The first thing Bill Morine wants you to know about "Amateur Radio" is the meaning of the word amateur. While it's often used nowadays to mean unskilled, amateur in this context simply means unpaid.
Ham Radio Field Day Saturday at 2:00pm-Sunday at 2:00pm Ogden Park, Hamstead
Amateur radio (or Ham radio) is hardly an unskilled activity. Operating on the fringes of the common radio frequencies, Hams learn how to use simple equipment to tune in to broadcasts around the world-and how to communicate around the world, sometimes using Morse code. There are about 2 million amateur radio enthusiasts around the world, about 500 of these in and around New Hanover County.
Bill Morine is the Vice Director of the National Association for Amateur Radio, Roanoke Division. He and Mark Abreu, the public information contact for the Greater Wilmington Amateur Radio Hams, joined us to talk about this yearly international field day. There are 6 field day locations in our area this weekend including Hampstead (Ogden Park), Southport, and Myrtle Beach.
To find out more about Amateur Radio and how to become involved (there is a test you must pass to get your license), visit one of the locations from 2:00 Saturday 6/27 through 2:00 Sunday 6/28 for 24-hour ARRL Field Day. You can also visit the website,follow the event on Facebook, or check out the Azalea Coast Amateur Radio Club.
