KCARC Field Day Press Release

Abilene Ham Radio Operators On the Air for Nationwide Event June 24 – 25 

Ham radio operators from the Key City Amateur Radio Club in Abilene, Texas will be  participating in a national amateur radio exercise from 1:00pm on Saturday until 1:00pm on  Sunday, June 24th – 25th, from the Hamby Volunteer Fire Station. The event is ARRL Field  Day (www.arrl.org/FieldDay), an annual amateur radio activity organized since 1933 by ARRL, The National Association for Amateur Radio in the United States. 

Hams from across North America ordinarily participate in Field Day by establishing temporary  ham radio stations in public locations to demonstrate their skill and service. Their use of radio  signals, which reach beyond borders, bring people together while providing essential  communication in the service of communities. Field Day highlights ham radio’s ability to work  reliably under any conditions from almost any location and create an independent, wireless  communications network. 

Some hams from the West Texas Section will also use the radio stations set up in their homes or taken to their backyards and other locations to operate individually or with their families.  Many hams have portable radio communication capability that includes alternative energy  sources such as generators, solar panels, and batteries to power their equipment. The Key  City Amateur Radio Club will once again be operating from the Hamby Volunteer Fire Station  at 4408 Hwy 35, Abilene, Texas 

This year’s event is also noteworthy given that a particularly active hurricane season is  predicted. “Hams have a long history of serving our communities when storms or other  disasters damage critical communication infrastructure, including cell towers,” said David  Andrews, WB5VIH, KCARC Club President. “Ham radio functions completely independently  of the internet and phone systems and a station can be set up almost anywhere in minutes.  Hams can quickly raise a wire antenna in a tree or on a mast, connect it to a radio and power  source, and communicate effectively with others,” Andrews added. 

During Field Day 2021, more than 26,000 hams participated from thousands of locations  across North America. According to ARRL, there are more than 750,000 amateur radio  licensees in the US, and an estimated 3 million worldwide.  

Among the tenets of the Amateur Radio Service is developing and practicing skills in radio  technology and radio communications, and even contributing to international goodwill. Hams  range in age from as young as 9 to older than 100. For more information about ARRL Field  Day and ham radio, contact Ron Harden, WT5X, KCARC PIO at 325-513-3184 or email at  and visit www.keycityarc.org