Local Hams Take it to the Streets June 24-25

For Immediate Release

(Vienna, VA, March 27, 2006) -- Over the past year, the news has been full of reports of ham radio operators providing critical communications in emergencies world-wide. On the weekend of June 24-25 local residents will have a chance to meet and talk with ham radio operators and see for themselves what this "radio service" really is about. The Vienna Wireless Society will be holding a demonstration of emergency communications abilities at Burke Lake Park from 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Saturday, June 24 and again from 10:00 AM until 1:00 PM on Sunday, June 25.

This annual event, called "Field Day" is the climax of the week long "Amateur Radio Week" sponsored by the ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio. Using only generators, batteries or solar power, the hams construct emergency stations in parks, shopping malls and back yards to test their skills under all situations. The slogan, "Ham radio works when other systems don't!" is more than just words to the hams as they prove they can send messages in many forms without the use of phone systems, internet or any other infrastructure that can be compromised in a crisis. More than 30,000 amateur radio operators across the country participated in last year's event.

"We hope that people will come and see for themselves, this is not your grandfather's radio anymore," said Vienna Wireless Society President, Ray Albers.

Over the weekend hams will be demonstrating AM, sideband, FM, digital, morse code and even satellite communications. Several clubs will also be experimenting with TV signals and incredibly high frequency equipment. It was from their practical experience as hams that many electrical engineers went on to develop the marvels of today's communications.

There are 670,000 Amateur Radio operators in the US, and more than 2.5 million around the world. Through the ARRL hams provide emergency communications for the DHS Citizens' Corps, Red Cross, Salvation Army, FEMA and many state and local agencies.

To learn more about Amateur Radio, contact Peter Norloff at 703-938-4343 or go to http://www.arrl.org/newham.html. The public is most cordially invited to come, meet and talk with the hams. They might even help you get on the air!

For more information contact:
Peter Norloff, The Vienna Wireless Society
703-938-4343

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