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Hams score big on Field Day

The Sterling Park Amateur Radio Club scored high for its performance during last June's American Radio Relay League Field Day.

Club members spent 24 straight hours, noon June 23 through noon June 24, in tents set up behind Park View High School, sending and receiving, using emergency antennas and a generator for power. The idea is to simulate emergency conditions and to reach as many other ham radio operators as possible in a day.

The Sterling hams logged in 1,327 contacts and scored extra points for pre-event publicity and for having public officials and Boy Scouts visit the camp. That put them third out 16 clubs in the 3A category in the Roanoke division

The 3A category includes clubs that employ three radios, each drawing 100 watts of power or less.

SPARC also placed 31st out of 279 teams nationwide in its category.

The club meets the first Wednesday of every month at the Sterling Community Center. Beginners are welcome, and members will help new hams get established and give instruction in Morse Code.

Call Jim Chappell for information, 703-437-6379.


-- Shannon Sollinger

©Times Community Newspapers 2006