateur Radio Relay League sponsors the event that challenges amateur radio operators, sometimes called HAMs, to leave home and set up communications in a remote area. The purpose of this 24-hour event is to test the ability of the HAMs to provide emergency communications in case of catastrophic conditions. Recent events like ice storms in the North, hurricanes in the South and the fires out West accentuate that there is a real need for these emergency services. The participants had several radio stations set up, and were using several different forms of communication. One operator was using
morse code, one was using voice, and a third was using FT8. FT8 is a more modern digital mode designed to take advantage of a computers ability to hear and decode very weak signals. These members were using an emergency generator to power all the equipment to simulate an actual loss of commercial power. Contacting other stations was tough on Saturday due to the high level of noise on the bands the CARC used to communicate, and also due to the heavy traffic prompted by hundreds or thousands of clubs and individuals who were participating. Sunday was a much better day with contacts made throughout the US and Canada. HAM radio is a hobby with a rich heritage that goes back in time and technology to the early days of 1901 when the first trans-Atlantic radio signal was sent and received. There are 3 classes of radio operator; the entry level re-
quires only answering a few questions about radio technology, operation procedures and FCC rules. Each license upgrade grants more privileges, but even the beginner can get on the air and communicate with other HAMs. To find out more about the hobby or to join CARC, go to their website at Carbon | Amateur Radio Club (carbonamateurradioclub.org)