TO: ALL WOOD COUNTY ARES MEMBERS (OFFICIAL)
ALL ARES AND NON-ARES AMATEURS ANYWHERE (INFORMATION)
FROM: KEN HARRIS WA8LLM ARRL DISTRICT 3
EMERGENCY COORDINATOR WOOD COUNTY EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS INC.
WOOD COUNTY ARES BULLETIN NR 18.24 DATE: June 17, 2018
SUBJECT: IT'S ALMOST HERE
Field Day is less than a week away, are you ready? This year it is June 23rd and 24th. Field Day is a time to learn how to set up and operate communications equipment in an emergency. It's also a time to learn about different modes of communications. Field Day isn't just for making contacts with as many other stations as possible. It's a time to see what you may have to do in a real emergency, and you may be the only communications available.
There may be modes of communications that you don't know about, and may want to learn more. Talking by voice on a radio isn't the only way to communicate. There are several digital modes that can be used. It seems like a new digital mode is invented every year. Some of the digital modes you can't even hear with your ears, but the computer picks them up and prints them out.
Don't forget the original form of communications, and that's Morse Code, or better known as CW. CW isn't a dying art, it's just not used as often. Learning to receive and sent CW is like learning a new language. It takes practice, but it will get the messages through when most other forms of communications are not available.
Have a good time at Field Day and try to learn something that may be used when all other forms of communications fail.
Ken Harris WA8LLM
WCEC
Wood County WV