Who: Huntington Beach Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service (RACES) team will demonstrate and practice their emergency radio communications skills in a nation-wide drill called “Field Day.” RACES (pronounced “RAY-sees”), is a program endorsed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC Part 97, Section 407), that uses trained amateur radio operators (Hams) during emergencies. Administered by the Fire Department, RACES members use their personal equipment and skills, and volunteer their time to provide this service at no cost to the City of Huntington Beach.
When: Saturday, June 27, 2015, at approximately 11 AM – 5 PM (RACES volunteers will participate 24 hours)
Where: PCH and Goldenwest on the bluffs.
What: During Field Day, amateur radio (HAM) operators from the US and Canada will practice their emergency communications skills over a 24 hour period with the goal of demonstrating portable and completely independent communications. The public and the news media are invited to observe and participate in the radio exercise.
During an emergency, normal lines of communications can fail leaving amateur radio communications as the only means to communicate. In addition, they support public events such as the Surf City Marathon and the 4th of July Parade, and participate in the National Weather Service weather spotter program. Ham radio is a public service as well as an international educational technical hobby. Whether it’s contacting someone across the street or across the globe, or even outer space, ham radio operators are ready to supply reliable communications when normal lines fail. Ham operators range from ordinary citizens to astronauts. There are 18 city RACES groups within Orange County, operated under their respective city and county public safety departments.
More information on the RACES Program, visit www.hbraces.org
Field Day weekend 2013 is now history. Our new location helped to further increase visibility from both Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) and the bike path along the beach.
This year, we had many more visitors – Fire Department management, local dignitaries, licensed hams, ex-hams and ordinary people. Our local cable TV channel (HBTV-3) shot lots of video of our operation. There were several minutes of live video from the Huntington Beach Police helicopter via amateur television (ATV).
Below: Huntington Beach Emergency Manager Brevyn Mettler, KI6FRG (left) and Huntington Beach Council Member Jim Katapodis, discuss the Field Day layout and the objectives of the Field Day drill as HB RACES Chief Radio Officer Dr Steve Graboff, W6GOS makes 20 meter SSB contacts.
Al KJ6RIX and Jennifer did an amazingly great job keeping all of us well fed and even sheltered – a huge thanks for their hospitality!
Sometime in the late evening, Tim WD6AWP succeeded in getting a 2-way contact via satellite (OSCAR – Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio) – this is a first for HB RACES – way to go, Tim!
Huntington Beach RACES looks forward to another Field Day next year, hopefully with an improved score and even more participation.
Some videos are posted on my YouTube Channel, KH6WZ
Part 1 of 3
Part 2 of 3
Part 3 of 3
Highlights – City of Huntington Beach RACES Field Day Visitors
Jim Katapodis, Huntington Beach Council Member
Fred Wilson, Huntington Beach City Manager
The guys from Station 46: Bob, Brian, Keith, Mike
Here are some random pictures from the weekend. . .
Below: Robert Thompson, KE6RKG, making contacts at the VHF-UHF station at the W6O Field Day operation in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Below: A view of the trailer and the open grassy area just before antenna installation.
Below: Pete Zilliox, K5PZ working the keyer on 40 meters.
Below: Brevyn getting 15 minutes of fame on HBTV-3, the Huntington Beach cable TV channel.
Below: Tim Sawyer, WD6AWP (left) and Pete Zilliox, K5PZ (right), scanning the sky for an Orbiting Satellite Carrying Amateur Radio (OSCAR) contact. Tim successfully completed a two-way contact via satellite late Saturday evening.
Below: Brevyn, KI6FRG, making some contacts on 15 meter phone.
Below: The HB RACES Field Day group, 2013: 4A Orange.
City of Huntington Beach RACES Field Day Participants
K5PZ Pete
K6DAA Gordon
KA6HMS Bill
KB6JOE Joe
KB6PAL David
KC6ZOW Shelley
KE6BNS Jeff
KE6OCE Steve
KE6RKG Robert
KE6WUO Michael
KG6IQL Manny
KG6SKD Marshall
KG6ZDP Jim
KH6FL Marilyn
KH6WZ Wayne
KI6FME Mike
KI6FRG Brevyn
KJ6RIX Al
Jennifer
KK6ANY Gus
N6PBW Ginny
N6RAS Peter
N6SLD Roy
N6YDX Darrell
N9KVN Steve
WD6AWP Tim
More images are posted on the City of Huntington Beach RACES website
73,
Wayne KH6WZ
Huntington Beach RACES Public Information Officer
wayneyoshidakh6wz 