I took my friend Paul Closius to Siler Presbyterian Church in Wesley Chapel where the Union County Amateur Radio Society club was setting up two 4:1 dipoles and a vertical antenna. One of the dipoles was 130 feet end to end. All for high frequency operations, I presume. We sat and watched as four men were already at work pulling ropes over the tree tops to hoist the wires fifty feet up into the blue sky. 2012 was the last time I had operated with them at this location. I hope to become more active in amateur radio.

Field Day happens once a year and licensed radio operators from all across the United States come together this weekend to make contacts with each other, test their radios, batteries, solar panels, antennas, and generators. It’s primarily about being ready for emergency communications should weather or other disasters make it impossible for emergency services and people to reach each other. The event starts at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 25, and continues throughout the night until 2 p.m. on Sunday, June 26. Since the church has been gracious to let the club do this each year, the radio team pauses from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. so as not to interfere with the church’s sound system during the Sunday worship service. There will be a radio available for the public to try under the guidance of a licensed operator. Learn more about the amateur radio Field Day on ARRL’s website. There are more details about the UCARS Field Day on their website.

I took these pictures with my phone.