During the pandemic, Robyn Black picked up a new hobby. She became a ham radio operator, talking to people around the country and the world. "It's just fun," she said, noting that her sister, Amanda Black, also earned a ham radio license. Now Robyn's encouraging others to learn more about the hobby at the 2023 Summer Field Day.

The event will take place on the grounds of the Southern Pennsylvania Amateur Radio Club (SPARC), 1715 Breneman Road, Manheim. It will run from Saturday, June 24, through Sunday, June 25.

Robyn noted that events will be happening from noon on Saturday through noon on Sunday, but ham radio operators will be on-site all weekend long. "People sleep over," she stated. "They stay for the whole time."

The field day is designed to be a sort of open house for ham radio, with various stations set up to showcase different forms of communication. "We'll have some guys with a station for CW, which is Morse code," Robyn remarked. "We'll have different stations, and you can get on the radio with a licensed operator. You may even be able to reach people in other countries." A variety of food, including hamburgers and hot dogs, will be available during the event.

Ham radio allows users to talk with other people without the internet or cell service. "It's designed to be an emergency media in case the electricity goes out or the grid goes down and there's no other means of communication," Robyn explained. "You don't wish for an emergency to happen, but when it does, you've got to be prepared. Ham radio operators practice. We play on our radios to make sure they are up to snuff and they're going to work when the need arises."

For Robyn, ham radio has offered a way to make new friends. "I love talking to other people," she noted, adding that she needs nine more states to reach people in all 50. She also participates with the Parks on the Air program, reaching out to operators in state parks across the country.

During the field day in Manheim, similar events will be happening throughout North America, with more than 40,000 temporary transmitting stations set up in public places to demonstrate how ham radio works. Field day has been organized by the American Radio Relay League since 1933.

Robyn hopes people will come to the Manheim field day to see ham radio firsthand and perhaps discover a new hobby. "Come for the fun. Come to witness the emergency practice and come for the conversation," she said. "We want to encourage more people to try this hobby and keep it alive."