Since 1933, ham radio operators across North America have established temporary ham radio stations in public locations during Field Day to showcase the science and skill of Amateur Radio. This event is open to the public and all are encouraged to attend.
For over 100 years, Amateur Radio — sometimes called ham radio — has allowed people from all walks of life to experiment with electronics and communications techniques, as well as provide a free public service to their communities during a disaster, all without needing a cell phone or the Internet. Field Day demonstrates ham radio’s ability to work reliably under any conditions from almost any location and create an independent communications network. Over 35,000 people from thousands of locations participated in Field Day in 2016.
Anyone may become a licensed Amateur Radio operator. There are over 725,000 licensed hams in the United States, as young as 5 and as old as 100. And with clubs such as the Albemarle Amateur Radio Club, it’s easy for anybody to get involved right here in Central Virginia.
Get-On-The-Air (GOTA) Station
We will operate a Get On The Air (GOTA) station as part of our Field Day event. The GOTA station is set up to permit and encourage very new hams or unlicensed but interested visitors to use a ham radio station and make contacts all over the country. Participants will operate a modern amateur radio under the guidance of an experienced coach. We will provide scripts to use for radio contacts, and we will award a certificate to those making contacts with other Field Day stations. This is an easy and enjoyable way to give amateur radio a try.
- Station Captain and GOTA Coach: Bill AD6JV
- Boy Scout Coordinator: Bob K4DU
Poster: AARC Field Day 2016 Poster
Location: Charlottesville-UVa-Albemarle Emergency Communications Center at 2306 Ivy Road in Charlottesville. (Printable PDF version)
Hours:
- Setup: Friday, 23 June 2017, 2-5pm; Saturday, 24 June 2017, 8am
- Operations begin: Saturday, 24 June 2017, 2pm
- Potluck dinner: Saturday, 24 June 2017, 6pm
- Operations end: Sunday, 25 June 2017, 2pm
- Teardown and cleanup: Sunday, 25 June 2017, 2pm
Callsign: W4DO (WA4TFZ for the GOTA station) Class: 3F on emergency power
Field Day Leadership
- Field Day Committee Chair: Bob K4DU
- AARC President: Ed N3US
Safety
- Field Day Safety Officer:
- AARC FD Safety Briefing: AARC Field Day Safety
- Ticks and Mosquitoes Are Going to Have a Field Day AARC ticks & mosquitoes-2016
- Bug Advice for Hams 2016 One Pager Bug advice for hams.2016
- Ticks and Mosquitoes 2016 Power Point AARC ticks & mosquitoes-2016
Saturday Evening Picnic
- Captain:
- Just a reminder that the Field Day Committee will be offering a Club Picnic on Saturday, June 24, at 6 p.m. at the Field Day Site at the 911 Center on Route 250 just east of the Charlottesville City Limits. All club members are invited and are asked to bring a dish to share of veggies, salad or dessert sufficient for 6-8 people. The club will provide Grilled and Fried Chicken along with all the picnic paper products. This year there will be a provision for having grills on site to produce grilled hamburgers and hot dogs for those who wish them. Drinks will be provided by the Club but NO alcohol is permitted on site. A note that you plan to attend would be very helpful to make sure we are adequately supplied. Thank you and I look forward to greeting you there.
Public Information Booth
- Captain:
- Banners and signs: Bob K4DU
- Brochures, tours, info display, and live QSO map
Public Relations
- Captain: Paul AK4OH, ak4oh (at) arrl (dot) net
Logging Software
- N3FJP Field Day Log (PPT Operating Tutorial, Video Operating Tutorial)
CW Station
- Station Captain: Dennis WR4I
- CW One-Pager
Phone Station
- Station Captain: Jim K4CGY
- SSB One-Pager
Talk-in: WA4TFZ repeater at Marshall Manor, 146.925+ PL151.4