Ever wondered how we might communicate with each other in the event of a catastrophic event?
Well, you might find out if you get along to the Richmond Amateur Radio Club’s (RARC) annual field day at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, which will run for 24 hours, from 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 23.
During the day, club members will be testing emergency radio communications, as well as showcasing different aspects of the amateur radio hobby from its club station VE7GOG, situated on the grounds of Parks Canada at the cannery.
On Saturday afternoon of June 23, visitors in the Steveston Village area will be able to drop by the parking lot of the cannery and see how radio contacts are made by bouncing signals off satellites using handheld antennas, use Morse code, send messages using the club’s emergency go-kit or watch RARC members make radio contacts across North America on different HF frequency bands.
Every year, on the fourth weekend of June, club members join more than 35,000 amateur radio operators from across Canada and the U.S. in “ham radio’s open house” to demonstrate the science, skill, community service and emergency preparedness of amateur radio.
The American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the national association for amateur radio in the U.S., has been organizing the annual event since 1933.
“This year, RARC has decided to hold Field Day at VE7GOG instead of its usual location at Garry Point Park, because the club is in the process of making upgrades to its station and Field Day is an opportune time to test the station’s emergency response capabilities,” said Urey Chan, president of RARC.
“The club station has participated in recent emergency exercises but it has been a while since the equipment operated continuously for 24 hours, especially off-grid using alternate power sources.”
