Brownwood Amateur (Ham) radio operator Linda Vasquez was one of many Brownwood Amateur Radio Club (BARC) members who worked to make contacts across the United States and Canada on Saturday.
The National Field Day event is an annual event that runs the last weekend in June. Ham operators make contacts and the club receives points for each contact. This year’s Field Day event took place at Brownwood’s American Red Cross chapter building. Traditionally, the Hams operate independent of commercial power, and this year Ham Operator Rich Dugger operated the club’s first fully solar powered ham station, which also translates into extra points for the club.
Anyone interested in becoming an Amateur Radio Operator can get more licensing information from the club’s Volunteer Examination coordinator John Lawson at 325-647-8378 or club Secretary Mike Isbell at 325-647-3616. Most of the Brownwood Ham operators also serve as certified weather spotters for the National Weather Service SKYWARN program, coordinated by the Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES).
Pictured at top: Linda Vasquez of Brownwood operates on the 20 meter ham bands.