The traditional Field Day Exercise is usually scheduled for the last weekend in June. However, this year the members of the Bedford County Amateur Radio Society took this disaster exercise to the next level by conducting their drill in January. These members braved the frigid weather on Saturday Jan. 27, and Sunday Jan. 28.
Club President John Hogenmiller, amateur radio call sign KB3DFZ, explains that the winter event imitated reality when and if a communications failure occurs in the winter months. Using emergency power, portable equipment and antennas, these licensed "Ham" operators operated their high frequency (HF) and very high frequency (VHF) equipment under simulated disaster conditions at the Shawnee Park Lodge in Schellsburg.
Park Manager Jim McCorckle said, "I'm impressed that these volunteers will do this under difficult conditions. We're providing our Lodge building to BCARS as a base of operations."
There were several stations operating simultaneously on Single Side Band (SSB), FM, Digital Modes such as WinLink, FLDIGI and vintage Morse Code (CW). This exercise attracts thousands of licensed amateurs in the US and Canada. This year's Winter Field Day ran continuously for 24 hours.
"Winter Field Day is sponsored by the Winter Field Day Association. They believe that Ham radio operators should practice portable emergency communications in winter environments because the potential for freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and other hazards presents unique operational concerns. WFD is formatted to help increase the level of preparedness for disasters and improve their operational skills in subpar conditions."
"BCARS was originally affiliated with the original Bedford County Civil Defense Office during the Cold War and has been active in this discipline ever since." Hogenmiller added that, "This will be our first year at the Shawnee Park Lodge. The Park has been very supportive in our previous disaster communications operations. This park has proved to be an excellent facility because of reduced electrical noise and their excellent ground conductivity. We enjoy meeting residents and visitors who stop by to see our operations."
BCARS is an active member of several disaster communications organizations, including the PEMA Auxiliary Communications System, the ARRL Amateur Radio Emergency Service and the Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service which is administered by the FCC.
The club operates six repeating transmitters at Kinton Knob and Martin Hill. For more than six decades BCARS has provided tactical and emergency communications free of charge to the county and community because of the generosity of supporters such as The Knights of Columbus, Moose Lodge 480, VFW Post 7527, American Legion Post 113, CARES Grant Program, VFW Post 8333, the Bedford County Commissioners, the Community Foundation of the Alleghenies and Bedford County Endowments.
This year's BCARS Field Day encouraged visits by the public to observe operations and learn more about amateur radio. BCARS is in its 65th year of operation. The club was founded in 1959 and has provided tactical and disaster communications for a number of community organizations, including the Chamber's "Bike Bedford," the Army Air National Guard, Bloody Run Canoe Classic, County Department of Elections, 2023 PEMA Functional Exercise, Search and Rescue Exercise at Shawnee Park, Everett Civil Air Patrol and Fall Foliage Weekend.
When requested, BCARS provides backup communications for the Bedford County Department of Emergency Services. Based in Newington, Conn., The ARRL was founded in 1914 and is the National Organization for Amateur Radio.
For more information or to learn how to obtain an amateur radio license, visit www.bcars.org.