Did you know that Governor Jared Polis has officially designated the second to last week of June as Amateur Radio Week in Colorado? The proclamation recognizes the contributions and impacts of ham operators in the state and beyond.

From noon on Saturday, June 24, until noon on Sunday, June 25, 2023, the Indian Peaks Radio Club (IPRC) gathered in Golden Gate Canyon State Park at the Reverends Ridge Campground for its annual Field Day.

The purpose of Field Day is to enjoy a friendly competition to see who could make the most radio contacts with people around the country, and sometimes around the world, using ham radio equipment.

Depending on your goal, ham radio equipment can include a radio, transceiver, computers, power cables, antennas, scanners, receivers, towers, two-way radios, and other specialized devices.

It’s interesting to discover the many forms of communication via radio. For example, FT8 is one of the many digital modes used for radio communication. It uses a computer’s sound card to receive audio.

Once the audio is received, the sound is processed by software that decodes information embedded in the signal it receives, converting it into a form of text. When you want to transmit a message, the software encodes the said message into audio tones, sending them through the sound card to your radio’s audio input.

Antennas are also an interesting phenomenon in the ham radio world, as they vary in size, shape, function, and setup. There are a lot of important and fun facts to learn during Field Day.

Saturday evening concluded with a small cookout, ham radio discussions, and of course, more radio communications with field day participants across the nation and abroad.

Field Day is a way for radio clubs, enthusiasts, supporters, and community members to learn about ham radio and how it can be a necessary tool in emergency preparedness without technology such as the Internet.

Why is ham radio crucial to mountain living? Often during an emergency, like a wildfire, power is shut off, leaving many residents without a way to receive life-saving information. Radio communication is a way to ensure vital information is accessible to everyone.

If you missed it this year, add it to your calendar for 2024. Field Day is typically held at the end of June. There’s no need to be a ham radio expert. Everyone is welcome!

To learn more about Indian Peaks Radio Club and Field Day visit https:// w0ned.org/site/ or you can find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ profile.php?id=100064935032223.