Nanticoke Amateur Radio Club hosts Delaware legislators for field day exercises
Delaware Sen. Bryant L. Richardson, R-Laurel, Rep. Daniel B. Short, R-Seaford, and David L. Wilson, R-Bridgeville, were hosted by the Nanticoke Amateur Radio Club at the 2016 ARRL Field Day exercise held on the grounds of the Seaford Department of Parks and Recreation June 25.
ARRL Field Day is an annual, nationwide 24-hour event held each June. Field Day exercises were also held in Lewes and New Castle County. Patrick Ryan, KW3Z, and members of the Nanticoke Amateur Radio Club demonstrated communications technologies in use by the Amateur Radio Service, and highlighted interoperability among communicators. Amateur radio groups provide critical emergency communications support to four hospitals and a number of agencies within the state of Delaware.
The Nanticoke group provides communications support to Nanticoke Memorial Hospital, a major healthcare facility in Seaford. The legislators received emails sent via ham radio to their smartphones through a digital repeater at the hospital. Short read House Resolution No. 36, in which the Delaware House of Representatives expressed thanks to radio amateurs and the American Radio Relay League, and designated June 20-26 as Amateur Radio Week in Delaware.
In addition to noting the historical aspects of amateur radio, HR 36 also recognized the ability of radio amateurs to provide voluntary communications for public service, weather spotting and emergency preparedness in Delaware.
Short spoke via 2 meter radio with ARRL Delaware Section Manager Bill Duveneck, KB3KYH, who was attending the Lewes Field Day exercise 30 miles from Seaford. Nationwide, approximately 35,000 FCC-licensed amateur radio operators participated in Field Day 2016, demonstrating their radio skills and self-supporting communications. For more information regarding amateur radio in Delaware, contact Duveneck via email at kb3kyh@arrl.net.
