HAM Radio Demonstrations in Rison

RISON - Every fourth weekend in June, the American Radio Relay League (ARRL) sponsors an ARRL Field Day.   It is a day set aside for amateur radio operators to set up stations as if transmitting in emergency situations. Pat Berry, Max Garlington and Rick Beckner set up in the shade of the FBT Community Park on Main Street in downtown Rison this past Sunday, and all three made contacts on mobile radios. Berry (seated center above) used Morse code to make contacts in multiple states on HF (1.3 MHZ TO 30MHZ) while the other contacts were made within 40 miles on VHF/UHF (142-147MHZ/440-445MHZ). All are members of newly organized Cleveland County Hamsters Amateur Radio Club. The club will hold its first meeting to discuss the formation of the new Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, at the Hall-Morgan Veterans Building, 404 Sycamore across from the courthouse in Rison. The program is open to high school students and older.