The largest annual, remote, on-the-air event for amateur radio will return later this month.

K4MZ, the Robertsdale-based Baldwin County Amateur Radio Club, will be participating in the ARRL Field Day this year at the Silver Creek Boy Scout Camp in Silverhill, 16914 Co Rd 52, Silverhill, AL, 36576.

Club members will once again set up temporary radio stations/antennas and generators to support their effort to reach out to other amateur radio operators, "hams," all across the U.S. and Canada. Local "hams" will be available for questions about their hobby; and to explain how the amateur radio community assists local emergency agencies with communications during environmental disasters, such as hurricanes.

Ham radio has always been for the exchange of non-commercial messages, wireless experimentation, education and emergency communication. During the event, as an added incentive to amateur operators, points can be earned for each radio contact, with added bonus points for making use of alternative power sources such as solar panels and wind powered/charged batteries. Even bouncing a signal off one of the many amateur radio satellites, or the ISS, garners extra points. Amateur radio clubs compete with each other based on these earned points and other categories. The size of the club, the number of radio stations manned and the level of radio signal power all affect their scores. There is nothing like a little competition to get folks involved.

Amateur radio makes use of radio frequencies allocated by the FCC for the exclusive use of amateur radio. There are many allocations covering very low to very high frequencies. These "bands" require the amateur radio operator to be skilled at creating an antenna(s) that work well on many transmit and receive frequencies. Choosing the right antenna, the right frequency and at the right time of day all increases the chance of a completed contact.

Radio contacts will be logged, converted to a computer file and then submitted to the amateur radio national organization, the ARRL (American Radio Relay League), along with statements of how the equipment was setup and powered.

Scores are awarded later and published in the ARRL's monthly magazine.

Since the first ARRL Field Day in 1933, radio amateurs throughout North America have practiced the rapid deployment of their radio communications equipment into environments ranging from tents in remote areas, vacant shelters, and/or county, state and federal Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs).

During the field day exercise, operations using emergency and alternative power sources are highly encouraged, since electricity and other public infrastructures are often among the first to fail during a natural disaster or severe weather. There will be times when the amateur radio community will be called upon by the local county emergency management agencies to aid in establishing emergency communication for first responders and EMA officials.

The public is encouraged to come, watch and listen.

It will be hot, so cold drinks will be available starting at noon on Saturday.

For additional info or directions, reach out to Joe McIntosh at k4jom@arrl.net.