JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Jamestown Amateur Radio Club will once again be participating in the 2021 ARRL Field Day this weekend June 26th & 27th.

Tom Simpson is with the Jamestown Amateur Radio Club and a licensed radio operator. He says Amateur Radio Field Day is part of a nationwide event on the last full weekend in June.

Also known as ham radio, amateur radio has been around since 1933. It’s used for non-commercial exchange of messages, recreation, radiosport, emergency communication, and more.

For Simpson, it’s about connecting with others around the world.

Simpson says in a post that they’ll begin setup a few hours before the event starts and operators will be available to show those interested in how they set up.

“You may be asked to help out, just a bit, so be prepared,” Simpson says. “No heavy lifting. During the setup time, we may not be too sociable, just so you’re aware.”

Simpson says once things get started, they’re usually busy, but welcome spectators to watch and get a first-hand view of how radio contacts are handled during the event.

“We really hope that everybody that has any kind of interest in ham radio is able to visit us on June 26th,” Simpson added. “There has always seemed to be a lot of misconceptions about the hobby, and we can answer any questions that you might have. It is also a fairly easy hobby to get in to. There is no need to know Morse Code, and only a 35 question multiple choice test to get started. Even the entry level radios start at under $30. Also, there is absolutely no need for you to buy and ambulance and convert it into a “Hambulance”, unless you really want to, of course.”

Field Day in Jamestown will be established on the island at the Jamestown Reservoir north of town.

Later on both days, they’ll be grilling up some burgers and hot dogs, although there may be limited supply based on how many show up.

If you have questions, you can call 701-269-5292 for more information.