2020 ARRL Field Day in the time of COVID-19

If you can't see the video, please insert this title URL into your browser search box:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2LRCvabjuA.  This is post 2265 in a continuing series of simple ham radio antennas.

Many radio amateurs around the world will spend the 2020 ARRL Field Day operating from their home stations.  The COVID-19 pandemic has changed this popular event into a solo effort with most large club gatherings at public parks and facilities severely limited.

In this excellent, upbeat video from HQ ARRL and the Sangamon Valley Radio Club of Springfield, Illinois, we see how a simple home ham station can still be true to the spirit of Field Day while avoiding the danger of contracting the coronavirus.

J. Mitch Hopper (K9ZXO) takes us through the steps needed to go solo on Field Day by operating 1-D (commercial mains) and 1-E (battery, solar power, generator) from your home station. The ARRL has bent the rules a bit to give individual radio club members a way to help their fellow operators gain points for club activity while avoiding COVID-19.

Here are some of Mitch's comments:

"The coronavirus can't stop amateur radio from doing what we do best!" -- Mitch Hopper, K9ZXO ARRL Field Day 2020 is June 27-28. Field Day is amateur radio's largest annual event and a demonstration of the versatility and reliability of ham radio operators, their radio technology skill, and their communication capabilities. In this video you'll find answer to these questions: * What is ARRL Field Day? * How are radio amateurs and radio clubs going to adapt their participation for COVID-19? * What are the different station operating classes for Field Day? This video was was produced by ARRL member J Mitch Hopper, K9ZXO for the Sangamon Valley Radio Club, Springfield, Illinois. We liked it so much, we're sharing it with YOU! For more information about ARRL, ARRL Field Day, and amateur radio, please visit these web pages: http://www.arrl.org http://www.arrl.org/FieldDay http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio #ARRL #ARRLFD #hamradio #amateurradio
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Why not join the ARRL Field Day experience by going portable in your own backyard?  All you need are a transceiver, a simple dipole antenna, some emergency power, and enough food, water, and insect repellant to experience a new way to join your fellow radio amateurs during this annual event.  I've operated for years as a 1-E station because of work commitments.  I still had lots of fun while getting chewed up by our six-legged friends.
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Thanks for joining us today.

Aloha es 73 de Russ (KH6JRM).