The Frederick Amateur Radio Club would love to help you get started on an exciting new adventure. Using the buttons below use the More Info button to learn what the process is to get licensed. For resources on learning how to study to get your license click on the Resources button.Once you are ready to take the test, you can take the test during one of our quarterly free testing sessions or there are typically a few testing locations within 50 miles every weekend, we can help you find a location to take your test. If you or someone you know (hint hint) are wanting to get your Amateur Radio license now is the time. For this class we have some special gifts if you attend the class and pass your exam. For more details click the More Info Button below.
More InfoResourcesField Day has come and gone for 2018. This year we did better in points than the previous 2 years but did not do as good with the walk up traffic as past years. However, we still had a decent turn out, mostly of hams that have been inactive getting back into the hobby. We added a couple more people to the Ham In A Day class on the 7th of July.
This year the radios stayed busy most of the 24 hours and most of the time both radios were active. We had a more active GOTA station than in the past as well.
Unfortunately I think the weather kept the walk up traffic lower than normal.
The setup and teardown this year was fast and efficient. Special thanks to everyone who came out to help with setup and/or teardown.
Here are some of the stats from field day:
| Number of people that operated, help to setup or tear down | 18 | ||
| Contacts on 160 Meters | 0 | ||
| Contacts on 80 Meters | 15 | ||
| Contacts on 40 Meters | 204 | ||
| Contacts on 20 Meters | 97 | ||
| Contacts on 15 Meters | 4 | ||
| Contacts on 10 Meters | 21 | ||
| GOTA Contacts | 8 | ||
| Total Contacts | 349 | ||
| Total Points For Contacts | 698 | ||
| Total Bonus Points | 1010 | ||
| Total Points | 1708 |
I setup a photo album with the pictures I have gotten from Field Day, feel free to send me your pictures and I can add them to the album.
Listen Live Online
Coverage Map
Coverage Map
As one of the few who did walk up, I will say this – you had zero P.R. presence, and walking up uninvited was intimidating. With the cones scattered around the parking lot, the tower with “electrical wires” running everywhere, and the trailer of radios, it looked like an emergency control center, not an open-to-the-public event. There were no signs, the website had no information on the event, and “Joe public” has little interest in getting in the way of what looked like an official event. A simple banner with the club name and “Public Welcome” would have gone a long way to welcoming walk ups. If I had not reached out to Mike Myers, whom I had been in contact with for the upcoming ham in a day class, I never would’ve known Frederick ARC was participating in Field Day.
I’m sorry things weren’t better marked. We were supposed to have a new banner this year but couldn’t get it here in time. There will be some improvement for next year.
73 Brian AB3RW