Residents interested in emergency communications, technology, outdoor recreation, or amateur radio will have an opportunity to see radio operators in action during a special ARRL Field Day event later this month at Foster Falls.

The Nickajack Amateur Radio Club (NARC) and the Southern Plateau Amateur Radio Club (SPARC) will host the public event on Saturday, June 27, beginning at 1 p.m. at Foster Falls in Fiery Gizzard State Park.

Field Day is the largest annual amateur radio event in North America, sponsored by the American Radio Relay League. Thousands of licensed amateur radio operators across the United States and Canada participate each year by setting up temporary radio stations and making contacts using portable equipment and alternative power sources.

Organizers say the event serves several purposes, including emergency preparedness, public education, technical training, and community outreach. Operators will demonstrate how amateur radio can provide reliable communications when traditional systems such as cellular networks and internet service are unavailable.

Visitors attending the Foster Falls event will be able to observe portable radio stations operating from the field, watch operators make contacts across the country and around the world, and learn how radio communications work without relying on commercial infrastructure.

The event will also feature a live Parks on the Air (POTA) activation. Parks on the Air is an international amateur radio program that encourages operators to set up stations in public parks and protected natural areas. Radio operators working from a park are known as activators and make contacts with other operators, known as hunters, who may be operating from home, vehicles, or other parks around the world.

Organizers say the POTA activation highlights both the capabilities of amateur radio and the recreational opportunities available in public parks.

Those interested in becoming licensed amateur radio operators will also have the opportunity to take an FCC amateur radio examination. A testing session will begin at 3 p.m. and will be administered using ExamTools, an electronic testing platform. Individuals planning to test should bring a laptop computer, tablet, or smartphone capable of connecting to the internet.

The entry-level Technician Class license provides operating privileges on VHF and UHF frequencies commonly used for local communications, repeaters, public service events, and emergency communications. Additional license classes expand operating privileges to allow communication across the United States and around the world using high-frequency radio bands.

Organizers note that there is no Morse code requirement for any amateur radio license class.

Admission to the event is free, and visitors of all ages are welcome.

Event Details

• What: ARRL Field Day & Parks on the Air Demonstration
• Hosted By: Nickajack Amateur Radio Club and Southern Plateau Amateur Radio Club
• When: Saturday, June 27, beginning at 1 p.m.
• Where: Foster Falls, Fiery Gizzard State Park
• FCC License Testing: Begins at 3 p.m.
• Cost: Free and open to the public

Club members encourage anyone curious about amateur radio to stop by, meet local operators, observe live demonstrations, and learn how amateur radio continues to play a role in emergency preparedness and long-distance communications.