North Texas -- It is that time of year again for the annual ARRL sponsored Ham Radio Field Day.  Amateur Radio operators across the country will gather to erect antennas, attach feedlines and power up radios to make contacts with stations all over the country and the world.

ARRL Field Day is a radio communications event that brings together amateur radio operators (also called “hams”) within your community. The event is part picnic, campout, practice for emergencies, informal contest, and most of all, fun! ARRL Field Day is the most popular ham radio activity held annually in the US and Canada.

On the fourth weekend in June each year, more than 31,000 hams get together with their radio clubs, schools, or friends to operate from remote locations. Some groups use Field Day as an opportunity to practice their emergency communications readiness. ARRL Field Day is an annual demonstration and invites the general public and organizations to see how amateur radio can serve in an emergency.

The objective is to contact as many stations as possible on the 160-, 80-, 40-, 20-,15- and 10-Meter HF bands, as well as all bands 50 MHz and above, and to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions.

Often called “ham radio,” the Amateur Radio Service is a worldwide community of licensed operators using the airwaves with every conceivable means of communications technology. It is made up of people who enjoy learning and being able to transmit voice, data, and pictures through the airwaves to places near and far without depending on commercial systems.

This is a 24-hour event beginning on Saturday, June 27 and ending the afternoon of June 28. 

Plano Amateur Radio Klub will join the Fannin County ARC, the Grayson County ARC and others across the state and nation in participating in this event.