Today is "Field Day" for Ham radio operators, organized by the ARRL. It's a day when folks set up makeshift stations outdoors, and try to communicate with other folks around the country. People set up on mountains, boats, campgrounds, wherever. Others operate from their normal base, but, run their station from backup power, either batteries, generators, solar panels, whatever. That's how I worked today. It's a fun day to see how your comms would work under less than ideal conditions.

Due to a bunch of other obligations, (they are called my wife and son) I was only able to spend a couple hours on the air, testing my generator and a simple multiband dipole in the back yard strung up between some trees.

I was encouraged that when I looked at the log, I had spoken to amateurs in 22 states in that time. (Along with a couple provinces in Canada.) I started thinking about what it would be like if tomorrow I woke up and there was a significant disruption in the public comms infrastructure. If I could contact, somewhat randomly, 22 states in a couple hours on under 100watts and a wire dipole in some trees in the backyard, I felt pretty good about being able to stay connected with the world if TSHTF. This was a North American event primarily, but, Europe and Africa were coming in well this morning also. By afternoon, South American countries were coming in on the higher bands.

I don't get on the air often anymore, usually just for special events like this or JOTA (Jamboree On The Air) that I do with my Scout troop. It's just nice to know that we still have something that will work even if the public infrastructure is damaged for whatever reason. I know other folks that aren't very active anymore, but, still maintain at least a basic HF and VHF capability for just this reason.

Anyone else in the same camp? Who worked Field Day today?
N1GFS 2E EMA

I took my son with me to my local radio club's field day activities. We worked a 2 meter station for about 4 hours or so. He got his first chance to operate a station, he's currently studying for his technician's class license.

Had a good time, the guys and gals working on HF were making tons of contacts around the country. We made about 30 or so contacts.

Good fun. Wish we could stayed longer but I have an early call in the morning for work.

be prepared:
Question, what is "basic HF and VHF capability "
Just for my own information, (not coming from a radio guy.)

Good question, those are just a couple abbreviations for parts of the radio spectrum commonly used by amateurs.

HF = "High Frequency". When people talk about "shortwave" communications, they are generally talking about the HF portion of the radio spectrum. There are a number of bands within the HF part of the spectrum. Some are better for daytime, others at night, due to the way the radiowaves use levels of our atmosphere to reflect them back to Earth. Worldwide communication is possible using HF communications. Local communication is also possible via groudwaves, direct from one antenna to another.

VHF = "Very High Frequency" is used for reliable, local point to point communications. With a repeater, a wide area can be covered. A repeater system takes in transmissions, and rebroadcasts them at a higher power. That allows someone with a low powered mobile transmitter to be heard at the repeater, which has a superior antenna and receiver, and then rebroadcast it across a wide area at high power so other mobile, (and base) units can receive it. Police and Fire utilize systems like this, either in the VHF, or UHF (Ultra High Frequency) band. If the repeater antenna is in a good, high location, great coverage is possible. If it sounds a little like how cellular systems work, there are similarities. Other users of VHF would be marine FM radios. TV signals are also in this range, as well as FM radio stations. Amateurs run their own repeater systems, which can be linked together for very reliable, and wide coverage capability. They are used daily for routine traffic, but can also form a backbone for emergency response as well. Many repeaters are configured with redundant systems, and backup power.

Here's a table with the radio spectrum. Source: ARRL (American Radio Relay League)

RF Spectrum Ranges
Very Low Frequency VLF 3 kHz - 30 kHz
Low Frequency LF 30 kHz - 300 kHz
Medium Frequency MF 300 kHz - 3 MHz
High Frequency HF 3 MHz - 30 MHz
Very High Frequency VHF 30 MHz - 300 MHz
Ultra High Frequency UHF 300 MHz - 3 GHz
Super High Frequency SHF 3 GHz - 30 GHz
Extremely High Frequency EHF 30 GHz - 300 GHz

This is awesome. I am studying to get my HAM license. Im stuck though, do I get the license then the radios (2 meter and a 10 meter first). Either direction I am getting my family involved as best I can. I am starting slow with CB's.

You'd be better off saving the money you'd spend on a CB and put it towards a Ham radio. Unless you want to talk to truck drivers on the freeways, there's not a whole lot of need for a CB radio. Possible exceptions would be using one for a 4wd trip with a group etc. and even there you'll find a lot of folks are using 2 meter Ham units in their vehicles.

Get your Technician's license first, then find yourself an "Elmer" to guide you towards the equipment. I see your posting from Wyoming, try and find a Ham radio club if there's one in your area.

Good advice. To find a club, you can search for ARRL affiliated clubs at: http://www.arrl.org/FandES/field/club/clubsearch.phtml

I actually have radios set up with upper and lower side bands. I was able to talk to Rantor from quite a distance away and on the other side of a cliff. It worked pretty well for what we were doing. Other then that it works like you said to caravan somewhere or out 4 wheeling.

I already found my Elmer. He is a long time radio hero around here. He is steering me in the right direction. I was thinking of getting a 2 meter first and then a 10 meter. I will go from there.