Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub conducting Winter Field Day

PARKERSBURG -- Saturday will be the annual "Winter Field Day" held locally by the Parkersburg Amateur Radio Klub (P.A.R.K.) in cooperation with Wood County Emergency Communications (W.C.E.C.) in a local, regional and national emergency-prepared exercise.

Beginning at 2 p.m. Saturday at City Park, the purpose of the exercise is to provide proof that in the event of a catastrophic or weather-related incident radio amateurs, known as Ham Radio Operators, can establish reliable forms of communication and verify message traffic into or out of an affected area according to a press release from Larry Dale, President of P.A.R.K, call sign KF8NW.

"The general public, all ham operators, the media and persons with an interest in obtaining a ham license are invited and encouraged to attend and observe and even operate portable radio stations," he said.

With the weather being unpredictable during this time of year, being prepared is important, Dale said of past events that were held with snowy conditions and with rain and possible flooding expected this weekend.

Attendees will witness how antennas are deployed into trees for greater signal coverage. Transmitting and receiving equipment capable of various modes; voice, digital and CW (Morse Code) will be in constant operation all day Saturday from 2-8 p.m. or later, Dale said.

They will be considered an outside station as others operate in their homes, cars and more.

They are expecting to communicate with over 1,000 stations across the country across a number of bandwidths. One of the goals of the event is to show how they can pass information as well as the accuracy of the information. They will be tracking who they are talking to and where they are located.

The site for this year's Winter Field Day in City Park is behind the Henry Cooper House, under the large picnic shelter next to the park pond.

"Even if it is raining, we will be underroof so people can still come out and see what we are doing and see the equipment we are using," Dale said.

For more information, go to w8par.org.