Amateur Radio “Field Day” planned for this weekend

Amateur Radio (or “ham radio”) Field Day is happening this weekend at the Rockingham County Fairgrounds, as explained by longtime enthusiast Paul Hellmuth, who has practiced the hobby since age 13. Ham radio is a licensed, volunteer-based activity that combines experimentation, global communication, and emergency preparedness, allowing operators to transmit locally or worldwide using various methods like voice, Morse code, and digital signals. The Field Day event, which runs for 24 hours from Saturday at 2 p.m. to Sunday at 2 p.m., serves as both a public demonstration and an emergency communication exercise, with multiple stations set up on backup power to simulate real-world conditions. Visitors are encouraged to attend, learn how the technology works, and even try making contacts themselves, making it an engaging opportunity for the community—especially students interested in STEM—to explore radio communication and its critical role as a backup system during emergencies.