Red Rose Repeaters schedule Winter Field Day

Alex Van Patten, public information officer with Red Rose Repeater Association (RRR), is looking forward to holding the organization's annual Winter Field Day, and he would like to make contact with the International Space Station during that event. "We are hoping to utilize the International Space Station and other satellites that have radios on board," said Van Patten, who noted that the two entities have connected in the past. "I can't guarantee that will happen again, but it was a nice surprise when it did." Van Patten added that a number of astronauts currently on the space station have their amateur radio license.

The 2024 event, presented by RRR, will be held at the Welsh Mountain Community Center and Park, 564 Sandmine Road, New Holland. The group plans to begin setting up antennas at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27, and the event will officially begin at 2 p.m. Winter Field Day will end at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 28. The event is held for 24 hours to include radio operators from all time zones. Newly licensed and inexperienced operators as well as those with an interest in the hobby are encouraged to attend. There is no cost to participate, and visitors are welcome to drop in anytime and bring sleeping bags or cots if they plan to stay overnight in the center.

Special workshops to instruct attendees in a particular skill are always a highlight of the event. "We will have stations to help people learn to solder small electronics," said Van Patten. "That's a very hands-on (activity)." Soldering stations will open at 2 p.m. and remain open for the duration of the event.

"We will also deep fry a turkey," said Van Patten, who noted that the plan is for the gobbler to go into the oil bath at 1 p.m. on Jan. 27. "People like to deep fry things," he added.

Presently, there are 50 licensed amateur radio operators in the New Holland ZIP code and more than 1,500 in the county. This is the 91st year "hams" - as amateur radio enthusiasts are often called - have used Field Day to demonstrate radio's ability to create reliable communications independent of commercial networks from almost anywhere. Since 1933, amateur radio operators across North America have established temporary radio stations in public locations during Field Day to showcase the science and skill of amateur radio.

During Winter Field Day, club members will work to contact other clubs in the U.S. and amateur radio operators abroad. "We will converse internationally," said Van Patten, who added that the event will be interactive. "The purpose is to showcase our hobby to the public and invite them to come down and see what we are all about," he stated. "We want to be able to get (visitors) on the air. If they want to try operating the radios, we can walk them through it."

For more information about Field Day or amateur radio, visit https://w3rrr.org/ or email W3AVP@arrl.net.