Salve Regina participating in “ham” radio Field Day

Pictured above: Dr. Michael Thombs (right) and members of the Applied Technologies Club

Members of Salve Regina’s Applied Technologies Club, along with faculty, staff and alumni, will join “ham” radio operators nationwide this weekend by participating in a Field Day designed to test important emergency communications systems, share new technologies and educate the public about the many important functions of amateur radio.

Members of the University community and the general public are invited to attend the club’s radio operations between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, June 28 on the O’Hare Academic Center lawn to learn more about amateur radio and emerging technologies in the field.

“Field Day is an annual celebration of amateur radio emergency operations,” said Dr. Michael Thombs, associate professor and the club’s adviser. “In the event of a maximum credible accident, the web of amateurs is a fall back communications alternative. Amateurs are licensed by the FCC and supported by the Amateur Radio Relay League to communicate on all bands, all modes in the event of an emergency.”

Field Day is the most popular on-the-air event held annually in the United States and Canada. On the fourth weekend of June, more than 35,000 radio amateurs gather with their clubs, groups or simply with friends to operate from remote locations.

The objective is to work as many stations as possible on any and all amateur bands (excluding the 60, 30, 17 and 12-meter bands) and to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions.