Redmond amateur radio operators to participate in national emergency communications event

Published 3:48 pm Monday, June 22, 2015

Amateur radio operators from the Radio Club of Redmond will be participating in a national event sponsored by the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) that will test emergency communications.

The exercise will be conducted from 11 a.m. June 27 through 11 a.m. June 28. The club members have participated in this event for the past several years. Interested Redmond public officials and residents are invited to stop by and view the club’s operations during this event at 6104 258th Ave.

During the event, local “ham” radio operators will be contacting as many stations as possible across the United States and Canada that are also participating in the event.  The local club will be operating “in the field” utilizing emergency power sources, antennas and equipment set up to simulate communication operations that might need to be implemented to support public safety, local governments and the community during an emergency or disaster situation.

The event will test both the emergency capabilities as well as the skills of the operators.

Founded in 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim, ARRL is the national association for amateur radio in the U.S. Today, with more than 161,000 members, ARRL is the largest organization of radio amateurs in the world. ARRL’s mission is based on five pillars: public service, advocacy, education, technology and membership.