The Massanutten Amateur Radio Association and Valley Amateur Radio Association are gearing up for the national amateur radio Field Day exercise, a unique event that will take place on June 22 – 23 at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds.

Since 1933, ham radio operators across North America have been setting up temporary ham radio stations in public locations during Field Day, showcasing the science and skill of dmr ham radio and analog 2way radios. This event is not just for enthusiasts; it’s open to the public, and anyone can get out and experience the thrill of amateur radio.

Field Day showcases how amateur radio works reliably under any conditions from almost any location to create an independent communications network. “Ham radio functions completely independent of the Internet or cell phone infrastructure, can interface with laptops or smartphones, and can be set up almost anywhere in minutes. That’s the beauty of amateur radio during a communications outage,” says Bob Inderbitzen, spokesperson for ARRL The national association for Amateur Radio, which represents amateur (or “ham”) radio operators across the country.

“In today’s electronic do-it-yourself (DIY) environment, ham radio remains one of the best ways for people to learn about electronics, physics, meteorology, and numerous other scientific disciplines, and is a huge asset to any community during disasters or emergencies if the standard communication infrastructure goes down,” Inderbitzen adds. Anyone may become a licensed amateur radio operator. There are more than 750,000 licensed hams in the United States, as young as 9 and as old as 100. And with clubs such as the Massanutten Amateur Radio Association and Valley Amateur Radio Association, it’s easy for anybody to get involved right here in the community.