By Mary O’KEEFE

Amateur radio, or ham radio, enthusiasts from the Crescenta Valley Radio Club will be at Verdugo Park in Glendale on the weekend of June 24-25 to join other ham radio operators throughout North America as they participate in the annual Field Day, described as a ham radio’s open house.

Every June since 1933, hams throughout North America set up temporary transmitting stations in public places to demonstrate ham radio’s science, skills and service to their communities and to the nation. The event has grown to include more than 40,000 hams throughout the United States and Canada. The event combines public service, emergency preparedness, community outreach and technical skills. This is one of ham radio’s most popular events, according to the National Association for Amateur Radio (ARRL) website.

“The objective is to work as many stations as possible,” said Mike Lichtman, president of CV Radio Club, meaning contacting as many other operators as possible.

Ham radio operators will contact other operators throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada.

This event used to be held at Deukmejian Wilderness Park but in the last few years moved to Verdugo Park. This year the hams will be using portable generators for power. In the past they had used solar but that source was not available this time. They do not plug into city source power.

“We get [to the park] at 8:30 a.m. to begin to set up, hanging antennas from the trees,” Lichtman said.

The event is a contest but also helps with emergency preparedness. Participants try to make as many contacts as they can with other hams.

“Some of the clubs get very competitive, but [CV Radio Club members] are more laid back,” he added.

Lichtman got his ham radio license in 1997 but has had an interest in the hobby since he was a child. The CV Radio Club meets once a month when they exchange information on everything from equipment to training. The members come from a variety of careers and talk throughout the year to other ham operators from all over the world.

There are many subgroups within the 50-member club; some members focus on emergency situations through Amateur Radio Emergency Services where members are trained through FEMA. Some of those members have gone to disaster areas, including Haiti, Indonesia and Japan during earthquakes, and within the U.S. members helped following Hurricane Sandy on the east coast. Others concentrate on digital ham operation and build equipment; however, all are interested in and talk about new technology.

“Some of the [discussions] we have had [involve] working with satellites where you have a handheld antenna and have a two-way conversation [bouncing] off a satellite. Some signals bounce off the moon [then back to Earth],” he said.

Many are members of Glendale Emergency Auxiliary Radio (GEARS) and meet down at the Glendale City Hall in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). They meet once a month and, when needed, provide emergency operations for the city for a variety of events like Cruise Night, the Montrose Christmas parade and various races.

There are several ways to get involved, from operating to building radios. Lichtman has found many who are interested in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) have found interests with the ham operators.

Those interested in ham radios are invited to Verdugo Park on June 24 between at 11 a.m. and June 25 at 11 a.m. Verdugo Park is located at 1621 Cañada Blvd. This will be an ideal opportunity to learn what ham radio operators do and what equipment is used. The members are willing to answer any and all questions.

“We are a friendly bunch,” Lichtman said.

  Mary Okeefe