Update - 2024-06-23 - The Society did not set up a Field Day station this year.
Field Day 2024 is taking place,
- from 1800 UTC Saturday June 22, 2024 to 2059 UTC Sunday June 23, 2024; or
- alternatively from 1800 UTC Saturday June 22, 2024 to 1800 UTC Sunday June 23, 2024 if one begins setting up the station before 1800 UTC on the Saturday.
We have yet to decide on a place and how we will approach the event.
The information packet is available at: https://www.arrl.org/files/file/Field-Day/2024/2024%20Field%20Day%20Packet%20v1.pdf .
Field Day is an annual continental-wide exercise in emergency preparedness for the amateur radio service, disguised as a competition. The aim of the event is to promote amateur radio but also to set up and operate a field-portable radio station in the amateur service and to make as many contacts as possible in a 24 or 27 hour period. Points are awarded for the use of emergency systems such as emergency power sources, low power, Morse Code and digital modes of communications, message-traffic handling etc.
The amateur radio service is the last-resort telecommunications system in the Northwest Territories. It is independent of government and generally independent of infrastructure. It relies on exploiting the behaviour of radio waves and how they interact with the atmosphere and ground. Propagation can be achieved around the world. In emergency situations the amateur radio service is often relied upon for radiocommunications. For many this hobby is a gateway into a career in the field of technology. Unfortunately the hobby is undervalued by many as they rely upon infrastructure ranging from cellular networks, fibre optic cables, satellite constellations, electrical grids etc. In severe emergencies these infrastructure-based systems can fail. The amateur radio service is sufficiently robust to cope with such failures but it needs operators. Please consider becoming a licensed amateur radio operator.
The Yellowknife Amateur Radio Society has participated in Field Day for many years, including last year just prior to the wildfire emergencies of 2023. The Society is just now starting to turn its attention to this event. If you are interested, please Ian Rennie (VE8IR) or Chris Cameron (VE8WD).
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