The Alachua County Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) team will conduct its annual Field Day emergency communications exercise Saturday and Sunday, June 27-28, joining tens of thousands of amateur radio operators nationwide in a 24-hour simulated disaster response event.
The exercise will cap Amateur Radio Week in Alachua County and is expected to draw participation from an estimated 30,000 amateur radio operators from across the country.
Due to construction delays at the new Alachua County Emergency Operations Center, local volunteers will establish a temporary communications site on a 5-acre property in Newberry. The public is invited to visit the site from 4 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 27, at 15216 NW 41st Ave. in Newberry, located within the Steeplechase Farms subdivision. Volunteers will provide guided tours of the operation and demonstrations of amateur radio technology.
Organizers also hope to allow young visitors to make live radio contacts. Participants will deploy multiple amateur radio stations and attempt to make hundreds of contacts with operators throughout the United States as part of the national competition.
One of the featured demonstrations will be the team’s robotic satellite antenna system, which is designed to communicate through amateur radio satellites orbiting Earth. Organizers plan to attempt live satellite contacts during the event, showcasing technology that can introduce students to science, technology, engineering and mathematics concepts and potentially prepare schools to pursue direct radio communications with astronauts aboard the International Space Station.
The event also will feature introductory classes for individuals interested in obtaining an amateur radio license. Information and registration are available by emailing docvacuumtubes@gmail.com before Saturday.
This year’s exercise will debut a new high-powered long-distance antenna designed for the 7 MHz amateur radio band. The antenna, developed by local volunteers Dr. Manish Sahni, amateur radio callsign KZ4KC, and Dr. Mike Hasselbeck, amateur radio callsign WB2FKO, uses three carefully tuned wire elements supported by portable 30-foot masts. Organizers said the system is designed to be rapidly deployed in disaster areas where traditional infrastructure and vegetation may be damaged.
Field Day serves as both a competitive event and a training exercise, allowing amateur radio operators to practice establishing reliable communications under emergency conditions when traditional systems may be unavailable.
Last year, the Alachua County ARES team recorded more than 1,600 radio contacts and achieved the highest score among Emergency Operations Center-affiliated teams nationwide, becoming the first Florida-based team to accomplish the feat. Organizers say the team will compete in a more challenging category this year while continuing its focus on emergency preparedness, education and community outreach.
For more information about the Field Day exercise or amateur radio licensing classes, contact the Alachua County ARES team at docvacuumtubes@gmail.com.